Chevrolet, Comparison tests and reviews, Dodge, Feature Articles, Ford, Long Term Tests, Made in Canada

Feature: Fall muscle car challenge: Camaro SS vs Challenger R/T vs Mustang GT

November 2, 2009

In fact, the Camaro boasted the fastest corner entry speed at 143 km/h. One area where the numbers tell a different story than what the driver feels is in braking. The Camaro feels heavy under braking but the numbers prove that the brakes work well, with an impressive 0.91g of braking force from the four-pot Brembos up front.

2009 Muscle Car Challenge at Calabogie Motorsports Park. Click image to enlarge

The Camaro also was capable of the most g-forces on acceleration, offering up 0.73 gs compared to the Challenger’s 0.65 gs and the Mustang’s 0.67.

Despite all this great news, the Camaro falls down when it comes to driver comfort. Like the Challenger, the seat is not supportive. The pedals are spaced nicely for heel-toe downshifting but the most important part of the equation, the steering wheel, is very uncomfortable because of its odd shape, and the driving position quickly becomes tiring on the track. The Camaro is predictable, with great balance and only mild understeer at the limit.

With more corners than straights at Calabogie Motorsports Park, the Mustang’s 136 kg (300 lb) weight advantage over the Camaro came into play. Despite only reaching a maximum speed of 175 km/h down the straight the ‘stang was able to eek out a faster lap time than the Camaro by carrying slightly more speed through the corners. It offered the most driver-oriented experience of the three with the best driving position and road feel by far. Although the seat in the Mustang is still not as supportive as most track goers would want, it is the best of the three. The Track Pack option adds front and rear stabilizer bars from the GT500; combine this with stiffer springs and the results are a Mustang that is flatter in the corners and provides the most neutral handling of the three.

2009 Muscle Car Challenge at Calabogie Motorsports Park. Click image to enlarge

It is a wash on the track between the Camaro and Mustang. Driver feel, fun factor and all around track worthiness go to the Mustang. On a track with fewer corners, the Camaro would be ahead by a mile, although the Mustang may catch up when the Camaro driver gets fatigued. The Challenger should wait in the paddock for the drive home.

The results

So in the end, is there winner? Yes, of course there is, but the real question is: does it matter? At the end of the day, the Ford guy or girl is going to buy the ‘Stang, the Mopar person is going to step into the Challenger and turn heads at the shopping mall and the Chevy guy or girl will crawl behind the wheel of the Camaro and cruise into the night.

On the track, the Challenger is a disappointment, feeling like a Chrysler 300C with pretty bodywork – very pretty bodywork, in fact. But as a highway runner and boulevard cruiser, the Challenger R/T is one of the best.

The fact is that Ford has been improving the Mustang GT for years, while Dodge and Chevrolet have been focusing on minivans and SUVs. The major changes to the Mustang came in 2005, but 2010 marks another year where the engineers stepped up their game, especially on the interior and the handling with the Track Pack. The Camaro is close but it is the first revision in eight years. Give Chevrolet a little more time and watch out!

Special thanks to Calabogie Motorsports Park and Kanata Ford.