Motor Trend picks the SRT8 over the GT500
GT Member
Joined: April 22, 2006
Posts: 125
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It makes me gladder and gladder every time I read these comparisons. I spent about $44,500.00 so far total with all tax and installation for everything on my car and the original price.
My car is faster, way more agile, and looks exactly as I ordered it and designed to look exactly like I want.
On the street and canyon/country roads, I would destroy these heavy beasts. I love the GT500, and realize it is a potential track HP giant, but this 4150lb under powered, but great looking car..... I don't get it. Erik
My car is faster, way more agile, and looks exactly as I ordered it and designed to look exactly like I want.
On the street and canyon/country roads, I would destroy these heavy beasts. I love the GT500, and realize it is a potential track HP giant, but this 4150lb under powered, but great looking car..... I don't get it. Erik
Mach 1 Member
Joined: February 23, 2008
Posts: 769
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From: new castle, pa
Motor Trend 
I stopped reading Motor Trend when they would give truck of the year and car of the year to anything new that anyone else comes out with, Chevy, Toyota, even a freakin' Nissan, but never a Ford. Any F-150 is handsdown better than anything else. Motor Tend is so far up GM's and Toyota's asses it disgusting.
I stopped reading Motor Trend when they would give truck of the year and car of the year to anything new that anyone else comes out with, Chevy, Toyota, even a freakin' Nissan, but never a Ford. Any F-150 is handsdown better than anything else. Motor Tend is so far up GM's and Toyota's asses it disgusting.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: January 30, 2008
Posts: 721
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From: Pacific NW USA
Not before the design for this car was in the bag...
Daimler and Chrysler parted ways.
Without reading the article, the Challenger will be slower than the GT500 for a number of reasons: the Challenger weighs more than 4000 lb (slightly heavier than the GT500) and has less power than the GT500. My Crown Vic weighs about 4100 lb with me inside in a race ready configuration.
Without reading the article, the Challenger will be slower than the GT500 for a number of reasons: the Challenger weighs more than 4000 lb (slightly heavier than the GT500) and has less power than the GT500. My Crown Vic weighs about 4100 lb with me inside in a race ready configuration.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: January 1, 2005
Posts: 610
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From: Florida
The GT500 is evidently much faster, and probably more fun to drive (never driven either), but **** if the Challenger just doesn't look like a freakin beast!
There is no denying that they NAILED the muscle car look in nearly every way...
I will disclaim that I have not seen one in person yet, but every picture I have seen gives the same glee I used to get when I was looking at the 03 silver concept years ago that got mme into this whole mess of car debauchery!
There is no denying that they NAILED the muscle car look in nearly every way...
I will disclaim that I have not seen one in person yet, but every picture I have seen gives the same glee I used to get when I was looking at the 03 silver concept years ago that got mme into this whole mess of car debauchery!
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,777
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
Well, don't worry. The Challenger and Camaro are going to be limited production. They will cease to exist after 3-4 MYs due to the 35-36 MPG CAFE requirement. The SRT-8's engine is a GAS GUZZLER.
Bullitt Member
Joined: July 19, 2006
Posts: 314
Likes: 2
From: Sunny Miami, FL
I smell BS. I have an 07 SRT8 and an 06 Mustang GT. My SRT, granted is quick but, it is a porker. The car is huge. I have taken both to the road coarse and the Mustang is a much better car. I there is no way in hell the Challenger will out perform the GT500 in the hands of capable drivers. When they put a manual transmission in the in the Challenger and modify the suspension, it might have a better chance.
TMS Post # 1,000,000
Serbian Steamer
Serbian Steamer
Joined: January 30, 2004
Posts: 12,636
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From: Wisconsin / Serbia
Guys, let's face it. Challenger just came out and it must win.
That's why Edmunds is taking only Bullitt vs Challenger and MotorTrend is embarrassing themselves this way.
I stopped taking Motor Trend seriously when they named Honda Ridgeline as truck of the year.
That's why Edmunds is taking only Bullitt vs Challenger and MotorTrend is embarrassing themselves this way.
I stopped taking Motor Trend seriously when they named Honda Ridgeline as truck of the year.
Bullitt Member
Joined: October 15, 2004
Posts: 383
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I had the good fortune of seeing 3 new challengers on the road last weekend and they look amazing in person. That being said, I DO think the GT500 is a better car.
