As a previous SS owner and Boss fan since launch I thought I would write a review on the both cars. I know alot of lurkers and possible new buyers on here and would like to state a few things and clear up some common myths..

IRS isn`t end all and I was totally BLOWN AWAY with the handling of the Boss. This is the best handling sports car I have owned yet. If I didn`t know better and someone told me it had a state of art IRS suspension I would not have been none to the wiser. Coming from the SS the Boss feels like it`s in another league all together. The ride, handling , steering is amazing and was one of the reasons I bought it.

Power, everyone knows the LS3 is a good V8 with lots of torque. I was really expecting the boss to feel touch weak down low but thats not the case it feels ALOT more powerful everywhere. The very tall gearing in the SS hurts it and the engine is not eager to rev like the boss. I was shocked again by the power. It`s one of the greatest engines I have ever owned. It`s revs so fast, makes power all way to redline and sounds wicked doing so.

Interior no question there, boss is way better. It has fewer gizmos but I`m not looking at a mountain of hard plastic. The boss is more plain but quality wise looks better.

I have ZERO tramlining when driving on uneven roads. The SS you were constantly correcting the steering as front end followed every un even dip or rut on the pavement.

Lastly...the most unbiased opinion ever..My wife who dislikes mustangs. Well after I brought it home and convinced her to take it for a drive by herself. I never said a word about the Boss. I wanted to know what she thought because she wasn`t a fan.
She came back 15 min later and said she HATES to admit it but the car handles better, drives better and has alot more power, and feels and drives like a much more expensive sports car and said the exhasut sound was addictive but the car is still ugly. It will grow on her

 

Nice to hear an unbiased review considering you are a bowtie fan as I too once owned a 2002 z28 which is by far no comparison to the newer camaros other than the LS2 engine.

I agree the Boss is a car that can change ones perspective of what this car is all about.

 

I love reading threads like this, makes me even more confident that this will be the car for me. I can't wait.

 

Much can be said about the different approaches taken by Ford and Chevrolet to their pony cars. I have long been a fan of high revving engines with multiple camshafts where God intended them to be - overhead. Ford's Coyote 5.0, and especially the version of it found in the Boss 302 is my ideal engine. It really is an exotic design, a la Aston Martin, Ferrari and Maserati, not to mention Ford's own Cosworth racing engines. Yes the Boss handles really, really well for a live axle, I agree that you won't miss IRS 99% of the time. Such a competent machine! But for me it is the Coyote V-8 that really places the Mustang on a higher level than the Camaro.

 

Very nicely done....very logical reasons for everything...and the unbiased review is great...

got into it with a guy today about this and here is what he had to say:
Him: Mustangs blow!!! they are the worst of all sports cars. Name one car that it is better than!!!
Me: (I simply proceeded to list off the facts about all the trims and the competition and other stats and whatnot followed with) now why on earth is the mustang the worst one?
Him: Cuz.

I hate people so much...

 

I went to a Car's and Coffee in Burtonsville, MD last weekend and was a bit late pulling into the parking lot. As I was looking for a parking spot, I noticed 95% of the Camaro folks watching my every move. I parked about 20 spaces down from them, and when I got out of the car, they all turned around and continued their conversation/gathering. I found it amusing the attention that I generated with ALL of the other really nice cars out there but the Camaro based group kind of "blew me off". LOL

As I was walking around and walked by other makes and model owners, everyone was really nice. The Camaro Crew, not ONE of them spoke to me, even when I gave the obligatory "nod lift" of the head and said what's up fellows, I got some mumbling! LOL

I note that the Camaro Crew were/are a younger set of guys all who had REALLY nice rides! I mean they were polished, all of the state of the art graphics painted in and all of their rides...

I was impressed...(But being a middle aged former Marine anything polished turned me on! LMAO)

But I found the "Mustang vs Camaro" rivalry (sp?) was a taken a bit to far. Cars are cars, and we all obviously love cars or we wouldn't be hanging out in a parking lot at 1015 hours on a Sunday morning???

I was the only Boss 302 on the lot this particular Sunday, and other car owners came by and checked my ride out and asked questions about handling, power, and assorted other car related items. The kids at the Camaro area "isolated" themselves (now this what I observed, they could have already made their rounds and were stationary to talk about their own make/brand of car) and never once made me feel like I could go over and advise them what nice rides they all had.

I think the Camaro is a fantastic car, I check one out everytime I see one on the road. Shoot my "neighbor" has a 2011 SS that is SWEETT!!!! Loads of power, handles nice, and he is proud everytime he leaves his garage! To me that's what matters...(plus I blew him away a few weeks ago in my Boss! LMAO)

Anyway, I say ALL of this to say, I enjoyed your post and review of both cars, you had an objected take on the matter, and I really appreciate you taking the time to put the information/data out there for us to review!

Ben

 

Here locally in Phoenix AZ area, the 5 gen Camaro gang is the exact opposite, age wise only though. From what I have seen, they are mainly middle aged dorks that love neon and Bumble bee. I have started to carry a pocket ball peen hammer with me waiting on the next transformer noise that one will make. It is quite disgusting and because of this group, I would never consider buying a 5gen Camaro.

I love cars in general, and it is nice to see an unbiased review. Heck, my friend has a local speed shop but all he will work on is LSx based vehicles. Doesnt even want to hear about anything else. Shame to be so closed minded. I will be coming from a 3rd gen L98 Camaro to this 2013 Boss and cant wait.

 

What matters to me is how many Camaro's you see at your local road course and they are nowhere to be seen unlike some original Z28's. I'm sure they are all home waxing...

 

Ben I enjoyed your post. As we get older (I am going on 50) we start to realize that deep down we are enthusiast at the root.....
We love cool cars right? People are people. At my local drive...
The new camaros and new vettes always get the front row...
I have not been there yet (still waiting for my boss) but I plan on parking right to the next of em and I will talk and comment to anyone who wants to be friendly... If they are snobs or an *** I can be one too right?
The back row about 10 rows back all you have are fox bodys which I think is real cool....The entire row is nothing but fox bodys.....
They run the VW gang off (which I used to be part of at one point) for being to obnoxious....driving around the lot in underwear etc (before I joined of course) but the Bug owners are the "outlaws" of the bunch...
Question... Out on the street..... do you get a lot of head turns, and thumbs up when you go by? Do anyone take your picture?
I used to get that in my 68 bug but it was an ol beater.. Never could figure that one out... My 68 camaro was black with white stripes...
That car....lol... I would go out to an intersection and there was something about it.. it was like a magnet... cars would almost hit me....just trying to get a look at the car! That happened more times than I can count...
Looking is fine...but keep a distance and drive!

 

Dude, I get more thumbs up, pictures, etc all the time! It's crazy!!! Wait until you get your 13 Boss! You will be a Rock Star! LMAO

 

Do you think that Rock Star status will fade with the 2013 GT500 on the scene?

 

Ben, I didn't know about Cars and Coffee. I live in HoCo and want to show up in my 2013 whenever that arrives. When is it and where in Burtonsville?

 

It's in a office park off of Route 29 and 198, I'm not sure of the name of the office park, I will get it for you. I usually attend the car and Coffee in Annapolis Sunday mornings, when you get your 13 Boss and want to put a "couple" of miles on her,let me know. The guys at this one are really cool, and there are loads of different cars at this one. Baltimore Coffee and Tea in Annapolis is were we meet..

Ben

 

Sorry, that mightve been me. But in my defense, a b&w '68 Camaro is my dream.