2013 Mustang GT500 MEGA THREAD

[ParisTNDude]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

I can tell you for a fact, although I can't back it up with proof for confidentiality reasons that that is exactly what they want you to think. Milbrook for example is a far better real world test track than the Ring will ever be.

I'm sure the "ring" is not the only track available to test suspension sytems, but nothing you've said would invalidate the Nurburgring track lap records. I have trouble believing there's a major conspiracy to give fans false information. At any rate, the GT500 and the Camaro ZL1 are both, not just good, but great world class performance cars and we should all be glad that both of them are American.

[tooslow]

Originally Posted by VADER SS L99

I think the majority of both camps agree about that rearend.

I know I agree. Both the Gen5 Camaro and the pre-2013 Mustang rear end designs are

[LOWDOWN]

Camaro tires = http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=yes&tab=Specs

Mustang tires = http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=yes&tab=Specs

For the other Brands/Models, feel free to go here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/index....=true&index=xx

Back to the Barcalounger...

[tt335ci03cobra]

Actually the coyote makes plenty of power for its weight even at low rpms, and is geared accordingly so dyno numbers don't tell all.

My car makes 660ft/lbs to the wheels wot at just 2500rpms but that doesnt make it easier or smoother to drive. If anything, all the power down low gets me in trouble because just changing lanes/passing I can reach 90 without trying if I'm not careful all while in 6th gear.

All said and done; buy the automatic if you sell your ss! I'm getting ready to buy and build one up for my 03 cobra because I keep blowing up the t56. The 6r80 auto in the 2011+'s has been strong enough to run 8's in a 3900lbs street car with just a converter swap and clutch packs. That's damn impressive and honestly, 6spds with manumatic (I'll end up designing ports on my steering column and route paddles to the manual valve body/manumatic feature) is plenty capable on a road course.

Hell, you can even program throttle blipping into the calibrations of the 6r80's tune with the right software.


Best part is you can run a 3.08 rear gear which is great for gas mileage and still have a 1st that only goes to 42mph, or lock up the converter in 2nd at the tree and be set for 75, then 115 in 3rd, then 160mph in 4th and have all the gear you'd ever need at the strip as it literally run like a 3spd auto until you were trapping faster than 160 which will likely never be an issue.

Plus you'll have 2 overdrive gears for the drive home.

Bottom line; the 6spd auto is a gem

[tt335ci03cobra]

Ya that makes sense then. Funny though how the different manufactures have differing widths even though the numbers should tell otherwise.

Needless to say its all relative, these cars all go about their business in very different ways. What works on one isn't the answer for the other.

Chevy used tall gears and wide meats on the z06 and zr1 but short gears on the zl1 with skinnier meat relative to the vette's.

Ford chose taller gearing and skinnier tires than the zl1 coupled with a very intricate launch control. Also, solid axle's do generally like drag strips so hopefully it'll hook with these new changes. Magazines estimate 3.6 0-60 and it's likely they aren't wrong.

I've heard even j smith clocked 3.4 and an 11.3 but that track was literally a vht field. (buzz from insiders, no proof) They claimed 3.6 and an 11.65@125 in the article assuming conditions most will have. Considering those numbers, I don't think it'll have a problem hooking up.

[SS 376]

Originally Posted by strych9

I'm still on the fence at this point, but shame on me for buying the Camaro without driving the Mustang first. The SS and GT are equal in price, but after road testing the GT, I left thinking that the Mustang has more bang for the buck. If I can make the numbers work, I just might make the jump. Tough call.

Just sharing my thoughts and impressions, so please keep the flames low.

Any bang for the buck the Mustang might have is more than wiped out by the fact you would be selling a month-old car. Even if you like the Mustang, it's just a terrible financial decision and its compounded by the fact you have a TF3 Camaro (not everyone is going to want yellow). Looks like you have a severe case of "grass is greener" syndrome, but it would be better to build equity in the car so that down the line you could get a ZL1, or a Boss or GT500 or whatever.

[ffrcobra_65]

meh, we don't want simulated performance, we want real pudding. Soon it will be easy to read for many and painful for a lot.

