Differing reviews

[socalsnake]

Ive driven both cars. Looks are subjective. The Camaro rides ruffer. That's the trade off that comes with better handling. The Mustang is smoother. The Camaro is about as fast as a tune only mustang. Not some earth shattering difference like the GM faithful in the versus section would lead you to believe. The Camaro still sucks to see out of. The Mustang has much better sight lines in all directions. The interior is still GM cheap in my opinion but at least it's not as bad as the 5th gen Camaros. The SRTs have been faster in a straight line for several years and people aren't running out and buying them for a few tenth difference in the 1/4 mile. Why should the Camaro be any different? Drive them for yourself. I hated the 5th gen Camaro that I used to own. But the wife loved it for some reason. Different strokes.

Great comparison. Thank you for your honest opinion. I've only experienced/driven the 5th gen. Camaro and the outward visibility was very bad...really made me feel claustrophobic. But, I do like the exterior of the 5th gens and the 6th gens look good as well...except for that hideous (imho) pedestal spoiler. But, I still love the S550s more.

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[Emt1581]

Great comparison. Thank you for your honest opinion. I've only experienced/driven the 5th gen. Camaro and the outward visibility was very bad...really made me feel claustrophobic. But, I do like the exterior of the 5th gens and the 6th gens look good as well...except for that hideous (imho) pedestal spoiler. But, I still love the S550s more.

Speaking of spoilers....off topic a bit...but the other day when I was looking at the 15 Mustangs there was a tiny spoiler looking part at the top of the rear windshield. I'm guessing that makes the car more aerodynamic??? But hat about the ones on the trunk lid?...Are they functional or just for looks?

Thanks

-Emt1581

 

[Rice_Stang_Vroom]

Facts:
16 Camaro SS will beat the Mustang in most measurable performance categories
16 Camaro SS is a little lighter than an equivalently optioned Mustang
16 Camaro has less interior volume and significantly less trunk space than the S550 Mustang

That's about it. Everything else is subjective. Here's my subjective eval between the two:

Exterior - New Camaro looks better than the outgoing, but still quite similar. Mustang holds the edge as it looks sexier, more grown up and has a more cohesive design language. Also, the rear end is a no contest in favor of the Mustang.

Interior - I do like some of the new feature content of the Camaro, including the big digital cluster and HVAC vent temp/speed control ingenuity. The overall design still looks cartoonish to me, and while the vent integration is really cool, the placement is idiotic. The Mustang's interior looks much more refined and grown up (again). I'd say materials between them are on par.

Usability/Ergonomics - Mustang gets top trumps here. Sight lines and visibility of the new Camaro are no better than the last one. I saw one on the road the other day and the rear glass is SO small. Most reviewers have noted the super high belt line and slots for side windows remain, so you feel like you're more in a tank. In the Mustang, you're not driving an early 00's sedan for visibility, but you also don't feel like you can't see anything. I do not have any blind spots with where I sit and how my mirrors are set (no BLIS, so I have the convex mirrors on the outside - they work great for traffic in your traditional blind spot). Interior ergo is probably about a wash between the two.

Engine sound/excitement - Camaro's LT1 is mostly low and mid-range, where it's hugely impressive, but falls off up top. The Coyote is no slouch down low, but really wakes up after ~3000 rpm and pulls very hard to 7000 rpm. This is more exciting to me than stump pulling down low, given that it has more than enough thrust already. To me it sounds a lot better than the LSx/LTx engines.

I haven't driven the 16 Camaro so I can't comment on its ride quality or how it would fair on regular roads for daily use. It likely is firmer than a GT PP.

That was the first thing I have noticed on the placement of AC vents. I can't imagine living and driving in the Texas summer with AC vents so far away from my face. Especially when cold air is more dense than hot air...

 

[Chameleon]

Mustang >Camaro

 

[SnoopisTDI]

Speaking of spoilers....off topic a bit...but the other day when I was looking at the 15 Mustangs there was a tiny spoiler looking part at the top of the rear windshield. I'm guessing that makes the car more aerodynamic??? But hat about the ones on the trunk lid?...Are they functional or just for looks?

Thanks

-Emt1581

Considering the Performance Package deletes the spoiler, I'd say it's probably not necessary. But that doesn't mean it has no effect at all.

 

[GTP]

Speaking of spoilers....off topic a bit...but the other day when I was looking at the 15 Mustangs there was a tiny spoiler looking part at the top of the rear windshield. I'm guessing that makes the car more aerodynamic??? But hat about the ones on the trunk lid?...Are they functional or just for looks?

Thanks

-Emt1581

That is the 3rd brake light.
Trunk spoiler is too small to have much downforce. Styling, IMO.

 

[Dudie7]

With anything in life, personal preference is going to play a role. However, in vehicle reviews I'd think that would be somewhat minimized, especially among professionals that are going to really test the car out and push it to it's limits. I mean limits are limits and performance is performance no matter who is in the driver's seat no? But yet drivers like Randy Pobst are eternally favoring the Camaro in pretty much every aspect while others are giving the edge to the Mustang. And I've seen reviewers comparing 15 Stangs to 16 Camaros, 16's to 15's, same years/similar trims.

At the end of the day who is a good neutral reviewer/test driver that does a great job not showing any real favoritism or bias?...even if they aren't thrilled with the Mustang.

Thanks

-Emt1581

You're gonna have to handle that yourself. I can tell you one thing that played a role in my selection...price. You gotta fork over $37k to get a V8 Camaro. Seeing that made me that much happier with my choice.

 

[klumpikat]

Check out Hooked On Driving (around $300/day last I knew).


Norm

[MENTION=20357]Emt1581[/MENTION] This is a great school. We did the "Sportscar Course" at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana last month. You do wear down your tires and give your Brembos a nice workout but you get to go stupid fast.

 

[CommyO]

Are we going to get one of these every week now?

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