Camaro Z28 SS vs. Roush Performance Stage III Mustang

Fire up the pulsating powerplant in a new Camaro Z28 or Mustang Cobra and rap the throttle real good a couple of times. You'd think that 305 horsepower bellowing under the hood would be enough to satisfy just about any reasonable human being. You'd expect that the eye-watering, tangy scent of wide rear tires frantically converting themselves to dense plumes of rubber smoke during berserk sessions of full-throttle exhibitionism would leave any driver fully satisfied-and enervated.

Nope. Not a select group of hormonally imbalanced individuals. This sort of foolishness only breeds the desire for more: even more power, more handling, and more thrills. It's this relentless craving that drives a thriving automotive performance aftermarket-and gives thousands of state troopers a way to while away the hours between hostage situations.

And it's also why we've gathered here today, to share in a gratuitous (the best kind, after all!) blast of raw performance. The cars we've assembled are a representative pair of the enhanced ponycar breed. From Chevrolet, the intimidating Camaro Z28 SS-the ultimate from-the-factory Camaro, for those who find a garden-variety 305-horsepower Z28 to be somehow lacking. And in the other corner, the Roush Performance Stage III Ford Mustang, which you can buy complete and ready to roll from select Ford dealers nationwide. If the four-cam, 305-horsepower line-topping Cobra fails to light your fire, this supercharged two-cam brute should provide the additional kindling required to achieve spontaneous combustion. Both of these comparatively rare ponycars share almost identical peak horsepower readings, and the same juvenile delinquent eagerness to convert premium unleaded directly into hoots of excitement.

As anyone who's ever cracked open a copy of Car Craft can tell you, there's no shortage of available performance upgrades for owners of Camaros and Mustangs. The shrewd do-it-yourself tinkerer can build up a formidable machine out of components from all over the country. This approach is not for everyone, however. Many would rather leave issues of parts compatibility, durability, and testing to professionals. That, in effect, is what the Z28 SS and Roush Stage III offer: the enhanced performance of modified tuner cars, but with the bugs ironed out and an EPA-approved happy-face slapped on. Together, these vehicles offer some of the best parts of the tuner-car experience, coupled with the comforting security of a full warranty.

In the case of these missiles, different means reach similar ends. Chevy used to offer the SS as an aftermarket upgrade, but has now brought the package fully under its optional-equipment umbrella. The SS package can be had only on the Z28 (coupe or convertible), which means you start out with all the improvements built into the Z28 for '98. Besides a great-looking styling rework, the Z28 benefits from a brand-new all-aluminum LS1 V-8 descended from the one in the new Corvette, along with recalibrated suspension, new brakes, and available traction control.