Everyones opinion

[BackInBlack]

I am writing my final essay for college on Muscle cars and masculinity. the point im trying to prove is that not all men drive muscle cars with big v8's to really feel manly or compensate for a certain male part. but more for Passion and and a search for adrenaline.

well Ive been doing a lot of research on what cars started it ad I cam across a few places that claimed mustangs camaros and challengers arent muscle cars at all. only pony cars. as in the better performance models. but other sites said that a pony car is a type of muscle car.

What does everyone think?

 

[streethorse]

I am writing my final essay for college on Muscle cars and masculinity. the point im trying to prove is that not all men drive muscle cars with big v8's to really feel manly or compensate for a certain male part. but more for Passion and and a search for adrenaline.

well Ive been doing a lot of research on what cars started it ad I cam across a few places that claimed mustangs camaros and challengers arent muscle cars at all. only pony cars. as in the better performance models. but other sites said that a pony car is a type of muscle car.

What does everyone think?

To me it has nothing to do with trying to be manly or Macho. Its more a hobby, interest or sport even.
As a young kid I was building models of Funny cars and Dragsters. I was driving a 69 442 as a teenager before the term
Muscle Car was common. Ive owned 2 Camaro Z/28's and 3 Mustang GT's just because I find them fun to drive.
Some people say to me " Oh you must be having a mid life crisis" .....Yeah right.....

 

[bbb455]

I always concidered muscle cars to be full frame, full size body cars with high hp engines. I've owned two, '70 Monte Carlo w/ 350, and currently '71 Buick Skylark w/ a 455. Pony cars, imo, are much smaller, lighter, usually uni-body cars w/ smaller engines and significanly better handling characteristics than the larger muscle cars.
As for the machismo aspect, that may be the case for some, but I believe most have a true passion for everything that is cars. From an early age, I was continually repairing and modifying my bikes and racing them. Removing weight, adding lighter more efficient parts. I built models of cars that I loved and someday wanted. My first vehicle was a '76 Suburban 454 4x4. I ditched the factory wheels for larger more agressive tires and wheels, headers and a system. I've owned more than twenty cars and trucks in my 43 yrs and all got modified in some sort of way. I'm constantly finding ways to improve performance and handling to put a bigger grin on my face. For me, it's about passion and the thrill, especially if you do the work yourself.

 

[SpartaPerformance]

Mustangs, Camaro's and Challengers are NOT Muscle cars, they are pony cars. Muscle cars in that era were Chevelle's, Chargers, Galaxies, GTO's full sized cars with blistering power. I guess in todays world being the average car is the size of a Fusion then maybe modern Mustangs, Camaro's and Chalanger's can be considered Muscle cars. Anyway getting back to the macho thing, it's not about compensation that philosophy is held by people that drive Camry's, to them a car is an appliance that goes from point A to point B. Henry Fords idea to bring cars to the masses was to have them be free, explore the country not just be stuck in their neighborhood and that philosophy continued up until the 70's. Cars from start to the 70's were not appliances they wer considered freedom, to go from east coast to west coast, road trips to Vegas, Grand Canyon etc.... That is now gone from the majority of the population and they can't understand the freedom aspect of it because they drive a boring, slow, very bland Camry.

 

[Coyote5.0]

The definitions of muscle car/pony car/sports car probably used to mean something in the 60s, but the definitions have become a little more interchangeable today, partly because there really aren't enough cars like the Mustang/Camaro/Challenger to really fill three different segments.

As for the macho aspect, that's probably more applicable to the...never drive off payment or enounter snow, only drive alone, never haul or tow anything, but still need a full-size, 4x4 lifted truck with 35+" mud tires crowd.

I chose to buy a sports/pony/muscle car, whatever you want to call it, because I love cars and love driving, and cars like the Mustang offer a combination of handling dynamics and power that make for an excellent overall driving experience. And even if they did offer an eco-boost V6 along side a similarly powered V8 in the future, I would still go for the V8, partly because it feels more natural, but mainly because there is nothing quite like the exhaust note of a V8.

 

[BackInBlack]

Mustangs, Camaro's and Challengers are NOT Muscle cars, they are pony cars. Muscle cars in that era were Chevelle's, Chargers, Galaxies, GTO's full sized cars with blistering power. I guess in todays world being the average car is the size of a Fusion then maybe modern Mustangs, Camaro's and Chalanger's can be considered Muscle cars. Anyway getting back to the macho thing, it's not about compensation that philosophy is held by people that drive Camry's, to them a car is an appliance that goes from point A to point B. Henry Fords idea to bring cars to the masses was to have them be free, explore the country not just be stuck in their neighborhood and that philosophy continued up until the 70's. Cars from start to the 70's were not appliances they wer considered freedom, to go from east coast to west coast, road trips to Vegas, Grand Canyon etc.... That is now gone from the majority of the population and they can't understand the freedom aspect of it because they drive a boring, slow, very bland Camry.

I agree with everyone 100%, the point of my essay is to prove that its not men trying to be macho but somehting to do, a hobby, an experiance that stimulates you. and from some investigating that I have been doing Sparta. mustangs camaros and challengers are somewhat considered muscle cars in a way....yes kind of confusing cus it never says they are. but I think of them as a branch off from a muscle car. something extra...I am going to be honest...I hate it when mustangs and camars are considered sports cars....cus I dont thnk of rumbling V8 when I think of sports car. If you go to the muscle car wiki page it has a list of what was what. ford gm dodge and amc's pony cars and then muscle cars...I know my mustang is a pony car. but i still think of it as a muscle car also....a badass american V8. To me they have a part in defining the American dream and American Independence.

