Ford Mustang VS Chevrolet Camaro

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Ford Mustang VS Chevrolet Camaro

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JCE

JCE

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JCE3000GT
In the spirit of the VS threads here's another classic rivalry. The Firebird/Trans-Am is not included in this topic nor is any other car. Same rules as the Lamborghini VS Ferrari thread, no saying "neither, give me 'X'". Let's keep it civil here please. I'm not going to post pictures of each generation because I'm too lazy--if you need to know what they looked ike goto www.ebay.com then to eBay motors.

I'm going to vote Ford Mustang mainly for these reasons...
  • Changed the car industry as a whole offering a reliable sporty car for very little money. Still has the single year sales record?
  • Was never killed by Ford like GM killed off the F-body in 2003.
  • Has always had better interior build quality when compared with it's rival.
  • Looked good more of the time over most generations.
This is a tough choice, and I am a former Camaro owner but the Mustang overall just appeals more to me as a whole. While the Camaro has always had better performance and a better engine--in my opinion the Mustang's styling won out for me in the end.

Discuss.

*edit*
Oh and I came up with this idea while hunting for a low mileage 2002-2003 Mustang GT coupe or 1999-2001 SVT Cobra to trade my Focus in for.
 
I also voted for the Mustang, i've always liked it more than the Camaro.
 
Two words:
Yenko Camaro.
The '69 Camaro is one of the most beautiful muscle cars ever made, and they packed a punch.

The Mustang is good, and like the Camaro, the post 1990 ones weren't quite as cool as their predecesers, but the old Camaros were just a little bit cooler than the old 'stangs (Shelbys excluded).

It's still a tough call, but the Camaro wins in my book.
 
3-Wheel Drive
Two words:
Yenko Camaro.
The '69 Camaro is one of the most beautiful muscle cars ever made, and they packed a punch.

The Mustang is good, and like the Camaro, the post 1990 ones weren't quite as cool as their predecesers, but the old Camaros were just a little bit cooler than the old 'stangs (Shelbys excluded).

It's still a tough call, but the Camaro wins in my book.
Click to expand...

I agree that the 1969 Camaro is definately the best looking of them all. Blue w/white stripes or White w/blue stripes makes the SS396 one sexy machine. :sly:
 
Well, if I someone offered me to choose one of those cars to own, I'd go for the mustang for looks and I think it's better on gas. I'll have to see how the new Camaro will look if I am to change my mind, but so far the concept doesn't look bad at all.

Look at this vid where they kind of compare the mustang GT and the new camaro concept

Ciao...
 
I voted Camaro. I am really not partial to either I am more of a Mopar guy myself, but if I had to pick the too it's the Camaro. I always liked the classic camaros better then the classic mustangs and the same goes for the last generation.
 
I'd take a Camaro. I prefer its styling over the Mustang, which is not an ugly car I just like the Camaro more. I also prefer the Camaro for its better performance.
 
Awww, do you even have to ask me?

Being that the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 in Polar White with Ebony stribes is undoubtedly one of my favorite cars, obviously I'm going with the Camaro in this situation.

Now I will give credit to Ford and what they have done with the Mustang over the years. It is still a great car, and it turned the entire industry upsideown in 1964. It sparked the pony car battles that have lasted for more than 40 years now, and the legacy of that car will never be forgotten.

But, GM did it better. Not only was the Camaro faster and better looking, it also sold better as well in the first year of sales. Chevrolet racked up wins in Trans-Am racing with their Z/28s, had great success in NASCAR with the SS, and also won quite often in NHRA competition as well.

I would argue that the Camaro was always more refined than the Mustang, given the ties to it's older sibling, the Corvette. The interior was quite nice, often times better than that of the Mustang, and there was actually useable back seats in the car.

In the power department, it is of course, all about the small-block Chevy V8. Everything from the 302 and 327 up to 396 and 427 cubic inch engines all saw duty in the Camaro, but the most common engines were indeed the 350ci and 327ci. In the later years, it was almost laughable to compare a Fox-Body Mustang to a 4th Gen F-Body, as the Camaro was up nearly 100 BHP, had an extra cog in the gearbox, and overall was more comfortable to cruise or drive quickly.

Although the Camaro may have died, it is quite obvious that it is comming back. And just like what happened in 1966/1967, GM will do it again, better than the Mustang.
 
