I'm in love! (picture included)

[arsenal]

This would be mine:

[Jake]

The Challenger is a little too retro for my tastes. I'm in love with that Camero though. It will be interesting to see the price. If it is priced around the Mustang range it could be legit competition for the Ford. I see the base price about $5000 above the Mustang...

I suggest the Z drivers avoid pulling up beside the 2007 Ford gt500 475 hp/lbs-ft

[Winsor_Pilates]

I personally don't like any of these reborn muscle cars. If I wanted a mustang, charger, camero etc I'd go out and get an old 1.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Jake

The Challenger is a little too retro for my tastes. I'm in love with that Camero though. It will be interesting to see the price. If it is priced around the Mustang range it could be legit competition for the Ford. I see the base price about $5000 above the Mustang...

I suggest the Z drivers avoid pulling up beside the 2007 Ford gt500 475 hp/lbs-ft

Yah, that would probably be the only domestic vehicle i would buy.

[Table 5]

I actually got a chance to drive the new Mustang as a rental car on a recent business trip, and I have to say, I was rather impressed. From having driven the previous generation, the new one has a much more stiffer and more solid feeling body. While it wasn't the strongest performance machine, it was extremely fun to drive, and I was pretty sad when I had to relinquish it back to the rental company.

I'm still hesitant about American cars, but if they start to be more like the new Mustang (as well as the Dodge Magnum, which I got to drive on a trip a couple days ago), I think U.S finally might be on the right path to respectability again.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

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[Lanny_MacDonald]

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[Lanny_MacDonald]

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[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by Jake

The Challenger is a little too retro for my tastes. I'm in love with that Camero though. It will be interesting to see the price. If it is priced around the Mustang range it could be legit competition for the Ford. I see the base price about $5000 above the Mustang...

I suggest the Z drivers avoid pulling up beside the 2007 Ford gt500 475 hp/lbs-ft

Why? All I do is get it into a corner and wave good bye! You guys forgetting something? You think that all roads are nothing but long straight aways? Unless you live in Saskatchewan (or Kansas), roads have these things called corners, and cars have to be able to take those things too. Cars have to be driveable. I'll put a Mini Cooper S against any of the North American "performance cars" in this thread and kick their asses all over the road in the cones or in a road course. The Cooper takes corners you don't think are possible. In a real world situation, I'll take handling over raw horsepower any day of the week. But this is all moot as I don't race my cars. I motor-crossed my Cooper a couple times and I just no longer had the taste for it (nor the money for tiresz!). I prefer to put the top down and cruise, enjoying the ride. So every time some young punk in his ricer or Mustang rolls up and gives that wink, I just look over, smile and laugh in his face. I know what my car will do, and I know what other cars will do as well. I respect those that I know are "fine" automobiles, and I laugh at those that are pretenders. These reborn quasi "muscle cars" are all pretenders. Nice to look at, and remind you of a time gone by, but not serious vehicles for drivers. As I said earlier, I'll stick with my Jap scrap. It looks good, it rides great, it handles like a dream, and when I want to, it runs like Ben Johnson.

[Jake]

Why? All I do is get it into a corner and wave good bye! You guys forgetting something? You think that all roads are nothing but long straight aways?

Based on what I've read about the new Mustang in all of the main stream magizines like Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road and Track and Automobile you're completely wrong in saying that.

That is an old stereotype that the new Mustang has gotten rid of. There is no doubt in my mind that the GT500 will have even more suspension upgrades than the current GT.

I find in Mini's you're going alot slower than how you feel.

