Pony Car Wars! 2011 Ford Mustang GT vs Camaro SS and Challenger SRT8 

motortrend is responsible in convincing me to purchase my 2012 mustang gt 3 years ago. no regrets. after 50,000 miles the pony is still running strong with no mechanical down time between multiple drag strip runs and road course duty.

I've always been an American muscle lover. When it came down to me buying my very first new muscle car I test drove them all. I agree with this video in that I had a hard time with visibility out of the camaro. The challenger was nice to drive but a bit too fat for me. The mustang felt great and I had fun driving it and happy to be owning one now! But nothing against the other two. Long live american muscle!

Coming back and watching this... Really glad I went with my 11 GT over the others.. Still am lost as to how on Gods green earth this guy picked the Challenger over the Camaro in terms of anything other than looks for 2nd place. If I had the $ I'd own all 3. Not a huge fan of the 15-17 models of any of these.

I'm a fan of all American Muscle Cars. I hate that Chev/Dodge/Ford fans bash each other when we should stick together against overpriced/overrated European/Ricer cars. I owned a 2005 Dodge Charger RT which I loved the looks (yes even if they fcked it up with 4 doors) but it felt too big and would have loved the SRT8. Then I bought a 96 Camaro Z28 which was very quick, had a mean sound but it felt like it was falling apart (rattling) and sometimes scary fishtailing around corners. I now own a 2005 Mustang GT with several mods and I love it although I'm currently having fuel pump issues. If you ask me I'd proudly take any of these 3 cars and love the fact that they have their own identity and looks. To each their own I say but I respect all 3 makes.

In here from the future, just wanted to say nice thumbnail bro !

In order I would go...Ford Mustang GT 5.0, Chevy Camaro SS, then the Dodge Challenger SRT8

2014 Camaro ZL1 vs 2014 Shelby GT500 vs 2015 Challenger Hellcat. Now that would be one hell of a comparison.

That 5.0 owns

Way to go Ford! This is one Mustang GT I would definitely own! It's not just the power the car is putting down, it's everything, looks, handling, braking, ride and interior!

Ford is climbing back to the top, where it belongs. Amazing performance out of all 3 cars though.

challenger has the best exhaust note hands down

it makes me laugh when the most expensive challenger cant even beat the base model mustang, and barely keep up with the camaro lol its funny

Since 2011 the Mustang has been unbeatable.

Why the hell is a Challenger in the "Pony Car War?" :/

@OutInTheRain1 What does the metric system have to do with smaller engines?

@Skatchwanguyz what are the drawbacks? high performance? affordability? great mpg?

That Ford is a Flat Out Road Demon.

Ford Mustang is my choise.

someone tell me how to smoke the tyres, does it need a limit locker ?

does the charger srt8 have a chance with any of these 3 cars? because its never compared with the 3...

My car right there the 2011 5.0 :)

The engine sound that Challenger creates is just incredible!!!

I got a stock Mustang GT(300 HP) and I am looking for more power, my budget would be about 5-6 grand including work and parts. Anyone got any good ideas? I was told I would be better off with a supercharger due to my budget and that it would save much money on the labor. Any other upgrades that could give a few extra HP here and there? Appreciate all answers!

Hey can you compare the Viper, corvette and the new Thunderbird or GT, thanks!!

The 5.0L mustang is the best but the challenger needs more credit but they need to lower the price. Thats the old 6.1l the 6.4l is faster.

Ford finally stepped up, didn't overrate the hp numbers, and built a car we could all be proud of, I own a 2011' gt lots of mods, but something sexy about the passion purple challenger, lol, Btw, i only only buy black cars, lol, look better in the shade, shade..........

can you tell me how? the mustang has the best 0-60 time and 1/4 mile stops and turns the best ..and the best mpg oh and to top it off it cost less ?

so whats the update for the 2013 pony cars? GT,SS, SRT etc

El mustang es mi auto favorito

If you want to choose a vehicle for its performance and low price, go with the Mustang. If you want to choose a vehicle for its Muscle car looks, go with the Challenger. If you want to choose a vehicle for it is intermediate performance and you have plenty of money to splurge, go with the Camaro.

