We don't rent the Mustang. Our Supra is the same job.

The Ford Mustang has an enormous following and a distinct identity. We understand why people search for it. For straight-line muscle-car character on a wide-open highway, a V8 Mustang GT is a legitimate experience that the Supra doesn't replicate.

But most Mustang searches in the East Tennessee market come from people planning trips to Tail of the Dragon or the Smokies — and on those roads, the Mustang's live rear axle (on the base GT) and heavy body work against it. The Supra's independent rear suspension, lower center of gravity, and BMW-tuned chassis are built for exactly the kind of corner-loaded mountain driving East Tennessee demands.

The Supra also has 382 hp from a 3.0L turbo inline-six — more than enough to feel dramatic on open mountain stretches without the heavy-handed power delivery of the 5.0 V8. It's a driver's car in a way the standard Mustang GT isn't, and that driver-focused character is exactly what the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway reward.

If the V8 exhaust note is specifically what you're after — the emotional experience of a 5.0L Mustang GT at full throttle — the Supra's turbocharged six doesn't replicate it. The Supra is a different kind of dramatic. If that specific character is the reason for the trip, we'd tell you to rent a Mustang from a national chain or check Turo, where GT and Mach 1 listings exist in the Knoxville area.

If you want a manual transmission specifically, the Mustang GT comes with a 6-speed. Our Supra is automatic-only (ZF 8-speed with paddle shift). For a manual sports car from our fleet, the BRZ is the better recommendation.