Top 'American Muscle Cars' of Today
27 September 1999
American Muscle Cars'
LOS ANGELES--Sept. 27, 1999--Lightning Winners in Head-to-Head Showdown of Modern,
American-built Performance Vehicles
Edmunds , one of the Web's leading third party automotive resource, today announced the results of its head-to-head comparison road test for eight vehicles that Edmunds.com recognizes as classically American "muscle cars."
The lineup of seven cars and one truck were chosen based on each nameplate's reputation and then divided into four categories. All vehicles were required to house 240 horsepower under the hood and final assembly had to take place on North American soil. Comprehensive criteria and test results are available at http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/clor/MuscleCarComparo.rt.html.
Placed in head-to-head competition by class, the Edmunds.com editorial team assessed each vehicle's performance, handling, comfort, and design, awarding winners within each class as follows:
-- TRADITIONAL PONY CARS
Ford Mustang GT beats Chevrolet Camaro SS
In the most debated rivalry in history, the Ford Mustang beat the
Chevy Camaro. The Camaro did outpace the Mustang in terms of
speed and performance but surprisingly enough even to the
testers, the Mustang garnered higher ratings overall. Although
the Mustang is not quite as speedy as the Camaro, the Mustang is
the better day-to-day car of the two because it's quieter, rides
better and offers better interior ergonomics and quality.
-- SPORTS COUPES
Chevrolet Corvette beats BMW M Coupe
The BMW M Coupe (assembled in South Carolina) and the Chevy
Corvette clashed in the second round. Edmunds.com editors
responded favorably to the BMW's interior perfection, smooth
six-cylinder engine and solid construction. However, the
aesthetics weren't enough to displace the champion Corvette. In
the end the Corvette's speed and handling couldn't be matched by
its classy counterpart.
-- HOT RODS
Ford SVT Lightning beats Pontiac Firebird
Round three presented an unusual test between the Firebird and
this supercharged Ford pick-up truck. The Firebird scored well in
the speed categories, but results were less than stellar in the
everyday driving categories where the Lightning excelled. The
Lightning, declared this round's champion, outranked the Firebird
in nearly every category and was just nosed out for pure
performance.
-- SPORT SEDANS
Chrysler 300M beats Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
Although the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP and the Chrysler 300M were
compared head-to-head, testers thought these two cars would
appeal to very different people. The Pontiac Grand Prix is the
tougher, more robust car while the Chrysler 300M is a bit more
agile and luxurious. But if left to choose, Edmunds.com editors
would pick the 300M based on its generous interior and nimble
handling.
All cars were initially pushed to the limits at southern California's Willow Springs raceway and then tested in real world conditions through the torturous twists and turns of some strategically chosen two-lane roads north of Los Angeles. Eight drivers put each of the cars through a rigorous 25-point evaluation. After evaluation was complete, the testers were asked which two of the vehicles they would most like to drive day-to-day. The most popular car chosen overall by Edmunds.com testers was the Chrysler 300M for its handling and cargo spaciousness coupled with strong performance. The Ford SVT F-150 Lightning and the Chevrolet Corvette were the testers' second and third choices.
"In the latter half of this century, cinematic representations of hot rodding throughout the James Dean era and in films such as 'American Graffiti' solidified the muscle car's niche in the American psyche. At Edmunds.com, we wanted to refocus attention on these vehicles, and this comparison test was intended to give consumers a snapshot of where muscle cars are today," said John Clor, Detroit editor, Edmunds.com. "We wanted to let consumers know which cars offer the best bang for their buck, coupled with true performance evaluations, so they can make a smart buying decision."
About Edmunds.com
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Edmunds.com is the Internet's pioneer and leader in providing free, third party automotive information. Edmunds.com empowers, educates and engages visitors by respecting them and providing them with straightforward, truthful information on key aspects of buying, selling and owning a vehicle. Users are provided automobile pricing data, extensive automobile reviews, consumer information, safety updates, incentive and rebate news, expert analysis of developments in the automotive world and the Town Hall, an interactive community of more than 250,000 participants. Edmunds.com has been honored as one of Yahoo! Internet Life's 50 Most Incredibly Useful Sites and among Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites for Entrepreneurs.