[multicam11A]

Just over a month ago I purchased a 2012 V6 Performance Package. Within a few weeks, I installed an Airaid CAI and BAMA tune and have been loving it ever since.

Yesterday one of my friends purchased a silver Camaro 1LT 6M (V6 but not the base model... has some electronic goodies vs. bone stock). She let me drive it yesterday and today, and I must say, I am SO glad I went with my first choice and bought the Mustang.

I tried to go into it with an open mind and also considered the possibility that my opinion would be reversed had I purchased the Chevy and she the Ford. But I know if I had test driven the Camaro before the Mustang I would have gone with the Mustang without hesitation.

In the Camaro, the shifter seems to have a much longer throw. It springs out of gear, yet I had trouble finding 3rd on more than one occasion. The clutch seems to have an uneven distribution of resistance- it takes more effort when first pushing it, then becomes much easier, compared to the Mustang's more even resistance. The engine seems to deliver better throttle response in 1st gear than my stock Mustang did, but certainly not after the two mods I put in. The Camaro starts to struggle to pull all that weight by third gear and sounds somewhat raspy and unprofessional- it sounds nowhere near as nice as the Mustang.

The steering feels decent in the Camaro, and heavier than I expected- about comparable to the Mustang in "Sport" mode. The extra weight is definitely noticeable. I felt like I was driving a much bigger car with a huge ass, not to mention I could barely see out of the windows. The difference between the Chevy's IRS and the Mustang's solid rear end is almost imperceptible- I'll take my Mustang's 200+ lbs lighter curb weight any day.

I will say that even if the Camaro's brakes don't stop it as well as the V6 PP's, they do feel somewhat nicer- and for me that means they're more sensitive, you don't have to press them as hard to get the same results.

To wrap it up, if you haven't had a chance to drive the 2012 323HP V6 Camaro, don't jump through hoops to make it happen because you'll want a spin in your Mustang to cleanse yourself afterward. I know I did.

 

[GRABBER3.7L]

you settled with the best:bigthumbsup

dont know if I could ever test drive a camaro lol..but im glad you did the dirty work for me! haha

 

[edjr1032]

Nice. I drove the new Camaros, both coupe and convertible version, just didn't feel right. The car made me feel small and that is not how I want to feel in a muscle car. Plus I couldn't see who was behind me....:nono:

 

[Vitellius]

I actually almost fell for the hype on the 2010 Camaros.
At the time I didnt mind it much for a DD car.
What made me wait was the visibility from the inside, the odd steering wheel (it felt chunky to me), and ive been in a few speed boats before and the way the dash and dials made me think i was in one.

Around town it drove pretty smooth like any other car and not much diffrent than the mustang, but at higher speeds you can really feel the understeer on some highway merging banking turns, of course I may have been going at around 80 mph as i exited thouse banks. Some may see understeer as a good thing as its safer than oversteer (cause of spinout if you dont know what u are doing).

I prefer oversteer!! LOL
Understeer is for amatures!

ps. I did like the way the Camaro looked more than the Mustang at first. . .
Weard thing about the Mustang (2010 Shelby), it grew on me. . .alot!

 

[Guest]

I really wanted to like the Camaro. Afterall it is a sexy car. But I couldn't see very well out of it, I felt disconnected to the road, and it just didn't seem sporty enough compared to what I am used to. I'm really happy with my choice and there are lots of mods for the 3.7l. The v6 Camaro really doesn't have a whole lot going on which is weird since they sell more Camaros than Mustangs.

 

[ridenfish39]

I was dead set on buying a 2011 SS Camaro.........then I drove the Mustang :yup:

 

[matthewr87]

I really wanted to like the Camaro. Afterall it is a sexy car. But I couldn't see very well out of it, I felt disconnected to the road, and it just didn't seem sporty enough compared to what I am used to. I'm really happy with my choice and there are lots of mods for the 3.7l. The v6 Camaro really doesn't have a whole lot going on which is weird since they sell more Camaros than Mustangs.

