Canadians Prefer the Ford Mustang Over the Chevy Camaro

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood
LOS ANGELES, CA., March 26, 2010 – The 2011 Ford Mustang Launch in LA – The 2011 Ford Mustang is the first production car ever to achieve the combination of 305 hp and 31 mpg highway. Equipped with a new 3.7-liter V-6 engine, the Mustang V-6 delivers more technologies, features and performance for 2011. Photo…

If you’ve been paying attention to the muscle cars wars between Ford and Chevy, likely you already know that the Camaro is poised to out-sell the Mustang for the first time since pretty much anyone can remember. The opposite is true in Canada, where our neighbors to the North have a noted preference to the Mustang, despite the fact that that the Camaro is built at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario plant.

So far in 2010, Chevy has moved a total of 75,685 Camaros in the United States, compared to Ford having sold 68,264 Mustangs. Ask any Chevy representative and they’ll be quick to point out that the Camaro is on top despite the fact that it’s only offered as a coupe, while with the Mustang consumers can also get a convertible, or a high-performance Shelby GT500.

The numbers are very much the reverse in Canada and with a population roughly one-tenth the size of the U.S., Ford Canada moved 4,935 Detroit-made Mustangs, compared to GM Canada selling 3,974 Canadian Camaros.

Chevy intends to flip those statistics around, however, with the launch of the Camaro Convertible in 2011. Chevy spokesman David Caldwell explains that despite Canada’s colder climate, convertible models make up roughly half of the sales in a segment like this, whereas in the U.S. convertible sales make up just 15 to 20 percent. Canadians, apparently, view any high-performance rear-drive vehicle as summer-only car, opting to park sports cars in the winter instead of driving them. Their purchasing decision is reflected by that, opting for convertible models that allow them to fully experience the summer months.

[Source: NYT]

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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  • Mike Mike on Dec 24, 2010

    You don't even mention what the price point of each vehicle is. Canadiens bring home less bacon on average bs Americans and that makes the mustang allot more attractive over tHe camaro, the camaro can do whatever it wants but as long as the ford is cheaper, pol will buy it here in Canada

  • Phil Phil on Dec 24, 2010

    Both cars are ugly, ugly, ugly. We need to go back to the old days of the 50's Jags, MG, Austin Healey, Aston Martin, Morgan, and all Italian cars - these were cars with design and they were real sports cars. The Camaro and the Mustang are pig ugly, they have no class, they were designed by people with absolutely no idea. They think more horsepower is the answer to design and their retro looks are pathetic reminders of pathetic cars. Look at what Tata has done for the Jag recently, now there's some flair. Both Ford and GM need to hire people from art schools or design colleges. Even Mazda know how to design a sports car.

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