@geedee3 ok i agree with that..but if it was your money would you spent more money on a worse car ? or less money on a better car?

@W4TCH4W Thanks for the feedback, yeah I will look into some superchargers

I like challenger better than all of them

that true but how often will you take it to a track?

@starwarsfanforlife getting one as a everyday car or a sunday driver?

@Nismokid1211 Zl1 you mean.... and whats that have to do with the SS spanking?

are does tires are cheap? because they are using them like they were free

@Naughtorios and what about the 1 hp extra on the chevy ? :D

Doesnt the Camero have more weight to it? While the Mustang is lighter or am i wrong? I dont know anything about Mustangs

Why is that every track test video has differ 0-60 times?

@1jamers you do know that that ZL1 is what the Z28 was going to be correct? just fyi

Dodge makes me smile, chevy makes me frown, and ford.... well the're like heaven on earth, what can I say?

Beast sound from the Challenger!

but can you blend them?

what's a rustang?

i will take any of them! im really still shocked that we are watchin these 3 400+horsepower cars together again!

why would you include the new '11 mustang but not the new srt8 392? unless this was done so early it wasn't out yet.

Shouldnt the challenger r/t go against these? And the strt8 vs shelby gt500? The challenger rt is around this price range and the srt 8 is close to the shelby

@blueduster74 same goes for the hemi too with the vvt and mds. not sure what GM is doing with the LS these days.

@wyrazowfkp Actually the statistics I posted were from a fuel consumption guide where all of the vehicles were tested in everyday driving

yes but will it blend ?

@SOFSoldier1 the 392 isnt in the base v8 class? thats left to the boss 302 or shelby gt500 which both spank the 392 in every performance category especially handling.

@JeffYaddow im 5' 11'' so yeah. and im not talking about the back seats im talking about the front

hey motortrend wheres the part about the mustangs transmission problems, engine knocking, speed limiters, and driveshaft failures?

how is that when it did not stop , turn and was slower then the mustang ?

@Taslak i didn't buy it simply for it's interior. I bought it for it's 6.2 ltr 420+ HP, 400 torque , body design and style. not to mention that the 69 was my favorite body style, and the 2010 completely retro'd and still stayed true to the classic style. i did however put in carbon fiber interior trim and with the standard limo lighting inside the doors, it is sweeeet!. And the reason there are more mustangs is because the Camaro wasn't made between the years 2002 and 2010.

@paddypradeep007 Where did you hear that Top Hear? They put down 450 at the wheels thats more than 500bhp.

@goofydog2 the chally is actually made in ontario, i believe. brampton??

@ Kasra Ghorbani Since when does a car that rips around the skid pad @ 0.92G (Avg) running 275 mm rear tires not have any grip? LOL. I drove this car and it has a ton of grip. A surprising amount actually.

I own an srt8 charger and this week i drove a manual coupe mustang, and a automatic convertible mustang.. im thinking on buyin one convertible, but... it doesnt corner as well as the srt8, it moves alot in the corners..

@rebelguitar2 And its competitors all have similar horsepower and torque yet much smaller displacement

@joepa0126 yes i was not arguing that point, i believe ther msrp was around $140,000 US, and I have seen one for sale by owner that was listed for 160,000 US and it sold in acouple of weeks

@skribbal This video is from April 5, 2010, shortly after the 2011 Mustang was released, while the 2011 SRT8 was only announced in October-November of 2010, so there is no way it could've been the 2011 Challenger SRT8.

@Drewtitus ... stock exhaust. First thing i'd do is put some flow masters on

Still enjoy my 2011 GT. It was a tough choice between the Challenger, but in the end the Mustang won out for me.

@conman1431 i went to vegas and only saw one camaro. but at least 100 mustangs. weird

@Perksk8 lets hope the new 5.0 isn't more fragile for all the extra parts that requires.

Wonder why they haven't done a 2012 or now 2013 Pony car wars comparison yet. I would love for them to do this every year.

@AutomotiveReviewers thank you... mustangs are everywhere now!

