Is the S550 a disappointment?

[Nine]

Well, first my '10 GT (315hp) beat the new back then Camaro 5 (426) in quite a few comparisons. My car weights around 3,500 lbs and has the track pack. This is the car I want to start learning how to track. I bought mine back in January because I couldn't afford the S550 premium GT/PP and I was dying to drive a V8 (I always loved the exhaust sound of the 2010). In a year or so, I'll be ready for a $40k plus car, but the mixed performance reviews and the quality issues people are having here in the forum has got me thinking twice.

Then stop worrying about the S550 and go buy the Camaro. Problem solved.

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[Coaster]

If you want to have the fastest car in it's class you'll always be waiting to buy the one coming out next year.

I test drove the 5th gen Camaro. It was ok but I was not a fan of it's looks, the interior, and absolutely hated that it felt like you were driving a tank when it comes to visibility. From everything I've seen the 6th gen solves none of that.

The Mustang on the other hand is super nice to drive, comfortable even after a couple thousand miles in one week, and so close on performance it doesn't matter.

If you're concerned about speed, driver mod first. Unless you do that no matter which car you own you'll lose. Unless you only bench race. Otherwise it seems silly to pay more for a car that isn't as nice but is a couple % better on paper.

 

[evo8904]

GM took care of the weight issue and got its fans 455 hp and 455 of torque.

Ford increased the weight and didn't compensate appropriately with enough horsepower!

Just put a whipple on the Mustang GT and the camaro will be a distant memory in the rear view.

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Well, first my '10 GT (315hp) beat the new back then Camaro 5 (426) in quite a few comparisons. My car weights around 3,500 lbs and has the track pack. Second, with its torch red paint, it's still a headturner believe or not and a lot of people have asked me if it's new. They can't believe it's a 2010. This is the car I want to start learning how to track. I bought mine back in January because I couldn't afford the S550 premium GT/PP and I was dying to drive a V8 (I always loved the exhaust sound of the 2010). In a year or so, I'll be ready for a $40k plus car, but the mixed performance reviews and the quality issues people are having here in the forum has got me thinking twice.

huh? a 315HP 4.6L beats the 5G Camaro? In what exactly?

Making that power is essentially the same engine package that powered the 2009 Ford Mustang Bullitt. To the same old 4.6-liter DOHC V8, Ford has added a cold-air intake plus a reprogrammed ECU that bumps the redline to 6,500 rpm. That same computer also has two different fuel programs: for regular and premium gas. Peak output is 315 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm, just like the Bullitt.
When we arrived at our test track with the tank filled with premium and the traction and stability control systems off, the Mustang hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds (4.9 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip), and covered the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 102.9 mph. That's impressive for a car that weighs 3,572 pounds. In the slalom, this Mustang with its Track Pack hardware recorded a speed of 68.4 mph, then circled the skid pad at an eyebrow-raising 0.91g. It also stopped from 60 mph in just 107 feet.

 

[1320']

I think C & D picked the 2010 GT over the 09 SS.

 

[berserker_sid]

huh? a 315HP 4.6L beats the 5G Camaro? In what exactly?

Making that power is essentially the same engine package that powered the 2009 Ford Mustang Bullitt. To the same old 4.6-liter DOHC V8, Ford has added a cold-air intake plus a reprogrammed ECU that bumps the redline to 6,500 rpm. That same computer also has two different fuel programs: for regular and premium gas. Peak output is 315 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm, just like the Bullitt.
When we arrived at our test track with the tank filled with premium and the traction and stability control systems off, the Mustang hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds (4.9 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip), and covered the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 102.9 mph. That's impressive for a car that weighs 3,572 pounds. In the slalom, this Mustang with its Track Pack hardware recorded a speed of 68.4 mph, then circled the skid pad at an eyebrow-raising 0.91g. It also stopped from 60 mph in just 107 feet.

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

 

[Higgs Boson]

Yes and no. You can always add displacement to have power but its harder to make more power out of a smaller displacement.
Look at the GT350 engine for example.

Isn't that my whole point?

 

[BmacIL]

Well, first my '10 GT (315hp) beat the new back then Camaro 5 (426) in quite a few comparisons. My car weights around 3,500 lbs and has the track pack. Second, with its torch red paint, it's still a headturner believe or not and a lot of people have asked me if it's new. They can't believe it's a 2010. This is the car I want to start learning how to track. I bought mine back in January because I couldn't afford the S550 premium GT/PP and I was dying to drive a V8 (I always loved the exhaust sound of the 2010). In a year or so, I'll be ready for a $40k plus car, but the mixed performance reviews and the quality issues people are having here in the forum has got me thinking twice.

