Motor Trend Comparo: Camaro SS vs. Challenger R/T vs. Mustang GT

HEMIRYDER
May 8, 2009 at 9:20 pm

STARTING A CLUB FOR DODGE N CHRYSLERS HEMI R NOT NOT IN THE MARYLAND AREA IF THATS U CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

WilliamPanik
Mar 24, 2009 at 10:50 pm

I know I’m biased but I’m gonna say Mustang.. For 10 grand and 100 horses less you get a car that’s only .5 sec slower in the 1/4 mile. Not to mention the Mustang’s newly improved handling and interior.. I vote Mustang with the Challenger the close 2nd..

phattacorider
Mar 24, 2009 at 1:14 pm

For all the haters out there, consider these things. Ford doesn’t need a bailout. That only constitutes to how they market themselves, not how well built a car is.

Also, muscle car or not, there needs to be some room for other things in our daily lives. I’m sorry but I find it obsurd(sp?) that anyone would spend over $30k for a car just to go fast in a straight line when you can spend the same amount for a car that’s maybe 1 second slower on the 1/4 mile, YET gets better mileage, has better handling, seats 4, has enough room for a full load of groceries, and has some electronic enjoyments.

ALSO, replicating older models is nothing new. Now I’m not a car know-it-all guy at all, by no means, so I am very much open for corrections. But personally, I think GM has been on top of that with the Monte Carlo, it’s kept fairly similar in appearance with it’s older models to the newest ones regardless of whether it’s considered a muscle car or not. Who knows if Ford got that idea from GM or whatever, all I know is the Mustang isn’t Ford’s recent replication, seems more like the T-bird is in 2002 or something like that. Dodge? Eh, I can’t think of anything else they had besides the Challenger. I wouldn’t consider the Charger a replication, more like muscle for a doctor’s wife when she’s not driving hubby’s M5.

But yeah, I’d have to sit in the Ford in this one as number one, Challenger number 2, and Camaro number 3.

phattacorider
Mar 24, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Mustang FTW. Camaro looks the best, Challenger is most practical for the bank, but the Mustang is the most practical for everything else. Also, it’s a Mustang, just like the Supra, it’s easiest, cheapest, and probably most fun to mod.

Gregarious
Mar 24, 2009 at 11:11 am

Camaro!!! Camaro!!! Camaro!!!

leatherman944
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:02 pm

I had the opportunity to sit in the Camaro recently, and they aren’t kidding when they say last in cabin space. As soon as I got in it, my head was on the roof. The seat was pushed back all the way so that everyone had a chance to sit in it, and that alone makes it so that I can’t buy that car (not that I have the money for it anyway). I’m 6′2″.

Resurrected_Z28
Mar 23, 2009 at 6:32 pm

Wow I guess you could put more groceries in the Mustang’s trunk but over all, Mustang OWNED!!!

Austin Gaddis
Mar 23, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Me being a Ford guy, I would say the Motor Trend test came out just about right. The Camaro and the Challenger are both new cars. Chevy has had about 5 years to learn from ford what to do, and Dodge, well, they have had 35-40 years to figure it out. The Dodge is far more practical and easy to live with day to day, the Chevy is a more authentic muscle car and the Ford is the best mix of the two….Kinda like it has always been. So, in my opinion, Ford still gets the overall win.

whistler321
Mar 23, 2009 at 6:04 pm

soo…. why the hell did they put the high versions of the camaro and mustang against the mid level challenger? thats retarded

Moparmaniac07
Mar 23, 2009 at 5:41 pm

I understand, and no I didn’t realize they had to use premium. I was just saying the challenger was more practical on paper, which is what made it heavy.

FordRulesAll
Mar 23, 2009 at 4:45 pm

I understand you are a Mopar guy, but as I said it is my opinion, just like in your opinion you probably like the Challenger the best. There does have to be some practicality in today’s muscle car, especially with the economy. Just think if you were Ford, or Dodge, sell a car that isn’t practical enough for a the average Joe, and make small money off the people like you and I who really don’t give a care of the practicality and are in it because of the car, or sell something that the average Joe can buy and can use it to at least fit his wife and kid in. With gas if you noticed they had to use premium for the Challenger and Camaro, but reagular for the Mustang.Im not looking for minivan practicality, but there has to be some just to make it available for all. And truthfully I didn’t say anything bad about the Challenger I just like the Mustang better. I just don’t like Chevy nor the Camaro. And I do disagree with the order too, it should’ve been Mustang, Challenger, then Camaro

retroman
Mar 23, 2009 at 4:43 pm

I’m glad to see this comparison is finally out. Now let’s get that Z/28 out there and let the best ultimate ponycar wars begin!!! I admit I tend to side with the Mustang because I’m a big Shelby fan, but now the base car looks more humble than the other two. That won’t change my appreciation for Mustangs, but I’d have to say, I wouldn’t mind owning the Chevy and definitely would love to have the Dodge.

