2011 Ford Mustang Vs 2010 Chevrolet Camaro A Mom's Review

2011 Ford Mustang Vs 2010 Chevrolet Camaro A Mom's Review

One of the challenges of being the sole female in a houseful of males is being able to relate to my sons and husband collectively when it comes to favorite hobbies and pastimes. While I enjoy fishing, camping and now even golfing with my husband and kids, I have a hard time sitting still for some of the other things that the males in the household enjoy; take Bear Grylls devouring a rotting sheep on Man Vs. Wild, for example. There is one thing in our family that seems to bring all of us together, however; weekend drives in our Mustang.My husband drives cars the way that old men drive them. Although I'm a woman and the usual stereotypes should apply, they don't. During one last solo trip to visit my mother in MN, after I had driven our 5 year-old Pontiac Grand Prix as though it were in a Grand Prix, it came home dripping steering fluid and had transmission issues. Like a horse that's been ridden hard and put up wet, the workhorse engine in it was almost dead. Simply put, I'm hard on a car.My husband, unhappy that another car was being forced into early retirement because of my double life as a race car driver, decided to look into several options for our next vehicle. Ideally, he was looking for a larger American model with great reviews, good gas mileage, and a sturdy engine that could handle abuse yet had overall curb appeal. A great sound system option was a plus too, after all, we're not dead yet. The new, redesigned version of the Ford Taurus was one of the cars that we were impressed with because it met all of our criteria.Then we got sidetracked.Remembering how our whole family enjoyed drives in the 2011 Ford Mustang convertible rental that we had for a few months last fall, we decided to consider a sportier car in lieu of a sedan. Needless to say, our 6 and 9-year old sons were all in, delighted at the prospect of owning their very own 'Lightening McQueen'.My husband, not unlike many family men ripe for the picking by automobile industry marketers, had long been enticed by the new breed of sports coupes available and more specifically, he liked the refreshed pony cars. The pony car models of today are geared toward the middle-aged family man who has other, more practical vehicles in his fleet, but longs for the days of his youth when muscle cars were king. Marketing companies are quite savvy when it comes to knowing who has a little expendable income lying around these days, and they realize that for the most part, it isn't anyone under the age of 30.Enter my man at stage left.Frothing at the possibility of trading our 4-door Grand Prix workhorse for a shiny new bauble soon became almost more than my husband could bear. Knowing that we already owned the obligatory kid-hauling minivan and that he was eventually going to invest in a sturdy 4x4 for winter, the idea of buying a sports coupe started to seem all the more reasonable. While there are many, probably more "true" sports cars out there, he lusted after the 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro and had loved driving the Mustang last fall.Countering Lee's interest in the Camaros, and reminding him that it was my driving that had served as the original impetus for our search, I implored him to consider a Mustang. I loved the classic feel of the 2011 rental last fall and reveled in how much power there was under the hood. A battle ensued.To humor me, my husband agreed to research both cars. Having already driven a Mustang, I humored him by agreeing to test drive one of the 2010 Camaros. While overall Lee liked it, especially the slick new body-styling and overall approach to the engine redesign, I was less excited about it. While the Camaro is undeniably a sharp looking vehicle to some, I just didn't care for the overall design of the vehicle, both inside and out. The interior felt too cheap and confining and the overworked and contrived body style outside had too much of a caricature muscle feel for my taste; it reminded me too much of Lightening McQueen.There were other issues as well. The Camaro's windshield visibility was abysmal as far as I was concerned-it was like trying to look out of a mailbox slot or tank window-not what I envisioned for Sunday drives with the kids. After all, our intent was that all four of us would be riding in this vehicle-the whole point behind getting a sports coupe was to have something that would feel like a vacation for all of us, even when we weren't on one, and the Camaro simply didn't cut it.Camaros have always been known for having blind spots and poor driver visibility, but the visibility in the 5th generation model was nothing short of ridiculous. The pillars all around were too thick and the rear-view mirror seemed huge in proportion to the windshield. The front seats felt low and claustrophobic and the windshield was so tiny that when looking out of it, the massive hood scoop took up most of the view. While it's an impressive view, it seems like it's the only view, and ended up being a detail that I just couldn't get past. In the back seats, the boys could barely see out of the side windows. It's true that a Camaro convertible would have had a different feel, but the practicality of driving one with the top down all of the time simply wasn't realistic.While I appreciated that the Camaro was designed for true pony car enthusiasts, it wasn't the least bit practical for a family of four. I know that statement is hilarious-after all, what sports coupe is really designed with a family in mind? But for us, we needed to keep that at the forefront of why we were getting it-we intended it as a fun, sporty get-away-from-it-all vehicle that all of us could enjoy, kids included.The 2011 Mustang, by comparison, had a cleaner looking outer-body design that was classic and strong in feel, but not overdone. It had a similar hood scoop that the Camaro maintained, but visibility in the Mustang was better because the seats are set up higher in the vehicle. The back-seat windows were larger and the boys were able to see out of them easily. The retro feel of the interior was well-done and tasteful.Like my husband, I went online to research the two models and was impressed when I came across a video by Consumer Reports. I also looked up other reviews and repeatedly, the Mustang seemed to be the preferred choice. Many of the reviews cited the fact that Ford has had over 30 years to perfect the design, and it shows.By comparison, Chevrolet stopped making the Camaro in 2002 and finally resumed production in 2010. Besides all of the refinement issues, the Mustang is 300 pounds lighter than the Camaro and has better handling, giving it an edge when it comes to speed and maneuverability. The powerful V-6 is excellent on gas mileage at 24/30 MPG considering that the engine boasts 305 HP (which is almost as powerful as previous models of the V8).In short, I felt that the Mustang was the better choice and was relentless about passing that opinion on to my husband. This was, after all, a battle.After having a difficult time finding a Mustang in a package that we both could agree on, Lee finally found one after a month of searching. On the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend we went to check it out, Lee warning me that if we didn't opt for this one he was resorting to a Camaro.Thankfully, it had everything we wanted: V-6 engine, convertible, heavy-duty Shaker stereo system, and leather seats-in a shade of red that practically rips your eyeballs out of your head. In other words, what we looked at was a 2011, V-6 California Premium Package, Mustang Club of America car minus the black stripes (which we didn't care for anyway), a combination that's difficult to find in Wisconsin in the color that we wanted. Mmmmmm.After I reminded my husband that it was Mother's Day weekend and that against the 2010 Camaro, the 2011 Mustang was the car to beat, my husband resigned himself to the Mustang, his heart still panging for the Camaro. With around 10K miles, the soon-to-be-ours Mustang had been the car of a Ford exec in Michigan. With our trade-in, the final price was a steal at 23K, tax, title and license included. Had we bought it brand new, the price would have been around 35K."You're lucky it's Mother's Day" he quipped, vowing that as the Camaro continues to be refined over the next few years, it will be his turn come one Father's Day.We'll see.After all, Ford will have had that much longer to perfect the Mustang too, and I have a pretty good feeling that they will; they sure did a good job on this one.

