Home » The Beater Version Of The Classic Pony Car Rivalry: 1999 Ford Mustang vs 2000 Chevy Camaro

The Beater Version Of The Classic Pony Car Rivalry: 1999 Ford Mustang vs 2000 Chevy Camaro

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Welcome back to Shitbox Showdown! Today we’re going to look at one of the great all-time rivalries, right up there with Coke vs. Pepsi, Cardinals vs. Cubs, and David Lee Roth vs. Sammy Hagar. But first let’s see which car won yesterday’s lengthy battle:

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Well, that’s the long and the short of it. The bar graph is the opposite of the overall lengths, and the little Chevy Sprint is our winner. I do like the idea of building a twin-engined all-wheel-drive monster out of the two cars the seller was parting with; It seems like a noble amd terrifying way to die.

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Ford introduced the world’s second pony car, the Mustang, on April 17, 1964 (Waitaminnit! Second, you say? Yes, Plymouth beat them to market by two weeks with the Barracuda). [Editor’s Note: Mark, a Barracuda is a fish. The entire concept of “Pony Car” came from the Mustang, which, per all the scientific equine research papers I’ve been reading, is basically a pony. -DT]. It was an immediate success, and left crosstown rival GM without a competing vehicle for a couple of years, until September 29, 1966, when Chevy unveiled the Camaro. When asked what a “Camaro” was, a GM product manager replied, “A small vicious animal that eats Mustangs.”

And they’ve been at each other’s throats ever since.

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For a long time, used Camaros and Mustangs were performance car bargains, a good way to get some cheap thrills in a reasonably stylish package (sometimes more stylish, sometimes less, depending on the era). But now that early examples of both cars are considered classics, and even the ’80s Fox-body Mustangs and third-generation Camaros are starting to creep up in price, kicks just keep getting harder to find, as the old song goes. [Editor’s Note: I have no idea which song Mark is referring to, here. -DT]

But at the moment, twenty-something-year-old examples of either car are right at the bottom of their depreciation curve, so there are still some to be found for our meager budget. We’ll have to settle for six-cylinders; V8s either don’t run or cost too much. Let’s take a look at one of each.

Ride, Sally, Ride – 1999 Ford Mustang – $2,495

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Engine/drivetrain: 3.8 liter V6, 5 speed manual, RWD

Location: Tacoma, WA

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Odometer reading: 216,000 miles

Runs/drives? We can assume

This is a fourth-generation Mustang, the first year of the “New Edge” refresh. Like all Mustangs before it, and quite a few after, it’s about as complicated a machine as a C-clamp. Sit down, stomp on the right pedal, do something antisocial. While not as raucous as its V8-powered stablemates, the 3.8 liter “Essex” V6 in this car received a serious power bump for 1999, up to 190 horses. Particularly when backed by a T-5 manual as in this car, it can still manage some mischief. But it’s also tractable enough to drive every day.

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And personally, I think the New Edge Mustang is a sharp-looking car, much better than the blobby mess that preceded it. This one looks well-used, but reasonably well-kept. It’s got a lot of miles, and coming from a buy-here-pay-here lot, probably not much written history.

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Inside, a cheap parts-store seat cover and some missing cruise control buttons on the steering wheel show the miles, but it could be a lot worse. You could probably rely on this car as a daily driver, if an inspection didn’t turn up any surprises.

Donuts On Your Lawn – 2000 Chevrolet Camaro – $2,250

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Engine/drivetrain: 3.8 liter V6, 4 speed automatic, RWD

Location: Houston, TX

Odometer reading: 104,000 miles

Runs/drives? Great, according to the seller

Camaros always seem to end up one notch scruffier than Mustangs. I don’t know if it’s because they get driven harder, or cared for less well, or if GM’s materials just get grubby-looking faster than Ford’s. But looking at this Camaro, compared to the Mustang above, you’d never guess it had half as many miles on it.

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Mechanically, it’s at least as tough, if not tougher. In 1996, GM began using the Buick-derived corporate 3800 V6 as the base engine in the Camaro and sister model Pontiac Firebird, and it was a nice bump in power and refinement from the older 3.4 liter V6. This one is backed by an automatic; I tried to find a manual Camaro so we could compare apples to apples, but no dice.

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This poor Camaro has suffered some questionable modifications, namely the aftermarket taillights and those awful wheels and rubber-band tires. But it’s standard five-lug GM, so you can replace them with just about anything. It has also been booped in the nose, and the seller settled for replacing the bumper skin with a mismatched junkyard unit and leaving the sheetmetal damage alone.

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Still, it’s intact and drivable, and if the seller is to be believed, runs really well. And like the Mustang, the Camaro is designed and intended to be “just a car,” not some precious exotic plaything. You can use a Camaro as your only car if you want; it will carry groceries as well as any minivan, and the six-cylinder models even get reasonable gas mileage. Sure, some plastic stuff will break, but the basic core of the car is stout.