[SRT8Tech]

Originally Posted by SIRLOIN

I guess you could say the same about the GT500's... They seem to be running similar times. Just sayin...

Not on tires........A stock GT500 on sticky tires owns the tuned, CAI, geared, exhaust and sticky tired 5.0's.

Just from what I have seen. Not taking anything away from the 5.0 but facts are facts......

[cbass]

Actually the coyote makes plenty of power for its weight even at low rpms, and is geared accordingly so dyno numbers don't tell all.

I'm sorry, but I need my rant moment. It's not against you, but I have heard it over and over from others. I am so tired of hearing about weight. The camaro only weights 250 lbs more. 150lbs can be shaved with different seats. Use a live axle instead of IRS and you should have two cars that weigh the same. I am mostly aggravated because people make it seem like the mustang is a light weight car. It isn't. It's a pig. Is it lighter than a camaro? Yes. Is it a light car? Not by any means. The mustang plain and simple is also a big, fat, heavy pig. You still have a car that is kissing 3700lbs. If you look at the last generation of the camaro and especially the mustang the current iteration is a brick.

[LOWDOWN]

[From a previous post, using Manufacturer-supplied weights/distribution figures]

"Let's say, for argument's sake, the '13 GT 500 scales @ the same Curb Weight as the '12...3820 lb. With it's existing 54-46 weight distribution, that puts about 1760 lb. on the Shelby's rear tires, at rest.

Now, the Curb for a 6-speed ZL1 is 4120...300 lb. heavier...with a 51-49 weight distribution. Of that 300 extra lb., 260 of it sits on the rear tires...

Add [1.85"] of extra tire width (305/35 vs. 285/35, as per Goodyear's specs) and suddenly (!) it's a driver's race...

Too bad PTM 5 didn't include a reprogramming of the front shocks to allow greater front lift for the 1st 2 gears from a dead stop...

BTW, when you add the SVT Track Pack option (not that dedicated 1/4-milers will) to the 500, much of that weight goes where? Yup...the front end...something the ZL1 includes at no extra charge... "

Update: To get a 202 mph GT500, you MUST order the OPTIONAL SVT Track Pack...and its coolers apparently add 30 lb...Track Pack-equipped GT500s Curb @ 3850...TWO coolers up-front, ONE at the rear. Consider the above %s accurate. In this case, the 270 lb. differential (4120-3850) virtually ALL lies on the rear tires...

[tt335ci03cobra]

Ya nice but it's not 51/49



That reads 52.9/47.1 like I posted earlier and we've all read that article. I did round that to 53/47 for easier math though but that's a small exaggeration.

I claimed 55/45 because car and driver also got that figure. I tried to use data from the same place and be fair both ways.

[LOWDOWN]

"We already know that the ZL1 will have a 580-hp, supercharged V-8-engine similar to the one stuffed in the CTS-V and Corvette ZR1. We also know the ZL1 laid down an impressive 7:41.27 lap time around the Nurburgring. And today, we learn that its curb weight is 4,120 pounds (weight distribution of 51/49), which is almost 300 pounds more than the Camaro SS that sits below it. Yes, it is heavy and now we know why Chevy spent a lot of time developing and tinkering with the suspension and Performance Traction Management system."

Source: http://wot.motortrend.com/exposed-20...ht-128699.html

I think you'll find these are the AMAA figures, legal at any race track in the land...

[JimmyDeanSausage]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Update: To get a 202 mph GT500, you MUST order the OPTIONAL SVT Track Pack....

Source?

[tt335ci03cobra]

All told; I don't think the gt500 has 54/46, I'm very sure it's 55/45.

It's possible gm is right and caranddriver was wrong but considering car and driver corner weighed the zl1, and gm will definitely want a better figure for marketing purposes, I'll go with car and driver for both the ford and zl1.

In essence; The zl1 is roughly 210lbs heavier (rounded:1730bs in the stang, 1940lbs zl1) than the stang in the rear which is roughly 11%. Again tires were 6.5 to 6.9% narrower depending on gross or net values.

All told its small potatoes either way but it's arguable that the gt500 should hold the road well enough in a corner if g force is the metric. Coupled with tall gearing and a competent traction/stability control program, the car should go around a corner just fine and launch fine as well.