Help me silence my friend's claims of Ford Mustang superiority!

[TotallyDavis]

When a friend heard I was thinking of getting the new Camaro, he immediately launched into a tirade about Ford being one of the only companies that didn't need the bailout, and about the Mustang having clearly better specs, design, features, and just generally being a faster & better built car.

I don't think I know as much as you all do about defending the Camaro properly, so I thought I'd ask advice.

What's the real story?

[mrh923]

Yes...buying a mustang is really original.

I'd say he's intimidated that a friend is going to have
a faster, sexier looking, more respected ride than his.

[Nightfall]

Originally Posted by mrh923

Yes...buying a mustang is really original.

I'd say he's intimidated that a friend is going to have
a faster, sexier looking, more respected ride than his.

as i stated in so meny other threads you cant spit around here and not hit a stang but a camaro a camaro not seen meany of them around

[Z28RockStar]

umadbro?

[TSSUNAMI]

Before you fire back with a tirade of your own regarding the strong points of the Camaro, ask your friend this:

Why do they care so much about what YOU spend YOUR money on? Will they be sharing the payements and maintainance costs? Will they be driving it regularly? IF so, then perhaps they have a valid reason to question your motives. If not, the argument is simply ended by you telling your friend that it's your dime, your car.

Now onto the heated debate of which is a better car?

Honestly, they are both AMAZING vehicles. Build quality is comparable between the two cars. You find the features that you would expect in a car of this class. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of a luxury car, but you do have Bluetooth, MP3 playback, Hands free calling, Navi, XM radio, rear backup sensors.

I've been in both cars, and it all comes down to taste really as far as the interior and electronic features go. I do like Ford's Sync system over our Onstar Navigation. Some folks complain about the Camaro's interior, but I love mine. I have a 1SS with the black cloth interior. It is comfortable, easy to keep clean, and sharp looking. There are no strange noises from within the car, and after 7000 miles everything is still solid. No squeaking interior panels, no fading trim. Build quality on the interior is as good as I've seen.

Exterior. The paint........ while I haven't had any issues with mine, many other members have had chipping and scratching issues. My car is a DD, thus far I have zero chips on the front (I keep a reasonable distance in traffic when I can) One small chip on the drivers side front fender, and a scratch on the driver's side rear fender. (that will fade with a good clay/polish) The body panels fit nicely, there are some color inconsistencies between the metal and plastic body peices. This is most noticeable on the metallic colors. It's normal, it's not a defect, some like it, and some are bothered by it.

On to the fun stuff, the performance.

I haven't driven the new 5.0. But I've read about it. Again, I drive an SS daily, so take this for what it's worth.

Most Car mags are saying the 5.0 handles on par with a BMW M3, which is a great handling car, according to said magazines. The Camaro is a bit heavier, and I'm not expert driver, but I've taken my SS on some twisty backroads and it is a blast! It feels very solid, slides predictably, and has gobs of torque from the bottom of it's RPM range to the redline. Unless you or your friend are very seasoned sport's car drivers, neither of are likely to ever intentionally push either car to their limits.

The Camaro has Brembo's standard on the SS models. It's a $1400ish option on the 5.0

The Camaro has independent rear suspension, which makes launches supposedly easier. In most cases, it means better handling as well, but from what I've read the Mustang is pretty well sorted out for a live rear axle car. It is supposedly a bit more jittery, and less planted than the SS. I'm sure that some Mustang owners here could chime in and give you a REAL opinon on how well they handle.

Horsepower wise, the Camaro's V8's win in the numbers game, but keep in mind that the Mustang is a bit lighter than the SS, so it has a better power to weight ratio.

The mustang has optional gearing choices, while the Camaro does not. However the Camaro has the optional Hurst shifter. I have the Factory Hurst in my SS and I love it. I test drove an SS without one, and hated the stock setup.

In the Quarter mile, I've read varying reports online and by my estimation stock vs. stock it is a driver's race. This has generally been echoed by many of our members (both mustang and SS owners with track experience)

The SS comes with 20" or optional 21" Pirelli Pzeros.

The Mustang runs 19" wheels, I'm not certain which tire it comes with, but I believe it's a Goodyear tire, that does not perform as well as the Pirellis.


Appearance wise, they are both good looking cars. I love the sequential rear taillights on the 5.0, but the Camaro is hands down the sexier of the two. Obviously this is a personal choice, but I think that GM hit a home run with the 5th Gen's body design. This car WILL turn heads, it will make shallow girls want to date you, it will get compliments. It also provokes jealously and vandalism at times.

As for the Stang......... Unless it's a Saleen, Boss302, or GT500. It will blend in with every other mustang on the road. They are very common, and to the untrained eye, it is difficult to differentiate between the 5.0 and the V6 models.

That being said, the Camaro is only just now ending it's second year of production after a 10 year hiatus. Give it a few more years, even months perhaps and you will see them everywhere. Just like the mustang. Be that as it may, the GM pony/musclecar has always had more agressive styling cues than the Mustang.


After writing this really long, possibly inaccurate, highly anectdotal post, I think my original paragraph summed it up best.

Both cars are at the top of their game. It is a GREAT time for Muscle car owners. These cars are delivering looks and performance that would have been unheard of at this price point 10 years ago. They are both well built, well performing, FUN cars that look great. They both have legions of adoring fans. The downside to that is no matter how hard you argue your point, if your friend is a "ford guy" no amount of evidence proving that the Camaro is a better car is going to change his mind.

[fielderLS3]

^^Good summary^^

Just one thing to correct, though. The standard Mustang GT has Pirelli PZero Neros (same tire, just slightly different size as the non-RS Camaro LTs.) The Brembo package (V8) or "Mayhem Package" (V6) include Pirelli PZeros, same as the Camaro SS and RS (just a slightly different size again).

[lets_go_bills]

Have you seen the Camaro? It's gorgeous.

[REDXIIIDave]

Both cars are great. The Camaro just looks WAY better (and so does the Challenger). Apart from the GT500, the Mustang just doesn't have it in the looks department. Even the Boss doesn't compare, IMO.

[REDXIIIDave]

By the way, I believe the Brembos on the Mustang are only on the front, if you don't get a Boss.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by REDXIIIDave

By the way, I believe the Brembos on the Mustang are only on the front, if you don't get a Boss.

Correct. Same with the GT500 (The Brembo package basically is the GT500 brakes). Not sure whether or not the Boss gets them on the rear.

[Nightfall]

Originally Posted by REDXIIIDave

Both cars are great. The Camaro just looks WAY better (and so does the Challenger). Apart from the GT500, the Mustang just doesn't have it in the looks department. Even the Boss doesn't compare, IMO.

completely agree even with the challenger department the mustang is so plain looking cause its so common and played out i mean hell they never truely changed there style AT ALL sure a few changes here and there and the ass end but in truth THE SAME at least chevy (defently chevy) and dodge are moveing forward in there styleing department!

side note the way i compare all three is like this

classic retro styleing = challenger

modern styleing (bland) = mustang

future styleing = camaro

each is a muscle car true but how i break them down the mustang is in the middle the challenger is in the past and the camaro is in the future the true king of styleing IMO

[Sidd218]

^ they pretty much summed it up!

[Nightfall]

Originally Posted by Sidd218

^ they pretty much summed it up!

[HookemHorns]

I have heard the bailout story over and over again but I could really care less about what others think, I'm going to buy what I want. It's my money and none of their business.