GT Member
Joined: April 22, 2006
Posts: 125
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It's not a surprise that MT would pick the newer vehicle (all things being equal, new always trumps old), and though I'm a Mustang guy through-and-through, the writers correctly ding the GT500 for the cheap interior.
I personally like the design of the current interior a lot -- it's the materials that are the problem. Swaths of cheap-looking, cheap-feeling, hard plastic are everywhere. I have creaks and rattles after 18 months of ownership that I never had with the Civic I drove in college, a car that cost me half of what I paid for my Mustang. I know -- really, I know -- that the cheapo interior is a major reason that Ford can sell a 300hp V8-powered car for under $28,000. I get it. But how much extra could it be just to upgrade to a softer, more tactile plastic?
I understand that Ford is going to provide a richer interior in 2010 redesign, with better, more sporting seats (another cost-saving trade-off in the S-197). I can't wait to see it.
I personally like the design of the current interior a lot -- it's the materials that are the problem. Swaths of cheap-looking, cheap-feeling, hard plastic are everywhere. I have creaks and rattles after 18 months of ownership that I never had with the Civic I drove in college, a car that cost me half of what I paid for my Mustang. I know -- really, I know -- that the cheapo interior is a major reason that Ford can sell a 300hp V8-powered car for under $28,000. I get it. But how much extra could it be just to upgrade to a softer, more tactile plastic?
I understand that Ford is going to provide a richer interior in 2010 redesign, with better, more sporting seats (another cost-saving trade-off in the S-197). I can't wait to see it.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,777
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
FWIW, I feel that the Chrysler interiors are rather dated. The Dodge Charger/Magnum/Challenger steering wheel looks like the ones Ford used in the 80s. The lack of a manual transmission kills the appeal of the Challenger. I did not buy a Charger R/T because of the lack of a manual gearbox.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
2nd Place
Ford Shelby GT500
Still an eye-catcher, and sensationally fast, but archaic chassis and whiney motor weaken its bid for numero uno.
Since when whine is a bad thing?
Ford Shelby GT500
Still an eye-catcher, and sensationally fast, but archaic chassis and whiney motor weaken its bid for numero uno.
Since when whine is a bad thing?
MT can go **** it self
Bullitt Member
Joined: October 5, 2006
Posts: 487
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Some of the critisism against the cars in this thread is completely undeserved.
In the end they are both great cars, and have outstanding performance. I had to laugh at one of the threads declaring the Challenger a pig. I guess by that logic the GT500 is also
I don't think there is a "better" in this case, just a "different".
In the end they are both great cars, and have outstanding performance. I had to laugh at one of the threads declaring the Challenger a pig. I guess by that logic the GT500 is also
I don't think there is a "better" in this case, just a "different".
Cobra Member
Joined: May 16, 2006
Posts: 1,322
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From: NV
V6 Member
Joined: October 25, 2004
Posts: 64
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Low self-esteem and short memories,that's why some of you are angry over this comparo. Short memories because Motor Trend loves this Gen Mustang,just in the April and June issue,they've covered 5,that's 5 Mustangs and all have had good write-ups. If you go back a while,they had a big feature on the GT500 and the writer proclaimed the best mustang ever made. This comparison test didn't say anything about the GT500 that hasn't been said,It didn't bash the car,and gee,do you think.............maybe the Challenger is a nicer car?? We all don't live a quarter mile at a time.
The people who get angry over these articles,especially articles like this one in which the car wasn't even bashed............these people must have enormous self-esteem issues. So your car or car company didn't get its *** kissed by a magazine,so what? You've wrapped your self-image up so much with whatever car or bike or car company that when said product doesn't make the grade or it gets a bad review,well,that's just like the magazine calling you a loser to your small little mind. Go ahead,write your hate-mail,cancel your subscription and cry yourself to sleep at night because your favorite car,which you've probably never driven,finished second place out of two cars. All the while,the editors and people reading the letters pages just laugh and feel pity for the idiot that has to put pen to paper to express his outrage that another human being has different opinion as he does. Knowing full well,if said magazine had praised his car,he would show it off and praise the writers for "getting it" and bring up it up on these and other forums to prove various points. How do people like this handle problems in the real world??
