Comparison Test: Camaro vs. Challenger vs. Mustang

kurtamaxxxguy-

I may be wrong but Im pretty sure it was a production camaro. It is just not possible to buy one yet so the only way insideline could get their hands on one was to go to GM and test it there.

thanks for the comparo! fun read and really glad the Camaro can back up the looks!
I am a bit curious why the Camaro and Dodge are SO heavy? I know they are based on the G8 and E-class but does this fact alone make them 4-500lbs heavier than the Mustang? Did Chevy intentionally pork it up so it wouldn't compete with the Corvette?
I imagine SS owners will start going at it with a sawzall to get rid of unnecessary metal! :)
Imagine what a Jenny Craig'd SS at the Mustang's weight will do!

I have to say, my practical side says G8 GT for the beef fix... but that Camaro is really sexy! There is no mullet-stank on it at all. Jed Clampett cleaned up nice and moved to Beverly Hills!

cruiserhead1,
I think the weight's just sheer size.
The Camaro's slightly bigger than the Mustang,
And the Challenger is huge compared to both.

The Mustang's equivalent to a larger compact, the Camaro a midsize, and the Challenger is a large car. 10 feet longer large car; that Challenger is crazy big. The Challenger is even slightly longer than a Toyota Avalon large car.

Ya look at the headline photo head-on shot 3 cars. The Mustang looks like a baby car, and the Camaro in the middle of the road, then the massive giant Challenger. They're in different size classes lol.

Did I say 10 feet? fail. 10" i mean.

You guys are the best. You are now officially my favorite Automotive website. Ask and ye shall receive! You are the first to do this comparo. I read it last night. Cannot wait for you all to be able to buy your Camaro Long termer. I want to hear more. The only thing I can say I don't like about it is the Steering wheel. Otherwise it's the best effore GM has put forth of late. Moving in the right direction with the CTS, CTS-V, ZR-1, G8, and now this. GM you can do it. It's not too little too late. Just keep producing cars we the consum,ers want with the quality that makes you competetive with the best of the best out there.

Great comparo. Too bad it wasn't production Camaros, but I don't imaging there would be a measurable difference.

I'd still take the Mustang first and the Dodge second over the Camaro, but I would if it were 1970 too.

I have to ask why the Camaro gets pass for the plastiky dash while the Mustand had to put up with constant whining about the same issue for the past few years.

With reference to the weight and cost of these cars, why must the chassis and power train upgrades be married to fluff (leather, power, navi, etc.)? For example, the mid 90's Mustang LX 5.0 notchback. Not the best, but fun. Manual locks/windows/seats, no A/C, but had the larger tires/wheels, 5 speed, V8. Why not be able to buy a proper American V8 in a minimalist shell?.

To make a pony car last takes commitment from its parent company. The Challenger was a too-late response to the Mustang and couldn't weather the '70s energy and environmental crises. The Camaro, another response to the Mustang, couldn't be justified to a GM already waking up to financial problems. With new fuel economy standards to be phased in in the coming decade, and both GM and Chrysler depending on taxpayer handouts, I suspect their offerings won't last more than one generation.

First off all three of these cars are great. About time America got back in the game. However I have to say the Camaro only beat the Mustang by .2 seconds and has a much larger engine and more than 100 horse power. If I'm not mistaken Ford is said to be producing a 5.0 engine with around 400 horse power. The code name for the engine I believe is "coyte" maybe wrong. If anyone knows anything on this please let me know.

The new Camaro looks like was design by the same guy that did the HRR. Small windows, square edges and big blind spots. The front end looks it was borrow from the old Caddy coupe. Too early to judge but i still give the edge to the true Pony car: "the mustang". I will wait for the Camaro to hit the showrooms.

If Ford can manage to stuff a more powerful engine into the GT without sacrificing much weight it would probably be quicker than the Camaro.

I like the Camaro but with 100 more hp than the Mustang it should be able to pull off a 0-60 time greater than .2 ahead of the Stang. The damn thing is too heavy. I guess this edge in power is reflected in the 1/4 mile, though.

The Challenger is the best looking of the three. I love the Camaro's halos, though. Hell, all three of them are good looking.

For the record, if you park a 2009 Mustang right next to the 2010 Mustang there is a significant difference in appearance. If ford would have just thrown the last Thunderbird's IRS under the current chassis (it was IRS on the T-bird and they could have done a track option with a solid axle setup for the 'stang) it would have won this comparison. Ford's excuse? Dollars. How? Dunno. They already had it engineered in the T-bird. Go figure.

zoomzoom,

I agree, the 2009 and 2010 Mustangs are easy to spot unless you are looking directly head on.

The bump up in the beltline after the door is very obvious as are the different taillamps.

I think that the 2010 shape is a nice improvement on the 2005, as it takes the current car even closer to my personal favorite, the 69-70 mustang sportback.

As a 2006 Mustang GT owner I think the most intriguing buy right now is the V6 Camaro due to price/performance! That bodes well for the Camaro because if the V6 sells well the SS will stick around.

Still, I have to prognosticate that the Camaro and Challenger don't make it pass this current generation.

On looks alone, I'd have to give my vote to the Mustang. The new design makes the previous model look like the studio gave up before the job was done. Now, the proportions are dialed in just-so, the sheetmetal is mature and sculpted in the flanks. Comparatively, the 05-09 body had creased edges and flat surfaces that looked modern, but are more appropriate for a design study than a production car...

...and all of that applies to the new Camaro, tenfold. Minimal detail, no sculpting. It's all proportion and cut lines like a rough sketch. I definitely like what I see so far, but call me when they actually design a grill for it. Oddly, the interior is the most detailed and bespoke of the three. Very little borrowed from the "parts bin" so I can understand why they'd need to cut costs on materials.

Challenger hit the nail on the head. HUGE, of course, and not my favorite design. But it's definitely whole and complete.

The one thing stylistically I don't like about the new Mustang is the way they changed the rear end. IMO it was just fine. I like the rear fender bulge, and the refreshed front end is OK. The interior is way better.

As I have stated before, the only gaffe on the Camaro is it's "oops-I-forgot" back-up lights in the middle of the bumper. The rest of it is OK. I'll have to see it in person to say that I love it.

The Challenger is the kind of car that looks good, but I wouldn't want to own one. I don't have an explanation as to why.

To me, there's a murky loser (Challenger), a not-so-bad one (Mustang), and an almost-gotta-have (Camaro).

This is the same kind of comparison that was done in the 70's. Take the top of the line Camaro and match it up to a Basic Ford Mustang and a Basic Dodge Challenger. I for one can wait until the SS Camaro hits the streets. For all you Camaro, soon to be owners, BEWARE!!! 5.4 Factory Super Charged Mustang...Not mention a factory SRT 8 Challenger. I think they will waiting for you. I for one can feel the Excitement allready.

Interesting article, but I'm a bit surprised by the results. If the Camaro wins it needs the proverbial asterisk next to the results. Let me know when you do a head-to-head with production models (as the article states ... "No production examples of the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS exist yet, and these circumstances dictated that our driving time was split between two preproduction cars").

I'll take the Mustang ... thanks. After reading the slight edge that the Camaro has on some of the performance measures and then comparing it to the ride and view of the two to me it sounds like the Mustang won going away. Yes, the Camaro may be a head turner, but it's more of a head turner in the fact that looks like an old Dodge Challenger than an old Chevy Camaro.