Test Drove a GT500

[Ninjak]

Originally Posted by wbt

For street/strip duty I prefer a live axle personally and I guess Ford has something right with it as the car holds a .95 skidpad. They have seemed to master both. Pretty damn impressive if you ask me and I would not consider myself a pure Mustang fanatic.

This.
Remember the 03~04 Cobra had a IRS in it, and many preferred the live axle when ford ask for feed back for then the developing 05. So Ford has done the right thing by its base, and has given the masses a live axle that performs as well as a IRS. Driving tests already prove this.

Now that the stock power has been addressed, we should see some very interesting numbers from the tracks.

[Dave Coyle]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

Was at a ford dealer looking for a used truck and salesman recognized me from years before when traded in my M3 for a F150. He walked with me a bit and I he asked me if I was still into fast cars as he thought I might like to check out the new GT500 in the PDI area, I said sure. There it was, blue and menacing! I asked for a test drive and of course he said probably no, I said ask the manager so he did and the manager came out with the dealer plate!!!!
Right off the bat, you can fell the power but also the front heavy feeling. I liked the interior and the stuffed engine bay but what I found as a turn off was the ugly back end. I kept looking at it after the drive to try to get used to it but it just scremas ugly to me. More on the power... It will surely eat a stock Camaro SS and you can feel the raw power due to the live axle I thought. But I didn't feel much wheel hop as I do with my supercharged Camaro. I couldn't tell if the GT500 would be faster but it felt like it. I think the Camaro handles
just a tad better, again probably due to the GT500's heavy front. It felt and looked brute muscle. I wasn't allowed to take it longer than their normal 3 mile test drive route. Told the manager it was an awesome car but price tagged at $54k was in the park of a 2008 ZO6 and that would be a better buy IMO but I would think about it. I went there for a truck and walked away wanting a GT500.
I got home, took my SS for a rip on pacific coast highway and any trace of interest I had for the GT500 was all forgotten.

Glad you came back to reality. Thought you had lost your mind for a moment!

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Ninjak

Remember the 03~04 Cobra had a IRS in it,

Yeah, I had a friend with an 03 Cobra. Riding in that was like riding in a log wagon. Seriously, it was BAD! I can see why they wanted live axle back.

[ffrcobra_65]

Hey guys, sorry for not getting back to this thread sooner, I thought it got buried in the original section where I posted it originally.

This wasn't meant to be a GT500 vs 2010 Camaro thread. To be completely honest, I wanted the GT500 and a Roush Stage 3 before I wanted the 2010 Camaro. In fact, I test drove a GT500 (I think it was a 2008 left-over)just before I ordered my Camaro and I spent many months hunting down a Roush Stage 3 that met my color and option requirements in California but I found they were mostly available in the midwest, etc and only few in CA. Was told I could order it as I like it but I wasn't willing to order and wait for a Stage 3 and if I was gonna do that, might as well order and wait for a Camaro (my 6th Camaro!) Oh yeah, I test drove a PJ edition Mustang as well and that one was Da Bomb! NA 302, live axle, man, I loved driving it but couldn't swallow the $60k price for a yellow Mustang.

I have owned over 30 cars since I got my license in 1989. I have never ever owned a Mustang but have ALWAYS wanted one and will have one eventually.

Anyway, the 2010 GT500 I test drove was sitting in PDI, didn't have paperwork on the windows, but salesman told me it was marked up by around $6k which explains the $54k asking price. Dealer mark up on GT500s is a normal practice here in SoCal. When the GT500 first came out in 2007, a friend of mine paid $30k over MSRP!!!!!! and another friend bought one in 2008 at $12k over MSRP. crazy but fact.

The 2010 GT500 felt a little more powerful than the one I test drove last year and it definitely felt MUCH more powerful than any of the Roush 427R, 428R, or Stage 3. It had 18 miles. The manager already drove it some before it went to PDI. It had over half-tank of gas so yeah, it was driven before PDI. Couldn't tell you how much boost it was making when I drove it. I didn't look at the dash much but did so maybe once to look at the speedo. Salesman kept talking. I I didn't drive it crazy, just stomped on it once through the gears and 100mph came up fast!! Oh yeah, from feel alone, it WAS making boost for sure!!!! I think being an owner of a SC'd Camaro, I can tell you that I know what it feels like when boost is made. To be honest, I intentionally did not want to examine the GT500 too much because I really liked it and the more I spent time looking it over, in and out, top to bottom, I was afraid I was going to make an impulse buy. I was there for a used truck! I totally lost interest in shopping for a truck after I drove the GT500, all I wanted to do was leave asap and drive my Camaro to set me straight again.
I like the GT500 a lot, love the interior and the awesome engine bay and teh stock power is awesome. The salesman said a pulley swap and Bassanni exhaust would be all that's needed to make it even better sounding and performer, anything more would scare most people. The car just looks muscular all around, EXCEPT the view from the rear.

I wish I could have the GT500 and 2010 Camaro side by side in my garage. Wife would kill me if that happens anytime soon.

[Ninjak]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

Yeah, I had a friend with an 03 Cobra. Riding in that was like riding in a log wagon. Seriously, it was BAD! I can see why they wanted live axle back.

Haha Well I had mines and it was not that bad. Springs made a huge difference and what I found is a lot of people went with the cheapo lowering springs which killed the ride.

My biggest fear was breaking the IRS at the track. I had seen it done many times, and in fact that was the biggest knock on the IRS for that car. I doubt if Ford will ever do it again, based on the success they have with the current setup.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Ninjak

Springs made a huge difference and what I found is a lot of people went with the cheapo lowering springs which killed the ride.
.

I don't remember exactly what or if he did anything, but that could be the case.
All I know is the ride was horrible.

[fazm]

i took my 03 cobra out in the twisties a couple times, it handled way better than my 05 (obviously, since my 05 is setup for drag). it was 100% stock, minus the tires (305 nitto 555's)

miss that car, but glad i sold it before value on them dropped bad

[DarthNacho08]

Originally Posted by Hopper

Yes...it will eat a stock SS. No disputing that...but I hear there's a pony killer coming that will make it cower from the track. At far less money than this dealer was asking for the GT500. Stay tuned...

Might I suggest a Hotchkiss rear chassis brace to eliminate your wheel hop?

what do you know that we don't..................

[fazm]

Originally Posted by DarthNacho08

what do you know that we don't..................

nothing.