The weening off the UAW continues.

Jeesh, somehow I got this Leftlanenews website switched with another website that only talks about Camaro news. How did that happen?

What a surprise

CamaroMullet: The CamaroMullet used to have full reign over the mullet brethren, but that was back in the 70’s and 80’s. This species has fallen from grace since, but can still be seen enjoying NASCAR events and shopping at Kragen, or up in the attic cooking up crank. Distinguishing features include: a molester mustache (peach fuzzy), tight-fitting acid wash jeans, and an ever-present key ring hanging from the belt loop.

Feel the mulletude emanating through your computer screen from this rare pic.

It is not recommended you confront the CamaroMullet, for they are very aggressive and cannot be hurt (this might be due to the frequent use of methamphetamines, angel dust, etc.).

Mulletude: 10

Aggressiveness: 10

Hobbies: primering cars, bar fights, picking scabs, losing teeth.

Sightings: Kragen, Grand Auto, working on a Camaro on their front lawn.

Favorite Band: AC DC

Comment by Mullet Mania, posted on August21 at 11:02 am

OH no, not in canada!!!!!!!!

Thats the stupidest thing ive ever seen

Can GM do anything right? Apparently not. The quintessential American muscle car made in North American France…..

The current PlayBoy claims the Mustang is 65% US/Canadian parts while the Toyota Sienna is 90% US/Canadian parts. This Camaro will only add to the “American” Muscle Car 2.0 hillarity.

Really though, the definition of American cars are being thrown out the window. I’m tired of hearing about US nationalism in cars. I just hope the Camoro can bring it.

GM likes 85cent Canadian dollars …and it’s generally less distance to ship than a TX or CA plant.

It will be an honest Canadian Muscle Car ..kinda like them Aussie Muscle Cars. Gotta love those tone deaf nerds in Detroit…

j i m

Who cares, as long as it’s North America.

More Camaro news… I don’t mind the Camaro but a large majority of news has been about it here. PLEASE get something else to put up.
I still do not like the Camaro, I wish it would look MORE like the old one. I LOVE the older Camaros and the ones before they were discontinued. But I do not like this one. I’m not some mullet dude but I’m a Camaro fan, not Chevy fan but Camaro fan.
If it looked more like the older ones with cutting edge technology then I would seriously consider this as my next vehicle.

it is jay!

It’s not the Loonie that GM likes aboot Canada, it’s the national health care system. If GM didn’t have the UAW’s health care costs in the US, it would be more profitable than Toyota.

First off Johnny, what is so bad about American nationalism? As an American do you not have anything to be proud of? Is it wrong to want the best for your own country? Or are you the type that ****s and pisses where you eat?

What you should be tired of is half assed comments like “can GM do anything right?” GM has been forced to manufacture this soon-to-be mass produced car in Canada in order to make a buck. You can’t have your Camaro, if GM can’t make ir profitable.

American nationalism is bad when it supports companies making poor decisions and creates an inferior standard. I’m tired of people claiming a car is more American than another car. Supporting a GM, Nissan, Ford, Toyota based on corporate nationality is growingly to be increasingly ridiculous.

There is some GM bashing that is wrong and unnecessary but GM is still massively broken. I see a massive company bleeding cash and desperately looking for a hit anywhere it can. For every Saturn Sky, they have a botched so many countless vehicles and missed market segments its incredible. If the Camaro is going to be produced in Canada, I don’t think anyone in the US will care. Americans will get a helluva car and no one will care that American workers didn’t touch a single plastic pannel. In fact, most Americans will never notice that by doing so, GM’s profits will be thicker and boost the pension payments to millions of retired US workers.

Don’t tell me what I should be tired of, I know exactly what I’m tired of. Pontiac, Buick, crappy Saturns.

The last Camaro was built in Canada and the Firebird too so I don’t know why people go crazy about an “American muscle car” being built in Canada.

