Muscle cars are pretty rugged and good-looking; they are some people’s favorite and make a good car. There are many muscle cars out there – produced by different automakers.
Of course, they all have unique features, but as a “Muscle Car,” the design always follows a pattern – two doors with a powerful engine. But what is the most reliable muscle car to buy?
The truth is that there are many “Good” and reliable muscle cars out there, but talking of the “Most Reliable” one, there are pretty many factors to consider. Notwithstanding, the Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger, BMW M5, and Kia Stinger are among the best reliable muscle cars to buy!
Are Muscle Cars Any Good?
Yeah, muscle cars are good and reliable; they last pretty long if maintained properly. The term “Muscle Car” refers to sturdily built 2-door vehicles with high-performance engines sold at affordable prices. Muscle cars may have any of these characteristics:
- A powerful, highly configured and fine-tuned V8 engine
- Rear-wheel drive
- Made in the United States
- Flaunts a two-door body design
- Available at an affordable price
- Built for high-performance
Well, not all muscle cars meet all these requirements/features, and also, not only muscle cars feature a 2-door body design.
What are The Most Reliable Muscle Cars?
Hereunder is a constructive list of the most reliable muscle cars to buy at the moment:
1. Dodge Challenger
Yes, many Dodge Challenger models are available, but generally speaking, Challengers are highly reliable. The latest model, the 2022 Dodge Challenger, clutches an 8.0/10 rating on performance by USNews. It is also termed the “most on-the-nose modern muscle car.”
Aside from the 2022 Challenger, older models are also reliable and have an average 7.0/10 rating in terms of performance. The sturdy and rugged design of Dodge Challenger models is another prominent factor why a lot of people love the car.
Over to the engine aspect, Dodge Challengers deliver a lot of power and output serious horsepower for all kinds of regular driving and racing. The word “Reliability” is the second name of Dodge Challenger; yeah, they are very reliable.
2. Ford Mustang
Now, this is another powerful muscle car for any kind of driving. Again, the design is classic and top-notch.
Mustangs come with fine-tuned engines that deliver several hundreds of horsepower and are durable. Yes, you can choose what type of engine you need on your Ford Mustang, but all available engine options are typically high-end.
Ford Mustangs have a notable sound they produce when you match the throttle. The sound literally tells anyone close that “hey, a Mustang just passed by.”
In terms of reliability, virtually all Ford Mustang models are well-built and deliver outstanding performance. Mustangs deliver great power, and they give you “Style.”
3. Chevrolet Camaro LT1
The Chevrolet Camaro LT1 is a high-speed muscle car built with the finest engine a Chevy muscle car should come with. LT1 means a high-performance 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 engine; it was resurrected in the 2000s as a tribute to the original Chevy LT-1.
Chevrolet Camaro flaunts a more futuristic styling and high-end in-car tech features. Of course, there are multiple buy options; however, the Camaro LT1 with a 6.2-liter V8 puts out 455hp and 455 pound-feet torque.
It is a rear-wheel drive with dual engine options: a six-speed manual transmission and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Whichever year you choose to buy, Chevrolet Camaro LT1 is a strong car, and it has a high-reliability rating across trusted auto review websites. Camaros are as fast as they are safe to drive – you can’t go wrong with a Chevrolet Camaro.
4. Dodge Charger
Dodge Chargers are reliable, fast, robust, and have many trendy features. Oh, what about the design? Dodge Chargers are pretty fancy – they look much better in design than some muscle cars. The design of Chargers is to improve the functionality of the car.
Well, Dodge Chargers are built as sedans and muscle cars. So a Dodge Charger looks quite different from a Challenger, but both models are pretty close in terms of performance. A high-performance Charger can output up to 700 horsepower – just like a high-performance Challenger.
Chargers usually come standard with a V6 engine, but the V6 engines in Chargers are pretty efficient and extremely powerful (they can deliver well above 450hp). So while Chargers are not really as reliable as Challengers, they make a decent muscle car.
5. Pontiac GTO
The first time muscle cars started becoming a “thing,” the Pontiac GTO was the most reliable and powerful muscle car – talking about the 1960s.
Well, up to date, the GTO is still a decent muscle car to pick up in a dealership. Newer GTO models maintained the old GTO body design but with some modifications.
Even today, many millennials still view the GTO as the best muscle car, even with the evolution of Mustangs and Chevy Camaros.
The first generation of GTO ceased production in 1974 due to the Oil Crises, but the series was revived in 2004, but the models never lived up to the expectations; they weren’t like the old GTOs.
Pontiac GTO is a Holy Grail for anyone looking for a powerful 60’s/70’s muscle car to buy. This vintage muscle car is sleek and sturdy with a superb engine that gives you want.
6. BMW X6 M
The reliability of BMWs is pretty low, and they are costly to maintain too. However, this does not dispute the fact that BMW cars are among the best luxurious cars to own. The BMW X6 M is a cool muscle car with a high-performance engine that delivers up to 600 horsepower.
