Is the V6 Consisdered a muscle car?

[Baelfire]

From the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition:

muscle car
n. A high-performance automobile, often with flashy, sporty styling.


A lot of cars meet the criteria that aren't often thought of as true muscle cars.

Technically speaking, one could refer to a boxer as a gladiator. However, the term invokes images of ancient rome and is seldom used to describe modern day pugilists.

In my opinion, the term muscle car is similar. It is a pop culture reference from an era that has since passed. As such, it should be relegated to the culture that spawned the term. When someone says muscle car, nothing produced in the modern era springs to mind. What springs to mind are images of cars from a bygone time, classics from the 60's and early 70's.

I would humbly submit that people who refer to modern cars as muscle cars share motivations with people who would refer to boxers as gladiators. The intent is to enhance the reputation by using an outdated term to reference past glories.

I prefer to think of modern cars like the 5th Gen Camaro as performance coupes.

[navmaxlp]

I prefer to consider only the old school cars muscle cars. I'm with masterofpuppets and Baelfire in calling the new breed, performance cars. Then again, a rose by any other name...

[Unfair]

Originally Posted by navmaxlp

Wow... You can lead a horse to water.....

but you can't make it a v6? lol

Originally Posted by JChen

What about Leno's twin turbo? 425 hp isn't muscle?

It can have 600hp it's not a v8 muscle car.
this scion TC has 1000hp, would you call it a muscle car?

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by Mindz;

Read the rules people. Respect and no personal attacks. :troll:


Personally, I consider the camaro a muscle car by my own definition... Notice no models about it. They make different versions for a reason. You won't find many 6 cylinder cars with 300+ horsepower unless they're made for performance... so they fit the bill as well.

there are many cars with 300hp thease days. thats not really a big thing by todays standards. its the new 200hp of a day gone by. it doesn't matter though because the camaro as a car isn't a muscle car. to me it's an instult to muscle car owners to even sugest that v6 camaro would get put in the same class as them. muslce cars have been gone since the early seventies.
I don't understand why people want to call the new camaro a muscle car anyway because it's light years better than any muscle car I ever owned including the v6.

[markplusone]

Hey all Im the brother that was educating my little brother on the finer points of what a muscle car is. When Chevy came out with a camaro and then only offered in v6, that tells me the are not making a muscle car, they are making a modern rendition of a classic muscle car. This all started with him telling me about him wanting to buy one. Anyone see the list price on one of those. For the same money you can buy a restored one that is in the 9-10 sec. range and rattle windows for miles. Not to mention being the epitomy of the Muscle car kingdom. It would show cooth and affiction. But no, he had to have a new one cuz its new and so bought the yuppymaro. Im glad it gets 35 mpg and Im glad it has a sticker that says its a camaro and Im sure its an awesome daily driver. Just dont try to tell me its a muscle car. Now, a dodge viper, thaaats a muscle car. Half engine, half gas tank, and not much for creature comforts. I will say, a new camaro would be nicer to roll in than my old Crown vic (v-8)

[JChen]

Originally Posted by JChen
What about Leno's twin turbo? 425 hp isn't muscle?

Originally Posted by Unfair

It can have 600hp it's not a v8 muscle car.
this scion TC has 1000hp, would you call it a muscle car?

Yeah, but I'm not talking about a 425 hp Scion. You're comparing apples to oranges where I'm now comparing apples to apples. Some say the SS is muscle with 426 hp and I'm countering their statement by asking why a 425 hp Camaro wouldn't be.

[garcmol]

Originally Posted by markplusone

Hey all Im the brother that was educating my little brother on the finer points of what a muscle car is. When Chevy came out with a camaro and then only offered in v6, that tells me the are not making a muscle car, they are making a modern rendition of a classic muscle car.You need to do some research!

This all started with him telling me about him wanting to buy one. Anyone see the list price on one of those. Yes, think we all have. This is a Camaro forum, for the record

For the same money you can buy a restored one that is in the 9-10 sec. range and rattle windows for miles. Not to mention being the epitomy of the Muscle car kingdom. It would show cooth and affiction. But no, he had to have a new one cuz its new and so bought the yuppymaro. Im glad it gets 35 mpg Really?

and Im glad it has a sticker that says its a camaro and Im sure its an awesome daily driver. Just dont try to tell me its a muscle car. Now, a dodge viper, thaaats a muscle car. Half engine, half gas tank, and not much for creature comforts. I will say, a new camaro would be nicer to roll in than my old Crown vic (v-8)I agree 1000%

Welcome to the forum. Just ribbin' ya. Don't be hatin' on your brother!!