@suntannedmedal the R/T has a 5.7 hemi, which only makes 370 hp. but i see what you're saying. they did some stuff to the 2012 dodge charger srt8 that may out perform the challenger.

Plan on getting one this Tuesday

Im a stang guy but that burnout of the Challenger looks so badass!

ubieran hecho la comparacion con el mustang saleen

Just got a challenger srt8 for 16th birthday present, has everything a kid could ever want

wow, 14 yrs ago... wonder how it woulda looked in the 23's? betting about the same- we know who wins the 24 already though :(

@GTO19020 Oh, or better yet, why is a Lotus Exige faster than the Camaro and Challenger (barely slower than the Mustang) but it has "only" 220hp? (they run in the 12.80 range in the 1/4 mile).

@iconicSTYLZ MotorTrend just uploaded a video of that (not strictlly 1969, but a classic muscle car that inspired the modern car's styling/design).

At the end of the day it's all about liking the shape. And I just love the way Camaro looks. Drove all 3 ( + bmw coupe) before committed to buying. All drive beautiful.

@iMRKdrew1510 So where's yours?

I too was a Dodge Fanboy until I test drove the Challenger SRT8 and the Mustang 5.0....I just picked up my 2012 5.0 and LOVE IT!!!

I don't mind if the camaro makes me feel small... I'm 6'5, 245

@VeryImagesozo the thing is that yo get more for your money ..like someone could buy a challenger for around (i think) 35k OR he or she could buy a mustang for around 30k and still have some money left for vacation ...

@TheSteveDallas I love the car competition, they are also getting out the new shelby. Cant wait how to see what they do :D

@Blizzck211 well if your gonna put the 302 boss against the challenger then put it up agains the 392 hemi and see who crosses the line first.

Why do they never test the 392 Challenger??

@djwood69 Also, could you post again that link? I couldnt watch it.... Believe me, im pretty objective... When i see something better than what i have i recognize it.. im not even a hemi fan. first dodge i have had... actually i have allways had ford or other brands.

@MIA7Xthies i agree, but it still has great straight line speed. and it has a full size rear seat, which is important to me since i'm always giving friends rides in my car. dodge seriously needs to drop that weight though

@AutomotiveReviewers yeah camaros and mustangs are subcompact with the mustang slightly larger than the camaro (6'ers can actually sit in the rear seat), the camaros are decorations, and the challenger is just down right comfy in the srt8 version

@Blizzck211 idk, that new boss is crazy, they need too completely redesign the interior of the challenger, it seems like a 2 door 300c too me

@17etnies have you searched about camaro and challenger problems too. if i take your comprehensive research then i assume that every car other than the mustang works flawlessly

Wow, what a shock - I saw this review and before I watched it I knew what would win - the Ford. Why? It is the newest redesigned car. In the last match up when it was not redesigned, it lost. now it won. What a shock!

Why is the gt and ss being compared to the srt8? I guess 5.0 and ss have to take on the r/t (which is suposed to be their rival) and the srt8 as well

@twztd28 i know the driver could make a big defference. and also the weight of the driver haha. but i cant wait for top gear to test the ZL1 and the GT500 together.

I see more of the Challenger where I live then anywhere else (washington state).

@EvilxMerlin I agree with that

@GTO19020 Where am I wrong? from 87-92 the 5.0L was rated at 225hp. What kind of power do you think the Camaro was making at that time? The high points for the Camaro were 230hp with the 305 and 245 for the 350 (89-92). The 350 was auto only and it was heavier so it was still slower than the Mustang even though it had less power. With the extra weight, the 305 wasn't in the running even with the available 5 speed. BTW, the '11 Mustang makes less power but is STILL faster than the '11 Camaro.

@Fast92z The body style of the challenger is fine, it just needs to shed some pounds, or produce more power to be competitive!

@dddjjf Weather, track elevation, fuel quality, temperature, humidity, and air pressure all can affect the times.

@blueduster74 the 392 came out like a year after the 2011 mustang gt

@AutomotiveReviewers The newer ones yes but the Z28 from the second generation... that was truly a real muscle car!