Need an "unbiased" opinion on new car

[scoobydann]

Well folks I have reached my 1/3 life crises and I've decided to buy a new car. I have narrowed it down to 2. The 2013 dodge challenger and the 2013 ford mustang. Both the small v8 (no budget for the biggins). I come to the Toyota forum to get unbiased options on each. So far my take on the cars.

Challenger:
Love the look better than mustang
More roomy
Enough power to drive normal and still punch it when needed
Ins is less expensive
Possibly more desirable/valuable later

Cons:
Less power
Heavier
Interior less fancy

Mustang:
Power---holy snap these are fast
The do look good just my second choice on looks.
Aftermarket; though not gonna mess w/it much
Interior still bland but better than challenger

Cons

So many mustangs on the road
Ins is higher
Tires more expensive (19vs20's)


So: anybody have one of these? any opinions?

 

[SDr6]

Seems like you're already leaning toward the Challenger.

Personally I'd get the Challenger and upgrade the wheels right away.

 

[Atlanta_man]

too many Chrysler unreliability stories in my past - go for the Ford
but the 70's Plymouth Duster w/slant six was one of my favs

 

[Quatre Coureur]

First off i love both of these cars! Ive owned a 69 SS350 Camaro and a 65 Mustang w 289. They were great cars. To me the Dodge resembles the original most accurately out of the 3 retro pony cars on the market now. However the Challenger is basically unchanged since its debut other than some engine upgrades(6.4!!!). The Mustang on the other hand has undergone some major updating. First in 2011, a few minor tweaks in 2012 and now a huge one for 2013. The new 5.0 Coyote engine is the shiznit! Forged steel bottom end! High flow heads. Huge HP potential. Major aftermarket support from Shelby(RIP),Roush,Saleen, not to mention Ford Racing. And as for handling theres no comparison, the Dodge is just too big n heavy. Its built on the 300C/Charger platform. To me theres only one choice...FORD!

 

[calikev]

I would vote for a 3rd option being added of a used Challenger. Get a used one that is one year old with the bigger engine and every option they offer. It will likely cost less than the new one even with an extended warranty to cover electrical items--not just the useless powertrain warranty. Finances rates should be the same, just way more options for the $$$

 

[Quentin]

Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ or Mazda MX-5 (miata). They deliver a fantastic driving experience that those bigger, heavier cars simply cannot. Not nearly as fast in a straight line, but you can only go so fast legally.

 

[Sputnik]

If you must buy a domestic muscle over a reliable import, I would go for the challenger and its looks. For some reason I hate mustangs

 

[Mercy]

I also do not like Mustangs, so I would vote Challenger. However, for not that much money, you can get a nice gently used Nissan 350z, and have a blast. We had two vettes before the z, the z was 10x better.

 

[KidVermicious]

A Mark IV Supra kicks domestic muscle car booty.

 

[rebelbowtie]

A Mark IV Supra kicks domestic muscle car booty.

View attachment 75006

That's why GM 4.2 swap is becoming common in Supra's.

Nothing can really compare to the thrill of American muscle, it's just raw and unrefined and unforgiving. I like the Challenger based solely on looks but the Mustang is def more fun to drive and has a better power plant. I used to date a girl that had the new 5.0 when they first came out.

 

[scoobydann]

Believe it or not I'm still on the fence. I have since done more and more research and as of today I am leaning towards a 2013 boss(pending $ saved) I still love the way the challenger looks so if anything changes in the platform (talks of new motor and tuning) I will again consider it. I hope to update this post with a picture by march (that's my goal).

 

[KCcarguy]

A Mark IV Supra kicks domestic muscle car booty.

View attachment 75006

IF you can find a good one

Believe it or not I'm still on the fence. I have since done more and more research and as of today I am leaning towards a 2013 boss(pending $ saved) I still love the way the challenger looks so if anything changes in the platform (talks of new motor and tuning) I will again consider it. I hope to update this post with a picture by march (that's my goal).

They're both great cars. The Challenger has a little more room, but the mustang is more of a sports car. It would come down to price for me. Those Challengers are expensive! I would skip the BOSS too. You could buy a GT with Track pack/ Recaros and add SVT exhaust/ suspension for a lot less.

 

[KidVermicious]

IF you can find a good one

True story. Lots of the ones for sale around here look to have been rode hard and put away wet.

 

[Thai]

For muscle cars, I definitely get Ford over any Chrylser product not named Wrangler!! How about Camaro? I personally would still pick Mustang over GM though.

Other choices: Subaru BRZ is a driver's car and economical; Buick Verano Turbo is quick and über quiet; used Lexus IS350 that is fast and it's a Lexus.

 

[downpour11]

Hold out and wait for the new 2015 mustang!

 

[foxrider56]

If I were to get a sports car it would be a scion frs those things looks so sick and fun to drive

 

[absolute yota]

I want both... but out of the two the mustang is the better choice. I would only say dodge if you were getting a sick edition with huge engine in plum crazy purple or something. The blue on that mustang is sick ! And its faster. And its a freaking mustang. Either way you go I will hate you for having a bad ass musclecar. I love my trucks but I haven't owned a car in like 10 years and I miss going fast and cornering hard sometimes.

 

[Skidmarcx]

Mustang... More bang for the buck... Intake and tune go a long ways... I'm sure you'll get the itch to do some minor mods

 

[smc23]

i would put my money on the mustang.. more power, less weight, and even with a live rear axle still handles better than the challenger.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Honestly, I love the way the new Challengers look. A very well done retro-style (much like the newer Mustangs) but the last "good" Dodge/Chrysler was probably the original Challenger. Chrysler has a very very long history with bad products, bad support, and lack of responsibility for their poor decisions and products. Fiat is turning them around, but I am still skeptical of anything made in the first decade of the new ownership as it still uses a lot of old Chrysler tech.

That being said, Ford has brough their quality up big time since the near bankrupcy and out of the Domestics was able to survive without subsidy and create great, reliable, and stylish products. This in itself is surprising due to Ford's similarly low quality, poor material, lack of reliability in the past, but they realized their mistake (a little too late IMHO) and turned 180 and now make good vehicles that seem to be far more reliable than before.

I would say you can't go too wrong with the Mustang, their fast, mean, and for the most part pure modern muscle car. The Challenger is a great looking vehicle with a beefy curb weight, beefy engine option (which you said you aren't able to get), but in the end is a bit of a porker; much like the new Camaro (still nice car, but damn it weighs roughly proportional to the average American's expanding waistband! lol)

Bottom line, I'd have a tough choice between the two... I'd probably pick the Mustang for out of the box performance and fun. I'd pick the Challenger as the base for a custom project (Started playing Defiance lately and honestly I think I can build a better Mad Maxx style Modern Challenger! lol)