I think we are going to see some great V8 cars over the next couple of years, and then its going to "dry-up". Enter the V6!

I expect that there will always be an SE Mustang with a V8, but I doubt the Camaro & Challenger will survive. If they do, it will be at limited numbers.

 

This is good info but not real world in my opinion from the way I look at things....good for an undriven car sitting still and lightened but the numbers "I" use are actual driven numbers in that there is no attempt to lighten the car and with driver...simply because a car cannot drive itself...however that can be a big variable which is why my prior comparison showed the exact same conditions and driver on the same scale. Like many other things different people have different methods of approaching things....mine is from a point of "on the road" not just sitting somewhere empty and stripped down. From a performance perspective regarding weight you at least have to include a driver since the cars are not remote control and at least a 1/4 tank of fuel(however you are not going very far)....removing the jack and spare tire at the dragstrip is fine but not very practical for real world useage.

Perhaps we should have and in the future set some parameters for the discussion so as to keep everything on the same level when discussing things that can have a number of variables and different approaches.

 

Anybody know if the future GTO got killed off? I remember hearing rumors that GM was going to make a new gen GTO that was going to be retro inspired and based on a similar platform to the Camaro. I'm now starting to hear rumors than GM is pulling the plug on many RWD cars.... I find this suprising with GM actually starting to turn their company around. I think the only way for the big three to compeat with imports is to build better cars and pulling RWD platforms off the list will only hurt them.

 

My exact thoughts !!11

 

Mustang finished off all these models already(some more then once) by not doing anything different. The market revolves around the Mustang, not the other way around. All these cars are wannabe Mustangs. I don't see any formula coming from the Challenger or Camaro that looks like a threat in any way.

 

OK, allow me to try this again. Add 55 lbs for the jack & spare, fill the gas tank (another 75 lbs), and add my 170 lbs to my last three Mustangs to meet your method of comparing weights from a real world useage standpoint and here's what my cars weighed with the additional 300 lbs factored into each...

3,480 lbs = 2000 Mustang GT Coupe, manual trans, SOHC.
3,680 lbs = 2003 Mustang Mach 1, manual trans, DOHC.
3,770 lbs = 2007 Mustang GT Coupe, automatic trans, SOHC.

Point being, cars are getting heavier as more government required safety equipment and market desired luxuries are being added to our Pony cars. I am hopeful that the next generation Mustang can be lightened, or at least kept at bay.

 

OH, there is No doubt or dispute about that!!! The days of the Lightweight stripped 5.0 LX notchback are long gone and will never return...sadly!

 

Um,

Celica-died a slow agonizing death
Integra/TSX-ditto
Eclipse-still around with hardly anybody buying them
Nissan 350z-only true import 'competitor' (although not often cross-shopped with the Mustang) and has never affected Mustang sales
RX8-abysmal sales #s
Hyundai-fuggedabout it

I guess you could say Evo/Sti but the numbers are so small and again a rarely cross-shopped vehicle and pricing is out of line with Mustang. I don't think the new Impreza is going to help Subrau much for the next 2 years until they have to pull a Tribeca emergency restyle.

There used to be a lot more models from Europe as well that have long disappeared from the US market. Through even the best and worst versions of the Mustang over the years, it has never been knocked from anything less then sheer dominance in the coupe market, not mater how many have hated on it Not to mention the dozens of domestic coupes.

I think most asian import companies are trying to find ways to stay as far away from the 20-28k sport coupe market as possible.

 

I used to adore my Fox body cars, but every now and then I get back in one, even perfect ones, and-ugh, forget it, feels like its 50 years old with 3million miles on it.

 

I drive them all from old to new pretty much daily doing what I do and despite the dated feel there is nothing quite like driving a lightweight car with simple bolt-ons that you can put sideways at the blip of the throttle....The new body while nice and refined just doesn't give you that.

 

Yep, l lost interest in my 87 Mustang GT. I sold it about a year and a half ago. Thought it would be better to sell it, and bank the money for a new Mustang.

 

Lol, crappy rear suspensions do that My 91 LX is now relegated to 1/4 mile duty whenever I get it off the jackstands and fix all the half-assed fiddle-with-it-mods I'vew messed with over the years, I'll have to report back when I get it running, but I'll say this; I sure do miss that signature 5.0 sound. As good as the current cars are, they just dont make noise like those old fox cars did (off road pipe, 2 chamber flows)

 

You Challenger fans better be prepared to dig deep into your wallets. The SRT-8 Challenger is going to sticker for $40 - $42K with gas guzzler tax and destination - and before ADMs.

Assuming the regular 5.7 Hemi Challenger avoids any gas guzzler taxes it will start around $33K - $34K and option up into the high 30s. Plus you better hope they build enough of them to minimize ADMs.

 

I'm with you there Paul, my '86 Notch ain't refined but she sure hauls azz

 

Anybody know the engine for the base V8 Camaro??

I expect the 2010 Gt to be a high 12 second car factory stock..

 

I have heard two different rumors one being that the Camaro would get the 400HP 6.0 from the GTO, 05' Vette or the de-tuned 6.0 in the upcoming G8 which is still good for about 360HP. The top model Camaro is rumored to get the Z06's 7.0 making 505 HP. Though I love the Mustang I feel that the Camaro will be the quicker car. I seriously doubt that the next gen GT will break into the 12s....

 

I read the new Car & Driver and the stats of the Challenger, though estimates are pretty impressive. Though the car is a little heavier and lacking 75hp in comparison to the GT500 it looks like it will keep up with it on a race track.

Not counting the stupid ADMs...figure they will be gone after a year or two of production

0-60 in 4.9 and the 1/4 in 13.3
sticker price of a SRT8 is $40,158 that is a bit less than the GT500 and the rumor is that it should be a much better handling car than the GT500. If the top dog Challenger undercuts the GT500's MSRP do you guys think the base V8 will undercut the current GT Mustang?

Insiders guess that the base V8 for 09' will be the 5.7 HEMI with 350HP. I can only assume that the current GT won't receive a power increase until the next model comes out. Either way I still expect the GT to be the quicker car because it should be significantly lighter than the Challenger......Just thought i'd pump some life into this topic with some new info......

 

Also other news I can gather about new Mustang competitors is Hyundai! This car is expected in 09' and is a RWD platform with a 4.6 V8 expected to produce over 300HP! I'm not gonna lie it's a sharp looking car right in the Mustang's price range.

So far it seems at least for the short time to have three legit pony car competitors to the Mustang! I'm optimistic as I feel this will only make Ford work harder to earn our $$$ meaning better cars in the future! Let's hope Ford gives us a little tweak for the 09' GT like they did back in 98'.....maybe 20HP bump to move out the current gen before we get out 10' Mustang!

 

From the comments of GTJOHN (which I hope aren't true) the GDI mustang doesnt seem to be coming out till 2011, if thats the case, since I want them both anyways...I'll probably end up getting the new v8 camaro and then after med school I can get a gt500 GDI mustang of some sort.... I don't know I hope you are wrong and I hope the GDI comes out sooner than you think.

Any other insiders with some thoughts?

 

I'd listen to GTJohn about the 5.0 DI engine, unless things change.