Guess what my co-worker just bought?...

[Msthomp]

...a very beautiful 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 in red. It really stood out in the parking lot today. I was hoping he'd park next to my Camaro so I could get some photos of them together, but I was just too damn early and the spaces next to me filled up, haha.

Anyway, I was looking up all sorts of figures for it today and he and I were comparing our cars and talking about the 5.0 a lot today. All the worker who didn't already know it was his were all clamoring around asking "wow, who's Mustang?" and I'd have to let everyone know it was his. It was a really cool day, to be honest.

The thing that made me laugh the most, though, is how everybody seemed to think I was (or should be) jealous of him. Everybody was like "oooo, scared of a little competition, huh?" I just had to point out to everybody that I wasn't scared and was actually happy for him and glad to have another American muscle car to add to the work parking lot. Not only that, but it's nothing new. A couple weeks back one of the managers traded in her Civic for a 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse and that had everyone talking, too. I guess everybody expected me to throw down the gauntlet and challenge him to a battle over our manhoods that our cars would fight.

I did find out, however, that my ideas and figures about the car were wrong. I was under the assumption that it was quicker than it actually is, but I wanted to be 100% sure, so I checked the handy dandy internet. 0-60 in 4.4 seconds is not bad at all. It's only one tenth of a second slower than the 2010 GT500 from the figures I read...not bad for something so much cheaper.

It's also started a little mini-poll of Chevy vs. Ford at work. Whether I ask or not, different people will say stuff like "man, your Camaro is nice, but that Mustang is just amazing." Or you'll get the complete opposite. I was pointing out to a friend that his is quicker to 60 than mine, but they're both really fast cars and it doesn't make too much of a difference to me when another guy said "yeah, I'd rather have yours (the Camaro), anyway."

Leaving work was awesome, though...we were heading out at the same time, so I waited for him to back out and followed. That thing sounds so sweet on start-up. After the little private road out of work, there's a stop sign on a major highway set to 60 mph, so when we were stopped, he checked for all clear and just gunned it. Tons of tire squeal and even more on the shift to second. By the time I had checked traffic and took off to pursue, he was already probably 1/8 of a mile or so ahead of me. I caught up to him easily enough, but you have to be impressed with what Ford's done and I'm sure he wasn't even really trying, either....if it had been a true drag race between him and me, I can only imagine what that car would've pulled.

Well, I guess it's time to start the modding and bring my baby's power up a smidgen. ;-)

(sorry for the long post >_< hahaha)

[2010 SSRS]

line em' up at the track

[luis nunez]

Your Camaro SS was stock?

[Synerbee]

Originally Posted by 2010 SSRS

line em' up at the track

Yeah... track

[Msthomp]

Originally Posted by luis nunez

Your Camaro SS was stock?

yeah, my car is stock. I don't feel the need to change it to be happy with it. I have a few mods in mind, but I'm taking my time and appreciating what GM did to it first.


As for the track...I'm not much into drag racing and I wouldn't want to put that strain on my car...there's a road course about 45 minutes away, though, that I keep telling everyone we should rent for a couple hours and have some fun on.

[jrc1122]

Two nice cars.. Would love to have both cars in my garage

[ffrcobra_65]

The 5th Gen Camaro V6 and SS had 1 year kicking the Mustang's rear..now it is back to the way of things. We getting out butts kicked again! By time the Z28 comes out, the GT500 will be likely at 600hp. The new GT is very nice. I would like one but broke already this year. :(

[Msthomp]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

The 5th Gen Camaro V6 and SS had 1 year kicking the Mustang's rear..now it is back to the way of things. We getting out butts kicked again! By time the Z28 comes out, the GT500 will be likely at 600hp. The new GT is very nice. I would like one but broke already this year. :(

the 5.0 is only 3/10 of a second quicker to 60 than the Camaro...that's not bad, really. I don't consider is getting my butt kicked...I consider it a good thing...the competition is back on and it's going to push both manufacturers to start making the cars better and better.

Really, all I'd have to do is add 20-50 horsepower and I'd probably catch up to him. It's not as big a travesty as everybody thinks. Especially since most of the trash-talkers don't know how to drive, anyway. I've been challenged to races by guys at work that have older mustangs and they think they'll beat me because of all the stuff they put in it. I just smile and say "no thanks, I have nothing to prove." and then walk away. Besides...the other guys at work have told me that the ones that are challenging me don't know how to drive, anyway.