What’s stupid about that is that they closed the factory that was building the last generation of Camaro and that factory was one of the most advanced.

85 cent Canadian Dollars? Someone hasn’t been watching that the Green back has been doing on the currency markets for the past 4 years. This isn’t about the exchange rate, this is about building a Halo car in the plant with the highest ranking in initial quality on the continent. And that JD Power rating wasn’t saying it was the best of the big three, but the best of all manufacturers. That plant was Oshawa #2. The second highest rated plant has been Oshawa #1 for most of the last 5 years. GM needs this car to be built right, so the went to the pros…..it’s that simple.

What, the Ion wasn’t top of your list? Don’t disagree with you there. And I am glad we decided Nationalism is not the problem here.

I suppose I am somewhat sympathetic to GM and their situation because I know the reasons behind many of their decisions. The way the current contracts with the UAW are set up, certain vehicles MUST be manufactered at certain factories for a certain period of time, or Fiat-style payouts will occur. Yes, I agree, those decisions should not have been made. But when you have a pig union leader who would rather form a strike and hurt the entire company if they don’t meet demands, what do you do? I am a firm believer that the UAW is the root of all automotive evil in this country. GM is not without blame here (Fiat for example), but it pales in comparison to the UAW.

THAT SHOULD DO WONDERS FOR THE TRADE IN VALUE, BUILD THE CRAP OUT OF THEM CHARGE EVERYONE OUT THE ASS FOR THEM, THEN THEY WILL BE ALL OVER AND THE TRADE VALUE WILL SUCK, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CHEVY!

Johnny, who said the body panels will be made of plastic?

I agree with you Paul.This was a strategic move.GM doesnt have to worry about the Health Care costs in Canada.Plus that plant is one of the highest rated in quality GREAT to see GM rewarding for good work.GO GM!!!

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm isnt that where the other cars were built the old camaros

Hopefully GM won’t botch the crash test scores on this thing. Last thing they need is another poor safety rating. It’s bad enough the build quality and depreciation are some of the worst in the industry. Ugh.

I’ve really had enough of all this pointless news about the new camaro. I agree it’s a nice car, and it’s highly anticipated by many people. But how is all this news relevant when the car won’t be released untill 2009?

Congrats to Oshawa you guys deserve it.

You people that are Bashing UAW and the Health care costs. They don’t have the UAW but they have the CAW. The reason for lack of health care costs is because Canada has a national health care system.

Also the F body was made in Canada before. Also people don’t relize one of the reasons the F Body was killed off was because of the Union complaining about the plant dropping to 1 shift. When there was an agreement to keep 2 shifts. So GM just closed the plant down and then tore it down. lolz

its better than china

Big Nick,

I’m sure some of the parts will come from china (either now of eventually)…GM execs would be stupid not to explore that option…Pay someone in china 15 cents an hour to make radiators or pay a delphi worker $15/hour plus vacation plus healthcare plus medical plus dental plus vision plus holidays…Go figure.
Of course, you’ll still see “GM” on the raidiators, but you won’t find the made in usa label…

Ironic isn’t it? Buy a GM car, support China/Canada workers. or buy a Toyota that uses 90% parts made here…go figure.

To Anonymous

Actualy the last generations had very good crash test results on the standard test all vehicles go under. Mine had 5 stars frontal, 4 side (before side airbags).The problem was if your a maniac like most muscle car fans and go way over 100mph, and crash into something no matter what car your in your not going to do too good. The top speed for the last generation was over 160mph and that was limited by the PC. If it was reprogramed it could go faster. On avearge those years the Mustang had almost 90 Hp less.

