Aron9000

We can talk all day about classic Chevelles, GTO's, 442, Hemi Belvederes and other relics from the 1960's. Quite frankly I wasn't born until 1984 and didn't get my driver's license until 2000, so I have no first hand experience with those old classics, driving them every day.

Anyways, getting back on topic, what is your favorite muscle car from the "fuel injected" era, ie anything post 1986ish to the present. I really do love the styling of the optioned to the hilt 3rd gen F-car, ie the IROC Camaro and Trans Am GTA. Beautiful cars, and when equipped with the "L98" 350 Chevy V8 engine option, were faster than the Mustang GT. Very few were so equipped, while Ford made the good decision of making every V8 Mustang fast, with the standard multi-port fuel injected 5.0 liter V8, which mopped the floor with GM's intermediate 305/5.0 V8 options.

Perhaps my favorite f-body, other than a few choice years of the 2nd gen models, is the 1998-02 Camaro Z28, Camaro SS, Firebird Formula, and Trans Am. All alumium LS1 V8 was standard, at a very under-rated 305hp. This was one of the fastest cars you could get your hands on in 1998, a $21,000 stripper Camaro Z28 runs a similar quarter mile time to a mid-engined V8 Ferrari 355. Just stupidly fast for its time.

Anyways, I owned two of these beasts. A 1999 Z28 Camaro t-top, automatic, owned it for almost 5 years as a daily driver. As much as people harp on the build quality, this thing was reliable and didn't squeak/rattle. My buddies 2003 Acura RSX rattled A LOT more by comparison, had the leather seats split, and parts on the interior fall off compared to my Camaro, which still looked pretty much new inside except for the driver's seat bolster. Anyways I loved this generation of Camaro and Trans Am. Enough so that I bought a 1998 Camaro Z28 convertible, this time with the six speed manual. Didn't like the manual trans as much as the auto, clutch was aftermarket and brutally heavy, shifter was a bit vague and required a heavy arm as well.

Another thing I love about these cars was the styling. I love that stupid low front grill/bumper, the radically raked windshield, the low stance and roof line, it looks like you're riding in some sort of low slung super-car. Reminds me of the Jaguar XJ220, comparison pic of my car lol






Anyways, post up your favorite "late model" muscle cars. Personally for newer stuff I can't stand the new Camaro, ever since they came out with it in 2010. The Mustang has finally caught my attention since they put a real V8 in it back in 2012, with the introduction of the 5.0 DOCH motor. Great looking car as well. But really I like what Dodge has done more than anybody with the Challenger and Charger sedan. Both just look absolutely mean and *****ing. Main thing is they can be had with 3 different V8's for a reasonable $30kish new all the way up to the bonkers 707hp Hellcat.

mmarshall

I'll have to say the Dodge Charger R/T and/or SRT-8. It narrowly beats out the second-place, Holden-designed Chevy SS sedan (despite the Chevy's better build-quality and fit/finish) because of the Charger's classic retro-paint-colors and, on some versions, the availability of AWD. (the Ford Taurus SHO comes with AWD, but is not quite what I'd consider a true muscle car). Despite the added weight and drag (which admittedly cuts down on some of the performance), IMO AWD is worth it, particularly if you are going to drive in slick roads in the wintertime. I have owned a number of RWD cars (even with electronic traction aids and winter-acceptable tires), and have simply not been impressed with how they drive on slippery roads.



Fortunately, having grown up in that era, I was able to do more then just talk.

Lurker9

Challenger HC for sure. Now that there are discounts available, I need to decide between the auto or 6 MT.

Och

iTrader: (3)

94-96 Chevy Impala - a muscle sedan.

2KHarrier

2016 Focus RS is pretty cool, but not really what your looking for. So how about the early Taurus SHO. It was actually a pretty quick car.

Coleroad

It's amazing how quick, and how they handle. Problem, I find nothing thrilling about a hatch. Still impressed by its performance though.

Coleroad

This is my favorite modern muscle car, The 5th gen camaro. Muscle cars are great, but they have a weight problem. Takes us back to the Miata thread. I think the light weight tossable cars are more fun to drive. Not that I don't enjoy my camaro.

jadu

iTrader: (42)

I'll always have a place in my heart for the kit (knight rider), bumble bee, and smokey and the bandits fire bird

Byprodrive

iTrader: (1)

Got my 1st car in 1978, a 1971 Firebird Formula, making me a Firebird fan until 1982 when the 3rd gen came out. I owned 7, 67-74 firebirds over the next 15 years. In 1994 I wanted to buy a new Hi-Po convertible.
Waited for Pontiac to get their act together & offer a Firebird/ T/A conv with the highest performance engine & ram air hood. Finally gave up & since I worked @ Saleen bought a Mustang GT 5.0 conv to convert to a Saleen.
I was tempted again in 2002 to buy the last 4th gen special edition Firebird that had all my required hi-po options but couldn't forgive the ugliest windshield wipers ever made on a car or the huge bump in the front passenger floor board.
As for the present: MUSTANG is better than it has ever been! Power,Handling,Looks! Every year is better than before. Camaro looks like a styled brick. Challenger looks just like the original which is a good thing hopefully the quality is far better. Charger has 4-doors, nuff said.