Mustang.

Why, you ask?

This is why:

69BOSS429.jpg
 
Camaro for me. They're just gorgeous cars.
Each generation for both though, had their styles to win me over. The 80's and 90's Mustangs and Camaros were ok, but I'd take the Camaro then.

For the year of '69, it's a Camaro. The Boss was good looking, but only if it came in black, and even then, the rear never sat with me.

The '69 Camaro is just drop dead sex. I'd have to take the '69 Camaro RS (love the headlights), and give her a black w/ white stripe body.
 
YSSMAN
In the power department, it is of course, all about the small-block Chevy V8. Everything from the 302
Click to expand...

I knew you loved Fords, I just knew it. I'm obviously kidding, you meant 305 didn't you?

On topic, I do conceed that 90% of the time Camaros owned Mustangs in the performance department--but to me power isn't everything. It is hard to choose between to of my loves but as much as I love the 1969 Camaro the Boss that Leonidae just posted says it all. That is one bad ass machine whereas the Camaro is a sleek good looker. And on the topic of the 5.0 wars...I'm going to say that they are equal in everyway. I've built 302's with more power that you could imagine for my old racing team--and I've had a hand in building a 305 TPI that would blow your mind as well. I loved the wars from 1986-1993 between the 5.0 Ford/GM coupes.

Oh, and once the SVT Cobra got the 390hp upgrade it was the winner vs SS Camaros. Cobra for teh win!
 
red70mach1
I have a '70 Mach 1 and because I prefered Ford over the Chevys.
Click to expand...

Can we see some pics? I love those's 70's Mach Mustangs...especially if they are in Orange!
 
JCE3000GT
I knew you loved Fords, I just knew it. I'm obviously kidding, you meant 305 didn't you?
Click to expand...

No I think he meant the small block Chev 302. (Chev did make 302 due to restrictions in the trans am series)
 
JCE3000GT
I knew you loved Fords, I just knew it. I'm obviously kidding, you meant 305 didn't you?
Click to expand...

No, when I said 302ci V8, I meant it. Chevrolet made the 302 available in the Z/28 from 1967-1969, as it was used for competition in Trans-Am racing (as they required engines smaller than 305ci). The engine was created by using a 327ci block with the 283ci crank, and resulted in a Chevrolet-rated 290 BHP, but dynoed models were said to be putting down 320 BHP.

Not to pick on you specifically, but why is it that nobody knows about the GD 302? I guess it must be a GM thing...

JCE3000GT
Oh, and once the SVT Cobra got the 390hp upgrade it was the winner vs SS Camaros. Cobra for teh win!
Click to expand...

Well, it was a good thing they waited for the year after the Camaro died to introduce the S/C Cobra. But before then, it was still a cakewalk for the Camaro when you were to compare the SS (325 BHP) versus the SVT Cobra (320 BHP), as the Camaro was lighter and had the extra cog in the gearbox.
 
YSSMAN
No, when I said 302ci V8, I meant it. Chevrolet made the 302 available in the Z/28 from 1967-1969, as it was used for competition in Trans-Am racing (as they required engines smaller than 305ci). The engine was created by using a 327ci block with the 283ci crank, and resulted in a Chevrolet-rated 290 BHP, but dynoed models were said to be putting down 320 BHP.

Not to pick on you specifically, but why is it that nobody knows about the GD 302? I guess it must be a GM thing...



Well, it was a good thing they waited for the year after the Camaro died to introduce the S/C Cobra. But before then, it was still a cakewalk for the Camaro when you were to compare the SS (325 BHP) versus the SVT Cobra (320 BHP), as the Camaro was lighter and had the extra cog in the gearbox.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should of said the 305ci which had more of an impact overall than the RACING 302ci. You mention all great Chevy engines...except the 305ci TBI/TPI? You should be very ashamed. FOR SHAME! :sly:
 
I'm not completely sure if youre joking about the 305, so I will play it safe for the folks who don't know about it...

The engine is a joke, especially when compared to the Ford 302. The most powerful version made 175 BHP, and that was it. Hence the reason why GM dumped it as soon as technology caught up, and the 350/LT1 was able to get better gas mileage with twice the power.
 