In terms of performance, the BMW X6 M clutches 8.0/10 according to USNews ratings. So, if you want a high-performance engine and a machismo appearance from a muscle car, then the X6 M checks all the boxes.
Well, this car doesn’t have much space for cargo so that you won’t be going big shopping with this – well, just joking.
Inside the X6 M lies a powerful twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of putting out 600hp. In addition, the X6 M comes with an all-wheel-drive system to make it sound more interesting.
So you can take this car anywhere and return to your home safely – in style. Of course, the suspension can be tweaked further if you wish.
7. 1971 Plymouth Hemi’ Cuda
Maybe we should take this list to a time when muscle cars were “Muscle Cars.” The 1971 Plymouth Hemi’ Cuda inarguably remains one of the best and most reliable muscle cars of all time. Currently, the Hemi’ Cuda sells for millions of dollars, and not many numbers are produced.
This 1971 Plymouth Hemi’ Cuda is one of the most desirable muscle cars from the classic era after the 1964 GTO. It has a 426 cu in (7.0L) V8 engine that produces up to 425bhp.
In addition, the engine could go from 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds. You’d love riding this muscle car; the feel and performance are classic.
8. Kia Stinger
A look outside America – down to Asia, South Korea precisely, and we’ve got a cool muscle car (not really muscular as you may want it) with a super-powerful engine. The Kia Stinger (particularly the 2018 model GT) has the same outright acceleration as Ford Mustangs.
This muscle car flaunts a design that blends style, fashion, sleekness, and sturdiness. The base model comes with a turbocharged 4-cylinder motor that produces 255hp and 260 ft-lb torque.
While the base model performs pretty well, the GT model takes speed to the next level with its twin-turbo V6 that jets out 365hp and 376 lb-ft torque.
Kia Stinger models, over the years, are reliable and come with a reasonable number of hi-tech features you would expect to see in modern cars.
9. Plymouth Barracuda
Here comes another super-powerful muscle ride from the classic era. The Plymouth Barracuda was one of the most loved muscle cars from the 70s – and it’s still loved by many people today. Well, the major attraction of this car is the monstrous 426 Hemi engine that hides inside the hood.
The engine could jet out over 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. Both the first and second generation of Barracuda remained classic, and the car is still being bought by vintage car lovers – up to this date.
However, the second-gen had a major redesign in the 1970s and came with a 3.2-liter Slant Six increased both power and durability. Want to know how a real muscle car feels? Drive the Plymouth Barracuda second-gen.
10. Pontiac Firebird
Okay, we can close this list with the Pontiac Firebird, which happens to be a “Top-Class” muscle car from the classic era. Actually, muscle cars were more popular in the 60s and ’70s than they are now.
As a result, the Pontiac Firebird is very much reliable and flaunted a stylish, sturdy design. Coming over to the suspension, Firebird has a heavy-sturdy suspension alongside a powerful Ram Air V8 engine.
Related Questions
Are Muscle Cars Dying?
People who love muscle cars are the millennials; younger people seem not to fancy such cars. As such, the muscle car segment is gradually evolving, with newer cars looking more like typical sedans and SUVs. So to say, muscle cars are gradually fading off.
What Muscle Car Has The Most Reliable Engine?
Muscle cars are reliable and have many safety features for modern drivers. The ’60s and 70’s muscle cars still deliver good performance and have high-reliability scores. However, the 1965-1970 Chevrolet L78 seems to have the most reliable engines.
What Muscle Car Has The Most Horsepower?
This has to go to Dodge Challengers; they come with monstrous engines that jet out insane horsepower. For example, the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon outputs a whopping 808 hp; the 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock does 807 hp, and the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye produces 797 hp.
What Is The King Of Muscle Cars?
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds, 1967 Chevrolet Corvette, 1966 Plymouth Satellite, and 1969 Dodge Charger R/T are some of the strongest muscle cars ever produced, and you still buy some of them.
Which Muscle Car Lasts The Longest?
Dodge Challengers and the Pontiac GTO are the sturdiest muscle cars you’d find out there. The body build of these cars is top-quality, and their reliability rating ranks high.
What Is The Best Muscle Car To Own?
The Pontiac GTO from 1964 remains the best muscle car to own. Yes, it has phased out, but it never loosed its spot – thanks to its engine. Notwithstanding, Chevy and Ford have some good muscle cars you can buy.
What Is The #1 Muscle Car?
We could easily give this position to Ford Mustangs; they are a perfect blend of high performance, speed, beauty, and reliability. Regardless of the year and model, Ford Mustangs are among the best muscle cars to own.
Conclusion
In summary, what is the most reliable muscle car? There are pretty many reliable muscle cars; talk about the Mustangs, Chargers, and Challengers. This article lists the most reliable muscle cars from the 70s to date.
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