Pictures: TopSpeed

It seems as if there is a brand new comparison between the Shelby GT500 and the Camaro ZL1 about once a week. While that avenue seems a bit played out now like that stupid radio song you can’t get out of your head, it’s time to pit two other rivals that are better suited for each other. That’s the newly released Camaro 1LE against our Mustang Boss 302.

Pictures: TopSpeed

The newly released Camaro 1LE is another rebirth of a model that stems from the 80’s. Back then the 1LE meant a track-ready Camaro with a radio and A/C delete, steeper gears, bigger brakes, and an upgraded suspension. Now GM threw in the Tremec TR6060-MM6 6-speed transmission connected to a steeper gear of 3.91 in the rear end. That’s steeper than the 3.45 in the Camaro SS. Packed under the hood of the new 1LE is a 6.2-L V8 capable of 426 horsepower and 420 lb. ft. of torque. While the top speed decreases, this thing makes up for it with quicker acceleration.

Well, GM’s reborn 1LE is pitted up against our very own Boss 302. The Boss 302 for ’13 hasn’t changed much in performance with the 5.0-L V8 with an output of 444 horses and 380 lb. ft. of torque, 10 lb. ft. less than a GT somehow. However, it does have 24 more horses than the GT. The Boss 302 also features a 6-speed transmission connected to a 3.71 rear end, with a 3.31 rear end a nice option. The Camaro also weighs 200 lbs. more than the ‘Stang.

When it comes to interior, the Camaro has a very overly robotic interior. It’s as if you’re driving your very own Transformer. However, the Boss is more hi-tech when it comes to interior features. Although it doesn’t sport a navigation or OnStar like the Camaro, it has the Track Apps feature which is pretty awesome and highly advanced. It also features the MyKey which restricts the car for teenager use for your peace of mind. If you’d like a navigator, go ahead and throw one in for $150. The Boss wins hands down when it comes to gizmos and gadgets on both sides of the scale here. Now we can expect GM to come up with a similar system to the TrackApp for upcoming Camaro models.

However, who wins in this competition? TopSpeed seems to be in favor of the Camaro 1LE, despite it’s robotic interior. They also dig the overall exterior look of the Camaro over the Boss 302. We might be a bit biased, but really? The Boss 302 Mustang dominates in appearance according to us. They also pick the Camaro when it comes to handling as well. It has a solid front and solid rear stabilizer bar to help eliminate body roll and also borrows the 285/35ZRZ0 tires from it’s sibling, the ZL1. The Boss has the upgraded Brembo brake package with front rotors and calipers, 19-inch wheels, and complete adjustable front and rear shocks. Both muscle cars feature the electronic power steering, so nothing special there.

When it comes to pricing, they are priced fairly similar. The 1LE Camaro is just short of $40k while the Boss is about $42k. TS didn’t pick a winner for this category since they both are priced within $2k of each other. While they don’t give a rat’s booty about the gizmos, maybe we do. The gadgets and gizmos let us know what times we are living in, not some thrown together mundane interior that we’d have to stare at day in and day out.

Well, someone may be playing favorites here, we are too. The winner is the Boss 302 in our eyes. We definitely give it points in the looks category. Even if we don’t reach top speed in our Boss and the 1LE can accelerate a bit faster, they both are pony cars to be reckoned with. But, if we had to choose, the Camaro would lose.