The Muscle Car Returns

 

the cobalt shouldnt be n the article....

otherwise pretty good. i agree with it for the most part

 

Actually, and I can't believe I'm saying this, the Cobalt is not completely out of place in that article. Despite it not actually being a hatchback I would classify it as a "hot hatch", and true hot hatches (meaning fast and affordable... remember when the GTi fit those criteria VW?!!?) are a modern interpretation of the muscle car formula. Meaning a cheap, lightweight car with a powerful engine chucked under the hood.

 

4-door sedan and 4-cyl cars are not muscle cars.

 

and front wheel drive :notnice:

 

That too.

 

This ranks right up there with people that proclaim something isn't a muscle car because it handles too well. Same goes for the front wheel drive comment. You'll find no bigger fan of American, RWD, V8 performance than myself. I would much, much, much (this is quite the understatement) rather have a Mustang GT than an Evo or a WRX STi.

But, and perhaps this needs to be said judging by some posts around here, just because YOU (or I, for that matter) don't like something doesn't make it somehow less worthy.

I'm trying to be nice about this, but this reasoning (or lack thereof) just continues to frustrate me. So, let me pose a few questions.

In the early 70's a Ford Torino could be had in 4-door with a 429 SCJ and the drag-pak. A brutally fast car, regardless of how many doors it had. Explain why this isn't a muscle car again?

The SVO Mustang came with a 4 cylinder (admittedly turbocharged) but it was as fast as a 305 V8 powered Camaro of the same vintage. Plus, thanks to the lighter engine and a very good suspension it outhandled the F-body. Now, this is somehow less a muscle car because it's a 4 banger? :crazy:

GM is stuffing a 5.3L small block in the Grand Prix GXP. While I may not think this is a good idea, it's undoubtedly going to be pretty quick. And no less a muscle car for being 4 door and FWD really. Though I'm sure the torque steer will be nothing less than brutal.

It's not how you get there guys, it's the destination.

A powerful engine in a small, cheap, lightweight car is the Muscle car formula. It's the one that the GTO used when it kickstarted the Muscle Car era and it's the one fundamental element all the Muscle Cars had in common. Sure, they were all RWD and V8, but that's really more a reflection of the then-current car market than anything else.

I'm not trying to pick on anyone here. In fact, the handling comments get my ire more than anything that was said in this thread, but I really do have a problem with this train of thought. Following the same logic I can proclaim that anything with IRS, overhead cams, or forced induction isn't a muscle car. OK, I just disqualified the new GTO, and every 1996+ Mustang including cars wearing SVT badges. Things change, it's the way of the world, sometimes we need to change our perceptions as well. I can bag on the WRX STi and Evo as well as anyone. (Overpriced, ugly, and overrated the both)
But I don't think that makes them any less a modern, Japanese muscle car.

[/rant]

 

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with that sentence? :scratch:

 

I agree "many more covet..." is rather troublesome.

Seriously though, that kids think those are so much cooler than a Mustang GT or a GTO makes me sad for the future of the American auto industry.

 

you don't have to be classified as muscle car to be fast.
The cobalt would be fit in a modern sports car category along with the SRT-4, WRX, EVO, etc...
Muscle is coming back, but many fast little sports car's are coming our way which shouldn't be given a musclecar label. IMO

There are many questions on what real muscle is now, but to me REAL muscle died in '73

 

Actually, I agree with you. My point wasn't that everything fast is a muscle car, notice I classified a Cobalt as a "hot hatch" (IMHO the correct classification). However, for the purpose of that article I think the label is appropriate.

And the ultimate point I was trying to make is that you can't disqualify a car from being a muscle car just because it's 4 doors, front-wheel drive, and/or 4 cylinders. The label should be assigned based on that cars individual merits more than anything. All three of my examples could be called muscle cars, though the Grand Prix is no doubt the biggest stretch of the three.

 

Who cares what we call them, give me a fast and nice looking car and i'm a happy man

 

sorry, hate to be a pain in the ****, but as a "kid" thats not exactly fair. theres quite a few of us youngers dudes (and dudettes) who prefer V8 RWD beasts

not hate, just it kinda bugs me when i see that. call me crazy, but i had to say it. sorry for boring everyone with my post.

also, i think the only thing that qualifies a car as a muscle car is somewhat large displacement and speed. doors dont bug me

the SVO for ex, isnt my idea of muscle, its more of sport. for me its two diff things. although theres no denying its fast. i feel the same way about the WRXs, Evos and what not. except i wouldnt wanna own one of them :P

so i do think the grand prix with the 5.7L and the torino with 4 doors and the 429 scj are still muscle cuz of the'ir cid and their speed. the others imo are just sport b/c they have speed but not necasarily the torque, feel and sound of a comparable bigger cid, V8 car. im ranting again. this is why you shouldnt eat suagar late at night kids

until tomoro then

 

Hey, no worries man, even though I probably sound like an old man half the time I'm only 24 myself. So I completely understand the "hey, don't group me with those idiots" sentiment. I'm just worried there aren't enough guys like us anymore. Now it's much cooler to buy a Civic, dump $10,000 in the engine and still be pulling high 14 second quarter miles. :bang:

 

Interesting article, even though its not exactly true. I will even quote what the article itself calls a muscle car, " two-door coupes with powerful V8 engines." For now and the next few years at least the only cars to meet those requirements are the Mustang, GTO, and Corvette. I also think a muscle car has to be at least RWD and a 2+2, which knocks the Vette out of it, so there are only 2, the Mustang and GTO. As stated earlier a 4-door Charger and 4-cyl Cobalt do not qualify.