2012 Mustang or Camaro?

outlander

Hello,
The wife and I are thinking about picking up a little pony car. If we decide to buy one it will be the 2012 Mustang GT (5.0 V8) or Camaro SS (6.2 V8). I've driven both and the Mustang is a much or intuitive designed car, it just feels right. The Camaro is really difficult to see out of and doesn't feel as responsive as the Mustang. Every review I've read gives the mustang the edge in performance. On the other hand the Camaro is pretty cool looking. Personally I like the Mustang but the wife likes the Camaro. So with all that said, what car do you guys like?

exalted512

A wise man would make the wife happy
-Cody

brgman

Ford Mustang!
great car and it wasn't built by government motors

nooshinjohn

outlander wrote: »

Hello,
The wife and I are thinking about picking up a little pony car.

Both of them from a size standpoint are anything but a ponycar. The Camaro's styling is very cool. If you decide to grab one, the convertible would be my choice, but either way, for me the Camaro wins.

cokewithvanilla

IMO, the mustang looks 10x better.

sucks2beme

Looks- Camaro
Driving-Mustang
Comfort-Challenger

BlueFox

Buying a car based on how it looks is like marrying a woman based on how she looks. While looks help, it's what is under the skin that makes the ride enjoyable for the long term.

cincycat13

BlueFox wrote: »

Buying a car based on how it looks is like marrying a woman based on how she looks. While looks help, it's what is under the skin that makes the ride enjoyable for the long term.

Which is why I still own my grand national. Have fun with either car they both look great.

Toolfan66

I have test drove both, and I love both, but I now have a New Camaro in my garage!!
IMO you can't go wrong with either one they are both fun to drive!!!

As far as the challenger, I love the looks of the exterior, the interior is what killed it for me!! and I hate the fact that they overkill the HEMI name!!

Enjoy what ride you pick!!!

cokewithvanilla

BlueFox wrote: »

Buying a car based on how it looks is like marrying a woman based on how she looks. While looks help, it's what is under the skin that makes the ride enjoyable for the long term.

That's where we differ, my friend

Sherardp

If it were a Shelby Cobra I would say Mustang. I like the style of those and they are insane cars. I prefer the Camaro though, just so much you can do with them. I've seen them with nice wheels, exhausts, and that alone just blew me away. Tough call........, but the slight nod to a Camaro.

Tony M

exalted512 wrote: »

A wise man would make the wife happy
-Cody

Amen to that ....

Later on you could get the Mustang for you..:biggrin:

Jstas

I'd go for the Mustang but like Cody said, the woman wants the Camaro. She'll make your life hell if you make her get the Mustang.

On a side note, if you do get the Mustang, at least you'll get more seat time 'cause she doesn't like it.

Earthy

When I finally get a new car, you can bet it will be a Mustang 5.0. Been driving the same LX 5.0 for 20 years waiting for them to finally build a GT worth having. That said, with gas on the rise, a more economical daily driver makes more sense. :mad:

I am glad to see the Challenger and Camaro back in the game. I bet your happy with whatever you finally get.

danz1906

Mustang!

ohskigod

Mustang,


drive what you like, the wife will like the Mustang just fine when she is rding around in it.

the Camaro is a sweet ride, but the visibility is just atrocious (that would be why it didnt feel right to you I bet.

while the Mustang is not light, the Camaro is a fat pig compared to it. (3500 mustang 3800+ camaro)

same power, lighter car overall.....better handling...Mustang wins across the board

Toolfan66

Like everybody takes these cars on a road course to race them..if your worried about weight get an import!! All these new modern day muscle cars are heavy.

Same power?? I think not!!

Knucklehead

Both cars are sexy as hell...how nice would it be to have both in your garage?!

ohskigod

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Like everybody takes these cars on a road course to race them..if your worried about weight get an import!! All these new modern day muscle cars are heavy.