2011 Ford Focus Review

2011 Ford Focus Review

Inside, the Ford Focus displays tastefully and functionality applied materials. The original dash was replaced with a more traditional design, netting improved storage spaces, better-positioned controls and attractive ice-blue backlighting. Gauge faces are black on the S and white on SE, SES and SEL models, and a dash-top display graces the interior of all models. The large central accent panel, tan or black on S and SE, has an upscale brushed-nickel finish on the SES and SEL. Tall bucket seats provide high-quality comfort and support up front, while the 60/40-split rear bench can handle two average-sized adults or three kids and adds utility to the 13.8 cubic-foot trunk.The exterior design cues used for the 2011 Ford Focus were inspired from the first-generation Fusion and Edge designs, displaying crisp character lines and a chrome bar grille that help align it more closely with other Ford vehicles. Base S models come with 15-inch steel wheels; the SE gets alloy rims of the same size, the SEL variant move up to 16-inchers, and the SES is outfitted with 17-inch painted wheels. Chrome faux side vents add a bit of bling to the front quarter panels of SE, SES and SEL models and the top-line Focus also has body-color door handles and side mirrors and gets a subtle rear decklid spoiler.The Focus S boasts a respectable basic roster of features, including high-efficiency air conditioning, dual 12-volt powerpoints and front, a tilt steering column, front-side and side-curtain airbags. It also includes an AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system with auxiliary audio input, power locks, MyKey programmable vehicle key, remote keyless entry, a five-speed manual transmission, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction and stability control. The SE, SES and SEL trims add power windows, power mirrors and unique alloy wheels (15-inch on SE, 16-inch on SEL and 17-inch on SES). Moving up to the SES and SEL adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise control switchgear, upgraded interior trim, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, fog lamps and the slick SYNC in-car communications system.All models can be fitted with an electrochromic rearview mirror - with or without Homelink and compass - remote starting for cars with automatic transmission and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The SE Rapid Spec Package adds cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls, electrochromic rear-view mirror and SYNC, while the SEL and SES Rapid Spec Package adds the Moon and Tune Package (power moonroof and 190-watt audiophile sound system with six-disc CD/MP3 changer, eight speakers and subwoofer). Other options include factory-installed ambient interior lighting, a four-speed automatic transmission and leather seats (optional on SES, standard on SEL).The Focus offers two variations on the existing 2.0-liter twin-cam Duratec four-cylinder engine. In Federal form, the engine makes 140 horsepower whether it's paired with the standard five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. The "California-spec" engine, mandated in five states, makes only 132 horsepower but qualifies for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) status. While both engines get similar fuel economy numbers in the city, the manual gearbox raises the official highway number from 34 to 35 mpg.

