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What Will It Take For the Mustang To Overtake the Camaro in Sales?
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Posted On: 5/6/2011 10:10AM
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In April, the Camaro lead the Mustang in sales for the fourth consecutive month. Chevy moved 10,852 units vs. Ford's 8,180 (and Dodge sold just 3,617 Challengers). Now, a lot of people were expecting the Camaro to sell better than the Mustang when it was first introduced, simply because it was new and there hadn't been a Camaro on the market for many years. But it seems to be maintaining and perhaps even building on its lead. What gives? What's it gonna take for the Mustang to get back on top? Are we going to have to wait until 2014?

Photo: Greg’s 700hp Camaro.

Comments (35)
Avatar By: SouthernGuy8503
5/6/2011 10:45 AM

Well even though I'm a Chevy guy I do like Fords and Dodge, so I do like the Mustang to. The Camaro hasn't even come out with the ZL1 and I have a feeling they will release a Z28 version in a year. Only downfall I see with the Camaro (only 5'9" so headroom and so on isn't a real issue) is the weight. If they can make it at least close to the Mustang the Camaro will dominate having a bigger engine (same HP with now but bigger engine means it has more room for aftermarket improvement) and IRS.

 
Avatar By: StreetsideStig
5/6/2011 11:32 AM

A better Transformer.

 
Avatar By: Katakuna
5/6/2011 11:40 AM

@southernguy8503 A bigger engine also means it can hold speed much easier. There's a reason an STi or an Evo can't go as fast even though it puts out close to the same amount of power as a Camaro might.

 
Avatar By: tm1987
5/6/2011 11:48 AM

The mustang should drop a little in price, put the ole 8.8 solid axle back in the rear. I also think they should make it more of a fast back and 67-70 mustang styling.

 
Avatar By: SouthernGuy8503
5/6/2011 12:06 PM

What would be a bad ass sight would be at the zMAX Dragway in Charlotte NC. It's a 4 wide dragstrip that NHRA just started to go to. Would be bad ass to see a Chevy Camaro, Ford Mustang and a Dodge Challenger all equally matched as close as they can get them and going down the track at the same time. Then to fill the 4th spot on the track maybe putting a Top Fuel dragster or Funny Car just for kicks.

 
Avatar By: oldsmobile1000
5/6/2011 3:03 PM

1000 hp and sick aluminum rims.

 
Avatar By: SuperSilvi
5/6/2011 4:00 PM

Just like southern guy I'm a chevy gearhead and I have been looking into getting one of these since they came out. I test drive all three and to me again to me the dodge challenger looks the best but looks cheap on the inside. It has almost the same interior as there other models. The mustange has the most room and a better ride than the camaro and you can see out of it better but it felt more like a ford focus than a pony car. The Camaro makes you feel bada$$ when you drive it. Plus there are no bad angles on the car at all. And from a mechanics view the engine bay is clean it looks I can fix it if I had to and there are ask loads of parts for that engine that a quick look through a jeggs mag and you'll have a bad ask engine in no time as well as the added benefit that I won't have to put a four link in it because its fully independent. IMO

 
Avatar By: ___nes___
5/6/2011 6:08 PM

The mustang needs to step up on the image department, the Camaro looks mean like a muscle car is supposed to, while the mustang looks good it doesn't look mean or that different from the '05. So yeah probably people are waiting for a more innovative redesign.

 
Avatar By: subcero
5/6/2011 9:24 PM

I kind of agree with Nes. I like mustangs (shid I got one) but man those camaros are nice.....hands down. They look so dam good. Weight does hold the car back but I think its all about timing. I don't understand why they slightly changed the 05 body style (in the 2010 mustang I believe) and had the same 4.6. Then they came out with the 5.0 with the new bodystyle and they should have just waited. It would have had more impact to change the 05 body style and come out with the 5.0 at the same time because now you have new body style mustangs that have the 4.6 and others with the 5.0. That's just common sense.

 
Avatar By: subcero
5/6/2011 9:32 PM

But like I said, its all on timing. The camaro is the latest and greatest now.......its the newest so its selling a little more but in the end who cares. While the camaro showed up on the first transformers years ago and never came out, the mustang has been taking that money for the past how many years???? So I believe Ford played the game well by coming out early with a solid product then making improvements to still compete with the new camaro and still take from their profits. I mean imagine how much money chevy would be making if no new retro mustang was out.