I also really wanted to like the Camaro. So much so that after driving it I was disappointed and felt somehow let down. It's weird but I was actually SAD. So on the way back I stopped at a Ford dealership, test drove the Mustang, and then bought my car.

 

[diver88]

I also really wanted to like the Camaro. So much so that after driving it I was disappointed and felt somehow let down. It's weird but I was actually SAD. So on the way back I stopped at a Ford dealership, test drove the Mustang, and then bought my car.

that is exactly how I felt. I had planned for two years to buy the new Camaro and after driving it there was a big let down.. I've had a bunch of Camaros (still have a 67 SS) so I felt like I was cheating to go drive the Mustangs. never looked back, night and day between the cars, the Camaro was not fun to drive, the Mustang obviously was.:bigthumbsup

OP, thanks for the mini review..

 

[axe]

I prefer the shifter in my v6 Camaro to the Mustang. I drove a v6 last week, and today tried out the GT, and I guess Im just not a short throw guy. Plus despite the short throw, it took a lot more effort to shift either model. Totally unimpressed and disappointed. Thought the shifter in my 08 GT felt worlds better. Now the steering feel on the other hand - I absolutely loved the feel of the GT.

Re: - the visibility thing. Having both a 2012 FJ and a 2011 Camaro, everyone always comments on visibility. I dont really understand this, adjust your mirrors, get some of those stick-on blind spot mirrors, problem solved. Havent hit anything yet!

 

[Jpmotorsport]

That was my biggest complaint about the new Camaro.

From 1994 to 2002, EVERYONE and their mother has been complaining about livability in the F body. I too was super excited to try out the new 'maro and was again extremely disappointed that it seemed either the Camaro Project manager forgot to include the interior team or just plain decided to never sit in one.

I don't get it - kudos to Ford for still building a muscle car w/ better outward visibility than a Corolla.

 

[Asphalt Cowboy]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I just don't like the look of the Camaro, and the interior looks and feel cheap, no need for me to go any further...
For some reasons, the Camaro always felt that way to me, compare to the Mustang, I wonder why... :laugh:

 

[jdnull68]

I've been a GM guy all my life. But to me the camaro was a huge letdown for all the reasons already listed. I felt like i was abandoning my roots ('68 camaro, Grand National Regal, GTO, Cutlass, etc...all dragsters). But after one test drive in the Stang, i was hooked. The camaro is like a hot one night stand from the dive bar; the mustang is the perfect lady you want to come home to.

 

[mad4macs]

It was important to me that I bought American. That made the designed in Australia, assembled in Canada Camaro a no go.

 

[jdnull68]

Mad4Macs, good point! Same with me. Besides, it looks like a Matchbox car.

 

[jnagy75]

It was important to me that I bought American. That made the designed in Australia, assembled in Canada Camaro a no go.

Not to much in the stang made in America apparently. Every OEM part i have purchased or seen has been made in Mexico,China,Turkey or somewhere else.ASSEMBLED in America is about it.

 

[GTI-Guy]

I test drove the Camaro, and agree, for me what I could not get over was the feel of it's weight. Looks great though.

 

[multicam11A]

I'm not even convinced on the looks, though. Everyone I've talked to says "oh the Mustang may perform better but the camaro is sexier." It strikes me as a car that belongs in a Michael Bay movie (oh wait...). Too exaggerated, flashy and cartoony for me. I would prefer my car to appear somewhat understated- that's why I liked the new GTO (R.I.P.) and that's why my V6 doesn't have MCA, stripes or a spoiler.

 

[jasonthefox]

I'm not even convinced on the looks, though. Everyone I've talked to says "oh the Mustang may perform better but the camaro is sexier." It strikes me as a car that belongs in a Michael Bay movie (oh wait...). Too exaggerated, flashy and cartoony for me..

Agreed. I think some people are buying them based on it being the 'Transformers car'. Nice selling point, nice marketing, but totally cheesy. That's not to say that genuine Camaro guys and car guys aren't buying them. It just seems that most of the intersted is generated from that damned movie. RS/LT/SS/whichever, all they know is that it's either a 'Camaro' or it's 'the Transformers car'.