Moparmaniac07
Mar 23, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Fordrulesall, if you say practicality is number one, then why pick the Mustang over the Challenger. The Challenger has a bigger trunk, more comfortable and roomy interior, and gets better fuel mileage.
I do agree with Motortrend though when they say you don’t buy a musclecar for practicality. I don’t think the Challenger needs all the creature comforts that just weigh it down. I do disagree with the order, mainly because I’m a mopar guy.

FordRulesAll
Mar 23, 2009 at 2:31 pm

Just to add, I’d rather have GM succeed than import companies. American cars are losing way to much because people get the false idea that imports are better in quality and technology(which they aren’t) because of their prices. It’s actually an import tax that they are just passing on to you import buyers.

FordRulesAll
Mar 23, 2009 at 2:26 pm

I strongly agree with Brett. This is why I cancelled my Motor Trend subscription. It’s rediculous, Motor Trend favors GM big time. I think the Camaro has has very subpar styling. And the funny thing is that people keep going on and on about the Mustang’s engine, if any of you pay attention there is an engine coming out called the Ecoboost sporting a V6 with around 340-375 HP. I didn’t see the Camaro out since it’s been introduced, the Mustang has been around for 45 years(exactly March 9). As for the Challenger I would choose it over a Camaro any day. I think GM is late with the Camaro, when did we first see, it in what, 2007. Everyone is always hating way too much on Ford, what are you jealous that Ford actually knows how to run a comapny, get over it people we all know who the better car company is. And another thing a Muscle car or any car for that matter has to have practicality to sell, small trunk, small cabin, and sharpness is what Motor Trend even says about the Camaro. If you want something to sell you have to appeal to the people. The Ford Mustang will always be number one in the car game pony car, muscle car, what ever Mustang is number one. Now everyone has their opinions, but my opinion will always be the same FORD and FORD only.

Gotadime
Mar 23, 2009 at 12:40 pm

I’d say that’s about right. =D

NWSilverado
Mar 23, 2009 at 12:18 pm

I still say that Ford should have left the aft alone on the 2010 Mustang. What was wrong with the nice big bold Tailights? Why did they go and taper the new ones. It just makes the bumper look huge and wrong now. As for the Camaro, I hope that this helps a little bit bring Chevy out of the books but, I’m sure this won’t even tip the Iceberg of the amount they owe. I wonder how long before somebody comes out with an Aftermarket bumper for the 2010 Camaro the Deletes the Backup lights and put’s them somewhere much smarter than “no-mans land bumperville.”

Just my 2 bits worth.

Moparmaniac07
Mar 23, 2009 at 12:05 pm

I think GM is in worse shape than Chrysler, and I haven’t seen all that much bashing about Ford or Chevy that didn’t come from an import guy. The import crowd thinks all American cars are shit, and they always will. I make fun of Ford and Chevy and my friends that like them, and I always will, they make fun of me for being a mopar guy. None of us actually believe the other companies are junk, we just say we do. But the one thing we’ll all make fun of together is the imports.

SouthernGuy8503
Mar 23, 2009 at 12:05 pm

i said that its just as good as the mustang and challenger, meaning its no worse, you reworded what i said, i didn’t say it was no better, i just said it was just as good so it meant it was no worse than the other two, and what i meant about the restlyling, i said nothing abut the chassis, i said the actual stylings of it, as in when they changed the styling back to the styling of the old mustang, so what i meant was ford probably thiought “well hey GM is trying to bring back an old muscle car, lets just restyle the mustang to look like the old muscle car” not meaning the GTO is the reason they did it but just seems that way because of the timing of the mustang restyling after the GTO coming out

whtfocus77
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:58 am

there all s0o0o0o0o sick.

Brett Powers
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:26 am

I agree 100%, the GTO was a rush job. I don’t think Ford really redesigned the mustang because of it (The Mustang was still on the 79-04 Fox chassis run) but I do think the brand loyalty bashing has to stop. I’m no better I’ve been guilty of the same thing. You said the Camaro was no better? I think this shootout Motor Trend did would beg to differ, it obviously did well for itself. Take this with pride Chevy boys because you need it now more than ever!

