2010 Mustang Vs Challenger Vs Camaro, my DEFINITIVE commentary.
Lets Make this a Sticky and when someone comes in and asks this question we can just point them to the top.
Challenger VSCamaroVSMustang - Looks: Winner: Camaro. Second place: Challenger The vast majority of people seem to prefer to the looks of the Camaro. There are also a lot of people who love the Challenger while the Mustang seems to mostly be preferred by Mustang loyalists and *cough* women…. Commentary: I think if the 2010 Mustang had gone missing for the last 5 years and we were not so used to seeing it around, this might be a very different situation. My personal feeling is that a lot of the personal preference on visual appeal comes not from the actual looks but from the newness of the challenger and camaro designs.
Ride Quality: Winner: Challenger Second Place: Camaro Both the Challenger and the Camaro have IRS. The challenger is the “Cadillac” of the big three muscle cars and it rules the slow cruise. Commentary: The Mustang tends to beat you up a bit more on the daily commute, however it has been pointed out that it handles the road better than just about any solid/live rear axle out there..so don’t go away with the impression that it’s going to hurt you. My RX8 was A LOT worse to ride in and it HAD IRS. J
Practicality: Rural Areas: Winner: Challenger Second place: Mustang Let’s face it, if you are mostly interested in Trunk space and 5 passengers seating for your muscle car, the challenger rules. If you are the type of person who has to haul people and things from A to B but you still want a muscle car, you can get more done with a Challenger…..Period. Urban Areas: Winner: Mustang Second Place: Challenger. Spending most of my time in Atlanta, I am forced to give this a split decision nod and make Mustang the winner in the city. With its superb visibility and smaller dimensions you can dart in and out of traffic with ease, finding yourself only envious of 370z owners and min-cooper drivers. The mustang fits better into the TINY parking spots better than either of the competitors and you can scoot through road construction areas where the cones are in your lane on BOTH sides with confidence and without slowing down (less than the legal limit of course). With its Factory recommended 87 octane (both the Challenger and the Camaro have premium as the recommended ) fuel, the mustang will save a few extra dollars for those toll roads and weekend nights on the town while still having a respectable trunk for times when you need to “get out of town” for a while. J
Commentary: The camaro is a very distant third in this category. It is absolutely the least practical car in the lineup by a LONG shot. The car is wide, the visibility is dismal, back seat passenger room is the smallest, its recommended fuel is premium its trunk is a complete joke, and it’s the more expensive car in the line IF you consider what dealers are actually charging on the lots and not the MSRP.
Handling: Winner: Mustang Second: Camaro Commentary: While it’s well known that the mustang easily out handles the competition, I want to make one point very clear. All versions of the mustang GT out handle the competition. There is a lot of talk that you have to buy a premium/track pack mustang and spend 33k to beat a Camaro and that is simply not true. Even the $27,900 base GT will out steer and out corner the competition in most circumstances. Stripped down of all of its toys and given a manual Transmission...the base GT is even that much lighter. Ford has done a lot of suspension tweaking on ALL 2010 models...which is the subject for another more technical discussion…nonetheless my conclusion is that ANY 2010 mustang GT will out steer and out corner ANY Camaro or Challenger. How do I know? Because A) I own one and B) I have driven them all. I have finally gotten comfortable enough to push mine in corners some and while it’s certainly no 350z or RX8, it sticks at lateral Gs beyond what most would be comfortable attempting. I would know more but there is ALWAYS something in front of me that I have to SLOW WAY down for it seems.
Stock Performance: Winner: Camaro Second Place: Mustang/Challenger Tie Commentary: This Is the ONLY category Camaro guys want to discuss…ever. Just check out Camaro forums and you understand what I am saying. Why? Because this category is really all they have…unless you count “Bad ass” as a category…but I have already given them a win in that under the “looks” category. The argument: “Performance is the reason for buying a MUSCLE car in the first place.” I personally disagree. If PERFORMANCE was all that mattered, why buy a car? If that were ALL I wanted, I would buy a crotch rocket instead. J The Camaro does not TROUNCH the Mustang or the Challenger as they would have you believe. The Camaro wins…but Mustang/Challenger both compete admirably.
As you can see….the longer the race goes on…the further ahead the Camaro will be. I see a lot of “slowmarrow” comments on mustang forums. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is not slow. We can call it “impractimarow”, “blindspotmarow”, “notrunkmarow” “lardmaro”but we certainly should not be calling it “slowmarow” If Balls to the wall no holds barred performance at the cost of being inferior in most other categories is your thing, Camaro is definitely the car for you. Is this much different then 60’s, 70’s and 80’s? Not really. Although there have been many times when Mustang was faster, Camaro has hung its hat on sacrificing the practical for being faster or better looking. It is faster, it will win races, period. No need for debating this.