On another note, the Corvette is not only great on the track but also in a straight line. I can't think of a production Japanese car that can compete with it.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

Why? All I do is get it into a corner and wave good bye! You guys forgetting something? You think that all roads are nothing but long straight aways? Unless you live in Saskatchewan (or Kansas), roads have these things called corners, and cars have to be able to take those things too. Cars have to be driveable. I'll put a Mini Cooper S against any of the North American "performance cars" in this thread and kick their asses all over the road in the cones or in a road course. The Cooper takes corners you don't think are possible. In a real world situation, I'll take handling over raw horsepower any day of the week. But this is all moot as I don't race my cars. I motor-crossed my Cooper a couple times and I just no longer had the taste for it (nor the money for tiresz!). I prefer to put the top down and cruise, enjoying the ride. So every time some young punk in his ricer or Mustang rolls up and gives that wink, I just look over, smile and laugh in his face. I know what my car will do, and I know what other cars will do as well. I respect those that I know are "fine" automobiles, and I laugh at those that are pretenders. These reborn quasi "muscle cars" are all pretenders. Nice to look at, and remind you of a time gone by, but not serious vehicles for drivers. As I said earlier, I'll stick with my Jap scrap. It looks good, it rides great, it handles like a dream, and when I want to, it runs like Ben Johnson.

The same 205HP piece of GM junk I mentioned that will run with a 350 in a straight line will beat a cooper S in both a straight line and through the corners. It out accelerates and out handles.

Its obvious you are yet another person with the "All American cars suck" blinders on that really doesn't know what you are talking about. I'd love to see a Mustang GT against a 350 on a road course. As was mentioned earlier, a C6 corvette will beat everything in handling and acceleration within $50,000 of its price. A C6 Z06 takes out turbo porsches... on a road course and a drag strip.

You remind me of all of the 16 year olds running around in honda civics that think their cars are faster than everyone because they have V-tec. A Z is a very nice car, but by no means is it fast for its price range. They make a friggen neon that is faster....

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

Why? All I do is get it into a corner and wave good bye! You guys forgetting something? You think that all roads are nothing but long straight aways? Unless you live in Saskatchewan (or Kansas), roads have these things called corners, and cars have to be able to take those things too. Cars have to be driveable. I'll put a Mini Cooper S against any of the North American "performance cars" in this thread and kick their asses all over the road in the cones or in a road course. The Cooper takes corners you don't think are possible.

Amen. Motor on.

And while the new Mustang has improved a great deal, it still isn't a superstar in the corners. As far as a Mini only "feeling" fast: I've almost gotten 2 speeding tickets so far in the Cooper S, verses no close calls in 7 years in my Mustang GT. It is waaay to easy to drive it too fast. And I do look at the speedo on occasion.

Interestingly enough, an on-line automotive magazine (take your credibility shots here) recently compared the new Mustang, the new 350Z and the Mini Cooper S. The link is here. (I have the PDF file also if you like, although they distribute it for free).

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

The same 205HP piece of GM junk I mentioned that will run with a 350 in a straight line will beat a cooper S in both a straight line and through the corners. It out accelerates and out handles.

Its obvious you are yet another person with the "All American cars suck" blinders on that really doesn't know what you are talking about. I'd love to see a Mustang GT against a 350 on a road course. As was mentioned earlier, a C6 corvette will beat everything in handling and acceleration within $50,000 of its price. A C6 Z06 takes out turbo porsches... on a road course and a drag strip.

You remind me of all of the 16 year olds running around in honda civics that think their cars are faster than everyone because they have V-tec. A Z is a very nice car, but by no means is it fast for its price range. They make a friggen neon that is faster....

A Neon? Lay off the crack there Hulk. You know, believe what you want. I have driven the Solstice and its in the Miata class (the target market for the car BTW). One of my friends is a product trainer, and works out of the Proving Grounds, and he drools over my Z, admitting that he's need a 'vette to compete. He recognizes a work of art when he sees one. I've also driven the Mustang GT (convertible) and it goes like hell (not much quicker than the Z though), but handles like its in mud. I prefer cars that are nimble and responsive, something North American cars are not (save the Corvette). I suggest you do yourself a favor and get your ass in the drivers seat of these cars and drive them. Your dream world will be altered dramatically. I'd love to see your face after driving a Cooper S, or better yet, a Cooper S with the Works (~205 HP). And that's without even taking the Z for a run (open air). But hey, stick with your Solstice (a lady's car). What ever makes you happy.

