Ask any avid Camaro or Mustang fan about the original ponycar era, and you're bound to feel their pain. They'll describe cars that lit the tires on fire, floor it and hang onto the wheel excitement. When people utter the words, "American Muscle Car," two distinctive cars come to mind. The Camaro SS and the Mustang GT. Both of these cars have been around for generations on end and loved by all types of people. It has been only recently that both cars have battled head to head so fiercely. You are either a hard core Chevy fan or a hardcore Ford fan, most everybody picks either Chevy or Ford. There are many similarities and differences in both of these cars.
The Camaro SS has leaps and bounds of muscle car DNA. It's there in numerous ways: overhead valves, V-8, and a stick shift transmission to get you where you want to go, just like the Z28's and SS's of thirty years ago. No gizmo-actuated variable-valve timing, no overhead cams, and no independent rear suspension, just a 320 horsepower monster V-8. The SS turns 0-60 times in the low five second range with 0-100 approaching in the low thirteens. There has been little change in the SS's from last year to this. The addition of audio controls on the steering wheel, an optional 12-disc CD changer, new interior fabrics, and new alloy wheels (available on all Camaro's).
The Mustang GT is also a great "American Muscle Car." The GT produces a low but above average 260 horsepower, this will you from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and 0-100 in 14.1 seconds. The base price of the Mustang is a respectable $22,870 but can be built up to a $25,000 kick-ass sports car easily. A $2,270 in essential options is a must if you are really after the all American Sports car: 17-inch alloy wheels with high performance rubber, black leather sport bucket seats, stereo upgrade, all speed traction control (defeatable), and convenience package. The grand-total including destination is a reasonable $25,140.
Like the Mustang GT, the Camaro SS has a huge fuel-injected V-8. The engines on each of these living beasts, pump out well over 250 horsepower. Both muscle cars have excellent 0-60 times in the five-second range and with quarter mile times within the fourteen-second range, give or take a second. There are drawbacks to every good thing. The Camaro and Mustang are primarily two seaters with minimal room in the back for an adult. Children are perfect fits, although adults ...