RE: PH Carpool: Shelby Mustang GT500

[cookie1600]

slikrs said:

12mph..... 12.....

I'm sure it's worth it but I can understand why it doesn't get out much... Makes my 23mpg sound like heaven...

But then why have it? A full size picture on the garage wall would be enough to drool over. It's like being Kylie's boyfriend and saying 'I never go out with her though, she always wants to eat at the most expensive restaurants'

If I'd paid that much wedge to buy and insure it, I'd be doing a bit more than 2000 miles in it - how about an LPG conversion?........ (ducks!)

[CocoUK]

For a car so cheap & mass-produced they don't half have a presence about them, good work Ford - Shelby.

2loud said:

I paid over £3200 (equivalent) in 1973 to insure a Triumph GT6 at the ripe old age of 22......

Please say you crashed it to get your monies worth from the policy!

[2loud]

CocoUK said:

Please say you crashed it to get your monies worth from the policy!

Haha, despite the dreadful handling, I didn't. I had to sell it.... couldn't afford insurance/running costs and flat rental. More comfortable to live in apartment!

[LuS1fer]

slikrs said:

12mph..... 12.....

I'm sure it's worth it but I can understand why it doesn't get out much... Makes my 23mpg sound like heaven...

I should also point out that I love my Eagle F1 Assymetrics on the 350Z - more than the Bridgestones that were OE fitted, those damn RE050 A nearly caused many an accident but they were exciting lol....

The official claimed output is 540hp but it's not unusual for the rating to be stated conservatively after Ford's 1999 fiasco when the Cobra failed to make the advertised 305hp at a time when Chevy were understating the power produced by the Camaro to distance it from the Corvette.

These screw superchargers do seem to be thirsty as my 460-ish hp Mustang GT with a centrifugal supercharger averages around 24mpg and while the last GT500 could use it's excessive weight to justify that, this new version has an all alloy engine.

The rubber used in the compound of American versions of tyres is also harder so the P Zero Neros the original Mustang came with were fairly incompetent.

The next new Mustang is due late 2013 for the 2014 model year and WILL have IRS and also a base four.

Before that, it is suspected that the 2013 model year revision will ditch this car's very controversial rear end styling of the lights and revert to a more traditional vertical rear set while the front end gets a more GT500 look (hopefully without the boss-eyed lights). There has also been an unsubstantiated rumour that the 2013 revision might get IRS but personally when everyone knows it's a run-out model, I can't see Ford wanting to increase the price as Americans will usually wait for the new one - though of course it might be useful to iron out any bugs ahead of the all-new car.

[300bhp/ton]

Tuvra said:

So if you stumbled across a 2011 GTR, how would you fare in one of these? I'd feel pretty confident in the GTR but the power figures quoted in the article makes me think there wouldn't be much in it? I assume this particular car isn't standard though?

From a roll probably the Shelby. From a dig the GTR has the traction and easier to hook up (but as well documented, more likely to break it's transmission if you use launch mode).

In the turns or on a circuit - GTR everytime.

But that's not what a muscle/pony car is about. Driving one will make you smile no matter what, even at 20mph in traffic.

Also they are more the hooligan type of fun, so getting the back out on round abouts or T junctions is all part of the fun and all very easy to do and attainable. Blipping the throttle, throwing a rev or two, spinning up the tyres.

For an example, just watch Fifth Gear's review, they might slate the handling overall, but look at the smile on their faces. Same with the 5th Gen Camaro.

[LuS1fer]

300bhp/ton said:

For an example, just watch Fifth Gear's review, they might slate the handling overall, but look at the smile on their faces. Same with the 5th Gen Camaro.

I don't know about the GT500 but the GT can hold its own against an M3. Top Gear have been given a Mustang Boss Laguna Seca to test and we will no doubt see the result in the next series though the black and red livery by Stevie wonder is really not going to do the car any favours with JC.

[Moogle]

LuS1fer said:

Before that, it is suspected that the 2013 model year revision will ditch this car's very controversial rear end styling of the lights and revert to a more traditional vertical rear set while the front end gets a more GT500 look (hopefully without the boss-eyed lights).

