Roadsters vs. Muscle Cars

Roadsters are small, open top, two-seat cars that are designed for a sporty ride. Muscle cars are high-performance, have two doors and rear wheel drive, and they tend to be made in America. Muscle cars are usually much larger vehicles than roadsters and are usually the more practical of the two types of vehicles. Today, we’re going to compare the latest models of some roadsters and some muscle cars. Let’s see how they stack up.

Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z is a roadster that has been around since 2009. Some of its design came from the Nissan 350Z, and it is the sixth generation of the Nissan Z-car line that started with the 240Z. The 370Z has been updated for 2014 and has a 332 horsepower V6 engine which can have either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed automatic transmission with downshift rev matching. The Nissan is small, fast, and fun to drive.

Mazda MX-5

Credited with getting Americans interested in roadsters again in 1990, the Mazda Miata MX-5 is a classic roadster. The 2013 model is an extremely lightweight vehicle with precise handling and 167 horsepower four-cylinder engine attached to a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Like many roadsters, the interior is focused on the driver. Although this vehicle has a small motor, it is so lightweight that many people prefer it over other more expensive roadsters.

Both of these roadsters are certainly cars designed for a fun time. While you will have no problem getting a few groceries in the trunk of the vehicle, you won’t be able to take the kids out for a weekend trip in this car. This is a vehicle for someone who wants to go out and have fun on the road and then come home.

Ford Mustang

The Mustang has been an iconic muscle car since 1965. Ford has been improving this pony ever since it first came out. Unlike the two roadsters described above, the Mustang can seat four people, making it a much more practical vehicle. The 2014 Mustang is equipped with either a 305 horsepower V6 engine, or a 5.0L V8 engine both of which come with a 6-speed manual transmission. If customers want more power, they can choose to purchase a Shelby GT500 version of the Mustang. It has a 5.8L 32-valve supercharged V8 engine with 662 horsepower equipped with a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission. While the other versions of the Mustang are fun, fast cars, the Shelby GT far surpasses them in performance.

Chevy Camaro

Not long after Ford started making the Mustang, Chevy started making the Camaro. The Chevy muscle car stuck around until 2002 to celebrate its 35th year, and then it was not made again until 2010. The 2014 Camaro has a few different engine options that will hopefully appeal to its customers. A Camaro can be equipped with a 3.6L V6, a 6.2L V8, or a 7.0L V8. The engine is attached to a 6-speed manual transmission. The 2014 Chevy Camaro keeps up its reputation of high performance no matter what engine is installed.

Muscle cars’ high performance and long history make them fun to own and drive. They are also slightly more practical than a roadster because of the rear seats and larger trunk space. These are great cars to have fun driving and not have to worry about only having two seats.

Which would you like own a roadster or a muscle car? Leave a comment in the box.

Posted in 370z, American Made, Camaro, Chevrolet, Classic Cars, Ford, Mazda, Mustang, MX-5 Miata, Nissan and tagged , , .