Comparison: Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE vs. Ford Mustang GT Track Pack

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

Not directly, but the FE4 has been driven. Such as the Car & Driver ZL1 first test. They compared the current SS to the ZL1 and still felt the SS was a poor handler. Of course it would be inferior to the ZL1, but it was still big on understeering turning into oversteer with sloppy rear suspension control. Sounds like the Mustang GT is not much better.

Comparing the Mustang GT Track Pack is not a fair fight with the 1LE. They are not comparable. They should have held out for a Boss. I call BS on the reasoning behind that article. They could easily have gotten a hold of a Boss. But then no surprise, Motor Trend is a second rate magazine.

However i did not have any idea that the Track Pack was that lame. Many car reviewers were crazy about the Mustang Brembo GT package handling when it came out. I almost bought one!

I am not knocking the Mustang though. Love that 5.0.

I don't believe there is a big difference between the GT Track Pack and a Boss, but the engine. ?

[beany323]

thanks for link. good read.

[Revo1]

OWNED, AS ALWAYS.

[PQ]

My son has his eye on an older Mustang.

But it's either that or a Supra.

[Renegade]

Originally Posted by PQ

My son has his eye on an older Mustang.

But it's either that or a Supra.

FTW..get the Supra.

[davidcroft]

Originally Posted by edco

PS. 18x10 deep dish bullit rims on 4 corners with Sumitomo HTRZ III P275R40-18 summer tires.
25mm track spacers employed for clearance. 107" wb with 64.5" track! A cornering machine. I know it is just a mustang but it handles with the $60K and up crowd and is a lot of driving fun. The 6camaro will be better than the 5camaro. I will bet they down size it and bring it closer to the pony profile. That will make it more fun to drive then you guys will know what I am talking about.

I love how everyone skipped over the troll post. I'll bite. I saw Sumitomo tires and track in the same sentence!

And before this troll tries to come back I had an 07 Shelby GT with the Ford Racing suspension. It handled like a dump truck.

[b4z]

Looks like Chevy has seriously optimized the camaros gearing with the 1LE. that is the quickest time i have seen out of a LS3 camaro. I think the NPP exhuast and electric power steering are giving it at least another 11-15hp.

Give the mustang the same tires as the camaro and it would help acceleration times a .10 or so but no way is it going to make up a 3 second deficit on a road course.

[b4z]

The fact remains that the while Zeta is a heavy platform it is far superior to the '90s Mustang platform. There is only so much Ford can do with it. Zeta is better and Alpha will be better still.

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by edco

These one versus one run offs are a little like dyno tests. You can get any result you want to engineer.
There is a ZL1 versus B302 run off where the Z leads by 2+ secs per lap. However, it was at a western states track at 4800 feet elevation. Supercharged air-in had a remarkable advantage over naturally aspirated. Car prep, tune, tires, pressure, driver bias are some of many variables. The Camaro is impressive, no argument. The race circuit wins are dominated by mustangs. Until 2012 camaro never finished higher than 17th. reason-Camaro is last to the game and catching up and will improve everywhere in the results over time. I don't race, my stang is a street machine, modified for handling not power. In Missouri we have curviest hilliest roads next to west VA. We go on driving safari.
The 07 Gt is 3300 ponds empty. Eibach swayB, KYB struts, Steeda arms, H&R spacers, H&R springs, Watts link rear, aluminum drive shaft & fly wheel, kevlar clutch, 3.73 axle, all you need is second and third gear-300 hp and a racing harness. I run with every Porsche 911 & BMW in the club and their brakes are hot when we stop. Through most of the roller coaster cylinder head back-pressure is ample for down hill turns. 8 cyls versus 6 is better. The camaros, they never show up. 426 Hp is literally an unusable advantage. The Pontiac GT8-sedan-taxicab road feel of the camaro just cannot be as much fun to drive. Camaro for its chassis is a better riding car. That misses the point of a pony car-a hot rod-it is supposed to have a solid axle and feel rude. If I wanted a nice ride I would buy a Lexus.
Final point: on certain challenging country road routes I will take my car and beat yours or take your car and beat mine. That is why these one on one tests are suspect regardless of which car wins.

Cool story bro.

[Neal@NitrousOutlet.com]

Originally Posted by b4z

The fact remains that the while Zeta is a heavy platform it is far superior to the '90s Mustang platform. There is only so much Ford can do with it. Zeta is better and Alpha will be better still.

The fox platform ran 79-04. The fox platform stopped when the s197 came out in 05. The only thing similar is the the straight axle. Even then, it changed from 4 link to 3 link. I think as far as handling, ford has done miracles with a straight axle. You are right though. They can only do so much with a straight axle. The 15 is IRS conformed and rumored to drop come serious weight as well.


This battle is going to continue but no matter what one you choice it going to be an awesome automobile because of the competition!

[b4z]

arent the 05 and up mustangs built on the chassis that shares components with the lincoln ls?

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

I don't believe there is a big difference between the GT Track Pack and a Boss, but the engine. ?

IIRC the Boss has the "HiPO 302" and the adjustable suspension. I believe those are the main performance differences between the Boss and the track pack. That would also lead me to believe that the suspension on the boss is improved as well but I am not sure.

according to Ford's site the track pack adds: 3.73 gears, engine cooler, upgraded radiator, performance brake pads, torsen diff(same as boss) and front Brembos and 19" wheels and summer tires

[ParisTNDude]

I think it was a masterful move that Chevy did not to increase the power on the 1LE, just to show the Ford guys that HP isn't the only thing that makes a Chevy better. Had they bumped HP to even, like, 435 or so, the Ford guys would again call "foul". A whole 6 HP advantage that the SS had, doesn't come close to making up the acceleration advantage the 5.0 should have over the 1LE.

Realizing how bad MT beat Chevy up over poorly supporting seats, I thought it ironic that they thought the stock SS seats were better than the Recaros in the GT. I sure hope the guys over at Corvette design are listening carefully to this comment.

[edco]

I enjoy all the comments and learn from them. I have priced the new stangs and don't like the cost.
I recall paying $26.5K for my 07GT in Oct 06 and could have gotten an 06 for a grand less. Given all my handling mods I would not be happy with anything but a track pack. The new stangs are better but I can't do $40k. Camaros in my town were sticker shock for a $2.5K(6cyl) and $4K(SS) premium, that was the waiting list days. The Chevy dealer 1 mile away closed so it is a while since I studied stickers. The car outfit replacing it has sold several used SS never asking under $35K. All 3 of the new muscle cars are pricing in premiums, fast/fun/affordable: affordable is gone. Nobody wants a six.

Re-reading these track tests, the XLE and Zl1 are faster than stangs,

History repeats, GM muscled up Camaro in 80s, 90s to outperform mustang and they did big-time.
Camaros are beasts, I have to agree with that comment above. Style is a matter of taste, Camaro and Challenger seem over-sized and unappealing for it. Camaro dash&interior is a minus. I don't care how fast they make them or how little they cost, someone else can own them.