Car Clash: Chevy Camaro vs. Ford Mustang
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And so it begins: the first installment of GM Authority Car Clash — where you get to (constructively) discuss the merits, or lack thereof, of a GM vehicle compared to a direct competitor. For the first round, we decided to pick everyone’s favorite pony cars — Chevy’s Camaro and Ford’s Mustang.
Now, this isn’t meant to be a hatefest on any non-GM products. Doing so would be missing the point, entirely; instead, think of Car Clash as a way to appreciate each car for what it is while opining as to the ways in which both cars (and more so the GM product) can be improved, and why. So without further ado, take the poll — and then dive into the comments below!
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I’m a muscle car fan born in the Late 70′s as the species was nearly extinct .
When I was old enough to drive there were no “real muscle cars left, sure there were Mustangs Firebirds an Camaros, along with the sports car invasion from japan in the 90′s but I couldn’t afford any of them. And their performance was a mere shadow of the glory days.
Flash forward to 2005 and the new retro Mustang was introduced….and I was thrilled!.
I thought to myself here we go, Chevy has to bring back the Camaro now, and Pontaic with the Trans Am. but sadly all Pontiac brought was the Holden GTO. but were was Mopar?
2010 now all the big three are here the new retro Challenger a refreshed Mustang and the new retro Camaro RIP Pontiac I would of bought a Trans am hands down if you still existed. I love all three and it took a lot of test driving and thinking and comparing all three before I bought “the one” My early favorite and number one contender was the Challenger but I did not trust Chrysler/Dodge quality. I loved the Mustang’s performance and looks but it didn’t stir my soul. to Quote James May from Top Gear UK “it didn’t give me the fizzing sensation in my groin”
if you are a Top Gear fan you will understand.. Then I saw the Camaro in person at the dealer and fell in love every time I went back to look at it , this has to be the most stand out affordable car in my recent memory. Save for the Toyota Supra in the 90′s
The Camaro is far from perfect, it is as the European say a “Yank Tank”
its Big from the inside but vision is very limited but you adapt, however I’m never quite sure were the front ends and the curb begins (Ultrasonic parking detectors for the front Chevy hint hint.) and every time I back up I’m playing Russian roulette with my insurance deductible The rear vision camera works only for it’s field of view. But I love my Camaro and the only regret is not waiting until this fall to buy a 2013 with the new My link radio. And the price for all season tires for this beast. 20′s
I’m Sorry to everyone that I rambled on with this post but I really love muscle cars and I really love my Camaro and that’s why I chose it.
and forget parallel parking.
I started drivng in the mid 80′s and really had no choices when it came to performance cars (loved the Hurst Olds though). The closest I had at the time was a 1983 Mustang GT 5 speed. Almost stock it would only do about a 15 second quarter. I ended up going the Japanese route after that and got a 1986 Toyota MR2 (that would actually give the Mustang a run for its money). I’m also very glad the muscle car is around (not really “back” for me because we never had them).
The Mustang has great looks (finally – hated the 90′s) and a nice interior (FINALLY), but as long as they have that Live Rear Axle, the Camaro will always be a better car.
If I worked at Ford instead of GM, however, because this is basically their only sports car (maybe Focus ST), I would still probably own one, but would still be wishing for the Camaro…
Even though the Mustang is technically better, I’d still rather have the Camaro. It just makes you feel more special. And in the long run, that 6.2 liter will outrun the 5.0 liter. So power isn’t a concern for me. The Camaro just looks so bad ass even to this day. Idc about the blind spots. I’d still take it over the Mustang
Even though the mustang has the coolest sequential tailights ever, and standard LED accented HID headlights, I’d still take the Camaro, the Euro Camaro would be an even easier choice.
Hey What’s the deal??!?!? Why didn’t you have a three way clash and include the Dodge Challenger?? What gives!!?!? *end sarcasm*
Camaro, FTW.
Better styling, steering feel, braking, handling, and just better at putting the ponies to the ground.
My first car was a well used and beat down 94 base Camaro and it left one hell of an impression on me. Ive always love the Camaro but I was always open to the idea of the a Mustang and tried out a few. Needless to say, I wasnt all that impressed. Even the newer GTs were a little underwhelming for me compared to their cross town rivals. That said, if it came down a choice of which car to buy just to look good in and maybe have a little bit of fun with, you cant go wrong with either. But then theres people like me, who would never be ever to leave the stock package alone and thats why I’d go with the Camaro hands down. Sure its at a disadvantage when it comes to weight and on the ZL1 horsepower, but the weight can be over come with better suspension (on the SS) and more horsepower all around. And getting those extra ponies out of an LS engine, no matter which one, is a pretty simple affair because, unlike the mustang, the design is the same simple tried and true cam in block pushrod V8. For the real performance nut, the 2013 1LE really provides the foundation for a naturally aspirated giant killer. It has the suspension, the beefier drive train, and stronger fuel system all it needs is a cam, pushrods, rockers, better air intake, better exhaust and a little bit of computer tuning to have a camaro that will rundown almost anything on the streets. Or, add some displacement by boring and stroking the LS3 or dropping in an a cammed LS7 or LSX454 (if you dont care about weight) and that car, with just as much power as the current GT500 without the whine of a super charger that would give the car away.
