American Muscle vs. European Coupes

I think it would be interesting to see a comparison between the 2010 SS Camaro, 2010 GT Mustang, 2009 Audi S5 and 2009 BMW 335i Coupe. I know the Camaro / Mustang comparison has been done but to put all these cars together at the same time in the same place and test them would be pretty cool IMHO.

some mag or tv show will do that.

Why not make it a world test and add G37 and Genesis coupe.

I wouldn't have the least bit of interest in comparing the Camaro to an Audi, BMW, Infiniti or Hyundai! To me, it'd be like comparing a bacon cheeseburger to a melon.

I wouldn't have the least bit of interest in comparing the Camaro to an Audi, BMW, Infiniti or Hyundai! To me, it'd be like comparing a bacon cheeseburger to a melon.

Or other assundry sorted melons, to be specific. ;)

My reasoning behind this is to illustrate the value and performance available from American muscle, and how well they perform against similarly configured coupes from what many around the world feel are the top 2 "drivers" car manufactures. Let me be clear, I am NOT one of those people, but I would LOVE to have a magazine compare them so that "those" people might have something to consider / fear the next time they roll up to a new Mustang or Camaro on the street!

And I agree that a world challenge with a 370Z and 3.8 Track Genesis Coupe in the mix would make for a GREAT read!

the bmw 335i would necesarilly be in the same class as the camaro ss. it may be in the v6 class but you would have to compare the m3 to the ss.

the bmw 335i would necesarilly be in the same class as the camaro ss. it may be in the v6 class but you would have to compare the m3 to the ss.

Why woudlnt you compare the 335i to the SS? If I had the means to buy a 335i or M3 I would compare them to the SS 2SS and or future Z28. My brother went with a 4dr 335i and its pretty nice but I couldnt afford it myself. And yes he cross shopped it with a G8, Lexus, Acura, Infinity, amoung others.

The SS doesnt really stack up to the M3. A 335i would be a much better comparison.

The M3 is faster and lighter than the Camaro, and almost definately has better fit and finish (At least I hope so for the money). It should also be more taught around the corners than the Camaro.

The 335i is closer in price and performance and would make a much more realistic competitor.

the m3 may not be the perfect competator for the camaro but its more comparable to the camaro ss than the 335. yes the 335 is probably a very quick car, ill let you know after i drive my grandmas new hard top/vert 335i, but its not in the same catagory as the camaro.

how is it not? how is m3 a better comparison? because of horsepower? 335i is a fine comparison and a better one. goes mostly on prices, if someone is shopping for a camaro i am pretty sure they are not trying for a spendy m3. just cause the 335i is not a muscle car doesnt mean its not the same category.

6' 200 lb 12 year old and a 4'5 90 pound 12 year old are still both in the same class.

how is it not? how is m3 a better comparison? because of horsepower? 335i is a fine comparison and a better one. goes mostly on prices, if someone is shopping for a camaro i am pretty sure they are not trying for a spendy m3. just cause the 335i is not a muscle car doesnt mean its not the same category.

6' 200 lb 12 year old and a 4'5 90 pound 12 year old are still both in the same class.

a new 335i is over 50 grand. how is that not pricey compared to the 35k price tag of a camaro 2ss/rs?????

and the 6' 200lb 12yr old vs a 4'5 90 lb 12 yr old would not be in the same class in wrestling.

a new 335i is over 50 grand.
They start around 40. :think:

the bmw 335i would necesarilly be in the same class as the camaro ss. it may be in the v6 class but you would have to compare the m3 to the ss.
A while back, one of the magazines posted a review of the Corvette Z51, C06 and ZR1, judging which was the best deal for the money. Completely different price ranges and levels of performance.

I'd like to see something similar done for all of the listed cars, price, horsepower, and luxuriousness aside. All of these cars are sporty RWD coupes with a decent bit of horsepower. What if somebody with enough money for any of them but no preconceptions about which brand is "best" wants an honest opinion about how to spend their money?