Did Motor Trend say the GT500 was a bad car? Did they say not to buy one? Did they say it was garbage? What's the problem? Seriously,where was Motor Trend wrong. Because the GT500 was faster? Big deal. Fast doesn't equal better,as you Camaro bashers have always cried about. Seriously,could someone give me a intelligent answer as to why this article prompted such anger?
Cobra Member
Joined: May 16, 2006
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 0
From: NV
Would you not call a Straight rear axle "archaic"?
Low self-esteem and short memories,that's why some of you are angry over this comparo. Short memories because Motor Trend loves this Gen Mustang,just in the April and June issue,they've covered 5,that's 5 Mustangs and all have had good write-ups. If you go back a while,they had a big feature on the GT500 and the writer proclaimed the best mustang ever made. This comparison test didn't say anything about the GT500 that hasn't been said,It didn't bash the car,and gee,do you think.............maybe the Challenger is a nicer car?? We all don't live a quarter mile at a time.
The people who get angry over these articles,especially articles like this one in which the car wasn't even bashed............these people must have enormous self-esteem issues. So your car or car company didn't get its *** kissed by a magazine,so what? You've wrapped your self-image up so much with whatever car or bike or car company that when said product doesn't make the grade or it gets a bad review,well,that's just like the magazine calling you a loser to your small little mind. Go ahead,write your hate-mail,cancel your subscription and cry yourself to sleep at night because your favorite car,which you've probably never driven,finished second place out of two cars. All the while,the editors and people reading the letters pages just laugh and feel pity for the idiot that has to put pen to paper to express his outrage that another human being has different opinion as he does. Knowing full well,if said magazine had praised his car,he would show it off and praise the writers for "getting it" and bring up it up on these and other forums to prove various points. How do people like this handle problems in the real world??
Did Motor Trend say the GT500 was a bad car? Did they say not to buy one? Did they say it was garbage? What's the problem? Seriously,where was Motor Trend wrong. Because the GT500 was faster? Big deal. Fast doesn't equal better,as you Camaro bashers have always cried about. Seriously,could someone give me a intelligent answer as to why this article prompted such anger?
Low self-esteem and short memories,that's why some of you are angry over this comparo. Short memories because Motor Trend loves this Gen Mustang,just in the April and June issue,they've covered 5,that's 5 Mustangs and all have had good write-ups. If you go back a while,they had a big feature on the GT500 and the writer proclaimed the best mustang ever made. This comparison test didn't say anything about the GT500 that hasn't been said,It didn't bash the car,and gee,do you think.............maybe the Challenger is a nicer car?? We all don't live a quarter mile at a time.
The people who get angry over these articles,especially articles like this one in which the car wasn't even bashed............these people must have enormous self-esteem issues. So your car or car company didn't get its *** kissed by a magazine,so what? You've wrapped your self-image up so much with whatever car or bike or car company that when said product doesn't make the grade or it gets a bad review,well,that's just like the magazine calling you a loser to your small little mind. Go ahead,write your hate-mail,cancel your subscription and cry yourself to sleep at night because your favorite car,which you've probably never driven,finished second place out of two cars. All the while,the editors and people reading the letters pages just laugh and feel pity for the idiot that has to put pen to paper to express his outrage that another human being has different opinion as he does. Knowing full well,if said magazine had praised his car,he would show it off and praise the writers for "getting it" and bring up it up on these and other forums to prove various points. How do people like this handle problems in the real world??
Did Motor Trend say the GT500 was a bad car? Did they say not to buy one? Did they say it was garbage? What's the problem? Seriously,where was Motor Trend wrong. Because the GT500 was faster? Big deal. Fast doesn't equal better,as you Camaro bashers have always cried about. Seriously,could someone give me a intelligent answer as to why this article prompted such anger?
You're so right, the Challenger is so much better in every way, even though the GT500 beat it in the quarter mile, skidpad and slalom.
How dare us Mustang owners, on a Mustang forum, dare to discuss or even question that article, which compares the top model of our inferior live axle equipped Mustangs to the incredibly superior German-engineered Challenger with it's miraculous Indenpendent Rear Suspension. The IRS in the Challenger is known to cure baldness, cancer and handle turns that would cause our inferior Mustangs to crash and explode!
I'm so glad you were here to set us straight! Let's all hug!
Last edited by Vermillion06; May 5, 2008 at 12:45 PM.