To all the idiots that know how much horsepower a car has, but don’t know anything else about vehicle history, dynamics, etc (ie. all the morons that don’t have a driver’s license yet; which is probably about half of you)…
1. FACT: The Camaro / Firebird were always built in Canada, just North of Montreal.
LESSON: Learn your history before posting.
2. FACT: The Oshawa plants are the highest rated for quality in North America out of ALL car manufacturing plants.
LESSON: GM had to build the Camaro here, because their quality rating needs to improve on such a widely recognized car.
3. FACT: Canada does not have the high health-care costs that the US has, because Canada’s government offers universal healthcare for free. Therefore, GM can cut approx $2000 off the cost of each car produced in Canada.
LESSON: This is a strategic business opportunity.
4. FACT: NAFTA allows products built in Canada, the US and Mexico to be shipped without tariffs to any other region in the zone.
LESSON: The Camaro will be built and shipped affordibly, for GM
5. FACT: The Canadian dollar has been weaker compared to the US dollar since the late 1970’s.
LESSON: It will cost GM approximaetly 10% less to have the Camaro built in Canada over the US.
Lastly, I have compiled a (very) brief list of just some of the cars built in Canada. You will be surprised at some of them:
FACT: Two of the world’s largest auto-parts manufactures originated in Canada
MAGNA INTERNATIONAL – recently moved its world headquarters to Austria, but originated in Canada.
LINAMAR – Based in Guelph, Ontario, is the #4 auto-parts supplier for the entire world, with sales of $6 billion annually.
Both of the above supply parts for all North American cars, and supply parts for vehicles as varied as BMW, Audi, Lamborghini, and yes, even for the Bugatti Veyron.
LESSON: While Canada may not currently have it’s own major vehicle manufacturer, they are deeply involved in the automotive production process.

Lexus RX330 (all models except for the panaromic roof-model)
Chrysler 300C
Dodge Magnum
Honda Ridgeline
Ford Crown Victoria / Mercury Grand Marquis (think of all the taxi and police cars)
Ford Freestar (and Windstar previously)
Honda – has a huge engine plant in Alliston, Ontario, producing more than half a million engines per year

That’s just a brief list off the top of my head. It represents only about 5-10% by volume of the cars produced in Canada. Some of the cars built are the best in the world, compared to the plants that other manufacturers operate — eg. VW and their plants in Mexico.

It should be noted that Ohsawa currently builds the W-platform cars.

Dr* Manhatten, nice post. Well said.

Thanks, Piablo.

*** I should have changed “major vehicle manufacturer” towards the bottom of my post to “major car manufacturer”… Bombardier was founded in Quebec, it’s world headquarters remain in Quebec, and it’s production remains in Quebec.
Bombardier is world-renowned for the “Ski-doo” model line of snowmobiles, as well as “sea-doo” models (jet-skis), in addition to subway cars, trains (some of the most technologically advanced passenger trains on the market), as well as jet aircraft. In fact, the only major transportation method they are not involved in would be automobile production.

As usual Dr*Manhattan brings the commons sense to this board.
I would point out that the US car manufacturers are getting a discount on the backs of the Canadian people because they are paying for the foolish federal health plan there which lowers the manufacturing costs.
Nothing is free.

Dear Dr*Manhattan the 4rth gen has been the only Camaro ever built in Canada and that as you like to put it is a FACT. Previously built in California. BTW if your going to insult people and call them idiots lets make sure what your post is right. Now I have no problem with the rest nor I care to verify the info. Now what most of us in the US can’t understand is the following. If you can make dozens of other somewhat mundane cars/minivans/SUVs here why not the Camaro. Those other vehicles are nowhere as patriotic as an “American Muscle Car”. Now not being born in this country I am quite aware that AMERICA encompasses two continents, and dozens of countries. If I can remind you much like the mustang logo has underneath the mustang a 3 color stripe, the Camaro has had the same 3stripe logo if not first. It’s red white and blue and no it’s not for France. As much as I like Canada and have been there before ,I would have rather had the Camaro built here. So don’t hold anything for being patriotic for the USA as much as you seam to be for Canada. I guess they still haven’t outlawed patriotism for the US even do it seams the whole world is trying.

