There is no bigger Mustang fan than I, however, a stock Mustang beating a sock Camero has not been accomplished in years... Decades! People buy the Mustang for its looks, value, nostalgia, and decent power, BUT complaring them to the Camero, or Firebird- GOOD LUCK! I'm wondering what the surcharge will be on the new Cameros. I remember that he 05s were going about 5Gs over MSRP. I paid less for my 07 than my friend paid for his 05. I bet these "thing" will be more for the first couple years... At least we'll have some competiton now... but we'll lose.

 

Performance was part of the F-bod's demise, they were really nothing more than an engine in box. I suppose GM at the onset banked on the car's performance to win over a great many people, however in day to day practicality the F-bod fell short. Other factors included a lack of advertisement as well as letting the cars stagnate.

 

Truth be told in the 90s Mustang and Camaro went back and forth. What made things interesting was that Ford and Chevy did differ. things. Ford was looking twards the tech. of their engines where Chevy did things traditionally, stuff a big engine in there. Like for ex. Ford did the DOHC 4.6L V8 making about 300 HP, where the big bad LS1 made about 275HP. I like ricers well actually I like just about anything that is fast and looks good. As for the 2008 Mustang vs. the 2008 Camaro. I say Mustang. Ford says they are bringing back the Boss and it will have a 390 HP 5.0L engine. Plus they are going to make it lighter!

 

2008? The Mustang wins by default. I'm taking bets that we won't see it 'till 2010. My prediction is it'll be released late 2009 but there'll be production problems and you won't see them till 2010. Hasn't that been GM's history lately? That and bringing vehicles to the market 5 years late?

 

I saw the Camaro concept car at the Hot Rod Power Tour....I hated the look of the car...looked like a Chrysler 300 with 22 inch wheels.....thing was huge....
The LS1 was a great engine, but the Camaro has been a joke for the last 20 plus years as far as collectability....too much plastic add-ons, and wanna be owners....
I love what the new Corvette does, as far as performance, but I do not like the look of the car...too many gold chains, reflecting from the drivers seat!!
Ford builds the Mustang for everybody, depending on what they want, and how much money they want to spend...The new Shelby needs to go on a diet, and the dealers need to quit being so greedy with their surcharges..they ruined the T-bird, and the Ford GT with their overpricing..

 

just to correct some misinformation here.

The LS1 was never rated less then 305hp and that was in 1998.

When the DOHC came out in the stang in 1996 it had 305hp and matched the Camaro SS 305hp LT1. the LT1 in the Z28 was rated 285hp.

 

Let me fix that

Anybody who doesn't think they are good or discounts the LSx simply because they are GM and/or pushrod engines are really mistaken. The engine is a soild performer that is every bit as advanced as most engines out there today, that is if people can get past the valvetrain configuration.

 

A lot of speculation, obviously, given that we haven't seen the real next edition Stang, Camaro or Challenger. But then, mindless speculating is what makes these forums so much fun, right?

Anyways, given the vague wisps of info now available, I'd give the nod to the Camaro and Challenger, but won't write off the Stang either (if Ford gets is shyte together).

Drive trains -- sounds like both GM and DC are going to offer versions of their 6+ liter V8s at the top end: probably the 6.2 LS-something with around 450 hp for the Camaro and the 6.1 Hemi with 425+hp for the Challenger, both backed up by six speed trannies. The Challenger may suffer a bit from weight, probably approaching the GT500s porky stickiness to gravitrons, but that Hemi offers a compelling counterbalance on the other side of the force vs. mass equation. If Ford tops both the 4.6 and 5.4 with 4V heads, higher compression and a bit more aggressive tuning, in addition to backing it up with a six-cogger, then it can stay in the game, acceleration wise.

