Leave it up to one of the 5.0 Mustang guys here (me) to post this. Ford finally put a great engine/trans package together for the new Mustang and it should be VERY competitive to the new Camaro SS. 5.0 V8, all aluminum, 4 cams, 6 speed shifting - whats not to love? For Mustang guys, this is what we've been waiting for for awhile!
Only one problem with it.... LOL.... it still LOOKS like a Mustang. IMHO (owning an '06 Mustang) is that when they changed body style - they killed it. No way would I buy one now... I'd be CAMARO all the way...
I agree with the interior statement. I rented a convertible last month when in Hawaii and liked it MUCH more than the '06... but I HATE the new design... and the sales of the Mustang show I'm not alone.
Hard to describe why you do or don't like something... but I would say it this way:
To me - the '06 (as an example) looks exactly like the "old" Mustang but drawn with a fresh pen.... the new Mustang looks like they just HAD to change something but didn't know why.. When I look at it - it doesn't invoke that classic Mustang "bad to the bone" look.
Cool. Sounds like a nice little motor. I'm interested to learn more about the variable cam timing with the adjustable overlap. Hopefully we'll be able to make it sound like a pro-stocker at idle via a simple tuning change.
I also rented a 2010 convertible in Vegas. And I loved the interior. The neon on the floor, sill plates and cup holder was very well done and subtle. The dash was cool and in general I thought the materials were better then GM materials. It was only a 6cyl, but I enjoyed the little car and found myself wondering what one would be like with 600 horse! This from a dyed in wool GM guy.
As far as the looks go - being an automotive stylist I'm always going to find things I don't like, things I do like and occassionally a "Why the hell did they do THAT!"
My take on the GT styling...
The upper 50% of both the front and rear fascias are OK, but from the center bumper support and down - basically the lower bottom of the front fascia looks weak. Why didn't Ford just style in a CLEAN front lower chin spoiler on the fascias from 2005 until now?!! The rear fascia of the 2010 looks like it has a black diaper on the bottom of it that needs to be changed. I know what the designer was doing and thinking but when translated from cool exotic looking concept sketches to production it lost something somwhere and basically the new Mustang rear bumper "GOT BACK!" Bottom half of rear fascia at the least needs to be cleaner and not so heavy.
New GT500 styling...
The 2007 GT500s - I think is one of the cleanest most aggressive if not the most aggressive front end styling for a Mustang EVER! The front fascia of the new 2010 GT500 - looks to Dodge Ram-like...don't like the upper fascia on the GT500 and how the headlight shapes blend into the top of the upper grill.
The rear wing on the new GT500 with the Gurney flap is killer and helps balance out the rear fat looking bumper.
What I do like about the 2010+ Mustangs...
I do like the improved quality of the interior materials. I also like the kick up in the upper rear quarter panels - more retro and muscular character to the rear.
As far as comparing the powerplants between the Mustang and Camaro-that's fine I agree with the capabilities of the LS motor...BUT at the end of the day Mustang is still king of the Pony car heap with the GT500 and I'd be willing to lay my chips on the table that the Mustang GT will edge the Camaro in the quarter mile. Remember the Mustang weighs a couple hundred pounds lighter than the Camaro and it's only down about 14 ponies. Then you add the track pack from Ford onto that. The Camaro MSRP is also about $2750 more than the Mustang GT!!!
As far as Camaro styling goes, it has it's positives and negatives. First thing that needs to go is the silly SS mail slot in the front fascia - not even functional. I'm probably one of the few that actually likes the rear styling. And what the heck is with the steel wheels offered on the Camaro??? C'mon GM this is the 21st century!
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
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2011 Mustang GT - The 5.0 Returns!!!
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