For the camera guys, I think of this kinda like Ken Rockwell's recommended camera page (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm). In it, he recommends several cameras, ranging in price from ~$100 to ~$5000, saying which ones are best for which people. He gives an overarching recommendation for the Nikon D40, which is far from being the best or fastest camera out there. At $450, it's simply the best for the money. He goes on to say that if you have specific needs, there are better (and more expensive) options.

I'd like the car comparison to end with a similar judgment (including justification) by the writers as to which is the best for the money, and then the specific circumstances under which they feel that certain people would be better off with one of the others.

Im not sure they would want to compare the M3 with the camaro ss.... Ive seen comparisons of the M3 with other higher power and more expensive cars then the M3, yet the M3 still out perform them. It wouldnt be a bad idea, but we know who would come out on the top and it wouldnt be the camaro.

The 335i would also be a good comparison for the camaro ss...

But in reality the camaro ss is in a different class and thats why i think it has nothing to do with European cars. I think it should aim to compete with them, but dont forget its a muscle car, which Europe lacks..

a new 335i is over 50 grand. how is that not pricey compared to the 35k price tag of a camaro 2ss/rs?????

and the 6' 200lb 12yr old vs a 4'5 90 lb 12 yr old would not be in the same class in wrestling.


depends, is that wwe or not :lol:

Im not sure they would want to compare the M3 with the camaro ss.... Ive seen comparisons of the M3 with other higher power and more expensive cars then the M3, yet the M3 still out perform them. It wouldnt be a bad idea, but we know who would come out on the top and it wouldnt be the camaro.

The 335i would also be a good comparison for the camaro ss...

But in reality the camaro ss is in a different class and thats why i think it has nothing to do with European cars. I think it should aim to compete with them, but dont forget its a muscle car, which Europe lacks..

If nothing else I think it would be fun to read about or even see. The reality is someone like me could not afford the 335i Very cool car but not possible. Just as a car guy Id still love to see an honest comparison.

They start around 40. :think:


A while back, one of the magazines posted a review of the Corvette Z51, C06 and ZR1, judging which was the best deal for the money. Completely different price ranges and levels of performance.

I'd like to see something similar done for all of the listed cars, price, horsepower, and luxuriousness aside. All of these cars are sporty RWD coupes with a decent bit of horsepower. What if somebody with enough money for any of them but no preconceptions about which brand is "best" wants an honest opinion about how to spend their money?

For the camera guys, I think of this kinda like Ken Rockwell's recommended camera page (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm). In it, he recommends several cameras, ranging in price from ~$100 to ~$5000, saying which ones are best for which people. He gives an overarching recommendation for the Nikon D40, which is far from being the best or fastest camera out there. At $450, it's simply the best for the money. He goes on to say that if you have specific needs, there are better (and more expensive) options.

I'd like the car comparison to end with a similar judgment (including justification) by the writers as to which is the best for the money, and then the specific circumstances under which they feel that certain people would be better off with one of the others.
once again, good luck finding a bare bones bmw. they are as hard to find as a fully loaded one. they just dont make them like that unless ordered. very rare find. the one my grandma just got was a 335i hard top vert and the sticker was around 52ish.


hey no one said we all had to think the 335 and camaro should be in the same class. because i dont think it should be. you may but i dont think its in the same fields as the camaro

its really not the same class. just comparing cars to cars. in this case it was domestic to foreign.. no reason you cant compare the two and its not impossible to compare. the bmw is just a marked up car thats it. better materials.. technically the same thing. now if they made the same camaro ss and sold it for 50k, im pretty sure it would weigh a lot less, and probably out preform the bmw.

yeah doing a comparisson is fine. i was just stating how they are not in the same class. most car magazines, try to keep the cars in the same class when they do theses comparissons. most of the time.

If nothing else I think it would be fun to read about or even see. The reality is someone like me could not afford the 335i Very cool car but not possible. Just as a car guy Id still love to see an honest comparison.

Yeah that would be cool.. I would like to see that too..