But I’d rather go forward than look back. I respect the Challenger it’s been around for 11 years, yet Chrysler just keeps making it stronger and meaner. Kidding! Seriously, the Mustang GT is a legit sports car, and while I’d dial it back a bit by forgoing PP2 and a couple of other options for an easier-to-live-with street cruiser, I really like its brash attitude backed up by robust V8 power. Now I’m waiting for the upcoming mid-engine model.
I’ve seen the Mustang go through that phase. I wouldn’t exactly consider mundane commuting - you know, parallel parking, squeezing through parking garages, or sitting in traffic - pleasant behind the wheel of a Challenger.īH: Yeah, I’m over the retro thing.
Even the Challenger’s backseat is surprisingly roomy and the trunk is huge, but those generous dimensions and heft work against it when you’re trying to live with this thing on a daily basis. The seats are chunky but comfortable, and the 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system is one of the best in the business. Seriously, the Challenger is a fantastic cruiser - despite the 305-section Pirelli summer tires, it soaks up bumps and rough pavement incredibly well, and it’s surprisingly quiet on the highway. Overall fit-and-finish, too, while reasonably good overall, feels a bit cheap in some areas. There are a few quibbles, though: The optional Recaro seats, particularly on the passenger side, aren’t friendly to shorter passengers, and forking over the extra $1,800 for these means you lose out on power adjustability, and heating and ventilation. And inside, the Mustang may as well be in a completely different league: Your butt’s positioned far lower to the ground, and the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and fully digital instrument cluster add a sense of modernity. You can pretty much tailor the Mustang to however you’re feeling on any particular day with its adjustable drive modes and optional active exhaust system - which, by the way, should be standard. The Mustang is definitely the better “car,” if you will - the steering, clutch, and shifter action are more precise and nowhere near as heavy as the Challenger. NT: And therein lies the biggest difference between the two. These are the five highest-horsepower sports cars under ,000.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I have to say, though, the Mustang is no slouch over 1,320 feet, either, not with its own line lock and Drag Strip mode. Still, you feel the difference in the two cars’ weights - the Mustang is 220 kilograms lighter - especially on a serious set of twisties (or a track). Oh yeah, larger six-piston Brembo front brakes and a stiffer suspension. It’s perfect for the quarter-mile, equipped with line lock, launch assist and an improved launch control setup (hold time is increased to 10 seconds from five for “optimal launch and consistent straight-line acceleration”). The big Dodge is definitely Old School muscle car, with blistering straight-line acceleration courtesy of its 485-horsepower, 6.4L V8. Interestingly, the Challenger Scat Pack fitted with the Widebody had similar 305-width rubber - P305/35ZR20 Pirellis - and was nowhere near as frenetic on real roads, though that is clearly not its forte. I had to wait to pick up the tester because new tires were being installed, and the car had just 6,000 kilometres on the odo! And unless you’ve found a perfect stretch of unsullied tarmac, the GT tramlines over every uneven surface. Ungodly grip in the dry, yes, but with next to no tread, and thus a very limited lifespan. I love almost everything about PP2, except those meaty P305/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Article contentīH: It’s a qualified agreement, kid.