Camaro 1LE vs Mustang GT track pack (Motortrend)

[ssmike]

What a great review! I especially enjoyed his last comment, "Ford got it's ass kicked!" lol!

[BH1]

I thought the comparison was right on the mark. I’m unsure why they want to compare the 1LE to the Boss; as a direct competitor. The 1LE is a track pack SS. It shares the same engine with the SS; add suspension upgrades, better gearing and tires. The same goes for the Track Pack Mustang 5.0.

The Boss has a reworked engine, and exhaust, with an underrated 440hp. Should the Z28 (with LS7) come to fruition, this would be a better comparison to the Boss IMO.

One thing did confuse me. They kept saying the Camaro had taller gearing. We all know it comes with 3.91 gears. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the 5.0 track pack come with 3.73’s?

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by ThaCamaroKid

I think they did this comparison right,
A 1SS with the 1LE package cost 36.5k NO other options included
A base GT with the Track package cost 34k NO other options included
A base M3 cost 60k, before add their 'competition package' ( 2.5k )

(the base 1SS is noticeably much better equipped than the Base GT, If you want Brembo's for the GT it's another $1,700)

As for the Boss 302, if I am not mistaken Ford has stopped producing them? You can no longer 'build' the car on their website, regardless the 1LE ran around VIR in a 2.58.34, the 302 LS ran a 3.02.80
Willow Springs 1LE 1.22.7, 302 LS ran a 1.26.10

Only two tracks I found common times on, and the 302 Boss as stated by somebody else is close to a 50k car? with no back seats, That is Corvette territory....

So in my opinion this comparison was spot on as far as 'fairness'

However to all their own opinion

The GT Track Pack comes with Brembo's and you're correct the 302 is a two year production car so there will be no 2014 Boss 302...

Originally Posted by BH1

I thought the comparison was right on the mark. I’m unsure why they want to compare the 1LE to the Boss; as a direct competitor. The 1LE is a track pack SS. It shares the same engine with the SS; add suspension upgrades, better gearing and tires. The same goes for the Track Pack Mustang 5.0.

The 1LE is technically late to the party if it wants/wanted to be true competition to the Boss 302, it should have been out a year ago, Ford stopped production of the Boss and therefore the 1LE is as you said a much better match with the Track Pack GT, regardless of how it out performs it.

The Boss has a reworked engine, and exhaust, with an underrated 440hp. Should the Z28 (with LS7) come to fruition, this would be a better comparison to the Boss IMO.

I disagree with the statement that and LS7 Z28 would be a Boss Competitor, the LS7 is pumping out 505 Horsepower (it would be less in the Camaro just as the LS3 is less in the Camaro) the Roadrunner Engine isn't that underrated

One thing did confuse me. They kept saying the Camaro had taller gearing. We all know it comes with 3.91 gears. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the 5.0 track pack come with 3.73’s?

The Track Pack GT does have 3.73

I take mag comparisons for what they are; an entertaining read. I'll believe something when a 1LE and Boss 302 are on the same track with equal drivers in a real life situation not a mag comparison.

[b4z]

Ive posted this before in another thread but some of you old timers may remember the M/T test in 1982 at the same Willow Springs of the brand new camaro with 145 hp against the 157 hp Mustang GT. The mustang GT ruled the acceleration runs, but the Camaro was 2.8 seconds faster! And now we have the Camaro 3 seconds faster! Which i think is an even worse beating than in 1982 because what it tells me is the Mustang is very old school and not developed(except for its engine). But in 1982 the performance guys didnt care the camaro handled better.. the mustang could 0-60 in 6.9 secs and the camaro was 8.5 secs.
but i never saw another 157hp mustang run 0-60 in 6.9 secs. i think they were 8 second cars and the camaro was a 9 second car.
I had 4 third gen camaros and the mustang was not even in the same league in handling. My feeling in 2013 is the same as 1982. The Camaro chassis is just better.

[Thrillz]

Great review still wish they had the Boss instead though. Dam those rims on them mustang are fugly.

[b4z]

And they didnt even talk about how much more relaxed the camaro is at hwy speeds with its taller gearing. Id take a 1le on a long hwy trip long before id go in a mustang with 3.73s and a short top gear.

[AZCamaroFan]

"not even the same class of vehicle"


it was amazing to me. they did a GT track pack vs. BMW M3 test a year or so back and they were right on top of each other.
now the Camaro 1LE obliterate's the GT on the track.
they seemed to worship the mustang just a short time ago, now they've got all sorts of criticisms. auto journalists. so consistent.

[djsnoflake]

I got the chance to drive the shit out of a 1LE at Spring Mountain Motorsports while I was taking the level 1 ZR-1 course.

The 1LE is simply amazing, if you were blindfolded, you wouldn't be able to tell that a stock SS and the 1LE were on the same chassis. What they should actually do is get rid of the 1LE designation and just make the pack standard for the SS. I spent 2 days driving ZR-1 Corvettes and the 1LE gave me just as big a smile. (Not saying it is anywhere near as good, but a VERY enjoyable car to throw in the corners)

[amizz10]

Did anyone else have a smile on their face the whole time this video was playing or was it just me. Camaro FTW

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by b4z

Ive posted this before in another thread but some of you old timers may remember the M/T test in 1982 at the same Willow Springs of the brand new camaro with 145 hp against the 157 hp Mustang GT. The mustang GT ruled the acceleration runs, but the Camaro was 2.8 seconds faster! And now we have the Camaro 3 seconds faster! Which i think is an even worse beating than in 1982 because what it tells me is the Mustang is very old school and not developed(except for its engine). But in 1982 the performance guys didnt care the camaro handled better.. the mustang could 0-60 in 6.9 secs and the camaro was 8.5 secs.
but i never saw another 157hp mustang run 0-60 in 6.9 secs. i think they were 8 second cars and the camaro was a 9 second car.
I had 4 third gen camaros and the mustang was not even in the same league in handling. My feeling in 2013 is the same as 1982. The Camaro chassis is just better.

The Fox-body Mustang had a rear suspension much like the 1979 Chevy Malibu that I used to have, which in stock form wasn't anything to write home about either. No wonder the Camaro came out on top in that comparison.

This time around, there's too much difference in tires and in tire and wheel widths to ignore, and I seriously doubt that a Track-pack Mustang GT suspension is as hardcore as the 1LE's.


Norm

[oldfriend]

Originally Posted by b4z

I believe the 1le is quicker than the boss 302 or even the Laguna sedan. 3 seconds a lap on a short course is an eternity.

Also "tank slapper" is a term that I've had heard used for cars sideways as well.

Every time I drive or ride in a camaro the lack of visibility drives me crazy. It looks cool but chevy got that part of the Camaro all wrong.

That's only your opinion , right ?

[oldfriend]

Originally Posted by tramtwo

If this car was any cooler I'd need to drive it wearing a coat.

A coat , or goat ?

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

makes sense, the car is finished. Maybe if the 1LE and Boss had come to the table at the same time...sadly that never happens with Mustang and Camaro.

Ford builds a car. If it does well, GM responds by building a better one. Been that way since the beginning really...

Yes you are correct. If your gonna be late to the dance you better be well prepared.

[06_warrior]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

Yes you are correct. If your gonna be late to the dance you better be well prepared.

I think you meant. "If your gonna be late to the dance you better have the hotter date "