Going to buy a new pony car! Need help!

[Cannaro]

Test drove them both! Sort of... I went to both dealerships to see which I liked best. The Ford dealership luckily had 3 in stock while the Chevy dealership had 4. The bad news is.. all the Camaros were automatics! WTF! If I'm going to get a new age muscle car it better be a stick! Anyways, enough of my rant about the automatics (they are nice in SUVs and daily drivers). Either way I decided I'd still drive it to get a feel of how the car drives.

Heres my impressions of both:

Camaro- Very bold, unlike my vision of what a true pony car should be like. Felt very smooth and handled the road nicely. Interior felt a bit cheap but I knew that going into it. I was surprised how well the turns felt, it had a lot of go when exiting a turn, I'm assuming the IRS helped it out in this segment. Acceleration felt quick, but I didn't get any type of throwback in my seat kind of thrust. I used to have a 2003 Cobra and it did a much better job of that! One thing which was nice is that it always hooked up, I barely got a chirp out of the tires and it was moving. For being fast thats good, but when trying to have some fun it could spoil things. Exhuast note was not my favorite... kind of sounds like a motorcycle. Overall I enjoyed the drive but the automatic killed my joy ride.

Mustang- Still feels a bit large and it would be nice if it was a tad smaller. Luckily they had a manual trans GT with 3.73 gears! First thought was how soft the clutch felt. It honestly felt like it wasn't even there! I was impressed since all the other cars I've ever had had really stiff clutches. This made for a very easy shifting experience. Once getting it out on the road I noticed that it hooked up really well too! I was very surprised since the stock tires were only 245s or 255s... cant remember for sure. It sounded a bit louder once driving compared to the camaro. I personally liked this, since both cars are very quiet anyways. The ride was noticeably stiffer, and I'm sure the SRA did not help the road feel. While noticing the road more, it also felt more responsive and tighter. Interior was alright, there was still a whole of plastic moldings which just felt cheap. The layout I think was much better though. I too noticed the cave like feel which many of the magazines reported. It wasn't claustrophobic feeling, but it was definitely harder to see out of.

And the winner is... drum roll . .. . .. . . . . . . .. .

The Mustang! I bet you guys are thrilled. lol

If you must know I just got done ordering my Stang online. In several weeks I will be the proud owner of a 2011 Kona Blue 5.0 base model, 3.73 gears, HID headlights, and of course the Brembo Brake option.

I do appreciate the responses though. The Camaro was a very nice car but I just felt the Mustang was more fun to drive. While the Camaro is heavier then the Mustang you can feel it when driving it. Not to mention the suspension felt a bit sloppy to the 5.0s stiffer ride.

Anyways, thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it.

[John Shields]

Originally Posted by ViperTomcat

2000



2005



2011




I'll admit the 2005 and 2010/11's are pretty similar..but to say they are basically the same for the last 10 years isnt quite fair.

Nope, that sums it up rather nicely. On a side note... why does this thread even still exist. I thought we figured the guy was trolling.

[McBeevee]

Originally Posted by Cannaro

Test drove them both! Sort of... I went to both dealerships to see which I liked best. The Ford dealership luckily had 3 in stock while the Chevy dealership had 4. The bad news is.. all the Camaros were automatics! WTF! If I'm going to get a new age muscle car it better be a stick! Anyways, enough of my rant about the automatics (they are nice in SUVs and daily drivers). Either way I decided I'd still drive it to get a feel of how the car drives.

Heres my impressions of both:

Camaro- Very bold, unlike my vision of what a true pony car should be like. Felt very smooth and handled the road nicely. Interior felt a bit cheap but I knew that going into it. I was surprised how well the turns felt, it had a lot of go when exiting a turn, I'm assuming the IRS helped it out in this segment. Acceleration felt quick, but I didn't get any type of throwback in my seat kind of thrust. I used to have a 2003 Cobra and it did a much better job of that! One thing which was nice is that it always hooked up, I barely got a chirp out of the tires and it was moving. For being fast thats good, but when trying to have some fun it could spoil things. Exhuast note was not my favorite... kind of sounds like a motorcycle. Overall I enjoyed the drive but the automatic killed my joy ride.

Mustang- Still feels a bit large and it would be nice if it was a tad smaller. Luckily they had a manual trans GT with 3.73 gears! First thought was how soft the clutch felt. It honestly felt like it wasn't even there! I was impressed since all the other cars I've ever had had really stiff clutches. This made for a very easy shifting experience. Once getting it out on the road I noticed that it hooked up really well too! I was very surprised since the stock tires were only 245s or 255s... cant remember for sure. It sounded a bit louder once driving compared to the camaro. I personally liked this, since both cars are very quiet anyways. The ride was noticeably stiffer, and I'm sure the SRA did not help the road feel. While noticing the road more, it also felt more responsive and tighter. Interior was alright, there was still a whole of plastic moldings which just felt cheap. The layout I think was much better though. I too noticed the cave like feel which many of the magazines reported. It wasn't claustrophobic feeling, but it was definitely harder to see out of.