I drove a 2010 Mustang V6 whilst I was in the US last year, whilst I've liked the previous generation I like the styling of the 2010 and onwards cars more, I really hope they don't revert.

That Mustang was a 'Premium' model and apart from the black bits of the dash the interior was absolutely fine and even then the black plastic bits were certainly no worse than any Japanese/Korean car I've driven (apart from perhaps the really expensive ones).

Brits love to criticize American cars without taking a look at the cars we drive over here and because of the insane amounts of tax you have to pay to import an American car over here, we loose sight of how CHEAP the Mustang is:

Base model Mustang in the US: £13,500 - 2 door coupe, 305BHP V6
Base model Focus in the UK: £15,000 - Boring.

[jellison]

LuS1fer said:

slikrs said:

12mph..... 12.....

I'm sure it's worth it but I can understand why it doesn't get out much... Makes my 23mpg sound like heaven...

I should also point out that I love my Eagle F1 Assymetrics on the 350Z - more than the Bridgestones that were OE fitted, those damn RE050 A nearly caused many an accident but they were exciting lol....

These screw superchargers do seem to be thirsty as my 460-ish hp Mustang GT with a centrifugal supercharger averages around 24mpg and while the last GT500 could use it's excessive weight to justify that, this new version has an all alloy engine.

you think 24mpg i power fuel consumption for something with that power / performance and weight! You are kidding surely, that is great. May you are not hitting that right handle pedal hard enough!

[Killer2005]

Gorgeous motor

A definite must have for me in the future

[Kaelic]

Absoultely stunning


Regret getting rid of my Mustang every day

But OH has cleared either a 911 or an S197 Mussy after our house purchase hehe

[bakerstreet]

LuS1fer said:

I don't know about the GT500 but the GT can hold its own against an M3. Top Gear have been given a Mustang Boss Laguna Seca to test and we will no doubt see the result in the next series though the black and red livery by Stevie wonder is really not going to do the car any favours with JC.

I think that was for one of JC's DVDs and not for Top Gear.

I love the current generation mustang. Fantastic looking car. Very purposeful

I just wish that Ford would bring it over here as a RHD. Surely Ford knows that would sell in bucket loads.

Good news that the next generation will have IRS. However, if I was given GT500 now, I don't think I would care about the ack or IRS or cheap interior. I'd be happy to just look at it, drive it and listen to the sound

[Roo]

cookie1600 said:

slikrs said:

12mph..... 12.....

I'm sure it's worth it but I can understand why it doesn't get out much... Makes my 23mpg sound like heaven...

But then why have it? A full size picture on the garage wall would be enough to drool over. It's like being Kylie's boyfriend and saying 'I never go out with her though, she always wants to eat at the most expensive restaurants'

If I'd paid that much wedge to buy and insure it, I'd be doing a bit more than 2000 miles in it - how about an LPG conversion?........ (ducks!)

Does make you wonder.

The official economy figures for the car are 16mpg round town and 26mpg on a run.

I really can't see using the economy as an excuse for not using the car.

I know Lusifer doesn't use his car as much as he'd like to but it's got nothing to with the economy.

Admittedly mine are piddley little weaklings in comparison but they get used everyday and average about 15,000 miles per year between them. They are, after all, only cars.

[300bhp/ton]

bakerstreet said:

LuS1fer said:

I don't know about the GT500 but the GT can hold its own against an M3. Top Gear have been given a Mustang Boss Laguna Seca to test and we will no doubt see the result in the next series though the black and red livery by Stevie wonder is really not going to do the car any favours with JC.

I think that was for one of JC's DVDs and not for Top Gear.

They had a Roush tuned Stang, the same as the one on TG.

But I suspect this is more the meaning:




Lap times:



Performance:


Stats:



Commentary seemed to say the Mustang was the more fun to drive too.

bakerstreet said:

I love the current generation mustang. Fantastic looking car. Very purposeful

I just wish that Ford would bring it over here as a RHD. Surely Ford knows that would sell in bucket loads.

Sadly the truth is, they'd probably sell some. Sure everyone says they'd buy them. But at £30-40k I think bucket loads would be optimistic.

Don't understand why Ford don't sell the LHD variant though.

bakerstreet said:

Good news that the next generation will have IRS.

Is it?