i hate canada but this camaro is sweet and gm is sweet but i hate canda!

firesq157… Thanks very much for your response. I can appreciate the fact that an American automotive icon (be it the Camaro, Mustang, or soon-to-be-released Challenger) should be built in the US, because the Big Three are all American companies, because their world headquarters are all located in Michigan (Ann Arbour, Detroit, and Dearborn). However, while Canada and the US share seperate levels of government, seperate borders, seperate currencies, and seperate ideological (political) views; and are independent countries; this does not dismiss the fact that Canadians are just as loyal to American automobile manufacturers as Americans are.
Some Americans may take fault with GM for producing the Camaro in Canada, however, after the previous generation was built here, the Camaro / Firebird had the biggest marketshare that it has ever held. Therefore, while GM may alienate a few hard-core enthusiasts, unfortunaetly the Camaro is no longer a specialty car, and GM is looking to please the 99.9% that will buy the car regardless of whether it was built in Canada or the US.
As it currently stands, GM has nothing to lose by producing the Camaro in Oshawa, Ontario. It’s current market-share is being devoured by the Japanese manufacturers, (with little bites also being taken by the Koreans (Hyundai, Kia, the fastest-growing automotive companies in the world), as well as a bit by the Europeans (and by Europeans I mean Germany only, lol)…
Therefore, GM might alienate .01% of the possible buyers for the Camaro… but in doing so, they have opened up their target-market to an ever-expanding # of consumers.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
If GM doesn’t produce the Camaro now in the best plant in North America for quality, and doesn’t improve their brand image, there just might not be a Camaro, or any other GM product to buy 20, 30, or 40 years down the road from now.

P.S. – the Mustang, as you mentioned, has red, white, and blue stripes on the emblem, that represent the colours of America.
P.P.S. – The Camaro also has red, white, and blue stripes on it’s emblem… They come from the *old* Chevrolet emblem from about 50 or 60 years ago…
Have you ever seen a Corvette emblem (any year?) it has the little fleur-de-lis in it (little flowers; they look like little rockets, sort of… they are traditional French emblems… they came from a young Frenchman, whose last name happened to be, of course, “Chevrolet”… back in the 1900’s, he started a small engine manufacturing company in Quebec (Canada), that was later merged into a conglomerate along with a gentleman by the name of Mr. Olds, and a Mr. Cadillac.
Guess what company Mr. Olds, Mr. Cadillac, and Mr. Chevrolet later established…..

Can’t wait for this overweight retrocrap pig to crash and burn…maybe taking gm down with it for good.

Hopefully this time it won’t have a **** interior and a terrible resale value.

Thanks for being so passionate in your opinion and/or cause now the following is a little more detailed. Chevrolet was co-founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant. Louis Chevrolet was a racecar driver, born on December 25, 1878, in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland not France. He later at the age of 8 lived their and the birth region was close to France. In 1900 Louis lived 6 months in Canada before moving on to New York to work for Buick before beginning to design his own engine in 1909 shortly after he and Durant established Chevrolet. There’s no mention anywhere of him starting an engine company in Canada he spent that time working as a chauffeur. William Durant, founder of General Motors, had been forced out of GM in 1910 and wanted to use Louis Chevrolet’s designs to rebuild his own reputation as a force in the automobile industry. Louis left Chevy in 1913. In 1916, Chevrolet was profitable enough to allow Durant to buy a majority of shares in GM. After the deal was complete in 1917, Durant was president of General Motors, and Chevrolet was merged into GM, becoming a separate division. The Chevrolet logo has 2 possible beginnings 1)taken off a wallpaper Durant saw in France. 2)newspaper add Durant saw in Virginia according to his wife. Chevrolet is a French name historically and given the proximity to Switzerland borders tend to blend two countries. I.E. US flags in Canadian side, Canadian flags on US side of border. The fleur-de-lis (flower of the lily) is a French symbol meaning peace and purity. GM researched Chevrolets family crest and found nothing so they chose this fanciful design popular in crests. So it is merely out of respect for the French word Chevrolet that symbol was chosen in 1953. No actual link to Luis. The 3 stripe logo is for the American flag. It used to be or still is illegal to use the US flag as brand or logo on any commercial product. Even though OLD Navy shirts come to mind. That’s why pony cars had that tri color stripe and why the fleur-de-lis replaced the US flag on the Corvette symbol before it was unveiled (It was also used as a Chevy racing logo for all Chevy cars) . The car being made in Canada will not deter me from purchasing it, as you have noted it probably wont stop anyone. I merely stated my preference and probably the majority of “Americans” interested in purchasing one.

