Challenged by a Chimera in my Mustang!
Discussion
After a trip into Guildford in my 2005 Mustang GT on Saturday morning, trying to run the thing in properly (it's only just got 1000 miles on the clock!).
I was on my way back up the A3 heading towards the M25. I spotted a blue Chimera in the distance up ahead. I think I was doing about 80'ish as I pulled into the middle lane from the outside lane, the Chimera was up ahead in the same lane. The Chimera appeared to slow up, so I ended catching up. I think I also slowed to 70 or 75 mph. The plate was a private plate ...B1RBL, i think? Anyone on here?
The Chimera driver then appeared to drop a cog and boot it. I thought what the heck, ok then! I simply just put my foot down, I was already in 4th gear (manual) because the running-in notes say never to stick to any one engine speed, so I was varying the gears throughout my journey. I stayed in this gear for the whole time until we caught up slower traffic. I was quite surprised to find myself gaining on him, but only just! I think we got up to maybe 120 before we had to slow up. Anyway, the guy gave a wave, so I waved back in appreciation of a sporting challenge! There was nothing unsafe about this brief encounter, it was all very civilised and it was only a matter of seconds.
The only thing that suprised me was that I thought the Chimera would have the legs on me, instead I was gaining on him, only just mind! I certainly did not have enough power to blast by! Ford's official figures for the new Mustang are 300 Bhp. Some American mags have dyno'd production Mustangs out of the box and have found the figure nearer to 320 Bhp for a run-in example. Mine's still pretty tight and they reckon on about 5k miles to run-in properly. Basically, I was surprised that my car did so well considering the 1700+ kg weight deficit and brick like aerodynamics, Ha!
I can't tell you much more about the Chimera, I don't know what model it was, or what year (because of the private plate). But the driver was a good sport in the most gentlemanly of ways. What sort of power output do most Chimera's have?
Incidentally, the fastest I've ever experienced acceleration in a car was as a passenger in a TVR Tuscan S. The 1st and 2nd gear performance in that car was astonishing! Sadly, the guy sold it on due to problems with the dash and a few other bits... but, what a car!
Cheers
I was on my way back up the A3 heading towards the M25. I spotted a blue Chimera in the distance up ahead. I think I was doing about 80'ish as I pulled into the middle lane from the outside lane, the Chimera was up ahead in the same lane. The Chimera appeared to slow up, so I ended catching up. I think I also slowed to 70 or 75 mph. The plate was a private plate ...B1RBL, i think? Anyone on here?
The Chimera driver then appeared to drop a cog and boot it. I thought what the heck, ok then! I simply just put my foot down, I was already in 4th gear (manual) because the running-in notes say never to stick to any one engine speed, so I was varying the gears throughout my journey. I stayed in this gear for the whole time until we caught up slower traffic. I was quite surprised to find myself gaining on him, but only just! I think we got up to maybe 120 before we had to slow up. Anyway, the guy gave a wave, so I waved back in appreciation of a sporting challenge! There was nothing unsafe about this brief encounter, it was all very civilised and it was only a matter of seconds.
The only thing that suprised me was that I thought the Chimera would have the legs on me, instead I was gaining on him, only just mind! I certainly did not have enough power to blast by! Ford's official figures for the new Mustang are 300 Bhp. Some American mags have dyno'd production Mustangs out of the box and have found the figure nearer to 320 Bhp for a run-in example. Mine's still pretty tight and they reckon on about 5k miles to run-in properly. Basically, I was surprised that my car did so well considering the 1700+ kg weight deficit and brick like aerodynamics, Ha!
I can't tell you much more about the Chimera, I don't know what model it was, or what year (because of the private plate). But the driver was a good sport in the most gentlemanly of ways. What sort of power output do most Chimera's have?
Incidentally, the fastest I've ever experienced acceleration in a car was as a passenger in a TVR Tuscan S. The 1st and 2nd gear performance in that car was astonishing! Sadly, the guy sold it on due to problems with the dash and a few other bits... but, what a car!