[hollywoodGU]

Hmmm 6 pages and 95% of it is crap...
Here are some questions you might want to think about b4 all you guys on the "V6 is not a muscle car" side say anything else.

What if Dodge does but the viper motor in the Challenger, its not a "V8" so would that not be muscle?

And as for everyone who says if it has turbo its not muscle...turbo is just a form of FI...its no different than a Pro or super charger IMO. So if you are going to say a turbo makes a car not a muscle care then you would have to say the same about a turbocharger....so where does that leave the GT500?

Muscle Car is an attitude IMO and attitude that Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, Firebirds, and the old Cougars along with a few other cars have.

/Rant

EDIT
I lied rant not over.

For all the ppl trying to compare the Scions with 1000HP and all the other imports as such. Like I said earlier, being a Muscle Car is about attitude...and IMO imports don't share that attitude.

now rant over I promise!

[Mankind]

This thread is hilarious. A worthless debate. Think back about what made mucle cars earn the name. Back then it took a v8 to make muscle. You don't need a v8 anymore to make the same amount of muscle. Anyone old enough to have owned or been involve with the muscle cars of old knows the size and physical strength of the car as well as the motor. I don't think any of todays cars are true muscle cars simply because of the over-all strenth of the car, not just because it is a v8 or v6. I can lean against my car and feel the flex of the sheetmetal. I could kick my 68 Chevelle and hurt my foot with no damage to the car. Todays cars are just not in the same class as they were in the 60's and early 70's.

[hollywoodGU]

Originally Posted by markplusone

Hey all Im the brother that was educating my little brother on the finer points of what a muscle car is. When Chevy came out with a camaro and then only offered in v6, that tells me the are not making a muscle car, they are making a modern rendition of a classic muscle car. This all started with him telling me about him wanting to buy one. Anyone see the list price on one of those. For the same money you can buy a restored one that is in the 9-10 sec. range and rattle windows for miles. Not to mention being the epitomy of the Muscle car kingdom. It would show cooth and affiction. But no, he had to have a new one cuz its new and so bought the yuppymaro. Im glad it gets 35 mpg and Im glad it has a sticker that says its a camaro and Im sure its an awesome daily driver. Just dont try to tell me its a muscle car. Now, a dodge viper, thaaats a muscle car. Half engine, half gas tank, and not much for creature comforts. I will say, a new camaro would be nicer to roll in than my old Crown vic (v-8)

I wouldn't call the Viper a muscle car, I would call it a sports car like the Vette....thats just my opinion tho...

[hollywoodGU]

Originally Posted by Mankind

This thread is hilarious. A worthless debate. Think back about what made mucle cars earn the name. Back then it took a v8 to make muscle. You don't need a v8 anymore to make the same amount of muscle. Anyone old enough to have owned or been involve with the muscle cars of old knows the size and physical strength of the car as well as the motor. I don't think any of todays cars are true muscle cars simply because of the over-all strenth of the car, not just because it is a v8 or v6. I can lean against my car and feel the flex of the sheetmetal. I could kick my 68 Chevelle and hurt my foot with no damage to the car. Todays cars are just not in the same class as they were in the 60's and early 70's.

I agree with you 100%

I would say if we are going to call these cars "muscle cars" then we have to qualify it by saying "Modern Day Muscle Car". The cars of the 60's and early 70's will always be in a class of their own!

[Unfair]

Originally Posted by Mankind

This thread is hilarious. A worthless debate. Think back about what made mucle cars earn the name. Back then it took a v8 to make muscle. You don't need a v8 anymore to make the same amount of muscle. Anyone old enough to have owned or been involve with the muscle cars of old knows the size and physical strength of the car as well as the motor. I don't think any of todays cars are true muscle cars simply because of the over-all strenth of the car, not just because it is a v8 or v6. I can lean against my car and feel the flex of the sheetmetal. I could kick my 68 Chevelle and hurt my foot with no damage to the car. Todays cars are just not in the same class as they were in the 60's and early 70's.

But you can't replace the "muscle" sounds of a v8, am I right?

[garcmol]

oh wait.....this needed no bumping (alive and well)

[hollywoodGU]

Originally Posted by Unfair

But you can't replace the "muscle" sounds of a v8, am I right?

I think what mankind was saying, and I 2nd, is that the term "Muscle Car" didnt only refer to the engine. It was also the physical strength of the body of the car. Any one who has been around a 69 camaro and a 10 camaro knows exactly what I mean.

Not trying to put words in your mouth ManKind...if I'm wrong about what u were saying just lmk