US Blue Collar Coupes - the usual suspects...

[Matt Harper]

After three and a half years and 50,000 hugely enjoyable miles, I decided it was time to get out of my 2007 300C SRT-8. I bought it for $23k, put nothing more than a cat-back exhaust and a Predator tune on it and just walloped the piss out of it. It has been a fantastically enjoyable car. That said, with 80,000 miles on it, I wanted out before things started getting expensive - and my wife commutes 100 miles per day in it, which at 14mpg was getting impractical in these tough times.
My options were Camaro 2SS, Challenger R/T and Mustang 5.0 GT Premium.
Spent the weekend reminding myself about all of them (driven all extensively now and in the past, with work etc). All similar money - but very different in character.
Which would you have gone for?






(I bought the Mustang)

[Bob_Defly]

I was just looking at the new 300C SRT8 at the Toronto Auto Show, v nice. But I don't think I could put up with that fuel bill. Much as I like the current Mustang, I would have waited to see what the next gen' Camaro will look like.

[dvs_dave]

Camaro ZL1 for me.

Was drooling over them at the Chicago Auto Show earlier in the month. They're super cool!

The 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 with 650bhp was also pretty spectacular and they had it set up on a dyno doing power runs every hour and it sounded fab! But for me it all comes crashing back down to earth when you realise that it still uses a solid rear axle which in this day and age (and power) really is unacceptable, even if it is cheap.

[Codswallop]

Would also probably gone for the 5.0 Mustang GT myself as it appears the best all rounder. Whilst I prefer the looks of the Challenger externally, I think the Mustang has a better drivetrain and interior. Current Camaro is nice, but there's something about it I'm not keen on (though I can't put my finger on what that may be).

Rather like the current and last gen Chargers too though, and I would have seriously considered those as well.

Any pics of your new steed?

[ajprice]

So what is the difference in mpg between a 300C SRT and a Mustang 5.0? To me that's like choosing a tiger over a grizzly bear as a pet because thrte is slightly less chance of you being its lunch

[HD Adam]

ajprice said:

So what is the difference in mpg between a 300C SRT and a Mustang 5.0? To me that's like choosing a tiger over a grizzly bear as a pet because thrte is slightly less chance of you being its lunch

I rented a new 5.0 Mustang GT recently and it averaged 25mpg (US gallons) over 15 miles which is a lot better than the 14mpg Matt says he gets from the 300C.

Haven driven all 3, I would go for the Mustang too.

[Motorrad]

dvs_dave said:

it still uses a solid rear axle which in this day and age (and power) really is unacceptable, even if it is cheap.

Which considering the 5.0 Mustang the OP bought is the best handling of all the choices makes the usual comments about the 'solid rear axle' somewhat redundant.

[GC8]

HD Adam said:

ajprice said:

So what is the difference in mpg between a 300C SRT and a Mustang 5.0? To me that's like choosing a tiger over a grizzly bear as a pet because thrte is slightly less chance of you being its lunch

I rented a new 5.0 Mustang GT recently and it averaged 25mpg (US gallons) over 15 miles which is a lot better than the 14mpg Matt says he gets from the 300C.

Haven driven all 3, I would go for the Mustang too.

Bloody hell! Im struggling to do 25 miles per UK gallon in an MX-5, let alone tiddly US gallons!

[dowahdiddyman]

Must be good when you can buy a 5.0 v8 because it is a more economical option! Now I know that fuel over there is getting expensive but over here it works out at around 7 usd per gallon.
Would have gone the Muatang route myself as well.

[Codswallop]

dowahdiddyman said:

Must be good when you can buy a 5.0 v8 because it is a more economical option!

Well, he did downsize to the 5.0 V8 afterall

[Orbin]

if you are buying purely on the looks, the camaro every time. it is stunning.

[HD Adam]

GC8 said:

HD Adam said:

ajprice said:

So what is the difference in mpg between a 300C SRT and a Mustang 5.0? To me that's like choosing a tiger over a grizzly bear as a pet because thrte is slightly less chance of you being its lunch

I rented a new 5.0 Mustang GT recently and it averaged 25mpg (US gallons) over 15 miles which is a lot better than the 14mpg Matt says he gets from the 300C.

Haven driven all 3, I would go for the Mustang too.

Bloody hell! Im struggling to do 25 miles per UK gallon in an MX-5, let alone tiddly US gallons!

Sorry, that should have been over 1500 miles.

I used to use my old SN95 Mustang as a daily driver back and forth from Norfolk to Wales and would get the usual "bet that's expensive" etc.