Modded Performance/Racing: Winner: Mustang Second: None With its live rear axle and plethora of quality and inexpensive bolt on mods, Mustang wins hands down. Most of these Mods won’t even void your factory warranty! The very thing that works against the Mustang in the looks department wins it in this category. In short, it’s been around. This category will not apply to the majority of drivers however.
V6 Performance: Winner: Camaro Second: Tie While the V8s of these three cars will keep up with or beat almost any other V8s on the road, that argument can only be made for the Camaros V6. If you pull up beside a Nissan 3.5 in your Mustang V6 or Challenger SE, you will be embarrassed.
Price Performance: Winner: Unclear If you are the type person who analyzes how much performance you are getting for your dollar you are probably buying the baste GT or the SS1, or possibly even the v6 Camaro. The base Mustang GT can be had for around $27,000 or less with rebates and with its comparable performance, edges out the Camaro. However, if you are buying the more expensive versions of either of these vehicles, the nod goes to Camaro…Especially if you are only looking at the MSRP and not the Camaro dealer mark ups. However, I have to wonder if the V6 Camaro might actually be king…IF you don’t mind having a low Torque machine in your drive way, comparably speaking. As impractical as I happen to think a Camaro is, the low priced v6 Camaro getting 29mpg certainly reels in some of that practical trade off. You will keep up with a Mustang GT about as well as a Mustang GT or Challenger RT keeps up with a Camaro SS….
Interior: Winner: Mustang Second: Camaro I know this is highly subjective but the Camaro interior just seems too busy and over the top while the challenger strikes me as just plain boring. I think the Mustang is the perfect combination for an American Muscle car that’s an everyday driver. With the interior being mostly what the owner sees I must say I am very happy with what I see. I also am mentioning the supreme sound of the Mustang GT via the sound induction tube under this category, as it’s heard from INSIDE the car. If you ARE the type who loves options and toys…the Mustang wins with its available sync, glass roof, shaker 1,000 and my color…not to mention all the standard up end things usually available such as leather, blue tooth, etc etc.
Reliability: Winner: Mustang Second: None The fact that a Mustang (referred to as Fix or Repair Daily) will have fewer mechanical break downs and fewer costly repairs is a foregone conclusion. But let me explain why. Pick up ANY Consumer Reports and you will notice one thing. The only reason why Dodge is not ranked DEAD LAST is because that position is currently occupied by GM. While I think it would be too harsh to refer to GM/Dodge as “junk” I will certainly say they have SERIOUS issues. Now, look up Ford in consumer reports and you will notice Ford has been getting the highest ratings possible for a while now. Toyota is thought of as the “king” of quality and a Ford Fusion bests a Camry in consumer reports. Another reason why the Mustang wins is simple experience. The current Mustang GT has been around. Ford has had YEARS to tweak and work the production bugs out of the 4.6 and also has spent the last 4 tweaking and working the bugs out of its current production platform. Conversely both the Challenger and the Camaro are new models that are bound to be riddled with problems as they get a few miles on them.
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Last edited by Allentown; 2 Weeks Ago at 05:50 PM.
Reason: spelling
wow, even MotorTrend gave the 2010 Mustang alot more props on some of those topics.
They are somewhat slow (Camaro) when you have 100+ HP and only beating a Mustang GT by .3 seconds from 0-60mph should tell you something. In the quarter mile, it barely beats the Mustang.
In looks, for me, i prefer the Mustang, Challenger, then Camaro.
But overall, nice write up.
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wow, even MotorTrend gave the 2010 Mustang alot more props on some of those topics.
They are somewhat slow (Camaro) when you have 100+ HP and only beating a Mustang GT by .3 seconds from 0-60mph should tell you something. In the quarter mile, it barely beats the Mustang.
In looks, for me, i prefer the Mustang, Challenger, then Camaro.
But overall, nice write up.
yeah, but the same could be said for the gt 500 only beating the ss by a lil tiny bit.
Sorry. I reject your opinions presented as being DEFINITIVE.
GM has done everything they can to make the Camaro a success.
Stuck building it on a modified Holden Australian-designed frame, they styled it after a modernized version of the legendary '69 Camaro coupe and gave it a chopped-top look that adds to its sporty styling (although definitely reducing visibility from inside the passenger cabin). The two optional striping packages further pick up styling cues from the original musclecar era. I think the new Camaro looks very good. But looks are entirely subjective, and to me the Shelby GT500 Mustang coupes look even better.
Rather than throw something similar to the Ford and Dodge V6 engines into the Camaro V6, GM gave it the terrific Cadillac V6. And to best the Mustang GT and Challenger V8s, GM gave the Camaro SS manuals the current standard Corvette LS3 V8 engine. GM has never allowed the Camaro to equal the 'vette, so they rate the LS3 as 430hp in the 'vette and only 426hp in the Camaro. The Camaro engines are both top notch, but using those existing premium engines avoided costs for developing other Camaro powerplants.