2011 Ford Fiesta - Class Leading Amenities

2011 Ford Fiesta - Class Leading Amenities

Class leading Ford Fiesta is now available stateside. The subcompact Ford Fiesta is a global car, sold by the Ford Motor Company in markets all around the world. During summer 2010, Ford made the car available to North American drivers, utilizing a Mexican factory to build its B segment model.Available in four-door hatchback or four-door sedan, the Ford Fiesta has effectively raised the bar for the subcompact segment by offering a car that is better equipped and offering best-in-class fuel economy. Indeed, the Ford Fiesta SFE, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission gets 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway.Important FeaturesFord says that the Fiesta includes 15 class-exclusive features, appointments which add a level of convenience, even luxury, not found in a car of this class. Those features include a six-speed automatic transmission, ambient lighting package, seven standard airbags, optional leather seating surfaces, push button start, perimeter alarm and other touches. Chief competitors including the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris are lacking in these departments.The 2011 Ford Fiesta's1.6-liter engine features Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) providing effective throttle response, performance and flexibility. Elasticity found in the new drive belt design does away with a belt tensioner and is an important contributor in fuel economy.Fiesta TransmissionsThe standard five-speed manual transmission features gear ratios chosen to provide robust off-the-line performance and extraordinary fuel economy for the driver wanting to maximize his driving experience. The six-speed automatic transmission in no slouch in that compartment either, providing ample power though no optional paddle shifters. Expect the latter to show up in the future as customer demand warrants it.Ford SYNC, first introduced to the 2008 Ford Focus compact, is available and improved too. SYNC incorporates a driver's mobile phone with the car's onboard, voice-activated communications and entertainment system. This technology, when available, is usually found on more luxurious models.The 2011 Ford Fiesta also features keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and adjustable cup holders to accommodate large and small containers alike.Smartly PricedBase models offer a sticker price just below $14,000 which is competitive to what other cars in this class start at. But, the Ford Fiesta is better equipped, offering features which are optional or unavailable from Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia. Advantage Ford in price, packaging and style, attributes that will not be lost on customers shopping for a subcompact car.

1964 Ford Thunderbolt - The Holy Grail of Muscle Cars

1964 Ford Thunderbolt - The Holy Grail of Muscle Cars

In 1963 the Ford Motor Company created a lighter weight Galaxie coupe to compete in the factory experimental and super stock class races. The company essentially dropped the massive 427 under the hood. Even with all that power the Galaxie couldn't keep up with the smaller Plymouths and Dodges. So, for 1964, Ford placed the 427 into the midsized Fairlane and created the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt was both race ready with a few modifications and also street legal.Few people have ever driven the 1964 Ford Thunderbolt or even laid eyes on it for that matter. It was only produced for one year and no more. Modifications were done to the front in order to custom fit the big block 427. The manifold was elevated and a a tear drop shaped hood bubble was added to allow the machine to breathe. The 1964 Ford Thunderbolt used the Hurst Shifter with a four speed transmission. It also came with an automatic transmission if desired.The 500hp Thunderbolts were given to race car professionals who immediately put them to use destroying the competition in races around the country in 1964. The first eleven Thunderbolts were painted burgundy while the next 100 or so were painted Wimbledon white. They were manufactured to race in super stock and stock drag competitive races. At the same time Ford was making the lighter weight Galaxies for the racing circuit too. In 1964, Ford dominated the stock car racing circuit with the two cars. However, in 1965 the NHRA mandated that car makers produce 500 cars of a particular car in order to qualify for the stock car races. Ford halted production of both the Galaxie and the 1964 Ford Thunderbolt.Finding a 1964 Ford Thunderbolt is like looking for the Holy Grail to some fans of stock car racing. A few have surfaced and been sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, for a long time, the Thunderbolt did not get the recognition and respect that other GM muscle cars received. This has begun to change in recent years leading the higher sale prices. The 1964 Galaxie lightweights are very rare, indeed. Fewer than 50 of these cars were ever built in 1963. 100 1964 Ford Thunderbolts were produced in the factory. Fewer still survive. In 2009, one thunderbolt sold for more than 200,000 dollars.

