Are all American cars rubbish?
Discussion
American Muscle can be fine cars with a little modification for Europe.
remember they are designed for the US market so will be softer to drive.
Camaro SS is a fine bit of kit. a couple of other suggestions;
Olds 442- especially with the Hurst
Plymouth Road Runner
AMC Javelin
Ford Gran Torino
Buick Gran Sport
Plymouth Barracuda ( although this is more of a pony car)
Dodge Dart
remember they are designed for the US market so will be softer to drive.
Camaro SS is a fine bit of kit. a couple of other suggestions;
Olds 442- especially with the Hurst
Plymouth Road Runner
AMC Javelin
Ford Gran Torino
Buick Gran Sport
Plymouth Barracuda ( although this is more of a pony car)
Dodge Dart
powerstroke said:
Yes most are truly awfull!!! there are all sorts of jap boxes and euro trash over there .. But V8 RWD cars made around 1968 to 1972 and then 2001 up are worth Seeking out 
Some say there's a story about a British car dealer who traded a 1968 Hemi Roadrunner,Boss 429 Mustang,and a 427 Yenko Camaro in exchange for a 3 year old BMW 3 series on the basis that the BM had to be worth more than all those put together.He realised something might be wrong after he'd thrown in the 1967 427 Corvette and it was only when they were all being loaded onto the transporter the ex BMW owner started laughing. XJ Flyer said:
Some say there's a story about a British car dealer who traded a 1968 Hemi Roadrunner,Boss 429 Mustang,and a 427 Yenko Camaro in exchange for a 3 year old BMW 3 series on the basis that the BM had to be worth more than all those put together.He realised something might be wrong after he'd thrown in the 1967 427 Corvette and it was only when they were all being loaded onto the transporter the ex BMW owner started laughing.
Not a story I will recount sadly. Appalling.Like any country that makes cars, there are some good ones and a lot of bad ones. The floating land yachts from the 70's and 80's from the USA were designed with a different goal in mind to Europe. They were boulevard cruisers, over-assisted light steering and comfort the order of the day when it came to the suspension.
Muscle cars were quick but not great around the twisties and neither did they stop very well. They were designed to be quick and to engage people into that particular brand.
Sports and Pony cars until recently were ok but now many are leading the way- The Corvette. Camaro and Mustang being the key mentions.
It depends on your expectations. You are not going to be able to chuck one around like a modern car and expect it to handle fantastically.
They do have lots of character though and for long distance touring they are great. My old man would always use the 79 Camaro when I was growing up for commuting and also travelling from Aberdeen to London. The 79 Camaro had about 170bhp and weighed a fair whack and is far removed from the 71 but he preferred using it over the various Ford Granadas and a XR4 we had. It cruised with little effort and was totally reliable.
They do have lots of character though and for long distance touring they are great. My old man would always use the 79 Camaro when I was growing up for commuting and also travelling from Aberdeen to London. The 79 Camaro had about 170bhp and weighed a fair whack and is far removed from the 71 but he preferred using it over the various Ford Granadas and a XR4 we had. It cruised with little effort and was totally reliable.
ukzz4iroc said:
Not a story I will recount sadly. Appalling.
Like any country that makes cars, there are some good ones and a lot of bad ones. The floating land yachts from the 70's and 80's from the USA were designed with a different goal in mind to Europe. They were boulevard cruisers, over-assisted light steering and comfort the order of the day when it came to the suspension.
In 1998 me and mate drove from the east coast of Florida to San Fransico (sp) and on to our job in Kansas in a 1984 Pontiac Parisenne. With its 5 litre V8 it was comically slow and had a huge appetite for cheap unleaded, but it was a great car for doing 7500 miles in 16 days or so. My 1998 1.4 litre Civic would have done the job no trouble at all, would have been much faster, used less fuel but not been as cool. Like any country that makes cars, there are some good ones and a lot of bad ones. The floating land yachts from the 70's and 80's from the USA were designed with a different goal in mind to Europe. They were boulevard cruisers, over-assisted light steering and comfort the order of the day when it came to the suspension.
The correct answer is yes, no and maybe.
There is absolutely no comparison between a 60's muscle car and a modern car.
A few years ago, I had this. A 1969 Mercury Cougar.
I thought it was a great car. Had a 351ci Windsor. Fantastic for local shows and general mincing about.
But, only a 3 speed auto and with the 4:10 rear gears, it did about 3800rpm at 70mph.
No rack & pinion. The powered steering on these is basically a valve and a big hydraulic ram. Never mind the direction, feel the power.
If you've ever piloted a large speedboat, you'll have the general idea.
You know those films where there's a couple in the car and the camera is on the bonnet? There's a projection playing behind the car to simulate them going down the road and the driver is sawing the wheel 6 inches either side of central.
You think they're overacting, right? Nope. That's how they drive.
Great fun though. Loud, leary,smokey, smelly fun.
Would you want to drive it 50 miles on a Sunday to a show? Absolutely.
Would you want to commute round the M25 or across the country? Absolutely not.