Really, these two cars are almost interchangeable, except for a little brand loyalty. The Mustang is a little smaller and sportier; the Camaro has a hatchback and a bit more bad-boy reputation. Which one suits you better?

QuizMaker

Images: Sellers
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The Stigs Misanthropic Cousin
The Stigs Misanthropic Cousin
2 years ago

The Camaro is horrid. The wheels look ridiculous (and probably ride like a Roman chariot), the interior looks like it hasn’t been vacuumed since the early 90s (and yes, I’m aware it is a 2000), half of the body panels are damaged and/or falling off, and the aftermarket tail lights look like they should sell for $4 on whatever the Kentucky version of Craigslist is. All together, that car looks like it is owned and driven by a mildly successful meth dealer who likes to sample his product. That Camaro should be burned, although I’d recommend not inhaling the smoke.

I’d go for the Mustang.

Sid Bridge
Sid Bridge
2 years ago

This was a coin toss – The Mustang does look cared for, but only because it’s from a dealership. There’s a good chance it looked a lot like the Camaro before it got detailed.

Weren’t we going to get “Triumph Spitfire” as a permanent third option? I would vote for that.

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
2 years ago
Reply to  Sid Bridge

Or TR6, or MGB, or any 3rd option really…

PaysOutAllNight
PaysOutAllNight
2 years ago
Reply to  Sid Bridge

Are you trying to lock in my vote?

Rjs2005
Rjs2005
2 years ago

1. We are polar opposites where SN95 Mustangs are concerned- I greatly prefer the 94-98’s, especially the early ones with the Windsor 5.0L.
2. Generally, I’d choose the F-body over the Stang, although I’ve owned a couple ’69 fastbacks and consider that to be among the most beautiful of all pony cars.
3. In this comparo though, the Mustang wins hands-down. Manual equipped over the snore-inducing 4L60E, not to mention the Camaro looks like it’s a hurricane refugee. Not that I’d want that V6 pony, but it’s a much better option than the Camaro.

wotsac
wotsac
2 years ago

There was a cheaper Camaro with a stick in the Seattle CL yesterday I think (could have been a couple days ago, this has been a hellacious week). It had a misfire though, and I’m looking at pictures of the engine bay and remembering how famously bad it is to change the plugs on those.

Stang all the way.

rootwyrm
rootwyrm
2 years ago
Reply to  wotsac

Oh come on, you just have to drop the engine out the bottom. It’s easy!

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago

Mustang easily.

Everyone’s covered the main points already, but I’d add that the base Mustangs of the era had basically the same running gear as the GTs minus the powertrain. And possibly the sounds badass but isn’t really “quadra shock” setup at the back.

Big thing here then is the brakes.

Ruizing
Ruizing
2 years ago

I would much rather have a 200k mile car that was daily driven than a 100k mile car that was treated like that Camaro. To paraphrase John Hiatt: She lived 10 lifetimes in 20 years, anywhere the law would allow.

Gestalty Bitch
Gestalty Bitch
2 years ago

A rap-metal meltdown of iron here. I’d rather walk.

CatMan
CatMan
2 years ago

EZ win for the Mustang today, and probably a favorite for the weekly prize

r1ma78
r1ma78
2 years ago

That Camero looks rough. The mustang looks decent. That an manual sold it if I’m forced to buy one.

VicVinegar
VicVinegar
2 years ago

That Camaro looks ready for the junkyard. You’d also have to undo whatever is going on with the wheels/suspension.

The Mustang is a shitbox, but looks great compared to that Camaro. Both have a shitty V6, so rather have the MT than the slushbox.

ophidia
ophidia
2 years ago

I got me a bitchin’ Camaro, with no insurance to match. So if I have to run ya down, please don’t leave a scratch!

That being said, I voted Mustang.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago

Ford guy since I started wrenching, but even if I wasn’t that Camaro looks too rough to want to take on.
Plus, manual always wins out over automatic.

TomMetcalf
TomMetcalf
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

The seats on that Camaro will probably give you syphilis.

Anti Autopian
Anti Autopian
2 years ago

“… these two cars are almost interchangeable”. Sorry, no. And so far, the poll backs me up. If you had found a stick, maybe.

chad Face
chad Face
2 years ago

I reluctantly voted for the stang and I’m not happy about it. That generation of Mustang is the main reason I am not attracted American made cars. Everything about it is terrible, the interior is ugly and cheap, handles and rides like poo, the styling is ugly at best, and it ain’t fast. They are peak rich high school kid whose parents bought them a new car and they think it’s the shit because they know nothing about cars. But it’s better than the clapped out slushbox camaro.

Thanks for ruining my morning

Citrus
Citrus
2 years ago

The Mustang looks like an entirely reasonable beater or first car for a teenager.

The Camaro looks like you’ve reached rock bottom.

