4 season DD 2011 mustang gt vs camaro SS

I'm looking to get a new daily. It won't be a primary kid hauler, but it needs to hold me, my 12 year old daughter and my 2 year old daughter. Currently I have a 87 4runner and I can't stand how slow it is. My commute is all highway driving. I would like something that is torquey and a little more fun. I will be driving it all winter too, with snow tires. Is one or the other of these better at the task? I know it's not the winter vehicle. I have only had to put the 4runner in 4wd once in the past two years, so it's not like I'm going through anything crazy. 

I would check out the visibility of the Camaro and see if you'd want to live with it on a daily basis. A lot of people complain about it, but what won't work for some is great for others. I'd also look at Challengers, but they hold their value very well, so they're typically more expensive.

I'd rather have the LS3 but the comfy ride and visibility of the Mustang.  Maybe this is why a put a LS in my Mustang...

Honestly they are both proven good cars but the visibility and interior comfort are definiately something you might not want to live with on a daily basis.  I would try to test drive both and see what makes more sense.

Why limit yourself to just these two though.  There are TONS of fun/quick 4 door cars that would be a huge step up from your 4runner.  Focus ST, Mazda6, Ecoboost anything, BMW 3 series, etc.

Patientzero said:

Why limit yourself to just these two though.  There are TONS of fun/quick 4 door cars that would be a huge step up from your 4runner.  Focus ST, Mazda6, Ecoboost anything, BMW 3 series, etc.

 

I've never owned a v8 car, I also don't really like fwd. I was considering an older e or c63, but they scare me a little as far as reliability go. I figured I might as well try a pony car for a bit. Both of those options are in my price range...

There's also some cool Cadillacs. A used CTS or V, ATS or V, or the new CT4 with rwd or awd 

https://www.cadillac.com/sedans/ct4#trim-levels

Also, the Chevy SS is awesome. Used only though. 
https://www.chevrolet.com/discontinued-vehicles/ss

If it's 2011 GT vs 2011 SS I'd choose the Camaro because the mustang still had the 4.6L in 2011.

clutchsmoke said:

If it's 2011 GT vs 2011 SS I'd choose the Camaro because the mustang still had the 4.6L in 2011.

2011 was the first year of the Coyote 5.0.

I've driven this generation of Mustang and loved it. Give one a shot. I haven't driven the Chevy, but in that vintage the Mustang was still a few hundred pounds lighter than the Camaro so that helps it come out ahead in my book.

In the snow, lighter weight isn’t always better.

racerfink said:

In the snow, lighter weight isn’t always better.

F=ma only in certain weather conditions?

My sister had to throw bags of sand in the back of her S10 2wd pick up when it snowed in Colorado.

AnthonyGS said:

clutchsmoke said:

If it's 2011 GT vs 2011 SS I'd choose the Camaro because the mustang still had the 4.6L in 2011.

2011 was the first year of the Coyote 5.0.

 

 

Dang. Thought it was '12. The first year of coyotes had some teething issues either way.

5.0L coyote > camaro for me, unless ZL1

I DD'd my Lotus Elise 2010-2013 in Boston year round. Maybe Wasn't as fun as the R8/GTR/Aventador/Murcie high powered cars, people DD in my building, but that's what I could afford at the time. 

I have a 2011 Camaro SS. Proven motor, really good suspension, visibility bothers some people. I don't winter drive mine, but with good snow tires it will drive like any other RWD only car.

My son has had a 2008 Mustang GT and a 2014 Mustang GT. Okay suspension, The coyote is a good engine, not a fan of the 4.6. He drove the 2008 with snow tires, didn't drive the 2014.

Either one is going to be exactly what you expect. Pick the one you like, and buy it.

racerfink said:

My sister had to throw bags of sand in the back of her S10 2wd pick up when it snowed in Colorado.

Compared to the s10, the Mustang has a better weight distribution, better chassis/suspension, and a limited slip diff. With snow tires as the op said he'd get, he will have no problems with snow compared to a 2wd S10. I enjoyed driving my Miata in the snow with snow tires it's not bad at all. You can't get worse than a 2wd pickup for snow performance. 

If not having a V8 isn't a deal-breaker, the V6 models of each are plenty quick.  I think 2011-2012 should be the 3.7 in the Mustang, rented a 2013 with the V6 and was pleasantly surprised.  As others have said, pick the one you like and buy it. 

Yes, test drive both.  If you need to use a car seat test fit it too. Snow won't be an issue with proper snow tires and some ballast in the trunk. Everyone drove rear drive V8 cars until the 80s and survived just fine.

Also, there is an All Wheel Drive V6 Challenger.  Roughly 300hp, and definitely more backseat room than either the Mustang or Camaro.

dculberson said:

racerfink said:

My sister had to throw bags of sand in the back of her S10 2wd pick up when it snowed in Colorado.

Compared to the s10, the Mustang has a better weight distribution, better chassis/suspension, and a limited slip diff. With snow tires as the op said he'd get, he will have no problems with snow compared to a 2wd S10. I enjoyed driving my Miata in the snow with snow tires it's not bad at all. You can't get worse than a 2wd pickup for snow performance. 

Most small front wheel drive cars are far worse than a 2wd pickup. I drove an S10 for 10 years, then a Colorado for 12 and never had to do that

The visibility issue on the camaros is a deal breaker for me. If it isnt a big deal, you'll be fine, but i found it to be awful.  i had a camaro ss as a rental and while it was certainly fun, i couldnt see e36 M3. Im a hair under 6' and still couldnt see with my head about touching the roof.  And i felt like a real bob costas driving such a shouty vehicle.  

merging on the highway was a guess. Just floor it and hope no-one is in your huge blind spot. Then i had it in a parking garage with tight curbs(new orleans) and i realized i couldnt see anything in front of the car or on the side.  2 other newer camaro owners I work with both got rid of theirs for the visibility issues. 

You can find Police Package Chargers with a Hemi/AWD combo.

Fitting any kind of car seat into a 2 door Pony car sounds like a nightmare to me, but everybody in my house is tall. Definitely take your seat with you when you go shopping to make sure it fits with everybody in a normal driving position, and also to assess how difficult it might be to get a little one in/out every time you want to go somewhere.

I DD'd a 08 GT convertible for over a year. My commute is a little bit of suburbia streets and stoplights and interstate and not quite 40 miles a day. Power of the GT on the interstate is nicccceeeeee.  My beef with the Mustang was the convertible top had some blind spots, the wheel well gap between the tire and rear fender lip is extreme, and a V8 with an awesome exhaust isn't great on the MPG...

Enter different DD for a year because GRMer.

I'm getting ready to go back to an 05 GT coupe as my DD. #1 It was priced right. #2 I'm working to save for a bigger project.  I'm working on getting all my parts lined up to remove the horrible wheel gap. But I like the GT as a DD. 
 

But...I've never driven the 5.0 (I don't want to because I know I'll want one. Thankfully I don't like the nose on the early 5.0s). And I've never driven the Camaro or Charger. I looked at the Challenger, I like the looks better than the Camaro, but I couldn't find a V8 manual in my cheap price range.

I have been DD a 15 GT since 15 with no issues. The 16 camaro wasn't out yet and I didn't want to buy a last model year car. Either car will be fine for DD duties with snow tires. Drive both and pick the one that you feel more comfortable in. 

If down the road, I decided I wanted to add more power, is either one easier cheaper to get More power out of? 

mw said:

If down the road, I decided I wanted to add more power, is either one easier cheaper to get More power out of? 

LS, nuff said