Same power?? I think not!!

uh, both have a shade over 400 horsepower. what the hell are you talking about?

Incidentally, there are many people that take there mustangs on road courses. probably camaros too.


p.s., if you shaved 300 lbs off your camaro......your telling me you wouldn't notice a difference?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Here's the problem I have with the Mustang...they're EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Maybe its just Dallas, but i see more chicks driving around in Mustangs than I do guys. I hate to say it, but the Mustang is a chick car, at least around these parts.

We liked the Challenger for ride comfort and the Camaro for performance. We did not drive the Mustang, but looking at specs I would assume its both faster and better handling than either car above, but they're like cockroaches down here and are just everywhere so we skipped it.

So....we said screw all that and bought an Infiniti M56 and its badass. You guys say what you want about Japanese cars, but this thing is 4000 pounds of rear wheel drive awesomeness with 420 HP and torque and a 7 speed that's as smooth as butter :-)

Toolfan66

ohskigod wrote: »

uh, both have a shade over 400 horsepower. what the hell are you talking about?

Incidentally, there are many people that take there mustangs on road courses. probably camaros too.


p.s., if you shaved 300 lbs off your camaro......your telling me you wouldn't notice a difference?

that's not what I'm saying, I said most don't take them on a road course, I know a few people that take there cars to the track.. And of course you will notice a 300 lb loss but who cares when most of the driving is around town. Drive what makes you happy!!

I you want to talk about a car your going to race?? Then I agree with you but a car you take out for a drive when the weather is nice?? Then who cares about 300lbs. Hell a good size man can add 200 to 300lbs to a car by his own weight!!!

Toolfan66

It's the same here in Denver!!! A buddy of mine that I work with has a badass mustang, he has it modded bigtime freaking thing is scary fast!!!

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

Here's the problem I have with the Mustang...they're EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Maybe its just Dallas, but i see more chicks driving around in Mustangs than I do guys. I hate to say it, but the Mustang is a chick car, at least around these parts.

We liked the Challenger for ride comfort and the Camaro for performance. We did not drive the Mustang, but looking at specs I would assume its both faster and better handling than either car above, but they're like cockroaches down here and are just everywhere so we skipped it.

So....we said screw all that and bought an Infiniti M56 and its badass. You guys say what you want about Japanese cars, but this thing is 4000 pounds of rear wheel drive awesomeness with 420 HP and torque and a 7 speed that's as smooth as butter :-)

Gadabout

exalted512 wrote: »

A wise man would make the wife happy
-Cody

That's how Bose keep selling all those clock radio CD players for $300+

Back on Topic....

Check the repair history for the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. Let the one with the fewer repairs be the one to decide which car you get. I haven't delved into this in detail, but from investigating repair history for other cars I have bought, My guess is for this category Ford would win, followed closely by GM and running a distant third would be Dodge / Fiat

Scott

Vette C6.r

Get a used Vette and have the performance of the Mustang and the Camaro combined.

Sherardp

Vette C6.r wrote: »

Get a used Vette and have the performance of the Mustang and the Camaro combined.

I didn't think about that one, but an excellent idea.

Jstas

Vette C6.r wrote: »

Get a used Vette and have the performance of the Mustang and the Camaro combined.

I don't think you fully understand what you're talking about.

If you take a 3 year old 'Vette, you need to get a Z06 version to best the amount of power a new Mustang GT or Camaro SS have. In addition, the Corvette has become quite a pig as well with the supposedly lightweight Z06 tipping the scales at just under 3200 pounds.

The Mustang gets to 60 in about 4.3 seconds, the Corvette, 4.2 seconds. Unless you get the hotter versions of course but those are more rare and we are talking about used 'Vettes here that are close in price to a new Mustang or Camaro. Quarter mile on the Mustang? About 12.6 seconds around 110 MPH on average. The Mustang pulls about .95G's in a turn. That's pretty much deadnuts even with a 2008 base model Corvette. That's also not the hottest Mustang available either. Especially when talking about prices because the Corvette has gotten so expensive that you have to the to the crazy performance levels of the top level Shelby examples to start hitting new Corvette price ranges.

