2013 Mustang GT500 MEGA THREAD

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

So, basically, GM has to have a response by the time the Mustang gets IRS which will moot the point of the ZL1 being the better handling car.

Ford was first to the Show with IRS in the '03-'04 Cobras. HOWEVER, as is the prime focus (apparently) of Mustangers, Cobras build with BIG power and slicks had "issues" by breaking the IRS. So, for co$t considerations and drag-focused buyers, the "new" '05 Stang went back to exclusive use of the SRA. Works at the drags, not so at the road course/autoX, relatively, as OEM-equipped.

Next-Gen Stangs (and Camaros) will be smaller AND lighter, without the utilization of sick 580+ hp in either case (CAFE '16, anyone?). Power-to-weight will moderate, and IRS will be utilized by BOTH...with MRC-type (electronic-controlled suspension, be it MRC or Bilstein or...?) enhancements available for both. With the auto manufacturers' worldwide focus, it simply will need to be so as to be considered "competitive", elsewhere...

[ihaveacamaro]

Has the video of the Gt500 hitting 200 been posted yet?

[A-little-perspective]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Case in point: Yesterday in the NASCAR race at Sonoma, Marcos Ambrose DOMINATED in both Practice AND Qualifying. Sat on the Pole. Led early...then fell back to the pack. Finished 8th. But his "hero lap(s)" were the very BEST.

As a Team owner, you'll know that on any given day, any given car and/or driver can dominate, but the checkered flag drops on the BEST combination of speed, handling, tire management and consistency...which "drifting" seldom allows, over time.

I'm also amazed AGAIN at the number of folks who assume ALL GT500s are created "equal". Without the TWO optional packages, they are NOT, with regard to "handling".

When was drifting brought into this discussion? When did we leave the realm of the 1/4 mile and road courses and enter into Tokyo?

[8cd03gro]

I think it's clear what each car holds. The ZL1 is more refined and livable with lots of tech to keep it in line. A more euro/japanese approach until recently. I don't consider this a bad thing, but a great step in another direction missing from the pony cars for years. On the other hand, the GT500 is just balls out fast and scary and it seems some of the bowtie crowd underestimated the effect of monstrous power on a road course. Different strokes for different folks. Both are two of the coolest cars on the road right now imo, and I can't wait to see the lighter, more worldly next generations of each.

[devildog1679]

Since all comparos are hero laps then I guess we'll never know for sure which is the better car on a given track? Damn some people are just looking for excuses to avoid giving the win to the GT500 but I can tell you with 100% certainty that if the ZL1 gets the faster lap times by the big three (C&D, MT, R&T) then I will with no doubt give it the props that it deserves even though I’m a Mustang owner.

[Rock36]

I can't wait until the 2013 Car and Driver Lightning lap myself. You know both of these cars will be in the next one.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by Rock36

I can't wait until the 2013 Car and Driver Lightning lap myself. You know both of these cars will be in the next one.

Yes, I'm actually more interested to see how the hype of these cars compares with the proven track giants rather than each other. I want to see how well they keep up with (or beat) the competition overseas.

[ihaveacamaro]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

When was drifting brought into this discussion? When did we leave the realm of the 1/4 mile and road courses and enter into Tokyo?

It just seems that since the ZL1 isn't winning in a head-to-head comparison against the GT500, other aspects of racing in general are being brought up lol

Originally Posted by devildog1679

Since all comparos are hero laps then I guess we'll never know for sure which is the better car on a given track? Damn some people are just looking for excuses to avoid giving the win to the GT500 but I can tell you with 100% certainty that if the ZL1 gets the faster lap times by the big three (C&D, MT, R&T) then I will with no doubt give it the props that it deserves even though I’m a Mustang owner.

I have to agree, it seems like I'm hearing a lot of excuses for the ZL1...

I really can not wait to see all the magazines take out the ZL1 and GT500 in a head-to-head race!

[richtor]

Originally Posted by devildog1679

Only if the GT500 posts a faster time. If the Zl1 has the faster time than it is counted as a win

Hero lap it is....

[eolson]

I love this thread. It's like having an AA meeting without the smoking. Erik

[TheReaper]

"All it took was one lap around Streets of Willow in the Shelby GT500 and we understood why Ford officials conducted the initial press drives with the traction control system on. This thing is a wild ride. An edge-of-your-seat, check-the-life-insurance, remember-your-kids kind of ride that is unmatched in the pony car world."

This says what most people want to hear. I love it.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

On the other hand, the GT500 is just balls out fast and scary and it seems some of the bowtie crowd underestimated the effect of monstrous power on a road course. Different strokes for different folks.

The GT500 must have completely left the ZL1 on those two straights, like terribly. I wish they would have given a turn-by-turn analysis like the other mag did.

[Blue Maro Demon]

Before anyone looks forward to the Car & Driver lightning lap we all know who they will choose by default- The Shelby GT500

Car & Driver are the most Ford loyal magazine I have ever read or seen. The ZL1 stands no chance in their comparison. The ZL1 will be judged more fairly by Motor Trend & Road & Track before it will be in Car & Driver. If Car & Driver picked the ZL1 over their Ford biasness then it would REALLY show how good a track car the ZL1 is but I dont see it happening hope im proven wrong though.

[tt335ci03cobra]

-Drifting is not what the gt500 is doing while lapping faster than the zl1.

-the 03 cobra's didn't snap axels with slicks installed. They snapped em with hard sidewall drag radials and 4k launches on stock bushings and shafts. Mine holds up just fine to 900whp and has aftermarket axels, bushings, shims, and a trutrac, but irs nonetheless.

-stop bringing up drifting. I can rally off 80,000 point laps on maple valley in Forza 4 with my s class drift 00 cobra r. Those laps are top 100 leader board scores out of 200,000 people. I also have a lowly a class 00 cobra r that has lap times in the top 500 out of 380,000 lap times on that same track. My drift laps are 9 seconds slower even though that setup has 215 more hp and weighs 300lbs less.

-my real car is a 900whp no traction control, no stability control 03 cobra and I can easily get into messy mid corner drifts; they are scary as fck and bring your heart beat up to 200 bpm. They are not the fastest way around a race track or corner.

I kept letting the drift vs finesse argument pass but I'm getting tired of it now. It's bullet car vs chassis car. Both handle well enough or have enough power to offset what the other makes as its stride.