I have been saying this all along.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Shelby GT500 Mustang vs. Challenger SRT8


Last week I pitted the Mustang GT against the Challenger SRT8. This "Basic" Mustang vs. "Performance" Challenger comparison was designed to see if the most basic of V8 Mustangs can compete with what Dodge calls the "Performance" Challenger. After all, a lot of people say the Challenger will hurt Mustang sales, so I wanted to see what impact, if any, the SRT8 would have on the base 4.6L Mustang. In the end, the GT was able to keep up with the SRT8 in the numbers game. It was also cheaper and achieved better gas mileage. That's a given. It's a basic model and the SRT8 is a performance model vehicle. What really surprised me, though, was the performance comparison. I thought the SRT8 would boast superior performance numbers against a basic V8 Mustang. It didn't.

This week we'll evaluate the Shelby GT500 vs. the Challenger SRT8 in a true apples-for-apples comparison. Which of these two vehicles is worthy of being called the top dog? Most importantly, if you were given the choice, which one would you buy and why?



Head-to-Head Comparison: 2008 Shelby GT500 Mustang vs. 2008 Challenger SRT8


From Jonathan Lamas,

Performance Mustang vs. Performance Challenger - A Genuine Muscle Car Showdown

What do you get when you pit a 5.4L Shelby Mustang against a 6.1L performance Challenger? Aside from the smoke and burning rubber, you’ve got yourself a genuine muscle car showdown.

In this article we’ll compare the 2008 Shelby GT500 Mustang and the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. In a previous comparison we pitted the Mustang GT against the Challenger SRT8. The goal was to see if the basic GT Mustang could hold its own against the performance Challenger. In the end, the lighter 4.6L Mustang was able to keep up with the heavier SRT8 Challenger in the numbers game. What about the Shelby GT500? Now that we’ve got an apples-for-apples comparison, who will drive away the victor?


Powertrain: The Shelby Puts Out More Power, and Possibly Better Track Times

First things first, let’s take a look at Dodge’s performance Challenger (MSRP $40,095). The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 features a 6.1L SRT HEMI engine which Dodge says can produce 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. This 6.1L engine is designed to give the SRT8 power. Truth be told, it also weighs the car down. The end result is a curb weight of 4,140 lbs for the Challenger SRT8.
The Challenger’s power reaches the pavement with help from 20-inch alloy wheels featuring size 245/45 all-season tires. The car comes to a stop courtesy of 14-inch Brembo brakes fitted with four-piston calipers.

Now enter the 2008 Shelby GT500 Mustang Coupe (MSRP $42,170). For starters the name Shelby conjures up power and performance. In fact some might instantly think this car can really get up and go. You know what? They’re right. With its 5.4L V8 engine, the car is capable of outputting an estimated 500 hp and 480 lb.-ft. of torque. Although the Shelby GT500 Mustang is heavier than the GT we previously reviewed, it’s still lighter than the Challenger SRT8. The Shelby GT500 coupe weighs in with a curb weight 3,920 lbs. Put away the calculator. The Shelby Mustang is 220 lbs. lighter than the performance Challenger. It also produces 75 more hp than Dodge’s performance car.

The Shelby GT500 Mustang rides on 18 x 9.5-inch machined aluminum wheels with SVT center caps. It features P255/45Z18 front tires and P285/40ZR18 rear tires. Braking is achieved with the help of Brembo 14-inch vented discs fitted with four-piston aluminum calipers in the front and 11.8-inch diameter vented discs fitted with two-piston calipers in the back.

While the 2008 Challenger SRT8 is