I'm only half serious. But even with the 165-205bhp the 305TBI/TPI did have alot of torque...but kind of sad that it's really a truck motor they stuffed in the F-bodies if you think about it. I do prefer the 302ci Ford vs the 305ci Chevy.
 
YSSMAN
I'm not completely sure if youre joking about the 305, so I will play it safe for the folks who don't know about it...

The engine is a joke, especially when compared to the Ford 302. The most powerful version made 175 BHP, and that was it.
Click to expand...


Well pretty much all of the 305's life span as been through most of the emission restricted low power days and overshadowed by the 350, 307 was nice with 327 as its bigger brother, they weren't brought down to a choked up weakling. Just like the 350 started strong but then went through the low tech emissions days but GM stuck with it and made it good again.

BTW didnt the Firebirds 305 HO at one stage put out 200Hp?

*Edit* just checked google and a version of the 86 Firebird came with a 210hp 270ftlb 305.
 


I would go with the Camaros simply because its history and popularity appeals to me more than the Mustangs. I usually view the Mustangs as am underpowered muscle car and unworthy of being called "muscle" in my opinion.

Camaros from some people I talk to call it a pony car, but I call it a pony car with bigger ballz than the mustangs. :sly: Camaros never dissapoints me for how they perform and how they feel. I love the 1st gen and 4th gen LS1 Camaros simply because of their looks. I usually don't mind the motor since I usually trust that GM will give them a good motor anyways.

I wonder if anyone here read the new Car and Driver magazine yet. It have the comparison between a C6 and the new GT500. Man, I am DISSAPOINTED with FORD. :lol:

 
I had to go with the Camaros(sp?). If this was the current gen Mustang vs. either the last gen, or next gen Camaro, I'd have gone with the Stang. But in a contest that spans from the 60's to today, it's Camaro for me. Old school Camaros are just too sweet looking. I used to love the 80's Camaros when I was a little boy. Classic Mustangs still doesn't do much for me.
 
I'll just name the LT-1, such an improvment over the TPI enignes.
obviously, Camaro, since you completely disregarded it's sleeker, slightly faster, better looking brethren.
and they've alway been faster, hell, I can't think of a year the cobra was faster than an SS...........?
 
I prefer the modern stang, well last gen to the last gen camaro. However going back to the 70's those camaros where so cool.
 
Frankly, I'd pick most Firebirds above either of them, and in most generations. Yet, to choose, I would give it to the Camaro, which had its most stunning design year at the start; it simply was better looking with the RSS/SS package vs. the first Firebird and Mustang.

The Camaro will always have a softer spot in my heart because, no matter what the Ford is today, it was never that much of a serious performance car from the start. Carroll Shelby made it what it is. The Camaro, and more so the Firebird, were more serious, more action enthused at the beginning than the first 'Stang was, and there's something special about a first presented product that has machismo from the start. From all I know about the Mustang it was a "look cool in this spiffy car" type of vehicle. The engineers might have wanted the car to be presented otherwise, but it wasn't. The Firebird was envisioned as a two seat sports car, but it wasn't sold as that, but at least its beginnings were in real performance and appealing to those that wanted it. The Camaro's was, too.

Camaro!
 
Good post Tantless!

Just to talk about the Firebird for a moment, it really was a great car. Although my Dad hated them (he reguards them as overpriced, overdressed Camaros, he owns a '68 327 street Camaro), I still like them quite a bit. The Firebirds were dressed up, I've always agreed with him on that, but I don't think it made much of a difference.

The Firebird was a very different Animal, IMO, than the Camaro. Although both were quite capable in any racing situation, the Firebird always seemed to be much more adapt for crusing than it's F-Body sister. But then you think of things like "Smokey and the Bandit," and the Firebird is the king of cool.

As for the Firebirds of my time (3rd and 4th gen models), it pretty much is trivial to find the differences between the two F-Bodies. The Firebird was argueably better looking in 3rd Gen specs (think "Knight Rider") and had some faster models (think GTA, Anniversary Turbo), but as far as 4th Gen goes, it's all Camaro.

The battle between the Mustang and Camaro will probably go down as one of the greatest rivalries in Automotive history. I really cannot think of any other cars that could have a rivalry such as this, not on a scale of which the meaning runs so deep as it does in the US. It's like the Cold War, only with Americans.
 

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