Criticizing the Mustang's solid rear axle versus the independent rear suspensions of the Camaro and Challenger is the easy thing to do, but every review I read says the performance difference is actually negligible. Ford has spent years improving the Mustang's rear suspension and has won many professional races wth it. There was a time when GM was criticized similarly for staying with pushrod OHV V8 engines when Ford and other manufacturers were going to more advanced OHC designs. But GM has developed some terrific OHV engines (like the LS3 and LS7 and LS9). Older technology isn't bad if it is done well, and the GM OHV V8 engines and the Ford solid axles both fall into this category.
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Sorry. I reject your opinions presented as being DEFINITIVE.
GM has done everything they can to make the Camaro a success.
Stuck building it on a modified Holden Australian-designed frame, they styled it after a modernized version of the legendary '69 Camaro coupe and gave it a chopped-top look that adds to its sporty styling (although definitely reducing visibility from inside the passenger cabin). The two optional striping packages further pick up styling cues from the original musclecar era. I think the new Camaro looks very good. But looks are entirely subjective, and to me the Shelby GT500 Mustang coupes look even better.
Rather than throw something similar to the Ford and Dodge V6 engines into the Camaro V6, GM gave it the terrific Cadillac V6. And to best the Mustang GT and Challenger V8s, GM gave the Camaro SS manuals the current standard Corvette LS3 V8 engine. GM has never allowed the Camaro to equal the 'vette, so they rate the LS3 as 430hp in the 'vette and only 426hp in the Camaro. The Camaro engines are both top notch, but using those existing premium engines avoided costs for developing other Camaro powerplants.
Criticizing the Mustang's solid rear axle versus the independent rear suspensions of the Camaro and Challenger is the easy thing to do, but every review I read says the performance difference is actually negligible. Ford has spent years improving the Mustang's rear suspension and has won many professional races wth it. There was a time when GM was criticized similarly for staying with pushrod OHV V8 engines when Ford and other manufacturers were going to more advanced OHC designs. But GM has developed some terrific OHV engines (like the LS3 and LS7 and LS9). Older technology isn't bad if it is done well, and the GM OHV V8 engines and the Ford solid axles both fall into this category.
I never said "the" definitive I said MY definitive. That being said, we agree on the Camaro being a winner in the looks department, the superiority in the V6 category, and the better handling of the older live rear axle. It seems "my definitive" perfectly matches "your" definitive opinions.
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Don't drive like a douchebag on public roads
2010 GT Base
2005 v6 premium-traded
1964 1/2 Mustang 289 coupe-sold after 10 years...was my first car.
yeah they are somewhat pretty dang quicker in the 1/4. i'm not jumping on the camaro train here, but my dad had a 98 z28 (which is why i happen to like camaros a lot) and his best time was a 13.3 in the 1/4. automatic, completely stock and with street tires. he has the slip too. im surprised the mustang gts in the same years (99-2004) dont have better stock quarter times. people with mods in their sig in here are still in the 14's and it's like why?! they were a lot faster then but it's a lot closer between the two now. ford needs to put 350 plus into the gt with it being as light as it is, then it will give the camaro a run for its money!
I think the overall winner is the one that butters your bread the most. For me, I love all three cars. They're outstanding modern interpretations of classic muscle cars. All three cars would absolutely murder the originals from which they're based in every category. The performance of all three cars for an everyday driver is too close to call. You get an experienced driver in a Challenger and a weak driver in a 'stang and the better driver will win every time.
Yeah, the automatic Camaros are slow. Such is the consequence of warranting a 400 HP powertrain for 100,000 miles--the computer is going to put you down at some point. I can see the same thing happening with the 5.0's when they are released as well.
I never said "the" definitive I said MY definitive. That being said, we agree on the Camaro being a winner in the looks department, the superiority in the V6 category, and the better handling than the older live rear axle. It seems "my definitive" perfectly matches "your" definitive opinions.
No, it does not.
You said the Camaro looks best, with Challenger second (and Mustang last).
I said the Camaro looks very good, but the Shelby GT500 looks even better.
You also misinterpreted my comments about the Mustang's solid rear axle.
I was pointing out that those who denigrate the Mustang for its lack of an independent rear suspension are ignoring the various recent reviews that prefer the handling of the Mustang to the Camaro (and Challenger). If you want to ignore real world performance and focus strictly on the theoretical superiority of independent suspension versus solid rear axle, then we should also ignore real world performance and focus on the theoretical superiority of OHC engines over OHV engines and declare the Camaro V8 inferior simply because it has pushrods. But the Mustang's solid rear axle is very well engineered, just like the LS3 pushrod V8 is very well engineered.
