Personal Picks: Sporty and muscle cars part 2
Continuing our staff's personal insights into the October-issue sporty car test group.
Tom Mutchler: Among the muscle cars in this group, my clear favorite is the Ford Mustang. After I get over the “hey-look-at-me” styling of the Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang is simply more rewarding and satisfying to drive. Plus, I can see out of the thing.
However, there are many more sports cars on the market than the just the big domestic iron we tested. When it boils down to choosing one I’d actually buy, one manufacturer keeps popping up in my mind: Mazda. You’d be insane to try to drag race a Camaro or Mustang with a stock Miata or RX-8. But there is so much more to driving satisfaction than that.
The Miata and RX-8 are both twisty back road warriors, with fantastic steering and a nimble feel. The Miata has the top-down charms of its roadster-ness, the RX-8 is surprisingly civilized on a highway trip. Given the RX-8’s near-gluttonous fuel consumption and so-so reliability record, the Miata is probably a better long-term proposition, but it’s hard to beat the smile I had revving the wee out of the RX-8’s rotary on the track.
Mike Quincy: There are times when I sheepishly express admiration for certain cars that my colleagues, well, don’t really care for. I had a thing for Saabs, but that’s over. I also seem to be gravitating toward diesels these days – I see them as the sort-of anti-hybrid. But this month’s group has me split a few ways.
I really like the Dodge Challenger R/T – and I’m probably the only one. There is no doubt that this slick-looking muscle car turns into an absolute pig on a track. There’s also no argument that it’s overweight and has numb steering – making it as agile as a pregnant elephant. But what I like about the R/T is how civilized it is as a long-distance cruiser. My wife and I drove the Challenger to Saratoga Springs, NY (and visited the Saratoga Automobile Museum). I was amazed at its comfortable ride, even after the three-hour drive. Plus, I never got tired of listening to the exhaust note – the sound coming out of the Challenger’s twin pipes makes you want to drive down streets in a gear or two too low with the window down. But it does have flaws that you can’t overlook (including a pitiful 18 mpg overall).
The Mustang is a very close second is this group, and it performs better than the Challenger in almost every category. It’s an easy car to like and enjoy everyday.
The other car that surprised me was the Nissan 370Z. I think it looks fabulous; Nissan also did a nice job improving the interior. But when a friend of mine asked what it was like to drive, I said “The new Z is a commitment.” In other words, you have to commit yourself to its small interior, crummy visibility, and one of the noisiest cabins in recent memory. But the Z rewards such a commitment with incredibly grippy handling, excellent steering, and agility that takes a backseat to few cars for twice the price. I also like that the 332-hp, 3.7-liter V6 produces wicked acceleration without turbo or supercharging. I drove the Z into New York City for an early TV interview one Saturday morning; the roads were empty and the car was in its element. As long as you don’t mind the small size and noise, the 370Z is a very satisfying ride and a commitment worth making.
Tom Mutchler: Among the muscle cars in this group, my clear favorite is the Ford Mustang. After I get over the “hey-look-at-me” styling of the Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang is simply more rewarding and satisfying to drive. Plus, I can see out of the thing.
However, there are many more sports cars on the market than the just the big domestic iron we tested. When it boils down to choosing one I’d actually buy, one manufacturer keeps popping up in my mind: Mazda. You’d be insane to try to drag race a Camaro or Mustang with a stock Miata or RX-8. But there is so much more to driving satisfaction than that.
The Miata and RX-8 are both twisty back road warriors, with fantastic steering and a nimble feel. The Miata has the top-down charms of its roadster-ness, the RX-8 is surprisingly civilized on a highway trip. Given the RX-8’s near-gluttonous fuel consumption and so-so reliability record, the Miata is probably a better long-term proposition, but it’s hard to beat the smile I had revving the wee out of the RX-8’s rotary on the track.
Mike Quincy: There are times when I sheepishly express admiration for certain cars that my colleagues, well, don’t really care for. I had a thing for Saabs, but that’s over. I also seem to be gravitating toward diesels these days – I see them as the sort-of anti-hybrid. But this month’s group has me split a few ways.
I really like the Dodge Challenger R/T – and I’m probably the only one. There is no doubt that this slick-looking muscle car turns into an absolute pig on a track. There’s also no argument that it’s overweight and has numb steering – making it as agile as a pregnant elephant. But what I like about the R/T is how civilized it is as a long-distance cruiser. My wife and I drove the Challenger to Saratoga Springs, NY (and visited the Saratoga Automobile Museum). I was amazed at its comfortable ride, even after the three-hour drive. Plus, I never got tired of listening to the exhaust note – the sound coming out of the Challenger’s twin pipes makes you want to drive down streets in a gear or two too low with the window down. But it does have flaws that you can’t overlook (including a pitiful 18 mpg overall).
The Mustang is a very close second is this group, and it performs better than the Challenger in almost every category. It’s an easy car to like and enjoy everyday.
The other car that surprised me was the Nissan 370Z. I think it looks fabulous; Nissan also did a nice job improving the interior. But when a friend of mine asked what it was like to drive, I said “The new Z is a commitment.” In other words, you have to commit yourself to its small interior, crummy visibility, and one of the noisiest cabins in recent memory. But the Z rewards such a commitment with incredibly grippy handling, excellent steering, and agility that takes a backseat to few cars for twice the price. I also like that the 332-hp, 3.7-liter V6 produces wicked acceleration without turbo or supercharging. I drove the Z into New York City for an early TV interview one Saturday morning; the roads were empty and the car was in its element. As long as you don’t mind the small size and noise, the 370Z is a very satisfying ride and a commitment worth making.
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Posted by: david | Sep 11, 2009 4:32:38 PM
Looks like Mustang is the clear winner in the muscle car group.
Two have said RX-8. It's a great car. I am eagerly awaiting the replacement version with 16X rotary engine, which hopefully will still rev to 8-9,000 rpm.
What surprise me here thought is no one yet mentioned the BMW 135i, CR's top rated most fun to drive car. Of course, if we go back longer, we can also include the Corvette and 911.
Any chance CR will be doing a lap test, just like the ones with Evo, STI and 135?
Posted by: Robert | Sep 11, 2009 6:11:55 PM
I'm a Ford man, but I who doesn't love a Dodge Charger new OR old? My buddy had a '72 Charger that was a piece of junk when he got it but after being restored it was very nice. The new Charger looks awesome in this video.
Posted by: Cale | Sep 12, 2009 10:36:47 AM
I like haiku:
Sports cars can offer
Leaves swirling on country lanes
Time stands still old man
Posted by: Cale | Sep 12, 2009 11:35:08 AM
Moderator -
Would you substitute the following?
sports cars can send
leaves swirling on country lanes
time stands still old man
It'll never be good but this is better...
Thanks, Cale
Posted by: coolcar | Sep 12, 2009 7:17:08 PM
Robert --
do you mean the "Challenger"? Nowadays, the Charger is a huge 4-door sedan from dodge, not the challenger coupe shown in the video
Posted by: Mike Belknap | Sep 13, 2009 7:03:42 PM
Great thoughts... but note the typo:
"...(including a pitiful 18 mph overall)."
I thought it was kind of funny. =)