SouthernGuy8503
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:22 am

im not bashing ford or you, i was just saying in general to evreybody that has been bashing on the new camaro that its just as good as the mustang and challenger, like i said i do like mustangs and also the new challenger, im just taking up for chevy against the camaro bashers, not you personally
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but in all honestly if i remember right, ford didn’t restyle the mustang to the old msutangs until AFTER GM tried with the GTO, which me personally i hated it and thats coming from a GM guy, afte rthey came out with the GTO ford got the idea to restyle the mustang, i might be wrong though but thats just what i remember, but ya the GTO i heard was garbage and it looked nothing like an old GTO, just basically a grand prix with a V8 and stuck a GTO badge on it

Brett Powers
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:15 am

Okay lets do this, Ford designed the Mustang and it was a HUGE hit in 05 so Dodge and Chevy jumped the bandwagon and designed a car using the Mustang’s idea right? You say the Mustang is overweight, have you looked at a Challenger’s weight? Pretty sure the Camaro is pretty hefty itself. Me? I am happy for Chevy to do well against its peers in a Motor Trend article (God knows Chevy needs good press). Does it anger me that GM is bringing the Camaro back out? No, quite the opposite. What angers me is the Ford bashing that goes on everytime we have an article that includes a Ford. Come on guys lets be adults. I can appreciate the fact that the Camaro is faster AND has a nicer V6. I’m sure within the next year or so Ford will have the EcoBoost sorted away and in the Mustang. Remember the Camaro is a BRAND NEW car and the Mustang is a car that is on a 6 year old chassis. I can argue the Mustang’s case all day but when it all somes down to it I think the order Motor Trend came out with is 100% right. GM really did make an amazing car and this is coming from the eternal Ford fan.

SouthernGuy8503
Mar 23, 2009 at 11:09 am

oh and by the way, im not talking down about ford or dodge cause even though im a chevy guy i’d rather own a ford or dodge than an import anyday, my point is why anybody talk sh*t about a car just because its a GM, thats being ignorant
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also it shouldn’t even be chevy vs. ford vs. mopar anymore, its really american vs. imports, people should just be glad they’re coming back out with the camaro to compete with the little imports instead of talking down about it even though its nothing to talk down about

SouthernGuy8503
Mar 23, 2009 at 10:55 am

thats just because evybody wants one rather its a 16 year old teenage girl to a mom that wants a V6 for the gas mileage, its the type of thing where you say “oh if eveybody wants one i want one to”, just because it outsells the camaro dont’ mean its better, and the reaosn i said that in the other comment is because ford and dodge have been in the muscle car wars without chevy for 5-6 years now and now that chevy is coming out with the camaro again they’re just mad, also everybody knows that any mustang is heavy as hell and underpowered except for the V8 mustangs above a GT like roush, cobra, GT500, the GT mustang is still undrepowered, i just find it funny that the new V6 camaro has just as much HP as the V8 GT mustang, like i said, i like mustangs and challengers, just i think the ford and mopar people are mad that chevy is coming back into the game

Brett Powers
Mar 23, 2009 at 10:41 am

Ford is whining? Look at the Mustang since it came out, its always had less horsepower than the Camaro in most cases but yet lower priced and OUTSELLS the Camaro. I don’t think Ford has much to whine about.

SouthernGuy8503
Mar 23, 2009 at 10:19 am

see they did it right, you dont’ buy a muscle car for how much luxury the interior gives or how much trunk space you have or how much leg room the back apssengers have, you get it for power, handling really comes 2nd in importance, hell in a blog it said in the link that the V6 camaro has almost the same HP and torque as the V8 mustang GT and the SS camaro comes with 426 HP from the factory stock, thats a muscle car, you get a muscle car for power not how fast you can go around a corner, i man don’t get me wrong i love the mustang and challenger but i think ford and dodge people are jsut whinning and mad that chevy is coming back out with a kick ass camaro
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and for the dumbasses that say GM will go under, trust me GM is way to big to just go out of business, GM will make it, just got to figure out finances and work everything out, also the bailouts ain’t just free money its loans that they’ll have to pay back, jsut liek how ford and chrysler will have to pay back also and from what i heard chrysler is actually in worst shape than GM its just not in the news as much, only reason is because GM has a lot more choices to fix things, more vehicle makes and models and everything

Chris Bicknell
Mar 23, 2009 at 10:06 am

Now that’s what I’m talking about!! Thank you Motor Trend and thank you GM! Don’t get me wrong, I love the new Challenger and the new Mustang is one hell of a car but that bow tie is the one for me!