Cheers
I do like TVR's.
I like pretty much any car with a large engine. I'm not keen on Jap cars. I agree that there are some really capable Jap cars out there, but they just seem a little too clinical for my liking.
Mostly, I am into American cars. I've had two Corvette's prior to the Mustang. I would of had another Corvette if it was not for the fact that I now have a nipper. I didn't think it fair on the wife and child not to be able to enjoy the car with me. Hence the Mustang was the next best thing for me. Seats four fairly easily.
The handling is suprisingly good for an American heavyweight. It's quite well balanced. Ideally, it needs wider rubber for more overall grip. 235 tyres front and rear really need to be 255. That's what I will replace them with later on.
The traction control lets you have some serious fun before cutting in. It will spin the tyres from 1st to 2nd and chirp the tyres from 2nd to 3rd. I haven't tried playing with it without TCS on yet.
In the ideal world, I would love to have the new 475+ Bhp 2007 Shelby Cobra version that's coming out. But that's going to be sold at a premium in this country!
Interesting on the power numbers on the Chimera. I would have thought that they had similar BHP to the Mustang, especially the 5.0 ltr. But at the end of the day, it does not need to make big numbers in such a light car.
My Mustang needs to make more power just to heave the extra weight along! Ha!
Cheers
I like pretty much any car with a large engine. I'm not keen on Jap cars. I agree that there are some really capable Jap cars out there, but they just seem a little too clinical for my liking.
Mostly, I am into American cars. I've had two Corvette's prior to the Mustang. I would of had another Corvette if it was not for the fact that I now have a nipper. I didn't think it fair on the wife and child not to be able to enjoy the car with me. Hence the Mustang was the next best thing for me. Seats four fairly easily.
The handling is suprisingly good for an American heavyweight. It's quite well balanced. Ideally, it needs wider rubber for more overall grip. 235 tyres front and rear really need to be 255. That's what I will replace them with later on.
The traction control lets you have some serious fun before cutting in. It will spin the tyres from 1st to 2nd and chirp the tyres from 2nd to 3rd. I haven't tried playing with it without TCS on yet.
In the ideal world, I would love to have the new 475+ Bhp 2007 Shelby Cobra version that's coming out. But that's going to be sold at a premium in this country!
Interesting on the power numbers on the Chimera. I would have thought that they had similar BHP to the Mustang, especially the 5.0 ltr. But at the end of the day, it does not need to make big numbers in such a light car.
My Mustang needs to make more power just to heave the extra weight along! Ha!
Cheers
As far as I know, B1 RBL is Ph'er Trinitycall
www.petrolheads.co.uk/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=36945
Don't know what age car is but its a 400.
www.petrolheads.co.uk/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=36945
Don't know what age car is but its a 400.
Prof Higgins said:
As far as I know, B1 RBL is Ph'er Trinitycall
www.petrolheads.co.uk/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=36945
Don't know what age car is but its a 400.
It's Trinity (never one to shy away from a sporting challenge), does this look familiar zektor? 
It's a 400HC, with some extras (MA chip and tune, no pre-cats and maybe some other tinkering has gone on too). Don't be too surprised that you were gaining on him, he drives like his handbrake's on most of the time
I quite like the Mustang GT. Like most people, the look of the 60's and early 70's models were the ones that appealed the most. The 80's and 90's and up to 2004 models didn't float my boat at all. Previous to this car I had a couple of Corvette's. I was going to buy another one, but with a little one, the Mustang was ideal. When I saw the 2005 Mustang, I liked the look of it and with a back seat, it was ideal for the nipper.