In 1987 I was a passenger in a 84 Berlinnetta Camaro… From that point on I wanted a Camaro and still do, then came the IROC Camaro’s OMG… We lived dowb the street from a chevy dealership later and that cenented my pasion even more…It helped that we had owned 77 and 79 Blazers from a brand perspective I had become very interested in Chevys, the Firebird and then the Fiero brought me into the fold of being a GM fan. As far as the Mustang the latest rendition is by far the nicest and meanest and I think it could get my attention if I was in the market for a pony car…
I would take the Camaro, but I think most of us would. To that, I want to say what I think the Mustang does better. The Mustang seems to have a little more freedom in it’s looks. Their recent campaign online showed all kinds of headlights, fenders, wheels, etc. to really make it a one of a kind look, and I loved that. The exact opposite of this is also a fault of Mustangs to me… I see them everywhere. I like my car to be a little more rare. It’s hard to sell a lot of a car and still make it a rare sighting (that’s what keeps the prestige of a car around), but in time. I love all the modern tech in the ZL1 and would like to see some of that trickle down into the SS and LT.
Camaro, you are a beautiful car that is being reborn. You still have room to grow, but I have faith in you and will stand by you as you do.
Where I live there are, by my visual estimate, more Camaros than Mustangs. I would take the looks of the Camaro over the Mustang any day. There is something about the look of the defined hips over the rear wheels, and those headlights.
Man Alex you stirred the souls of GMA Readers here.
V6 vs V6 = mustang
SS vs GT = mustang
1LE vs Boss 302 = Camaro
ZL1 vs GT500 = Camaro
Thats for 2013MY and is for both on the track and street use. Every reviewer agrees. The Camaro might be bigger and heavier, and less power depending on model, but it’s suspension and IRS, along with the traction control and electronics, but especially the brakes dummies the Mustang with the 1LE and ZL1.
The GT500 WAY over powers it’s chassis. It’s a 650hp engine essentially dragging around a chassis from a $20k car.
anybody could build a car whit big horsepower but is not everybody could build a racing car something ford dont understand..
The 5th gen Camaro is historically significant. In 50 years, people will be reminiscing about the 5th gen’s styling and driveability. How the ZL1 was able to sail around the ‘Ring despite it’s heft because of the incredible technology throughout. The Camaro is not just some forgettable drag strip darling like the Mustang.
Awesome topic! ( I own a 2008 Mustang & love it) The current Camaro is better though, because: 1) IRS vs. Mustang’s “twin-I-beam” era axle 2) better V6 [Ford was too late with the right one] 3) It’s bigger than the Mustang, but not huge like the Challenger. 4) sunroof option vs. the Mustang over-priced goofy glass roof.
If you price one out with a sunroof & auto, the Camaro is a better value too. I think Ford screwed up the Mustang when they tried to make it look smaller with the corner-cut rear end in 2010 that made it look like a Celica. Sounds like the next generation will be a Mustang II rehash DISASTER. I hope GM watches the Mustang crash & burn and NOT screw up the Camaro.
I owned an 84 Z28 T-Top HO back in the eighties. Fun car, quality nightmare.
Hmm, I thought GMA was going to do a mini review of both, or at least provide some basic highlights of both cars, ex: 0-60 , widely accepted attributes and strengths of both, weight, pricing, personal GMA opinion(Alex likes the Mustang
) stuff like that.
Not just a big Camaro vs Mustang picture.
interesting! you know i saved up for over 3 years to buy a “new Camaro” then i happened to test drive a Torrid Red 05 GTO at Carmax one day and never looked back. i was so excited when the 5th gen finally put wheel to pavement and i could see and touch one in the flesh. i liked what i saw. but after years of driving my 2 GTOs i was disappointed with how the Camaro didn’t live up to my hope of a better and improved Zeta chassis with “American styling”. I love the look of the car, i like the performance, but honestly the only variant that i lust over is the ZL1, and i currently can’t afford one.
the Rustang on the other hand, does come off as more of a “driver’s car” in the GT/track pack option, as well as the issue of my having evolved from the need to monkey with the engines in my cars. (experiencing 500hp+ in a daily driven GTO has made me see the light…or so i claim) so now a clean used Track Pack GT or Boss 302 looks really good to me. and i’m absolutely smitten by every 2010 or newer Roush i come across! awesome looking AND performing car, darn near perfect!
don’t worry i’m firmly in the GM camp, and out of the two; a ZL1 is the ONLY one i’d buy brand new. but for now, every used or marked down 5.0 or Roush i see has me making trips to the stealership for “just looking” test drives.