The Camaro was never really that much stronger to persuade buyers which to buy. You just had to want one. But it has been an occasional subject of discussion as to why the Mustang has lasted without abatement, while GM had to close the F-bodies and make fans wait this long for the new car. Why the MUSTANG is much more popular than the CAMARO or the FIREBIRD.

No one ever thought of either the CAMARO or FIREBIRD as Mullet-mobiles, only import flamers do, just to get that out of the way.

FORD has always just been better about supporting the MUSTANG while GM has always been more in favor of the CORVETTE. As a Result the MUSTANG gets more AD money and more exposure. FORD was also very quick to let third parties build tuner cars and parts for the MUSTANG. The F-body’s list was very short and unremarkable.

Their may also be something in the name. Even though CAMARO has not suffered the same emasculation that plates like “MONTE CARLO”, “REGAL”, and “IMPALA” to name a few, I often argued that the name “CAMARO” sounded odd and unimpressive worse it was not a word that sounded tough. Heck, it means “shrimp” in Spanish (or was it Portuguese?) and “friend” in French. Not the most robust sounding of names.

MUSTANG is just a strong sounding word with a powerful image attached to it. If it isn’t a wild Horse running fast and free, it is – at least to me – the P-51 Mustang warplane of WW2. It is a car after all, not a horse.

CAMARO is a name, in the World automotive lexicon, filled with history speaking of high performance, always the MUSTANG’s principle rival and nemesis. But to the vast majority of people who buy cars, it is just a rather wimpy sounding name that does not fit what is otherwise a car that deserves a good looking over before passing it by. The CAMARO is not quite as refined, I use that word as a relative term, as the MUSTANG. But it is, on balance, at least as good.

Now the Challenger…

The 4.6 in the current mustang is only shares displacement with the early 4.6Liters. Updates have added 3 valve heads and variable valve timing. This engine loves boost and you handle 600 horsepower and more with the stock block easily. Great engine!

And the basic design has evolved over… 40 years? This almost definitely is one of the oldest designs out there, with the 4.0 pushrod dating back atleast 20 years… Only difference between that and the current one is fuel injection and being SOHC!

Mustang > Camaro in terms of sales. Always has, always will.

Go figure.

.

Now for my personal opinion: Nissan is getting over 300hp out of an NA 3.7L V6. Why doesn’t Ford do the same? Maybe they should do a lower power V6, same size, and then do a middle-of-the-road version with a 300hp V6, and then go to the GT.

Between Mustang and Camaro, I’d choose the Challenger if I could. I saw a new Camaro on the street the other day, and it looked like a big Tonka toy with it’s big grin of a grill. The Mustang is nice, but it’s too familiar and it’s everywhere. To me, the Challenger just looks hot.

The Mustang is shaping up to be the car to beat in this category. Even the much newer, more up to date, CAMARO is lagging a bit in, as hard as it is the believe, handling. It’s like the MUSTANG is the PORSCHE 911, always mostly the same, happily iconoclastic, always improving, and tough to beat. Hint: Spend the extra $1300 and get the Track pack.

I almost don’t want IRS in the next MUSTANG, but you know it’ll need it. Meanwhile, a better engine, please.

The Camaro V6 is unquestionably better. The SS V8 will kill the ‘Stang at triple digit speeds and beyond but, again, how often are you going to use that capability?

I don’t care what you like more, because I would honestly pick the mustang myslef(I have had enough of gm for my lifetime), but the camaro does have better stock engines!

The current GM V8’s date back only to 1997, when the first LS1 showed up in the C5 Corvette.

Mulletmaster: The current Camaro’s V6 is a 3.6 liter direct-injected DOHC. It has nothing in common with the old 3.8.

idrinorbarsaku, Ford keeps the current engines in the Mustangs because as history has shown, and indeed as certain recent magazine comparison tests have shown, the more powerful car is not neccessarily the better one. Camaros have always had more power than Mustangs, but Mustangs have always outsold them. That’s why Camaro went bye-bye in 2002. The only difference is that this time around it appears that Ford is actually (and hopefully, for nothing is certain until the cars are in the showrooms) going to make the better car even better.

You’re correct in your statement that the SHO engine will seem outdated in five years though. Sadly, you’re not correct for the reasons you think you are. With 35MPG CAFE looming and $3+ gas coming on us again, we’ll all look fondly on current cars just as our fathers look fondly on 60’s muscle. The SHO will be obsolete in five years the same way a 426 Hemi was obsolete in 1975 – it was just too good to last.

As for the V6 I agree they need to update, but I dont think theyd sell many GTs if the V6 had simular power. Guess I could make a contradiction to my previous statement and say they should bump up to the 5.4 in the GT.

Jake, you’re absolutely right on both counts.

shane, a twin turbo V6 option in addition to the V8 would be interesting. A twin turbo V6 instead of a V8 just might have the same effect as Mr. Tequila.

in mustang terms, that’s good for 150bhp