MustangIIMatt
MustangIIMatt
2 years ago

The Mustang, hands down.

But… only because I have a 4.6 4v, TR3650, and V8 crossmember to swap into it sitting in storage.

Icouldntfindaclevername
Icouldntfindaclevername
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Tucker

3. Al Green, Ride Sally Ride.
4. Mark Rice, Mustang Sally.

samba00
samba00
2 years ago

5. Dead Milkmen, Bitchin’ Camaro

rootwyrm
rootwyrm
2 years ago
Reply to  samba00

6. mid-00’s mega-size band Bang Camaro.

Deuce
Deuce
2 years ago
Reply to  rootwyrm

7. Kings of Leon – Camaro

That being said, I voted ‘stang.

SerialThriller
SerialThriller
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Tucker

I was going to comment on “Camero” in the poll, but in this case it seems appropriate.

Citrus
Citrus
2 years ago
Reply to  SerialThriller

Shame it doesn’t come with a Manuel transmission.

Iain Delaney
Iain Delaney
2 years ago

Yeah, third day in a row I want a ‘None of the Above’ option. The Mustang has that horrible solid rear axle and ‘just’ a V6, and the Camaro has so many issues I don’t know where to start.

TomMetcalf
TomMetcalf
2 years ago
Reply to  Iain Delaney

Solid axles aren’t that bad. Between my two Jeeps, I have 4 solid axles.

LarsVargas
LarsVargas
2 years ago
Reply to  Iain Delaney

Well, this series IS called “Shitbox Showdown” so the title should clue you in that the desirability factor is likely to be very low or even zero.

So really, it’s about which shit sandwich will make you gag less, not which one you really want to eat.

redfoxiii
redfoxiii
2 years ago

All things equal as they’re both v6s, and not being a muscle car fan, manual wins.

dogisbadob
dogisbadob
2 years ago

That Camaro doesn’t even have T-tops! That’s really the only reason you’d buy one of those because it has no other redeeming virtues. Impossible to work on (the engine is under the windshield, not under the hood), Tesla-quality interior, not really a great driving car.

At least the equivalent Firebird has the Monsoon radio and an extra cupholder in the passenger side door (and only the passenger side, not the driver side door for some reason). I don’t know why they didn’t put a cupholder in both doors. it also has different seats with separate headrests.

If it had T-tops, I might have given it more consideration. Therefore, I voted Mustang.

98Z28
98Z28
2 years ago
Reply to  dogisbadob

The 98 did have the Monsoon option. There is cup holder in the center console and swing out for the passenger.

Also T-Tops are great as long as you put the shades on hot sunny days unless you want an EZ-Bake Oven.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  dogisbadob

Nah Sawzall off the roof and you got a convertible.

98Z28
98Z28
2 years ago

This one is tough for me. My username would generally indicate the Camaro. However looking that makes me realize why I won’t let mine go. I don’t want it to end up like that.

The Mustang won for the better shape, with the higher mileage. I will work as is or I can look into a period correct V8 upgrade.

Gilbertwham
Gilbertwham
2 years ago
Reply to  98Z28

Absolutely. The junkyard insanity you could shove in there and the manual make it a no-brainer. Plus, at least the buy here pay here lot appears to have detailed it. That Camaro needs a wash, poor. Thing.

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  98Z28

Do I remember incorrectly or did the description about the ad not even state the Mustang actually runs? Unless it actually runs I don’t need a car mannequin

JohnTaurus
JohnTaurus
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave Horchak

Lol, yeah, car lots often tow non-running cars around town for pics. They detail them up real nice too!

Dave Horchak
Dave Horchak
2 years ago
Reply to  JohnTaurus

I got one by me that sells parts cars if they are too expensive to fix

DubblewhopperNdubbletrubble
DubblewhopperNdubbletrubble
2 years ago

The Mustang wins today, for me. Just drooling over a 429 being stuffed in the bay.

SergeantDaddy
SergeantDaddy
2 years ago

I’ve owned both (’96 Camaro with the 3.4 POS, 2000 Mustang GT auto and ’04 GT manual). Run, don’t walk, away from the Camaro. I can hear the plastics (body panels and interior) falling apart through the picture. The 3.8 is the only redeemable thing about that car. And with the V6 Mustang, only small trees and crowds of children will be in danger at a C&C event.

AngryBob_VA
AngryBob_VA
2 years ago

I like them both, but I’d take the Mustang for it’s manual transmission. And the Camaro looks donk-ified. They don’t normally ride that high. But no V8s, I cried! Then I thought about spending $25 to fill up my *motorcycle* this morning. Suddenly a V6 is more appealing.

If either of those were sitting on my neighbors lawn, surrounded by empty beer cans, with a for sale sign in the window, it would be mine.

projectdave
projectdave
2 years ago

No and uh…..No. If I had the time and money to waste I’d V10 the mustang and Turbo 4 the camaro, you know, just to piss people off for fun.

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