[arsenal]

Umm, the SRT-4 is basically a Neon, with 230hp and 250 lb-ft of torque and 0-60 in under 6 seconds.
http://www.dodge.com/srt-4/
I would never buy one, because well.. it's a neon.

[Frank the Tank]

When will you guys be quiet and realize that my Ford Focus Wagon with Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 child restraint seat will kick any cars ass? Hmmm?

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Amen. Motor on.

And while the new Mustang has improved a great deal, it still isn't a superstar in the corners. As far as a Mini only "feeling" fast: I've almost gotten 2 speeding tickets so far in the Cooper S, verses no close calls in 7 years in my Mustang GT. It is waaay to easy to drive it too fast. And I do look at the speedo on occasion.

Interestingly enough, an on-line automotive magazine (take your credibility shots here) recently compared the new Mustang, the new 350Z and the Mini Cooper S. The link is here. (I have the PDF file also if you like, although they distribute it for free).

Interesting read. Really a strange comparison. I never would have thought of comparing those cars. I don't disagree with anything they say either. The Cooper is by far the best car to drive, they are just stupid amounts of fun. The Z is by far the most refined and most versatile. The Mustang is the drag racer, for certain. Having driven all of them, and owned two of them, I like their summary.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

A Neon? Lay off the crack there Hulk. You know, believe what you want. I have driven the Solstice and its in the Miata class (the target market for the car BTW). One of my friends is a product trainer, and works out of the Proving Grounds, and he drools over my Z, admitting that he's need a 'vette to compete. He recognizes a work of art when he sees one. I've also driven the Mustang GT (convertible) and it goes like hell (not much quicker than the Z though), but handles like its in mud. I prefer cars that are nimble and responsive, something North American cars are not (save the Corvette). I suggest you do yourself a favor and get your ass in the drivers seat of these cars and drive them. Your dream world will be altered dramatically. I'd love to see your face after driving a Cooper S, or better yet, a Cooper S with the Works (~205 HP). And that's without even taking the Z for a run (open air). But hey, stick with your Solstice (a lady's car). What ever makes you happy.

Ummm... I don't drive a Solstice, and I never have. Hence me not defending its handling, because I have no clue.

An SRT-4 will run a 14 flat 1/4 mile, stock. Thats a neon that will handily beat a Z.

I have driven a cooper S, I took one out for about 4 hours when deciding if I wanted to buy one, but settled on a cheaper car with better performance in all categories. I won't knock the mini, it was VERY fun to drive. What scared me off was quality issues (they consistantly come near the bottom of quality lists) and that god aweful interior.

I've also driven a G35, a murano, and a minivan all with the same Nissan V6 (tuned differently of course). Its a very good engine, quite reliable and capable of some decent power numbers. But no, it is not competition for a corvette. Not even close.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

An SRT-4 will run a 14 flat 1/4 mile, stock. Thats a neon that will handily beat a Z.

Holy ****, you've been babbling on and on about a ****ing Neon!?!?!?!

[Jake]

Lanny, do you actually think a 475 HP Mustang is less responsive than a 200ish HP Mini Cooper? The Ford will pin you back in your seat. You may think the Cooper can do that, but until you take a ride in a car with over twice the power you really have no idea what your talking about.

My friend has a Mini Cooper. In my opinion they are fun to drive in but the styling (an important factor in the cars I like) is not for me, especially the convertable.

Here are some cars to consider before deciding to hate all american vehicles:
Saleen S7
Dodge Viper SRT-10 (love the new coup)
Ford GT40 (the Ferrari Slayer)
Corvette C6 Z06
Cadillac CTS-V
Dodge Charger - alot of people hate the four doors, but I love it because of the lesser insurance.
Dodge Magnum

Heres the Charger:


I love the seats in this car.

[nfotiu]

I agree with Lanny, small nimble convertible are a lot more fun to drive than heavy high hp American cars. I am looking at sadly giving up the s2000 I've had for 5 years this year, and can't imagine anything being more fun to drive.