Which American muscle car do you like?  Check out the 2010 Camaro SS by Chevy, the 2009 Challenger SRT8 by Dodge, Or the 2010 Shelby GT500 by Ford.

Price Is Not The Determining Factor When It Comes To Muscle Cars

While price isn't the determining factor, value is the key to which car is the best.  The 2010 Chevy Camaro SS is the least expensive. Even with the option of a sunroof and the RS packages the 2010 Camaro SS comes in at around $36,000.  The 2009 Challenger SRT8 comes in at around $45,000 when you add a manual transmission and a navigation system.  The 2010 Shelby GT500 comes in over $50,000 when you add a digital packages. 

The 2010 Chevy Camaro SS features 426 horsepower and 6.2 liter V8 and is not the car for the weak at heart.  However, the 2010 Camaro SS doesn't seem to like quick transitions.  It's slow to react to steering input and comes in the Slalom test at 65.8 mph.  But don't count the 2010 Camaro SS out.  When tested down a straight run the 2010 Camaro SS does 0-60 mph in 5 seconds.  In the 1/4 mile test the 2010 Camaro SS does 13.1 seconds at 109.4 mph making it the second fastest in the cars being compared.  The 2010 Chevy Camaro SS does the best at ride and handling over the other two cars being compared.

The 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 packs 425 under the hood.  And when compared against the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS and the 2010 Shelby GT500, the 2009 Challenger SRT8 wins the Slalom test at 67.6 mph.  The 2009 Challenger SRT8 is the slower of the three cars being compared when it does 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds in a straight run and 13.6 seconds at 104 mph on the 1/4 mile test.  Although the 2009 Dodge Challenger does well on the cones the car comes in third place overall.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 comes in the middle of the two other cars, the 2010 Camaro SS and the 2009 Challenger in the Slalom test at 66.6 mph.  When tested down a straight run the 2010 Shelby GT500 does 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds and covers 1/4 miles in 12.6 seconds at 113.5 mph, which makes the 2010 Shelby GT500 the quickest of the cars being compared.  The 2010 Shelby GT500 is just too much for the 2010 Camaro or the 2009 Dodge Challenger.

Slalom

• 2009 Challenger SRT8 - 67.6 mph
• 2010 Shelby GT500 - 66.6 mph
• 2010 Chevy Camaro SS - 65.8 mph

Straight Line Run

• 2010 Shelby GT500 - 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds
• 2010 Camaro SS - 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds
• 2009 Challenger SRT8 - 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds

1/4 Mile

• 2010 Shelby GT500 - 12.6 seconds at 113.5 mph
• 2010 Camaro SS - 13.1 seconds at 109.4 mph
• 2009 Challenger SRT8 - 13.6 seconds at 104 mph

Edmunds top pick for American muscle car in order of preference:

• 2010 Shelby GT500
• 2010 Chevy Camaro SS
• 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

• 2010 Chevy Camaro SS $36,000
• 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 $45,000
• 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 $50,000