Stroock639

since i discovered it i've been very amused by the Buick Grand National GNX lol, it's just one of those cars that looks like the driver can only be up to no good, not to mention it actually has some decent performance




and i'll throw the 1996 impala SS in here, if this is even considered a "muscle car" but i mostly just like this because my old autoshop teacher ONLY liked to buy mid 90s GM B-bodies (caprice, impala, roadmaster, fleetwood) so i'm never not smiling when i see one of these lol




last but least i'll throw the Marauder in here since it is a "performance car" and after buying a crown hick i gotta at least give this a mention

mmarshall

I test-drove a Marauder, back in the early 2000s, when it first came out. Interesting jet-black looks and trim inside and out, but I felt it was clearly underpowered for a big full-size American muscle-car. The 4.6L, 302 HP Modular-DOHC V8 just didn't cut it dragging that much weight around. IMO it was simply a Grandpa/Grandma Mercury Grand Marquis tarted up somewhat in the looks department with some sport-trim, and more show than go.

Stroock639

hence why i said "last but least"

some reviewer once said the marauder doesn't so much have "character" as it has "attitude" which is a statement i can agree with lol... but yes it's hardly a real effort to make a genuine performance car. doesn't stop it from being unique and interesting, and most likely a future classic

mmarshall

Point taken. Had interesting looks, though.

MattyG

The late 80's early 90's notch-back Mustang 5.0 with the manual transmission was ridiculously fast and I loved its relatively Plain Jane styling. Clean and fast. Nice interior for its day, smooth power train and a legendary name from the muscle car era.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Oh man... I am going to try and then stop. There are so many to list.

In no particular order (note that I am including production model years to include the full Japanese market production run for some models):

1986-1987 Buick Grand National, T-Type and GNX (if you haven't ever driven one you don't know the true joy of mashing the pedal and careening down the road in an evil looking car that could be mistaken for a jet black ballistic refrigerator. And I mean that as a dead serious compliment. I absolutely love Buick GN's and T-Types).
1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am (same 3.8L V6 turbo drivetrain used in the G-Body Regals)
1993-2002 Toyota Supra Turbo 6-speed (any version in any market)
1992-2000 Lexus SC300 (any version with a manual transmission, LSD and a turbo)
1991-2000 Toyota Soarer 2.5GT 5-speed (same as above but with the 1JZ-GTE, preferably a beefed up VVT-i version)
1989-1992 Toyota Supra 2.5 Twin Turbo R 5-speed
1993-2002 Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo 5-speed
1989-2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, R33, R34 and GTS-T RWD 5-speed models (Just pick one. Any version. The 2JZ may be more durable stock for stock but love the RB26 powered cars with a version of the same Getrag 233 aka V161 used in the Supra but in a unique casing for AWD)
1998(?)-2002 Nissan Stagea RB26DETT, AWD, 6-speed manual (basically a full R34 GT-R drivetrain in a big AWD station wagon)
1989-2003 Toyota Chaser (and Mark II) sedan 2.5L turbo models with R154 manuals and LSDs
1984-1986 Ford Mustang SVO
1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R
1999 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra (first year IRS)
2012-13(?) Ford Mustang Boss 302
2016 Ford Mustang GT350/R
90's-2000's Ford Falcon XR8 and Falcon 4.0L I-6 Turbo
2014-2017 Chevrolet SS sedan (really just the ones with factory 6-speed manuals)
2004-2007 Pontiac GTO 5.7 & 6.0 6-speed manual
1992-2017 Dodge Viper (any of them, but especially 1996-1997 GTS Coupe hard tops)
1997-2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6-speed manual with period correct staggered factory Corvette wheels front and rear
1993-2000 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 5.3L V8 twin supercharged, manual transmission (one of the most insanely stupid muscle cars ever made but... how glorious it is)
1992 Vector Aeromotive Weigert W8 Twin Turbo (only seven ever made)
1995 & 1998-2001 Mercedes AMG SL73 roadster (very rare, has a bored out 7.3L 525bhp V12 later used by Pagani Zonda models)
2007-2013 BMW M3 Coupe V8 6-speed manual LSD
1998-2003 BMW M5 6-speed manual LSD (the Chevy SS sedan in 6MT is overall a similar experience and more durable but E39's with manuals are benchmark cars)
1991-1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione V1 & V2 (yes, this is a rally car but it is the king rally car from that era just before Subaru and Mitsubishi began to dominate)

I haven't gone into many supercars. I've just focused on muscle cars. I'm leaving plenty out. I want to include 1977-1981 Trans Ams just for their looks alone but I don't believe any of them were fuel injected including the underwhelming Turbo Trans Ams.