I do agree that currently the Mustang V6 is no match for the Cadillac V6 GM puts in the Camaro.
And while you did state your list as being your definitive commentary, requesting this thread to be made a "sticky" would impart a more universal status on your opinions, hence my objection.
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2008 Shelby GT500 torch red with black stripes + sequentials
2001 Cobra mineral grey with 2003 Mach 1 shaker hood
1996 Cobra color-shifting mystic paint + sequentials
You said the Camaro looks best, with Challenger second (and Mustang last).
I said the Camaro looks very good, but the Shelby GT500 looks even better.
You also misinterpreted my comments about the Mustang's solid rear axle.
I was pointing out that those who denigrate the Mustang for its lack of an independent rear suspension are ignoring the various recent reviews that prefer the handling of the Mustang to the Camaro (and Challenger). If you want to ignore real world performance and focus strictly on the theoretical superiority of independent suspension versus solid rear axle, then we should also ignore real world performance and focus on the theoretical superiority of OHC engines over OHV engines and declare the Camaro V8 inferior simply because it has pushrods. But the Mustang's solid rear axle is very well engineered, just like the LS3 pushrod V8 is very well engineered.
I do agree that currently the Mustang V6 is no match for the Cadillac V6 GM puts in the Camaro.
And while you did state your list as being your definitive commentary, requesting this thread to be made a "sticky" would impart a more universal status on your opinions, hence my objection.
Aww fair enough. The Shelby GT/SRT8/Hennessey were not a part of the review, but i totally agree. The Shelby is a beautiful car and wins. I also personally prefer the looks of the standard mustangs as well, i just don't think thats the case from a majority stand point, and this is what i was referring to when i assigned a "winner". I watched one of those polls where they go out with a camera, a mustang GT vert and a 2010 camaro and were asking random people on the street which care they would pick. Out of 25 people not a SINGLE person picked the mustang. Nonetheless, i think once the "newness" of the camaro wears off....at least SOME people would start to tire of it and return to picking the mustang.
Regarding the IRS/LA, i don't know if i agree thats its BETTER...although certainly VERY GOOD and probably better for some people. Still not sure where you are going on that however, as i gave the handling WIN to the Mustangs LA.
While this certainly does not COVER all the Nuisances of thiss discussion, i thought it would be helpful to the first time researcher checking in for a quick opinion.
Perhaps i should have up end level comparision with the SRT8/Shelby/Hennessey virtues before i called it "definitive" I was assuming anyone interested in THOSE vehicles...already knows the pros and cons.
Thanks for the input though..we really do agree on things more then you seemed to think.
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Don't drive like a douchebag on public roads
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1964 1/2 Mustang 289 coupe-sold after 10 years...was my first car.
One note on the solid axle: when Ford started putting IRS in the Termi's, the whole Mustang performance crowd started screaming to stick with the log, and how many Termi's have been converted to a solid axle? Ford themselves said they listened to the Mustang faithfull when redesigning for the '05 model year, and the solid axle was one thing the Mustang Guys wanted. Now that GM and Dodge have went with IRS, all you hear is the 'Stang is prehistoric with a solid axle. Give me a log axle any day! The new Stang outhandles them both with it anyway!
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One note on the solid axle: when Ford started putting IRS in the Termi's, the whole Mustang performance crowd started screaming to stick with the log, and how many Termi's have been converted to a solid axle? Ford themselves said they listened to the Mustang faithfull when redesigning for the '05 model year, and the solid axle was one thing the Mustang Guys wanted. Now that GM and Dodge have went with IRS, all you hear is the 'Stang is prehistoric with a solid axle. Give me a log axle any day! The new Stang outhandles them both with it anyway!
The Mustang w/Track Pack may out-handle the IRS cars on the track and skidpad, but put the cars on real roads with real potholes and uneven bumps and the Camaro and Chally will be showing tailights to the 'stang driver.
You also have to keep in mind that the Terminators were designed to be the ultimate factory Mustang that could take on Corvettes and Vipers.
2010 Mustang Vs Challenger Vs Camaro, my DEFINITIVE commentary. 
The Shelby GT/SRT8/Hennessey were not a part of the review, but i totally agree. The Shelby is a beautiful car and wins. I also personally prefer the looks of the standard mustangs as well, i just don't think thats the case from a majority stand point, and this is what i was referring to when i assigned a "winner". I watched one of those polls where they go out with a camera, a mustang GT vert and a 2010 camaro and were asking random people on the street which care they would pick. Out of 25 people not a SINGLE person picked the mustang. Nonetheless, i think once the "newness" of the camaro wears off....at least SOME people would start to tire of it and return to picking the mustang.
I was assuming anyone interested in THOSE vehicles...already knows the pros and cons.