 
Avatar By: DiabloVT007
5/6/2011 9:51 PM

I nevered owned a Camaro; prior to the release of the 5th Gen. But I'm betting the Camaro will be on top for several years to come and with a limited editions coming every six months, and the release of the ZL1 in January, the sales are going to be a lot higher

 
Avatar By: SouthernGuy8503
5/6/2011 10:19 PM

subcero - I agree but in a way GM did sort of get Ford to come up with the retro look idea. Of course Ford was the first one to release the retro look with the Mustang, but it was GM that brought back the GTO years before the '05 Mustang (even though the newer GTO wasn't as successful as they thought). Which I can't say for sure but I honestly think GM releasing a GTO made Ford come up with the retro restyling idea. I'm not saying GM should take that credit, but more of helped Ford some up with that idea. Maybe GM releasing the GTO again a few years back had no impact at all but it's just my personal opinion.

 
Avatar By: fredsmailes
5/6/2011 10:20 PM

Ya better like it or they take another 30 bil outta your pocket!

 
Avatar By: SouthernGuy8503
5/6/2011 10:27 PM

fredsmailes - Last I checked the taxes didn't go up so they rearranged the money, but I guess you'd rather that money have went to people on welfare that won't even look for a job when they're able to work. Also they did pay the money back that they owed the govt. This was a few years ago, let it go. I bet you were one of the people that said GM was going to shut down, doesn't look like the case does it. Just sounds like your cardomain feelings are hurt that the Camaro has been outselling the Mustang and that GM is doing pretty good now. It's not like the Camaro is completely killing the Mustang in sells.

 
Avatar By: BigMike3023
5/6/2011 11:26 PM

I like them all too. I'm still partial to the Mustang since I used to own one, but where I'm from, everybody's got a Mustang. Like Subcero said, the Camaro's the latest and greatest. It's like Hansel, so hot right now ;)

 
Avatar By: Chevyz_Boyz
5/7/2011 9:19 AM

wats with all the spam

 
Avatar By: Apex Elite
5/7/2011 1:26 PM

NES said it.

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 9:27 PM

Consumer logic

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:17 PM

But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I LOVE how versatile the Camaro is, and with help from the aftermarket it can represent any individuals ideology. It can be put into any category, and any genre.

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:17 PM

The Camaro is form over function, and honestly all smoke, and mirrors. Every bit of information GM has released about the car has been falsified.

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:17 PM

Although I have not driven the 2010-2011 Mustangs. I have driven, and have to look at the NEW Camaro’s everyday at work. I am a GM employee who loves Mustangs. Actually working at a GM dealership made me fall in love with Mustangs. (It’s not a jab at anyone just my opinion, and a fact.)

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:17 PM

(This is my opinion formulated in the most un-bias opinion I can achieve).

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:18 PM

To sum it up in, the best way I can this debate is like Black Sabbath. The Mustang is like Dio, and the Camaro is like Ozzy Osbourne. Everyone knows Dio is a better singer… but Ozzy is better just because he’s not Dio (R.I.P.)

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:18 PM

So does this mean the Mustang, lacks passion? Nope, No it doesn’t; in fact I’m dumb founded as to why every American doesn’t own one. Because IMO it’s the last slice of Americana we have. It’s basically the best product you can get from a muscle car formula, that is better then most over engineered automobiles, with the most sophisticated technology, and represents one of the last mechanical “sports” cars around.

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:18 PM

The Mustang, is an orgy of formula, and routine. Get over your pre conceded notion about why the Mustang doesn’t have a IRS, and embrace the fact. Ford KNOWS it’s mathematically better. What I mean is, in it’s many trim levels, and variations (GT500, 5.0, Boss, Saleen, Roush). It out performs all it’s competitors, is cheaper, and has a better feel.

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:19 PM

Camaro’s are like Mustangs older brother. They’ve always been bigger, faster, stronger. And well the Mustang has grown up is now faster, and stronger. But still isn’t the older brother.

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:19 PM

Or...