It had a 4.6 V8 engine and I averaged 33mpg although most of that was motorway.

[LuS1fer]

The Mustang is, without question, the best dynamically but I'm no fan of the 2010-12 rear end or the boss-eyed styling on HID equipped cars. I'm not saying it would be a deal-breaker but for looks, it would be the Challenger though it could do with being a lot smaller in size. The 2013 Mustang addresses the arse-end concerns to some degree but has sprouted a Dodge Ram-esque "safety nose".

I suspect I would possibly end up with the Camaro as I have a hsitory ogf GM cars before my Mustang and find they have more indefinable character. However, I haven't driven the new Camaro and I do like my cars to have good all-round visibility so possibly the turret top might alienate me.

Funnily enough, I've always hated convertibles and have found the Mustang convertible a lacklustre styling exercise but the Camaro convertible might have been enough to pull me in.

Ultimately though, I would have to drive all 3 before making the decision as I suspect they all need modifying. Certainly the Mustang needs lowering as a matter of course.

[matthias73]

dvs_dave said:

Camaro ZL1 for me.

Was drooling over them at the Chicago Auto Show earlier in the month. They're super cool!

The 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 with 650bhp was also pretty spectacular and they had it set up on a dyno doing power runs every hour and it sounded fab! But for me it all comes crashing back down to earth when you realise that it still uses a solid rear axle which in this day and age (and power) really is unacceptable, even if it is cheap.

lets be honest here, they dont handle badly, do they?

[LuS1fer]

matthias73 said:

lets be honest here, they dont handle badly, do they?

As well as an M3 - how high a standard should Ford be offering for $30000?

[ZOLLAR]

Matt Harper said:

After three and a half years and 50,000 hugely enjoyable miles, I decided it was time to get out of my 2007 300C SRT-8. I bought it for $23k, put nothing more than a cat-back exhaust and a Predator tune on it and just walloped the piss out of it. It has been a fantastically enjoyable car. That said, with 80,000 miles on it, I wanted out before things started getting expensive - and my wife commutes 100 miles per day in it, which at 14mpg was getting impractical in these tough times.
My options were Camaro 2SS, Challenger R/T and Mustang 5.0 GT Premium.
Spent the weekend reminding myself about all of them (driven all extensively now and in the past, with work etc). All similar money - but very different in character.
Which would you have gone for?






(I bought the Mustang)

Can't believe nobody has asked!.




Pictures!.
I'd have gone for the Mustang too

[Speed addicted]

Having spent a very happpy 2 weeks and 2000 miles in a convertable Mustang last year it would have to be my first choice. Not the most dynamic of drives but I loved it and was really sad when the time came to give it back.

I really like the looks of the Challenger too though.

[KevinA3DSG32]

Mustang without a doubt.

[E38Ross]

LuS1fer said:

matthias73 said:

lets be honest here, they dont handle badly, do they?

As well as an M3 - how high a standard should Ford be offering for $30000?

was that the boss version, which handles as well (if not better?) but has poor ride quality, unlike the M3 which is certainly acceptable and not crashy.

edit - mustang for me most likely

[Matt Harper]

ZOLLAR said:

Can't believe nobody has asked!.




Pictures!.
I'd have gone for the Mustang too

Only lousy phone pics, taken at the dealer last night, before they stuck my tag on it and I drove it home. After 11 years here and several cars bought, I still can't get over the ease with which you can amble into a dealership and drive out in a new car, two hours later.

My rationale for the decision was:
Challenger - too heavy for 375hp - an SRT-8 would have worked perfectly, but that's what I was off-loading, so would have perpetuated the running cost/depreciation issue with 2 doors instead of 4. I fancied a change from Mopar, anyway.
Camaro - this was difficult, but I just can't get past the nose-heavy, comedy looks. Strong motor though.
Mustang - dynamically drives better than the other two and pulls very hard for a (relatively) small capacity. Lots of tuning options, smaller, quieter and the most frugal of the bunch. Premium unleaded is going to be over $5 per gallon here by summer and 26mpg vs 14 makes a significant difference.
Because I live in a democratic marriage, I compromised with the auto trans. I would have preferred a manual, but she drives the car more than me and she is more comfortable on her long commute with a slusher. Frankly, I have minimal opportunity to canyon-carve here in FL, so I'm not too bent out of shape about it.

Finally, though I understand the enthusiasm for ZL1, GT500, 392 SRT-8 etc., they were not in my budget window (being around $20 grand more than the cars on my shopping list).