Consumer and Car Exam News # 33: Chrysler 200 ad a big hit--especially with dealers, and Chevrolet keeps adding special Camaros

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Chrysler dealers are taking advantage of the 200's good fortune: Automotive News reports that Chrysler had a popular ad with its Chrysler 200 Super Bowl commercial featuring the rapper, Eminem, and dealers are doing a lot to try to take advantage of its success. Chrysler deals are trying to draw customers by printing t-shirts, sending lots of emails to customers and more. Chrysler's ad agency, Wieden + Kennedy has also stated there have been over five million views of the ad on YouTube.com.

Source: Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110214/RETAIL07/302149934/1250) 2/14/11



Chevrolet keeps putting more heat on the Ford Mustang with the Camaro: Automotive News is also reporting that Chevrolet will come out with a limited-edition Camaro every six months to keep interest in the car strong, and keep the current Camaro development evolving. It was just last week at the Chicago Auto that Chevy revealed plans to sell the new supercharged, 550 hp 2012 Camaro ZL1, and it will also be selling 500 replicas of the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Camaro Pace Car this spring (the V6 Synergy model will also probably make a comeback in the spring, as well), and possibly another 2012 Camaro based on The Transformers movie sequel may debut this summer.

Source: Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110214/RETAIL03/302149946/1156) 2/14/11

P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #20: The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V6

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Good Grades: The 304 hp, 3.6 liter V6 has a strong feel, the Synergy Green exterior paint job looks great, and just like the Camaro SS I tested earlier this year: solid chassis, terrific retro exterior styling, comfortable front seats, generally good interior materials.

Bad Grades: The same flaws as the Camaro SS--This car is extremely claustrophobic--the windows all around are extremely small (and the black interior doesn't help), limited outward visibility, huge blind spot when changing lanes, retro instrument gauges aren't a good thing (Instrument gauges down by the gear shifter on the console? This is absolutely ridiculous--put them near the speedometer where it makes common sense), small back seats and trunk, and the car is too heavy—it needs to be lighter—and it puts undue stress on the V6. This car would be even quicker if it were 300-400 pounds lighter.

Final Grade: The V6 Camaro is a good choice for customers wanting decent horsepower and looks with out the price and fuel economy penalties of the Camaro SS. However, the more I drive the Camaro with its smallish windows, the less fond of the car I become. I hope Chevrolet would correct that design flaw soon, but it won’t—and probably won’t until the car is due for a serious redesign. My suggestion: get a Camaro with the power sunroof option--it just may improve things a bit (you can't get a sunroof on the base LS model unfortunately. You'll have to move up to at least the LT trim package to get one).

The Car Exam Grade: B/B-
Base MSRP: $23,530 (including Destination Freight Charges)