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:22 PM

________________________________________________Fuck I tried copying and pasting a arguing statement I prepared paragraph by paragraph, and some of them didn't post

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:23 PM

God this site needs the ability to delete post, and make paragraphs

 
Avatar By: 2digits
5/7/2011 10:23 PM

(This is my opinion formulated in the most un-bias opinion I can achieve). Although I have not driven the 2010-2011 Mustangs. I have driven, and have to look at the NEW Camaro’s everyday at work. I am a GM employee who loves Mustangs. Actually working at a GM dealership made me fall in love with Mustangs. (It’s not a jab at anyone just my opinion, and a fact.) The Camaro is form over function, and honestly all smoke, and mirrors. Every bit of information GM has released about the car has been falsified. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I LOVE how versatile the Camaro is, and with help from the aftermarket it can represent any individuals ideology. It can be put into any category, and any genre. The Mustang, is an orgy of formula, and routine. Get over your pre conceded notion about why the Mustang doesn’t have a IRS, and embrace the fact. Ford KNOWS it’s mathematically better. What I mean is, in it’s many trim levels, and variations (GT500, 5.0, Boss, Saleen, Roush). It out performs all it’s competitors, is cheaper, and has a better feel. So does this mean the Mustang, lacks passion? Nope, No it doesn’t; in fact I’m dumb founded as to why every American doesn’t own one. Because IMO it’s the last slice of Americana we have. It’s basically the best product you can get from a muscle car formula, that is better then most over engineered automobiles, with the most sophisticated technology, and represents one of the last mechanical “sports” cars around. To sum it up in, the best way I can this debate is like Black Sabbath. The Mustang is like Dio, and the Camaro is like Ozzy Osbourne. Everyone knows Dio is a better singer… but Ozzy is better just because he’s not Dio (R.I.P.) Or… Camaro’s are like Mustangs older brother. They’ve always been bigger, faster, stronger. And well the Mustang has grown up is now faster, and stronger. But still isn’t the older brother. Which again baffles me the Mustang is: the Innovator, the Original, the O.G. the Mecca, the Real McCoy; the Mustang is the one you all should love; ideally But ignorance is bliss, instead of using numbers, and facts. People believe an amazing marketing ploy by GM, and establishing the Chevy brand in the hearts of many. While spreading rumours of Fords;; everyone can think of at least 3 (FORD- Found, On, Road, Dead). IMO Ford has just shaken off that stigma recently as North America has started to get enlightened. I personally think that Ford has always been ahead of the curve, and due to poor sales numbers had to comprise, until they compromised so much that. They started to innovate again this go around there timing was perfect, and people took notice. Not really they were just upset at the bailout, and decided to pick up a book for a change, and actually learned something.

 
Avatar By: waynesgarage
5/8/2011 6:11 AM

The Mustandg and the Camaro are like two dueling masters of the arts. The only different is the Mustang has heart.

 
Avatar By: Fordguy66
5/8/2011 12:47 PM

Some people are desperate to get on that top commenters list. I think it all comes down to the fanboys. I remember a video of some dude testing these 3 cars down at the track, V6 and V8s. The Mustang was the lightest, fastest, best handling, and cheapest of them all. Regardless, if you're a Camaro fan boy(lets just say you plan on getting a base model V6) you're not going to back down and get a Mustang over $700... If we still had monetary value from 1967 and that was the price difference, I'm sure the Mustang would be outselling the Camaro by miles.

 
Avatar By: SuperSilvi
5/8/2011 3:15 PM

Regarding the price difference thing. In order to get a good mustange you got to add an ask load of options. For instance the 5.0 mustange is an option you can still get the regular gt with the 315hp. This is one thing that makes me a little angry when dealing with mustanges is that there are too many options. You have the v6 the v6 preimium package the mustange c500 or gs which is an apperance package. The mustange gt the shelby gt the shelby gt 500 and many more. But some may want all that but when buying a car I want to be in and out as quickly as possible.

 
Avatar By: 72GMCCUSTOM
5/8/2011 8:24 PM

im saying the mustang will just have to get use to seeing camaro tailights until a new redesign for the 50th anniversary in 2014. Also camaro will soon go to a smaller format in the near future as well so we will have to see.

 
Avatar By: PIchillin456
5/8/2011 8:39 PM

The fact that the Camaro is outselling the Mustang must be due to styling alone. The Mustang is just an all around better car. The Camaro is too damn heavy for it's own good which brings down fuel economy, speed, and handling. The Camaro's design is mean but not practical. Honestly though I think that the Mustangs design is more mature. I have no brand loyalty so I feel like this is a totally unbiased perspective. I'd take a Mustang any day over the Camaro until it get's lighter and more practical.

 

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