I'm not saying you couldn't though and that doesn't make it a bad car.
Put it up against a 1969 Ford Zodiac or Vauxhall Ventora and they're not too much different.
My wife, only have driven modern cars, absolutely hated it. Just not what she was used to at all.
She couldn't get her head round the 3 pumps of the pedal to start it and then let it warm up routine. You forget what carbs are like.
I traded it for this.
Not the most fave Mustang ever (SN95) but 4.6 OHC, Fuel Injection, CD Player, Cruise, cup holders etc etc.
Jump in, turn the key, drive off. She liked that one.
I actually did use this as my daily, commuting from Norfolk to South Wales and back every week for over a year.
The engine only turned at 1700rpm at 70mph (5 speed manual) and I got a genuine 33mpg on that run and mid twenties around town.
Not bad for a V8.
So, potentially great or rubbish depending on what you get and how you use it.
There is absolutely no comparison between a 60's muscle car and a modern car.
A few years ago, I had this. A 1969 Mercury Cougar.
I thought it was a great car. Had a 351ci Windsor. Fantastic for local shows and general mincing about.
But, only a 3 speed auto and with the 4:10 rear gears, it did about 3800rpm at 70mph.
No rack & pinion. The powered steering on these is basically a valve and a big hydraulic ram. Never mind the direction, feel the power.
If you've ever piloted a large speedboat, you'll have the general idea.
You know those films where there's a couple in the car and the camera is on the bonnet? There's a projection playing behind the car to simulate them going down the road and the driver is sawing the wheel 6 inches either side of central.
You think they're overacting, right? Nope. That's how they drive.
Great fun though. Loud, leary,smokey, smelly fun.
Would you want to drive it 50 miles on a Sunday to a show? Absolutely.
Would you want to commute round the M25 or across the country? Absolutely not.
I'm not saying you couldn't though and that doesn't make it a bad car.
Put it up against a 1969 Ford Zodiac or Vauxhall Ventora and they're not too much different.
My wife, only have driven modern cars, absolutely hated it. Just not what she was used to at all.
She couldn't get her head round the 3 pumps of the pedal to start it and then let it warm up routine. You forget what carbs are like.
I traded it for this.
Not the most fave Mustang ever (SN95) but 4.6 OHC, Fuel Injection, CD Player, Cruise, cup holders etc etc.
Jump in, turn the key, drive off. She liked that one.
I actually did use this as my daily, commuting from Norfolk to South Wales and back every week for over a year.
The engine only turned at 1700rpm at 70mph (5 speed manual) and I got a genuine 33mpg on that run and mid twenties around town.
Not bad for a V8.
So, potentially great or rubbish depending on what you get and how you use it.
Edited by HD Adam on Sunday 8th December 10:26
Road test of the new Mustang
Ford has announced the long-awaited new generation Mustang and confirmed that the car will be officially imported to the UK. As a result, the new model is to be made in right-hand-drive and, for the first time, it will be fitted with a system called ‘steering’.
‘This is the most technically advanced Mustang we’ve ever made,’ said chief engineer Stopp Hammertime. ‘For example, the new ‘steering’ facility takes the circular driver’s grab handle, airbag mount and iPad rest of the previous Mustang and, for the first time, connects it to a series of shafts, pinions and racks in order to permit the driver to take control of the front wheels, thereby allowing them to negotiate road conditions such as ‘cowners’. Am I pronouncing that right? Cornours? Whatever it is you Limeyass people call the parts between straightaways.’
Hammertime also noted that the new Mustang will finally get rid of the solid rear axle of previous generations. ‘That’s right,’ he confirmed. ‘Now we’ve gotta sell the ‘Stang in Yewrope the back axle is gonna have something called ‘inderpenderdent suspendionisation’. I think that’s how it’s pronounced. To be honest with you, on the development team we just called it the Pinko Commie Faggot Axle… WHY ARE YOU SIGHING?’
Ford has announced the long-awaited new generation Mustang and confirmed that the car will be officially imported to the UK. As a result, the new model is to be made in right-hand-drive and, for the first time, it will be fitted with a system called ‘steering’.
‘This is the most technically advanced Mustang we’ve ever made,’ said chief engineer Stopp Hammertime. ‘For example, the new ‘steering’ facility takes the circular driver’s grab handle, airbag mount and iPad rest of the previous Mustang and, for the first time, connects it to a series of shafts, pinions and racks in order to permit the driver to take control of the front wheels, thereby allowing them to negotiate road conditions such as ‘cowners’. Am I pronouncing that right? Cornours? Whatever it is you Limeyass people call the parts between straightaways.’
Hammertime also noted that the new Mustang will finally get rid of the solid rear axle of previous generations. ‘That’s right,’ he confirmed. ‘Now we’ve gotta sell the ‘Stang in Yewrope the back axle is gonna have something called ‘inderpenderdent suspendionisation’. I think that’s how it’s pronounced. To be honest with you, on the development team we just called it the Pinko Commie Faggot Axle… WHY ARE YOU SIGHING?’
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