Many know my past history with Mustangs. I was at one point the sales manager at Maximum Motorsports, a Mustang-exclusive suspension manufacturing company. That was many years ago and much has changed in the car scene since. While Challenger has been MIA for years and Camaro was killed off in 2002, the Mustang has lived on since 1964.

I will always have a love for the Mustang, but the original muscle car to win my heart was the 1969 Camaro. My friends Tyson and Brian both owned one in high school. Brian built his from the ground up with retro style, whereas Tyson and I teamed up on making his a modern masterpiece. As a gearhead, when you spend so much time with one car you etch a special place in your heart for it. Having said that, I'm beyond happy to see the Camaro once again on the street.

Why Camaro over the Mustang or Challenger? I actually have several reasons why I say Camaro takes the title of King in this venue:

1. Bang-for-buck
Equipped with the hottest rear-wheel drive global architecture (the Zeta platform) and a sick drivetrain (LS3 V8 Corvette motor and Tremec 6-speed), Camaro comes in first.

2. Price
The meager powered Mustang GT comes in at a $28,845 base price tag and boasts all of 315hp (20 more horses than my 350Z, and 450 pounds heavier!). The Challenger R/T comes in at $30,945 price tag with a 376hp V8. The Camaro SS cruises in at 30,995 punching out 426hp.

3. MPG
Yes, miles-per-gallon! While the Mustang GT averages 15cty/23hwy, the Challenger averages all of 16cty/25hwy and lastly, the top powered Camaro does 16cty/24hwy. That might not sound like much, but ain't bad for over 420horses.

I could go on about why I think it's the better car. They aren't a dime-a-dozen like the Mustang, they don't drive like a luxury car as a Challenger does. Long story short is that this car hits on all cylinders from horsepower, to platform and driveability.

Motor on, Lance