Far too much guff is talked about concerning suspension. If it works it works, who really cares how fancy it has to be.

BTW - the last gen Mustang Cobra's were IRS.

bakerstreet said:

However, if I was given GT500 now, I don't think I would care about the ack or IRS or cheap interior. I'd be happy to just look at it, drive it and listen to the sound

[The Danimal]

That takes the prize for the longest ever comment....

[Moogle]

300bhp/ton said:

bakerstreet said:

Good news that the next generation will have IRS.

Is it?

Far too much guff is talked about concerning suspension. If it works it works, who really cares how fancy it has to be.

I see what you are saying but didn't people used to think the same about carbs Vs. fuel injection?

[300bhp/ton]

Moogle said:

I see what you are saying but didn't people used to think the same about carbs Vs. fuel injection?

Maybe, although a good carb setup still works fine tbh.

But I think with suspension it's just a little overdone.

Remember most famed hot hatches use a form of live axle/torsion suspension. Few are IRS (although more these days). And many cars from Caterham and other kits like Fisher Fury's all run a form of live axle.

I admit IRS can certainly be smoother. But some make out live axles as though they are dangerous and unpredictable. They are anything but that.

e.g.

my live axle Camaro handles better than my IRS Jag did.

my live axle TR7 is a hoot, although tail happy.

my live axle Jeep even with leaf suspension is surprisingly stable and rides better than most hatchbacks

my live axle smart Roadster (de dion) has superb handling and road holding

[LuS1fer]

You can take your pick about the rumours but this is about the 2013 Mustang:
http://www.s197.co.uk/s197/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic....

and this is about the new 2014 but it seems to me this rendering accords more with the description of the 2013 revision:
http://www.s197.co.uk/s197/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic....

I think it fair to say that most think the front end restyle of the 2010-on Mustang was successful but the rear end was a semi-disaster though it can be mitigated with infills and big spoilers and even altering the stock too high stance. Add to this the fact that the Camaro has outsold the new Mustang, something that hasn't really happened throughout the Mustang's history even combining Camaro/Firebird sales, and it is not surprising that Ford are revisiting the rear end design and also adding a bit of GT500 glitz to the front - because every single test says the Mustang is the better car, IRS or not, by a good margin but the Camaro looks better.

On the economy point, other Mustang GT owners with screw-type chargers report far lower mpg (as do stock GT owners...) but my Vortech has been remarkably consistent and has got as high as 35mpg on a motorway run and as low as 9mpg on track though even a hard PH run still netted 19mpg. I recently took it to Brecon which is up hill and down dale via fast roads and even stopping repeatedly for photos and giving it some full bore runs for video clips, it was still 24mpg.

I think the main reason is that the screw-type is constantly working and they have their peak torque very low in the rev range whereas the centrifugal is more efficient and works more like the standard car in normal driving and blows like a turbo when you give it the beans. Having lots of power also allows you to trail the throttle a lot when you need to. I'm not a maniac driver but neither am I a slow driver (not much goes by) and I like to drive smoothly and don't showboat which I sometimes suspect others might be more inclined to do.

[PaulFontaine]

300bhp/ton said:

Looks great.

What mods have you done to get 566hp?

He's done NONE thats the car in STOCK form

[dxbtiger]

I have a 2006 GT as my daily beater and it does squeak, it does rattle but it never fails to put a smile on my face.

I hate the styling of the new one, give me 2009 Shelby with a pulley upgrade and a tune, job done.

Interior is better on the new one, can't argue with that.

[devman85]

300bhp/ton said:

BTW - the last gen Mustang Cobra's were IRS.

HI guys thanks for all the cool comments, just to add to 300bhp/ton's comment yes the 03/04 Terminator mustang was an IRS but the guys that were pushing 800+bhp all changed it to live rear axle......you gotta remeber this is a muscle car and is at home on a drag strip and thats where live axles are better.

as for only doing 2000 miles a year, well i do 25k in my company car so alot of the time i don't like to drive on the weekend and also the car is useles in the wet/snow or anything under 8degrees weather, never cared about fuel economy really i knew it would be bad.

Oh and yes the new 5.0GT is designed to keep up with an M3 however its the Boss 302 thats the M3 killer ;-)