In my opinion, a true driver will appreciate another man's performance machine no matter what...the trash-talkers are just kids with too much horsepower and no idea what to do with it. That's what I think, anyway.

[porcupinekiller]

Originally Posted by Msthomp

0-60 in 4.4 seconds is not bad at all. It's only one tenth of a second slower than the 2010 GT500 from the figures I read...not bad for something so much cheaper.

Don't kid yourself. The GT500 is severly traction limited. Bolt on a set of sticky drag radials to the 2011 GT500 and it will easily destroy a 2011 GT with drag radials (11.60 vs a 12.35) big difference.

[Msthomp]

Originally Posted by porcupinekiller

Don't kid yourself. The GT500 is severly traction limited. Bolt on a set of sticky drag radials to the 2011 GT500 and it will easily destroy a 2011 GT with drag radials (11.60 vs a 12.35) big difference.

I know. That's why I waclear to put 2010 GT500. I was pointing out that this year's GT pulls a 4.4 and LAST year's GT500 was supposed to be a 4.3 -- of course this yer's is faster.

[porcupinekiller]

Originally Posted by Msthomp

I know. That's why I waclear to put 2010 GT500. I was pointing out that this year's GT pulls a 4.4 and LAST year's GT500 was supposed to be a 4.3 -- of course this yer's is faster.

Well I have a 2010 GT500 and have had little trouble putting new 5.0's in my rear view mirror. After one encounter that I destroyed a 2011 5.0 I chatted with the fellew and he remarked "What mods do you have?" When I told him it was stock he just shook his head and said "WOW!! I read that the 2010 GT500 and the 2011 GT with the 5.0 were a pretty close race...were they ever wrong."
I've driven several 2011 GT 5.0's and I can tell you that they have WAY less power than my 2010 GT500. Where 2011 GT's excell is that they can put what power they have down very well. If I'm not 100% focused when I leave the line (smooth quick clutch release and roll on the throttle-gently and short shift into second) then my rear tires go up in smoke and I'm screwed. From a roll or especially on a run above 60 MPH my 2010 GT500 pulls hard on a 2011 5.0. With traction a 2010 GT500 is easily capable of sub 4 sec 0-60 runs.
PS. the best run for a stock 2011 GT500 has not yet beat the best stock 2010 GT500 (11.95-stock tires and 11.59 with drag tires). That will probably change now that we are seeing some cooler temps.

[Msthomp]

Originally Posted by porcupinekiller

Well I have a 2010 GT500 and have had little trouble putting new 5.0's in my rear view mirror. After one encounter that I destroyed a 2011 5.0 I chatted with the fellew and he remarked "What mods do you have?" When I told him it was stock he just shook his head and said "WOW!! I read that the 2010 GT500 and the 2011 GT with the 5.0 were a pretty close race...were they ever wrong."
I've driven several 2011 GT 5.0's and I can tell you that they have WAY less power than my 2010 GT500. Where 2011 GT's excell is that they can put what power they have down very well. If I'm not 100% focused when I leave the line (smooth quick clutch release and roll on the throttle-gently and short shift into second) then my rear tires go up in smoke and I'm screwed. From a roll or especially on a run above 60 MPH my 2010 GT500 pulls hard on a 2011 5.0. With traction a 2010 GT500 is easily capable of sub 4 sec 0-60 runs.
PS. the best run for a stock 2011 GT500 has not yet beat the best stock 2010 GT500 (11.95-stock tires and 11.59 with drag tires). That will probably change now that we are seeing some cooler temps.

Cool. I know the numbers are just numbers and it all depends on the driver, but, on paper, they're supposed to be close. And the new 2011 GT500 are amazing, too.

[Sleestack]

Originally Posted by porcupinekiller

shook his head and said "WOW!! I read that the 2010 GT500 and the 2011 GT with the 5.0 were a pretty close race...were they ever wrong.".

If it is on the internet, it's gotta be true.... right? right?

[Msthomp]

Even all the reviewers are saying they're close...I just watched a review and the guy said "0-60 is a tick over 4 seconds. Sure, you can get ALMOST the same performance out of the new GT with 5.0 ltr engine, but that's not the point."

Like I said earlier, though, numbers are just numbers...what really matters is how you drive it; a lot depends on the driver.

After all, when Top Gear had the Bugatti Veyron SS on their show, they wanted to drive it 258 mph...James May managed about 259....when Bugatti's driver got in it, he pulled 267 mph out of that thing, and it was only supposed to go up to 258. Specs and figures are only important on paper. ;-)