A Mustang and a Corvette don’t really compete within the same kingdom. Car and Driver understands this, but they also understand both vehicles represent attainable American performance for relative masses. In other words, there isn’t a need to take out a second mortgage to own one of these cars.
In the pursuit of everyday track performance, the 2016 C7 Corvette Stingray showed up outfitted with the Z51 performance package and the seven-speed manual gearbox, while the Mustang Shelby GT350 arrived with its 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8 and its track-pack goodies, too.
This isn’t a standard performance comparison, because the C7 Corvette denies the GT350 that title outright. But, instead, C&D put both cars through their paces to understand which is more livable, and which provides the best feedback and fun in the real world. Whether that be scenic backroads, stop-and-go traffic and freeway driving, the real world is, for better or worse, where we spend most of our time.
Head on over to the link above and let us know if you agree with the judges’ decision.
Comments
I like how they say these cars are designed for the track yet slam the Vette’s everyday driving ability in shifting, steering and brake pedal feel, yet they don’t have an issue with the Stang having no stereo, being louder and having to hit over 7000 rpm to get max performance but it comes with a very uncomfortable sound level. The Vette wins the performance tests yet doesn’t win the overall comparison between track-designed cars. Does C & D even read their articles before they publish them?
They also complained about the Corvette’s steering feel – despite having absolutely praised it when the vehicle came out.
This article was a real hit to their credibility.
Ahhh……The beauty of a comparison test. You’ll never really know how good a particular car is until it’s compared to something great! This appears to be the case with C&D’s assessment of the Stingray and the GT350. No doubt they originally praised the C7 for all the things they’re now criticizing it for! Is the GT350 really that much better (which may very well be the case), or is C&D holding a little animosity towards the ‘Vette due the several misfortunes they’ve had with it? Truth is, we can’t know until we get behind the wheel of both these performance behemoths and see for ourselves…..
These stories are generally calculated and to stir up controversy.
You take many objective ideas and pose them in a story to bring up a rivalry exchange that can last for several issues.
Watch in a few months they will take a Z06 or even the 1LE or even a Zl1 and put it up on the Mustang crushing it.
The truth is they should have taken the GT and posed it to the Stingray as they are both entry level v8 cars for each model. The Zo6 should have been here and in truth it is not even a track car as GM is still working on the track version of the Z06 yet with more down force.
LOL! The Stingray is almost twice the price of a Mustang GT!
Is that the new math?
Like they proved at Daytona and Sebring… to beat a Corvette, you need a Corvette.