And the winner is... drum roll . .. . .. . . . . . . .. .

The Mustang! I bet you guys are thrilled. lol

If you must know I just got done ordering my Stang online. In several weeks I will be the proud owner of a 2011 Kona Blue 5.0 base model, 3.73 gears, HID headlights, and of course the Brembo Brake option.

I do appreciate the responses though. The Camaro was a very nice car but I just felt the Mustang was more fun to drive. While the Camaro is heavier then the Mustang you can feel it when driving it. Not to mention the suspension felt a bit sloppy to the 5.0s stiffer ride.

Anyways, thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it.

That's freakin awesome! Words can't describe how happy I am for you

[spyderwebb]

Interesting thread, and you seem to have made a decision that works best for you. Even your perspective on each car was fair, they are both repectable cars and anyone who suggest less is just talking smack, they each have thier good and bad points.

Personally I love the Camaro and the looks of it bury the Mustang (IMHO), and I couldn't be happier with the performance and quality, but to each his own.

Hey, enjoy your ride and I bet it is fair to say you will have a respect for the Camaro when you are out on the road enjoying your Mustang.

[mhood]

Personally, my participation in this thread has left me feeling used and that type of dirty that a simple shower won't clean.

[SwedishMeatballs]

I don't get the meaningless bashing of the car you don't have. If anyone want's to drive a 'Stang then fine, knock yourself out.

To the OP; Good for you, you made your choice and you're happy with it.

Me personally I just think the Stang is too common, even here in Sweden you can see 3-4 of them per day which is alot considering they're all imports, Camaro's I've seen exactly one other car in traffic except mine ... total. Also the Camaro for me is a real jaw dropper, so cool to look at and the feeling never goes away. Can't really feel that with the Ford.

Don't worry, be happy!

[ss ZHO]

Originally Posted by Sax1031

The fastest quarter mile times have come from the 3.31 or 3.55 geared 5.0s. Completely stock of course.

The 3.73 should be the quickest 1/4. That doesn't make sense.

BTW, the manual has a 3.15.

[alrox]

Originally Posted by ss ZHO

The 3.73 should be the quickest 1/4. That doesn't make sense.

BTW, the manual has a 3.15.

Untrue. The quickest stickshift GT will have 3.55 gears. With 3.73's you're forced to shift into 5th. With 3.55's youll hit the finish line right under redline in 4th.

3.55's are a 'rare' option and considering the car has been out only a few months there haven't been many made with this option.

[ss ZHO]

Originally Posted by alrox

Untrue. The quickest stickshift GT will have 3.55 gears. With 3.73's you're forced to shift into 5th. With 3.55's youll hit the finish line right under redline in 4th.

3.55's are a 'rare' option and considering the car has been out only a few months there haven't been many made with this option.

Interesting point. From reading the mustang forums, it seems that many are going 3.73 thinking it is fastest 1/4. People that have a 3.73 often say its too high, and for daily driving the 3.55 or 3.31 would be way better.

I will have to make a post asking if what you all are saying is true. I understand the extra shift logic, just never heard any indication to what you all are saying.

[1bad65]

Originally Posted by John Shields

Nope, that sums it up rather nicely. On a side note... why does this thread even still exist. I thought we figured the guy was trolling.

We can always count on you to show up in every Mustang thread on the site, dog out the Mustang, and then complain about all the Mustang threads.

[JEFF2010SSMANUAL]

YOU NEED to go drive BOTH.

YOU are the one driving it.

YOU have to make the choice.

MY CHOICES:
#1 CAMARO
#2 MUSTANG GT

NO #3

I DO NOT LIKE dOdGe'S

[mhood]

Originally Posted by 1bad65

all the Mustang threads.

Am I on the wrong forum or something?

[TommyTSquared]

Originally Posted by JEFF2010SSMANUAL

YOU NEED to go drive BOTH.

YOU are the one driving it.

YOU have to make the choice.

MY CHOICES:
#1 CAMARO
#2 MUSTANG GT

NO #3

I DO NOT LIKE dOdGe'S

Someone didn't read the thread did they...

[IDMTfirefighter]

Originally Posted by Cannaro

I'm looking to get a new pony car and cant decide which one. As of now the Challenger has been ruled out for obvious reasons and the only ones left are the Camaro and Mustang.

Not sure what the obvious reasons for ruling out a challenger are other than it's a muscle car not a pony car.

Go with either Challenger or Camaro over mustang though imo.
Either one has 10x the curb appeal and "wow nice car" appeal over the dime a dozen mustang.