Hi I’m Analymous I post crap and hide behind my name. HIHIHi

firesq57…
Honestly, I am humbled by your research… well done. You proved me wrong; I only wish as many enthouiasts here on LLN would do the same. Truly, well done. I appreciate your historical research on GM’s different divisions; I thought I was right with what I had posted earlier. Obviously, I hadn’t completed my own fact-finding notes; I may have been mislead by the fleur-de-lis logo.
Regardless — you took the initiave, and looked into the entire issue, and delved into the history of the manufactureres, which is more than most individuals will do. That includes myself, unfortunaetly, with this issue.
Well done on the research; it will be a lesson for myself, and should be a lesson for others as well.

Thanks, you obviously like talking about cars and are passionate / knowledgeable about it. I agree with you, most but not all people here just post crap and have no Idea what they are talking about. It’s more like a drive by or hit and run. They just know what they like and try to push it on others. Most are clueless on specs and don’t bother looking into them before posting. I just wish GM would get on building this car sooner.

Bad idea about making the car in Canada, its a American made car for the drivers that like to drive fast, not for the wimps of North America (Canada)

Guess I gave away my secret identity in the above ANALYMOUS post. Anyhow Dieter no reason to insult anyone (only harbors hatred) though I share your preference for manufacturing country. That’s the price of a global economy the Mustang had if not still has a Mazda design/made engine, and only 60% north American (maybe just USA) parts. Anyhow this is the least of the things we can do anything about, we could probably help move the scheduled release forward by pressuring GM with emails.

Honestly, though, who cares? Why even discuss it? It’s a gm, it will drive like crap, leak all sorts of fluids, sell for pennies used, and won’t save the company. The end.

I have to laugh at the history lesson on Camaros always being built in Canada.

Fact: Long before they were ever made in Canada they were also made in Norwood Ohio and as was mentioned earlier California.

Lesson:You know a lot happened in the world before you were born, in the 1980s?

I love it! One of the quintessential american muscle cars that helped define the 60’s being made in Canada…

Oh how will the american muscle fan react?

For all you Canada haters. Build the damn car yourself. If you want an “American Muscle Car”, build it yourself. Oh yeah that right your American and have to ride the backs of everyone else, shoot your mouth off that your better than everyone else. Guess what your s**t stinks too.

Its a CAR. If someone parked it in your driveway, you’d drive it and wouldn’t care where it came from. Quit complaining and enjoy the fact Chevy is going to build it at all.

Do you want to continue to see only Mustangs on the road and soon the Challenger? Come on boys and girls, Cheer for Chevy.

Thank you GM for keeping our country going forward Canada has a hard enough time trying to do anything without you Americans Crying about it we are a small populated countrywith large amounts of land space and the US thinks they should take everything from us for nothing this is MY opinion and I think some of the Americans whinin should stop or Maybe they could quit asking Canada for everything it has we would like to make a Profit from time to time also

The Weasel A True Canadian

Sorry forgot to say I like the car and will buy it wherever it is built

The emblem that you speak of the corvette…during a period in the 80’s GM had changed the emblem to the 2 flags that had the black and white checkered and the other was the bow tie logo why was that? and then in to the 90’s they brought back the original logo for the vette.