I feel so much better now.

quote:

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Sorry Bud ...

You’re way off base:

I’m one of the “old guys” that drives a newer Camaro. Mine happens to be a fully loaded, 1999 Convertible SS with a 6 speed manual transmission. Consider:
I’ve not had an at fault accident or moving violation in over 18 years.
I love taking it to the drag strip (13.341 @ 106 best so far) and to AutoCross --- came in first overall last time out beating everything the Japanese, Germans and Americans presented --- while looking and sounding the best based on the folks in the stands.
I consistently get 20% to 25% better fuel economy than our previous ‘98 Jimmy and our current 2002 Envoy.
5 star passenger crash rating --- you tell my wife she doesn’t deserve that type of protection.
The “Camaro” is true to its’ name (Comrade, Friend). I have made great friends across the continent over the last few years, via the WWW and in person at Camaro meets and would suggest that the stereotype you portray is not consistent with my experience.

I believe the Camaro will be back --- better, stronger, more beautiful --- and will show the rest what true American Auto engineering is all about.

Art Schroeder
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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if his bosses read our stuff.. he's gonna be lucky to have a job come the end of the week.

Dear Mr. Trigaux,

Judging by the tone of your column on the GM F-body, as well as the oh-so-earnest and steely expression displayed on your portrait face, I’d guess you’re a minivan, or Volvo driver? Maybe a Buick Park Avenue, given your part of the country and the probable advanced age of your readership. I’m tempted to say, “Hey, Bob, lighten up a little!”, but I’m afraid the pomposity and highly developed sense of self-righteousness in your arteries seems far too hardened.

In any case, it’s certain you haven’t driven an F-body lately (if ever). The cars are very stable, have excellent handling and far better brakes, for example, than my wife’s new Volvo XC wagon. Further, if you’d taken care to examine the numbers behind the “Death Rates” you primly refer to, you’d see that the statistics don’t really support the inferences you draw. (Didn’t you know that the IIHS hates cars with horsepower almost as much as they hate cars with charisma?)

And by the way, I just turned 50, I’m not poor, and I just started drag racing in this my (first) Camaro SS. What’s more, most young people who come across my car are mesmerized by it, their ignorance the fault of GM’s lack of advertising rather than any irrelevance on my Camaro’s part. I even had a middle aged Volvo wagon driver leave his new car in traffic and come up to my driver’s door to ask me “what this beautiful car” was... Not to mention smiles and thumbs up from many BMW and Jaguar drivers, and fine compliments from many pretty young things here in Boston.

Perhaps if you reacquainted yourself with the pleasures of a youthful outlook on life and living, Mr. Trigaux, you’d mark the passing of an American automotive icon with a bit more respect and a bit less self-satisfied gloating.

Yours truly,
Paul A. Zink

"Mr. McGovern

In these trying times of controversy and misunderstanding, I find it unfathomable that a media icon such as the Saint Petersburg Times would allow such a Politically Incorrect and biased view as the diatribe written by your Mr. Trigaux.

It is evident by his biased hatred for "Muscle Cars" and the people driving them, that he was beat for his lunch money one too many times as a child, he strikes me as the type that would rather give juvenile offenders a time out then use the justice system.

I see he associates with Dr. Kevorkians character to solve the mysteries of vehicle marketing, is this the publications view? Or is Mr. Trigaux fascination with a murderer his own obsession?

As for my age and fascination with the Camaro... I'm old enough to start the Super Sport Owners Association and be the recipient of the "Top Cop, United States" Award by the President, in that I would say that age discrimination has no place in the ownership of a true American Icon. Unlike the ramblings of your writer.

In closing I would ask you use the services of an editor the next time you insist on stepping on thousands of patriotic Americans showing their support by investing in an American company.