1962 Ford Falcon

1962 Ford Falcon

The Ford Falcon was produced by the Ford Motor Corporation between 1960 and 1970 and it originally was a great success for the company. Compared with other compact cars of the day, it was offered in a great selection of trim levels and body styles, making it one of the most customizable cars. It is also important to note that the Falcon name was also used on the original lineup of Ford's Econoline Vans. The 1962 Ford Falcon is part of the original generation produced from 1960 to 1963, which are possibly the most popular model years as well.Once Ford realized that there actually was a market for smaller cars, they quickly began production of the Falcon. The biggest competitors for the car were the Chevy Corvair, Studebaker Lark and AMC Rambler. Perhaps the thing that set Ford apart from the other manufacturers was that they still had the ability to produce reliable cars at a very affordable price. The Falcon could be purchase for practically less than any other, and came with a great selection of features.Body styles available for the 1962 Ford Falcon include a 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan, 3 door station wagon, 5 door station wagon, 2 door hardtop, 2 door convertible, 2 door pickup truck, and a 2 door sedan delivery. With 7 different body styles to choose from it is no wonder that these cars became very popular, there was virtually a model for any need. The available engines could be mismatched between cars, along with the available features for the interior. Most suspension systems and other features were streamlined as to be available on all models as well.Engines offered include a 2.4 liter inline six cylinder engine (245 cu in), a 2.8 liter inline 6 cylinder, along with a 4.3 liter V8 engine (260 cu in). Most of the smaller 2 door and 3 door models were equipped with the smaller inline 6, except for the convertible which came with the option of a larger engine. The larger vehicles with 4 or 5 doors and the delivery model usually came with the option of the larger inline 6, or the V8 option. The transmission included a 2 speed automatic, 3 speed manual, and a 4 speed manual.The '62 model year also saw the introduction of the Squire model of the 4 door station wagon. This was the beginning of the typical wood paneled wagon which became a part of American history. Also available was the Futura model which was a slightly fancier version of the 1962 Ford Falcon. Inside owners got upgraded upholstery, factory installed safety belts, unique body emblems, and a set of different body trims. Most models were redesigned so that they would be more similar to that of a Thunderbird. Another model available was the 2 door Futura Sedan "Illusion Hardtop" which used only a flat rear window with chrome trim.While the Ford Falcon was very popular immediately after its creation, by the end of the decade it quickly became outdated. Nonetheless it still remain an important part of American history and has been sough after by many enthusiasts. The popularity and large scale production back in the 60's makes finding original parts relatively easy. Buyers looking to restore an old car may want to consider one of the many Falcon models.

1956 Mercury Montclair

1956 Mercury Montclair

The Mercury Montclair, a full sized automobile, was available as a two door hardtop, convertible and phaeton four door hardtop sedans. It had a length of 206.3 inches, a wheelbase of 119 inches and it weighed anywhere from 3,490 pounds to 3,725 pounds. It could be purchased brand new for between $2,600 and $2,900 depending on what options the buyer was interested in.A Premium AutomobileIntroduced by the Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Company in 1955, the Mercury Montclair was advertised as part of Mercury's premium automobile line. Ford historians aren't fully sure where the moniker, Montclair, came from but the general consensus is it is taken from an upper class community of Montclair, New Jersey. The 1956 Montclair was manufactured with some of Mercury's best features which included dual chrome outside rear view mirrors, a dual exhaust, fender skirts and extra chrome trim. It also had various two tone paint combinations. This was probably the best noted feature of the Montclair because the use of contrasting color panels, which ran under the side windows, set the Mercury Montclair apart from their other vehicle lines.Sleek and PowerfulThe 1956 Mercury Montclair included all of Mercury's evolutionary engineering. The '56 Mercury Montclair included factory air, which was a new option in Mercury vehicles as of 1955. The '56 Montclair also offered an "on-demand" low-gear kickdown for an extra cost with Mercury's three speed "Merc-O-Matic" automatic transmission. The "Merc-O-Matic" was actually Ford's first automatic transmission, which was introduced in 1950. In general the transmissions were given the name Ford-O-Matic but when a Mercury vehicles was marketed, it was given the moniker Merc-O-Matic.The 1956 Mercury Montclair was no slouch when it came to power. It had a large V-8 engine with plenty of horsepower: There were two options available for the 1956 Mercury Montclair:

225hp 312 c.i. V-8

335hp 312 c.i. V-8 with a 4 barrel carburetor

In terms of what type of Mercury Montclair was produced in 1956, here is the actual production breakdown:

Convertible: 7,762

Hardtop Sport Coupe: 50,562,

Phaeton Hardtop Sedan: 23,493

The hardtop sport coupes were produced the most while the convertibles were fairly limited in production in 1956.Since the Montclair was a premium Mercury vehicle, the interior would have sported upholstery that was comprised of leather and vinyl.A Real Collector CarOverall, the 1956 Mercury Montclair was a car with burly good looks with a bit of flash. It had a V-8 engine that was modern for the time and powerful. It has been a somewhat under appreciated model, so it can be hard to find the '56 Mercury Montclair as they are fairly scarce. This has made it a real collector car with a rapidly rising collector value. You have to be careful though, if you are looking to find one of these and restore it, as the parts can be as difficult to find as the cars themselves.

1939 Ford Convertible Project - PART 3

1939 Ford Convertible Project - PART 3

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