As far as the IRS, it's weaker than a straight axle. Thats why drag racers perfer a straight axle. I've seen more than one set of rear tires pass a vette up on launch at the drag strip. IRS is great for a road course, but it isn't the best setup for hard launches. Also a straight axle helps keep the cost down a bit. The mustang is more than just a car, it's an american icon. The mustang is fords longest running model as it's 45 years old and has quite a cult following after all this time. My last stang was an 07 GT/CS and I loved it, I loved the retro styling and awesome power, plus handling. It ran a mid to low 13 in the 1/4 right out of the box. You couldn't get those kind of times from a big block back in the old days. At my age, it was sorta impracticle, I had my mid age crisis and it's back to the off/road scene for me. However, I was really impressed on how far the mustang has come. My last stang before the 07 was a 68 fastback GT with a 428 CJ and 4 speed. I must say ford has continued the mustang tradition with pride. As far as EPA standards, there just a fleet average, you can have a muscle car that only gets 25 mpg as long as you have 10 other cars that get 40 mpg, so the mustangs future is still bright. The mustang is one of fords bright spots in this troubled economy, even if it is more of a nitch car, it's still helps fords over all sales and promotes fords image. As far as hp numbers the manufactures are all caplable of producing cars with 1,200 hp if they wanted to, but sorta impracticle really as most roads are 55 mph and the interstates 75 mph. It's kind of crazy that the average modern american muscle car is now a round 600 hp, like the shelby, vette and viper. I mean for us gear heads, it's never enough, but it sorta gets to be over kill and more for bragging rights than anything. It's good that we can have this discusion at these trying times for the auto makers, as it helps take our minds off the trouble that there in. I can't stand chevy or the camaro, but I don't want to see GM go under either, who else would we argue so intensely with on who's faster or better? Ford needs chevy as chevy needs ford, it's sorta like matter and anti-matter. One needs the other to exsist.

 

Well said !!!!

 

Exactly, the Big 3 need each other. Kinda like a divided we fall sort of deal. That's exactly what I've been trying to tell people!!!!

 

Well, went to the Dallas Auto Show yesterday and was able to sit in the Camaro. Let me tell, boy was I greatly disappointed in interior. There was cheap, hard, black plastic everywhere. Like I mentioned earlier, the Mustang easily has it beat in the interior cateragory.

The exterior, fortunately, was of course amazing.

There was four Camaros there one of which had a GM LS7 crate engine...

 

I like the callenger better between the 2, but I don't buy out side the ford family. I did the 07 mustang gt thing, it was great, but at my age, trucks and jeeps take me as fast as I need to go. They will also take me more places. I found that I have no more sense at 49 than I had at 20 when I get behind the wheel of a stang. So for everyones safty including my own, I had better stick with 4x4's hee hee!!!!

 

Hey 49 your just a kid yet.. Im 52 ..had a lot of stangs & like to get behind the wheel every chance i get... I dont have one any more just a fast truck...best of both worlds... May be its time to drop a 460 into your ranger.. you will get to those places a lot quicker LOL ..Lew

 

Yeah, if I don't wreck on the way ha ha.

 

I prefer the Stang over Challenger and the Camaro. Since the Mustang went Retro it seems like Dodge and Chebby had to do it also. I would much rather see a Trans Am instead of Camaro. The TA has always looked better than camaro in my opinon.

 

Just stumbled across this thread, and thought I'd comment.

I'm pretty much a Chevy guy (my '51 F1 is my only Ford), and the '69 Camaro is my favorite car of all time.

That being said, I don't care for the new Camaro. They did not go retro enough in my opinion.

A few months ago, it was time to buy a new car for my wife, and I told her she could have anything she wanted within reason (no BMW or Lexus stuff... I'm not into that).

She came back and asked for a Hemi Challenger with a 6-speed. We love it. It is very fast (so is the new Camaro and the Mustang GT). At 90 MPH, it's turning about 1900 RPM's. It still draws a crowd everywhere we go. Men pull along side us a give a big thumbs-up. Women will approach in a parking lot and voice how much they love the car (after asking what it is).

I'm surprised how much I like the car, because I'm not a Mopar guy at all.

Anyway, we've owned the car for about 6 months, and we're still very happy with the decision.

Peace,
-Doraville

 

I saw my first Camaro on the road the other day. This is one dog ugly car. I'm hoping there are various trim models so that some of them look decent. My comment from the beginning is that they failed to capture the Camaro look. It appears to be a combination between a firebird and a challenger but they really screwed the pooch on this one.

 

That is the first time that I've heard someone comment about the Camaro not being retro enough, that's a new one for me.

Glad to hear your happy with your Challenger. I've seen a few out and about and I must say it's definately an eye catcher.

 

So far I have seen quite a few challengers on the roads around here (several of which were R/T's). No new Camaros yet.

 

I've seen about five Camaros out in the wild and about double that of Challengers. No 2010 Mustangs yet though, I've only seen those at dealerships.

 

I haven't seen any challengers or camaros, but I have seen a 2010 mustang.

 

Here's a good write-up on the three-way comparison between the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger by Car and Driver. It's also in the current issue on the newstand. Essentially, even with less power than the other two, the Mustang beat them both.

2010 Chevy Camaro SS vs. 2010 Ford Mustang GT, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T - Coupes/Comparison Test/Reviews/Car and Driver - Car And Driver