Topic: 2013 Mustang GT500 -- 650hp no it's not a type-o!

[rrocket]

^^On the same track, the GT500 laid down a 1:23.48.  Which was faster than a ZR-1 ....another ill handling car apparently...

FWIW, only 3 cars have ever circulated Streets of Willow faster than a GT500  (GTR, F458 and Z06 with DOT slicks)

[johngenx]

Yeah, the Mustang is a lot of car for the money, and the newest GT is a serious performance car.  The Boss is awesome, but the real buy is the "basic" GT.

On a track, I wouldn't bet on either the GT or the M3.

If the GT500 brings 650hp to the game, it's an instant super-car player.

[rrocket]

live rear axle?   hummm ok   fifth gear kind of gave it the back handed compliment.  comfortable cruiser. unpredictable.  by european standards it's still a way off.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMxXCm5vbqI       

So let me see if I have this straight.  By "euro" standards it's still way off, but equals the M3 around a track?  Way off?  Only in their heads....(and yours)   

FWIW, they loved the Boss in Top Gear Magazine

[Sir Osis of Liver]

She's a bit off on the weight. It's pretty close to the M3. She also drove it in isolation, back to back is a different thing altogether. She was also passing some pretty serious iron.

But in the UK it may not make as much sense. It's a left hand drive £42k import, about £10k cheaper than the M3.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

live rear axle?   hummm ok   fifth gear kind of gave it the back handed compliment.  comfortable cruiser. unpredictable.  by european standards it's still a way off.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMxXCm5vbqI       

The unpredictability was in reference to the typical driver.

Pagani, Koenigsegg, Maclaren, any number of Porsches and Ferraris have all been described as unpredictable to a greater or lesser extent over the years. Didn't make them bad cars or poor handlers.

[rrocket]

Shame that people still focus on the "live axle" part, even though it's gotten so good.  Just like people focus on the "leaf spring" part when talking about the Corvette suspension.

[rrocket]

live rear axle?   hummm ok   fifth gear kind of gave it the back handed compliment.  comfortable cruiser. unpredictable.  by european standards it's still a way off.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMxXCm5vbqI       

The unpredictability was in reference to the typical driver.

Pagani, Koenigsegg, Maclaren, any number of Porsches and Ferraris have all been described as unpredictable to a greater or lesser extent over the years. Didn't make them bad cars or poor handlers.

unpredictability was in reference to it's handling in the corners.  this is not a desirable trait in a car.  she was referring to the heavy wallowing nature of the car probably due to the live rear axle.   image if this car had a more sophisticated rear setup?

The 2003 Cobra has a much more sophisticated IRS set-up...and ultimately, it's just not as good as the current cars live axle.

And plenty of cars are unpredictable in corners.  Ever drive a Z06 with VDC turned off?  Or a Viper?  Or a pre VDC Porsche 911?  All of these can be unpredictable if you drive them at the limit and are ham fisted.

[Snowman]

  I just irks people when Detroit can deliver an equal or better handling performance car than Europe for 2/3 of the cost.

[Snowman]

I just irks people when Detroit can deliver an equal or better handling performance car than Europe for 2/3 of the cost.

i agree with you snowman.  many people are bothered by that fact.  not me.   my biggest beef with the mustang is that they could have made the suspension so much better and kept it a fraction of the price.

I don't understand your dislike for the Mustang suspension, it works fine. Based on the following link to the Motor Trend comparison perhaps better shocks would help in cornering transitions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOwSPccbzl4

[Sir Osis of Liver]

live rear axle?   hummm ok   fifth gear kind of gave it the back handed compliment.  comfortable cruiser. unpredictable.  by european standards it's still a way off.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMxXCm5vbqI       

The unpredictability was in reference to the typical driver.

Pagani, Koenigsegg, Maclaren, any number of Porsches and Ferraris have all been described as unpredictable to a greater or lesser extent over the years. Didn't make them bad cars or poor handlers.

unpredictability was in reference to it's handling in the corners.  this is not a desirable trait in a car.  she was referring to the heavy wallowing nature of the car probably due to the live rear axle.   image if this car had a more sophisticated rear setup?

[Jaeger]

The Mustang can handle - I wouldn't have thought that to still be the subject of debate, but I guess ignorance is a hard thing to overcome.

My only question with this ride would be how effectively it manages to put down 650hp and who knows how much torque through only two wheels.

Jaeger

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The Mustang can handle - I wouldn't have thought that to still be the subject of debate, but I guess ignorance is a hard thing to overcome.

My only question with this ride would be how effectively it manages to put down 650hp and who knows how much torque through only two wheels.

Jaeger

Yup. That's a lot of juice and the last GT500 had a hard time putting its power down.

[wing]

Apparently they are showing it at 1 today I'll try to get some pics

[Ex-airbalancer]

Apparently they are showing it at 1 today I'll try to get some pics

You have not shown any pictures yet, how do we know you are there
Maybe you are just sitting in front of some web cam

[dougjp]

Owning a 2012 GT, I can say the live axle is not a factor worth spending much time talking about. Plus what they have done to refine it over the years is pretty impressive. Its very predictable.

Now when it comes to overall suspension - spring design, camber, strut bump and rebound etc., they have also done very well over the years, although there is still some improvement to be had, I think. However I'm not entirely sure because I have the base GT suspension and all season tires, not the track option,as I'm no longer going to the track. In my opinion, having owned and/or driven or instructed in just about every car, Audi and BMW are still well ahead of other manufacturers in overall suspension tuning and competence.   

[wing]

Internet was so crappy at the show I couldn't do much.  I sent some pictures to Chris, most of the photos we have online I took with my iPhone LOL