There's a heck of a lot more extremely happy S550 customers than ones who are not. A forum is a very narrow cross-section of the total customers. If you honestly think a Chevy will have better quality, by all means get one. I'm really not even a Ford guy (this is my first and I have come from a family of mostly imports), but most of what Chevrolet makes is subpar to Ford, Honda, Mazda, Toyota, etc.

 

[daltron]

Had to do a double take at the title of this thread. Wow...

GM took care of the weight issue and got its fans 455 hp and 455 of torque.

Ford increased the weight and didn't compensate appropriately with enough horsepower!

Ford increased the weight, yes. They also moved the Mustang to a completely new platform and gave it a much, much better completely redesigned IRS... How are you discounting that? Oh, and don't forget the interior is downright beautiful. WORLDS better then the S197.

You also are ignoring the fact that Ford has had their redesigned Mustangs on the street for over a year. There isn't a new Camaro on the streets yet as far as I am aware. Yeah, GM shaved a ton of R&D money by transplanting essentially the Corvette engine into the Camaro, but it's not like Ford will sit on their butt for the next few years. The GT350 is proof of that.

Besides, if the S550 was such a disappointment, why is this forum filled (me included) with people who are choosing it over the new Camaro?

Oh, and optioned out the new Camaro costs significantly more than the Mustang. What did C&D option their SS at, $47,500? That's the cost of a GT Premium PP and a supercharger...

 

[Asharus]

if i was shopping for a car today, and not last year, without a doubt, i would be purchasing a 1SS camaro

 

[Macfarland]

Then stop worrying about the S550 and go buy the Camaro. Problem solved.

I care because I'm Ford guy since I was a kid. I always hated that camaros were faster. The mustang has always looked nicer (to each his own), but up until 2010 Ford didn't care about horsepower. GM fixed the issues of the last camaro by going lighter, far better interior and over 450 hp/torque on top of having an aggressive design. I still like the Mustang more but I'm hopeful Ford will make changes for the 2018 model.
There's nothing wrong with criticizing one's favorite brand.

 

[Sinister]

Sales-wise we all know it hasn't disappointed, but performance-wise the reactions have been mixed at best. The first and foremost disappointment was the weight increase. The second, lots of fans were expecting at least 450hp and more torque (the Camaro has 455 ft-lbs). Then, it was motor trend that gave the title to the gen-5 Camaro vs the S550 GTPP in a duo comparison. Now, the Camaro 6 has hit the streets and according to Automobile magazine, "brings the ponywars to a new frontier"
The truth is of all the reviews I've read, the Cam6 surprised almost everyone and the Stang6 disappointed quite a few fans and critics.
I was going to save $$ for the GT350 in 2017, but now that they say it's almost impossible to get (I'm not paying a dollar over sticker) I'll probably have to settle for the S550 GT, but after the comparison to the Cam6, I'm starting to think twice (no, I will never own a Camaro) of owning one soon. Will Ford counterattack sooner than expected? If so, how?

If you'll never own a Camaro, then why do you care how it compares to the Mustang? You're not cross-shopping it, so who cares if it's faster, or what magazines think? Just get what you like.

There's always something faster, and unless you're spending all your time at the track does it really matter? The S550 looks amazing, has a great interior, is comfortable and fun to drive, handles well, and goes fast.

If specs on paper really matter that much then it might not be the car for you.

Exactly this. Who stays stock anyways? Once you start modding it's all about who has the bigger wallet not what car they start with. I've had everything from bolt on Mustangs and Camaros to supercharged and turbo cars making 1000hp, and I love the S550.

 

[jasonstang]

if i was shopping for a car today, and not last year, without a doubt, i would be purchasing a 1SS camaro

You haven't even sat in one yet.:shrug:

 

[fionic]

GM took care of the weight issue and got its fans 455 hp and 455 of torque.

Ford increased the weight and didn't compensate appropriately with enough horsepower!

sounds like armchair racing to me

 

[Asharus]

You haven't even sat in one yet.:shrug:

i didnt sit in a mustang before i ordered it either. they weren't in dealerships yet. but i knew it would be the best bang for buck.

now 1 year later, the best bang for buck IMO is the 1SS with dual mode exhaust, exactly how this is configured. watch the video, you'll be surprised at what's standard on those.... certainly a lot more than my base GTPP.

sure, it's probably about 5k more, but that's nothing.

[ame]

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