That's just the Mustang too. I don't really feel like looking up the Camaro but the general consensus is that the smaller, lighter Mustang outperforms the Camaro in every measurable degree but not by enough to declare a definitive winner. Especially since alot of the difference can be attributable to environmental differences. The Challenger on the other hand, it's got a knife in a gun fight and screaming "Not the face! Not the face!"




And Larry, 300 pounds makes a big difference "just driving around town" as well. Stopping is easier, fuel mileage is better tire wear is better, brake wear is better, there's alot to said for weight reduction. Take it from a guy who drives a vehicle topping 500 horses and weighs in at 2.25 tons. And imports are pretty porky now too. Even though guys like the Top Gear blokes prefer to throw out the "fat American" reference at any chance they can. Most stuff from Europe is as heavy if not heavier than the cheaper, more powerful American counterparts. There isn't much in the way of "performance vehicles" from Asia anymore either. The only one that competes directly with the pony cars in question is the Hyundai Genesis and that's a fatty too at 3400 pounds with the V8 and again, like the Challenger, it's woefully under-armed preferring to carry a stick and sit in the corner eating paste.

To get anywhere close to the power levels and performance levels available for the mid-$30K range in this country, you have to spend at least $15K more from Europe and you're not going to find it from Asia.

Vette C6.r

Totally forgot that, once again, you know everything Jstas.

Clearly it was a joke.

But once again I bow to your incredible knowledge of all things in the universe.

mantis

I didn't drive them but I sat in them for a period of time at the car show and noticed the Camaro visual problems. I didn't like that. As cool as a car as it looks I probably would go Mustang. Much more comfortable and you actually can see out it very well.
But Honestly if I was going to get a sports car VIA American it would be the Challenger .

thsmith

I am not qualified to have an opinion since I drive a 2007 Merc Grand Marque

Might consider these factors in order of priority to you, for me it is the following.

Repair History
fuel mileage
Insurance
comfort
fun factor (looks and performance)

If I was buying and had the money and if I could fit into it, I would choose the Lexas IS F

Joe08867

I am a GM fan but have to say the new Mustang has a great look and is more usable in the real world with Sat/Nav etc.. and the aftermarket that is bigger than the Camaro's.

The Camaro is nice looking but once you get bored of the looks you just have a car other people think is great looking.

I know you didn't mention it but the Challenger is very nice but I would worry about Chrysler dependability. I would rather drive the car than have it in the shop all the time.

exalted512

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

Here's the problem I have with the Mustang...they're EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Maybe its just Dallas, but i see more chicks driving around in Mustangs than I do guys. I hate to say it, but the Mustang is a chick car, at least around these parts.

We liked the Challenger for ride comfort and the Camaro for performance. We did not drive the Mustang, but looking at specs I would assume its both faster and better handling than either car above, but they're like cockroaches down here and are just everywhere so we skipped it.

I have to agree on all points. The camaro and mustang are very close...and at that point, the driver has more to do with it than the car. The thing I dont like about the camaro the worst is the visibility, as mentioned earlier.

There's not many better looking cars than a synergy green camaro though:biggrin:

I really hate what Dodge has done with the 'hemi' and the charger. A 4 door charger is a disgrace. I really like the car...NAME IT SOMETHING ELSE. Same thing with the hemi. The name is so diluted now it doesnt mean much anymore.

I really loved the mustangs when they first came out...and still do. But like Assimilated said...theyre freaking everywhere. They should be do for a major body update soon too.

64-68 (5 yrs)
69-73 (5)
74-78 (5)
79-86 (8)
87-93 (7)
94-98 (5)
99-04 (6)
05-12 (8)

One of the longest running body styles even when most newer cars are getting major updates quicker than ever.
-Cody