 

[StreetsideStig]

I think Mustangs/Camaros/Challengers today are, indeed, muscle cars. They weren't always (well, maybe the Challenger), but they are now, since they still combine high horsepower with large engines and heavy platforms.

 

[LAVAgt2012]

I guess it all comes down to what you want when it comes to purchasing a car. Myself I don't consider my mustang a muscle car, it is a pony car indeed. But with the spin you put on it sparta I see where your coming from because to drive a car with any appeal to it now adays you're pretty much forced between the TWO pony cars, I know it suppose to be the three but it truly isn't when you go by the book of the definition because a challenger doesn't meet that criteria, mainly because it's heavy, handling sucks, but it sure does have the blistering v8 you're referring to the old muscle cars had. Just my .02......oh and the reason I bought mine wasn't due to a muscle/macho thing, I like the way they are engineered, along with the body lines, and something about that ability to get up and go with the touch of the pedal instead of just waiting for your car to finally get up to a speed isn't for me, Hope your report is coming along good.

 

[rbonella]

I counted 25 grammatical errors,
4 sentence fragments
Best of luck with the paper haha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BackInBlack]

I counted 25 grammatical errors,
4 sentence fragments
Best of luck with the paper haha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

really dude..I type differently on forums then essays for school...

 

[LAVAgt2012]

you're being graded where ever you go for now on, so I suggest you treat it like school.....Because we all know we're going to but w/e, ofc, , smh, etc, etc..... you get the point, I'm really hoping he dropped you that line trying to be funny. GL on the essay, oh wait let me change it for the grammar police....Good luck on your essay!

 

[OkieHick]

I am "car" person which means it is important that I feel good in whatever I drive even if it's only to the convenience store 1/2 mile away. Driving cars that have been icons of America's past make me feel good, i.e., "Thunderbird", "Crown Victoria" (remember the 1955?) and now the tried and true "Mustang". They are a link to a really fun, light-hearted and care-free component of the past. In my mind, they are all a part of being cool.

 

[Konrad]

It seems that men generally do gravitate to big machines, fast planes, cars, machinery etc. At times it seems maybe a bit shallow but we just seem to gravitate toward it. In general we don't gravitate towards domestic chores or taking clothing or makeup. I'm not trying to sexist but most guys are geared towards certain interests more than most women are (with there being exceptions for sure). I don't think that means we're necessarily trying to "make up for something" or LOOK macho although some guys no doubt are.
Besides if it's possible to buy a V6 toyota that's relatively boring or for the same money have a car that looks good, and is lot's of fun to drive, why NOT do that? I can tell you I didn't buy my car with the goal of impressing people.

 

[L454S]

Don't know about the macho thing. We bought the 2012 Mustang as my wife's car, speced like she wanted it found it on a dealers lot about 200mi away. Daughter drives a 2010 Camaro she special ordered like she wanted it.

 

[2vNotch]

Growing up in south Texas my dad would take me to mud drags EVERY weekend. At around 11 i started racing BMX, then to moto x, then to karts. At 16 my dad and i built my first vehicle together, a 70 chevy shortwide with a STOUT 383/turbo 350 combo. I soon traded it for a 90's model lowrider chevy shortwide wich i ended up totaling. My cousin lived down the street and had an 89 gt with a 306/5 spd/NOS, i was always envious of him and the 4-5 buddys that had stangs that were always over. I started looking for a mustang and when the ins. check came in i bought my first 86 with t-tops and never looked back. Im 26 now and own my 9th foxbody! Iive also had the pleasure of building a 94gt, and a 70 ford shortwide with a 408/c6. My parents/sisters/grandparents think im plum crazy and "live in a dream world, i need to get out of", primarily bc i have 3 kids of my own now and we have been piling in and out of my cars all their life. Its been harder than it had to be haulin carseats, groceries, etc., but theres an adrenalin rush i get everytime i step foot in my car that no other hobby or even a drug can produce! No matter anyone elses opinion i wouldnt trade it for NOTHING and its something my kids enjoy and look forward to being a part of the rest of their lives!

 

[BackInBlack]

I should be getting my final grade very soon....my point of the essay was to direct everything back the the american dream.

 

[Doubleb0924]

To me driving a high horsepower, torque V8 is not to compensate for anything or to feel like a manly man. I love the sound of the V8 and the thrill of driving them.

 

[21MsclCr]

It definately doesnt have anything to do with compensating in my opinion or case. I think its about the love of the car. I love mustangs though they arent the fastest car. Beautiful body work, the rumble of the engine, and just listening to it instead of the radio with the windows down when its nice out.. or even when its not. lol. I always heard it was with the more expensive cars to try to compensate but thats just something people say. I would say any person on this site would say they love any and all Mustangs for the history, looks, feel, power, sound, etc..

Good luck on you essay

 

[BackInBlack]

I ended up getting an A people!!!! My professor loved what I chose. especially since I used date rape in the 1950s America. All in All, thanks for everyones help. some of your opinions helped me put together my categories.

 

[2vNotch]