Chassis: Both the Camaro and Challenger looks to have better suspension by dint of IRS and these will undoubtedly be stout, strip capable pieces. That alone will give them a significantly broader performance envelope out in the rough and tumble of real world roads along with a better ride quality (not to be mistaken simply as a soft ride). Ford might finally get serious and release the stillborn IRS, as rumors of Dana Corp ramping up their Control Blade production capacity hints at. In that case, all bets are off and the lighter Stang would have a distinct advantage over the presumably hefty Challenger.

Brakes: A bit of a weak point for the Stang, especially if more than one serious stop per hour is required, but that's easily fixable. GM and DC certainly have a wide option of very capable brake systems to pick and choose from. Presuming Ford does the right thing here, Camaro and Stang stop to a draw with the mass of the Challenger taking a few more feet to bring the show to a halt.

Styling. Your call, Mustang's very good but will need a good freshening to keep from tasting stale. Camaro concect is very good too, aside form a few awkward details. If they clean those up yet retain the show car good looks as GM did with the Soltice, then they've got a winner here too. Challenger? Presuming the production car looks pretty much like the concept, and DC has a good record of translating show cars into production cars without getting all goofy, then its a three-way tie coming down to a matter of taste.

Features: Stang's a bit thin here and the interior quality is only good but hardly noteworthy. But Ford ought to know that by now and, judging by some of their other models, are fully capable of delivering a great and fully featured all-around interior. GM and DC, too, seems fully capable of delivering excellent interiors, though their records of actually doing so is uneven. Will have to see what the finally execution brings forth.

Price: Probably the Stang by dint of already being tooled up and having paid off some of that investment. On the other hand, the DC2 chassis is a one off whereas the Camaro and Challenger will benefit from economies of scale, both in terms of development and production, by being based of far more broadly used corporate platforms. May turn out to be a draw here, though it does sound like DC might be aiming the Challenger half a notch higher on the food chain than the Stang and Camaro for a bit more coin.

Summary. Really it will come down to how well each car is executed. Each one has the potential for greatness but also to be muffed up. Ford might be at more of a disadvantage here given their recent short-sighted cost cutting mentality and dire financial straights. GM is a bit better financially and seems to be on a general upswing. DC has had a string of winners and the Challenger, barring some horrible mess up, looks to be another. In any case, that these three cars will be back on the market at all is a huge reason for celebration for American car enthusiasts in general.

 

IMHO

The new Camaro looks like a**......

 

the new camaro is amazing

 

Sorry, but I have to agree with:

 

I still like the first genaration Camaro a lot better than the new Camaro. the v shaped front end killes it for me. the Challenger looks better , but the New Stang's look the Best. I just hope that GM has learned there lesson an not over price the camaro. I cant wait to have the big 3 back on the streets.

 

And that "mess up" is called Chrysler's new partnership with Chery.

Get ready for the Challenger to morph into some god-awful rolling abortion that squishes like a dog turd during a 5 MPH tap on the a$$.

 

I new camaro does look sweet but i'll still be smokin it when I get blown.... can't wait

 

 

I'm not fan of new Camaro, I just don't like how it looks. I'm not a big fan of 2005+ Mustang either, but heck, it looks a lot better than Camaro.

 

Yeah, That's what it'll take... a "blow-job" to compete with the new Camaro. Like I said earlier. A STOCK Mustang GT has not beat a STOCK Camaro in decades. KH- "Truth be Told", it has NOT gone back and forth. C&D, MT, etc., always had to compare SEs, SVTs, Cobras... whatever, just to make it close. The Pony will be the dog once more, AND for years to come. BUT, that's OK, I love my Pony. It is what it is...

 

SVT Mustang is still a Mustang, just like Camaro SS is still a Camaro.

 

Hey, I'd rather them compare the Mustang to the Camaro instead of the 'Vette like they rediculously do now.

 

Yeah, I know... SVT- Special Vehicle Team. I'm talking about standard basic general common BASE M U S T A N G(V8) vs. C A M A R O(V8)... I can't explain it any clearer. Whatever...