Performance wise, it's pretty good actually. Richard Hammond on TG said he thought the performance was lethargic. I wouldn't say it was lethargic at all. But I think that the way it drives gives the feeling that it might be. It has one of these throttle-by-wire systems on it. At low engine speeds, if you punch it, it doesn't seem to snap into life like my old Corvette's used to. There is sort of a progressive feed of power until full throttle is achieved. It gives the impression that it's down on power. But if you wind her up to about 3500 to 4000 rpm and then stomp on the throttle, it leaps into life. The VVT doesn't cut in until 4000rpm and the car makes maximum power right up at redline. It sounds awesome (very 60's muscle car actually) and is very good fun to punt along, bouncing off the limiter is very easy with the revvy engine.
Mine's a 5-speed manual. 4th is good for 130mph. 5th is a bit crap though. It's geared for economy cruising and very low geared. RH on TG tested an Auto version. The shift is typically American. It's a Tremec gearbox, as used by a lot of AC Cobra kit car makers. The shifts are positive and short, but it always feels like it's slightly reluctant to engage the next cog. You need to man handle it to get the best out of it. Then again, my cars pretty new and so it's probably a bit tight at the mo'. Should get better over time.
The only mod i've done to the car is to fit a Borla axle-back SS exhaust system. The standard exhaust is SS but doesn't sound as meaty. It does sound good, just not as good as the Borla's!
Ford's figures are 5.1 to 60 mph and about 13.2 to 100 mph I think. Some US mags have managed to get 4.8 seconds to 60 out of the car and 12.8 to 100 mph. I have a G-Tech Pro Performance Analyser. I've only done one run to 60 mph and I got 5.39 to 60mph. It should improve once run-in. They reckon to get the fastest dash to 60 you have to turn the traction control off. My run was with TCS on. When the car is nice and run-in, I will give it a full bore run with TCS off and post the figures here.
On the whole, I like the car. The hifi is fantastic, more than loud enough and with Bass to make your trousers flap! It's very comfortable and I love the retro looks. Sounds mean, goes mean. And I can take the family out in it too. Ace!
Cheers
Performance wise, it's pretty good actually. Richard Hammond on TG said he thought the performance was lethargic. I wouldn't say it was lethargic at all. But I think that the way it drives gives the feeling that it might be. It has one of these throttle-by-wire systems on it. At low engine speeds, if you punch it, it doesn't seem to snap into life like my old Corvette's used to. There is sort of a progressive feed of power until full throttle is achieved. It gives the impression that it's down on power. But if you wind her up to about 3500 to 4000 rpm and then stomp on the throttle, it leaps into life. The VVT doesn't cut in until 4000rpm and the car makes maximum power right up at redline. It sounds awesome (very 60's muscle car actually) and is very good fun to punt along, bouncing off the limiter is very easy with the revvy engine.
Mine's a 5-speed manual. 4th is good for 130mph. 5th is a bit crap though. It's geared for economy cruising and very low geared. RH on TG tested an Auto version. The shift is typically American. It's a Tremec gearbox, as used by a lot of AC Cobra kit car makers. The shifts are positive and short, but it always feels like it's slightly reluctant to engage the next cog. You need to man handle it to get the best out of it. Then again, my cars pretty new and so it's probably a bit tight at the mo'. Should get better over time.
The only mod i've done to the car is to fit a Borla axle-back SS exhaust system. The standard exhaust is SS but doesn't sound as meaty. It does sound good, just not as good as the Borla's!
Ford's figures are 5.1 to 60 mph and about 13.2 to 100 mph I think. Some US mags have managed to get 4.8 seconds to 60 out of the car and 12.8 to 100 mph. I have a G-Tech Pro Performance Analyser. I've only done one run to 60 mph and I got 5.39 to 60mph. It should improve once run-in. They reckon to get the fastest dash to 60 you have to turn the traction control off. My run was with TCS on. When the car is nice and run-in, I will give it a full bore run with TCS off and post the figures here.
On the whole, I like the car. The hifi is fantastic, more than loud enough and with Bass to make your trousers flap! It's very comfortable and I love the retro looks. Sounds mean, goes mean. And I can take the family out in it too. Ace!
Cheers
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