Muscle Car or V6?
5/4/10 | 09:40 AM
#21
Cobra Member
Joined: May 16, 2006
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 0
From: NV
There aren't any "Muscle Cars" any more, at least not in the classic definition of the term.
Muscle cars were, back in the 60's, mid-size cars with big high HP V8 motors and not much else. All they did was go fast in mostly a straight line. They didn't go around corners particularly well and didn't stop very well. They were the GTO's, Hemi Road Runners, SS Chevelles, 427 Fairlanes, etc.
Mustangs are "Pony Cars", cars that may well have a big high HP engine, but they also handle and stop well. They are the all-around athlete of the car world instead of the staid heavy-hitter cars that only do one thing well.
Muscle cars were, back in the 60's, mid-size cars with big high HP V8 motors and not much else. All they did was go fast in mostly a straight line. They didn't go around corners particularly well and didn't stop very well. They were the GTO's, Hemi Road Runners, SS Chevelles, 427 Fairlanes, etc.
Mustangs are "Pony Cars", cars that may well have a big high HP engine, but they also handle and stop well. They are the all-around athlete of the car world instead of the staid heavy-hitter cars that only do one thing well.
You are correct sir. The Mustang is a pony car. That's where the name "pony car" came from!!
5/4/10 | 09:53 AM
#22
GTR Member
Joined: February 18, 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Texas
Thanks everyone for all the info! The way I'm understanding it, it seems like the term "muscle car" wouldn't really apply to any modern day production car since I don't think cars are made to just go in a straight line anymore? Or maybe the definition of "muscle car" has evolved to include such things as handling, but still requires the engine power to make it stand out from the rest?
The term "Muscle Car" is outdated...
5/4/10 | 10:29 AM
#23
V6 Member
Joined: May 15, 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
A lot of car mags are using the term "hustle cars" for the new V6's, which I like. It has all the connotations of "muscle cars" but still appease's the die-hard people who say a v6 can't be a muscle car.
I'll tell you, the '11 V6 blows my '02 GT out of the water in pretty much every category, and mine was called a pure-bread muscle car 10 years ago.
I'll tell you, the '11 V6 blows my '02 GT out of the water in pretty much every category, and mine was called a pure-bread muscle car 10 years ago.
5/4/10 | 12:07 PM
#24
Cobra Member
Joined: October 23, 2009
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 2
From: NW Minnesota
There's never going to be a broadly accepted consensus on this. Even stepping out of the discussion on Mustangs, where do you draw the line between a family car and a luxury car? It used to be that if a car had cruise control, leather seats, power door locks, seats, and windows, that was considered a luxury car. Today all that stuff is common. A well equipped Ford Fusion has more luxury features than a mid-eighties Cadillac or Mercedez-Benz but you would be laughed at if you told people you have a luxury car and then you pulled up in a Fusion.
Exactly where do you draw the line between a station wagon and a crossover? Is it roof height, the slope of the grill, ground clearance? I don't think it's worth losing sleep over trying to define exactly where these borders lie. If one person calls their Mustang a sports car and another person calls a Genesis Coupe a pony car, I'm not going to argue with them.
Exactly where do you draw the line between a station wagon and a crossover? Is it roof height, the slope of the grill, ground clearance? I don't think it's worth losing sleep over trying to define exactly where these borders lie. If one person calls their Mustang a sports car and another person calls a Genesis Coupe a pony car, I'm not going to argue with them.
5/4/10 | 12:15 PM
#25
Post *****
Joined: December 14, 2007
Posts: 20,005
Likes: 4
From: State of Jefferson Mountains USA
No, the "Muscle Car" is a thing of the past. A true performance car has to have more than just muscle to make it great and all the current cars we are talking about, Mustang, camaro, challenger, charger, etc. have more than just muscle. Even the tuner cars, Roush, Saleen, SMS, that have tons of horsepower, also have tons of handling and refined interiors and road manners, thay are not just blunt instruments like classic "Muscle Cars" were, way back when.
The term "Muscle Car" is outdated...
The term "Muscle Car" is outdated...
Heck I haven't been able to drive more than 4+ hours without limping for a couple of days afterwards for years. Drove my B for an 8 hr. loop to the Coast and back, and I was fine.
Couldn't have done that in the 60's Mustang or any other muscle car back then. Not to mention the metal doors and dash! LOL
Last edited by cdynaco; 5/4/10 at 01:54 PM.
5/4/10 | 02:07 PM
#28
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: February 8, 2004
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 7
From: Cincinnati, OH
There is a table that lists a "pony" vs "muscle" car in this Wikipedia article from each of the major manufacturers back from the 1960s.
Last edited by Tony Alonso; 5/4/10 at 02:08 PM.
5/4/10 | 07:10 PM
#29
Member
Joined: January 1, 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
That might be available in the US but I'm in Canada and the website does not allow me to configure a 6 cylinder with NAV nor does the brochure list NAV as an option for the 6 cylinder. There is a V6 Pony Package in Canada but not a Premium package and as far as I can tell the Pony package does not include NAV.
5/4/10 | 07:21 PM
#30
GTR Member
Joined: February 18, 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Texas
That might be available in the US but I'm in Canada and the website does not allow me to configure a 6 cylinder with NAV nor does the brochure list NAV as an option for the 6 cylinder. There is a V6 Pony Package in Canada but not a Premium package and as far as I can tell the Pony package does not include NAV.
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