Mustang Kicks A Goat. News At Eleven.

Thanks for posting that comparism btw the 'stang and GTO. Both cars have their strong points, and it's up to the prospective buyer to determine which one to go with. However, the GTO's styling isn't all that different from other vehicles out there while the 'stang can't be mistaken for anything else.

-=G

Very cool, Patrick. I am somewhat surprised though with the end results.. although I am pleased. What year models are they comparing?

-Mike

-- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote in news:1102822767.379833.196310 @f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

It appears that the winner was decided based on emotion and feeling. Certainly, this one of the biggest (if not _the_ biggest) reasons we buy any particular car. But looking at the objective data, the GTO came out pretty much on top.

The "Gotta have it factor" (the category with the largest difference) was a 7-point difference in favor of the Mustang. Take away that entirely subjective opinion, and the GTO runs away with the prize.

As long as the "Gotta have it factor" was included, I'm wondering why C&D didn't include a "Chick magnet factor"? Had they included that, the Mustang would've killed the Goat. But that kind of subjective stuff isn't why we read comparos, is it?

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

I would call a one-point difference out of 210 subjective points a draw, personally.

Brian

I read the article in the magazine and they basically said they couldn't let one of their "Ten Best" picks be beaten by a car that never made the list. They never intended for the Goat to beat the Mustang from the start of the comparison. I agree that, by the numbers, the GTO soundly beat the Mustang. They pull the same crap when comparing American cars to foreign ones. It's just one of the reasons why I don't trust Car & Driver to give an honest review or comparison.

Michael Johnson, PE opined

And I dont either.... but looking at the -more or less- subjective stuff, I think they MIGHT have tried to weight it toward the GTO.

- I speak of handling and "steering feel", whatever the hell THAT is!

Since I dont have experience in either car and havent had the interest to drive the later cars, I have to track back to my 84 SVO.

When I got it, i fell in love with cars all over again. I was so ecstatic with its performance and MAINLY the handling, I begged driving sessions in both Camabirds and Corvettes to see if I was maybe over stating myself.

MY RESULT, as a middle aged seat of the pants driver.. I felt the SS's and Vettes would surely kick my SVO's ass on both power and time elapsed as well as speed through corners ...BUT, even trying to compensate for the difference in road feel through the steering wheel, I REALLY felt that the only one I would be able to get used to was the Vette. The ony RECENT GM car I drove that I'd love to have is my Bro' in Laws 02 Vette.. took THAT thru the twisties and it was a hoot!.. Took my Bro's Early

Of course all that is HIGHLY subjective and I really have NEVER liked GM's "road feel" though all reviewers seem to prefer it over Ford's for the same type of car.

Bottom Line: It's all just words

results..

Both are '05 models.

Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD

Yes it did. However, while the GTO handily beat the Mustang on the track, at least the Mustang didn't embarrass itself. A 103 trap speed is pretty stout for a stocker, and so are the rest of the Mustang's track numbers. And now we know with a little super tune (an aftermarket chip) the Mustang is capable of running all over a stock GTO, and do it for about 5 grand cheaper.

For me, either car would be a worthy addition to my garage. Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD

couldn't

Mike,

You need to reread the text. That's not at all what they said.

I like C&D. I think their reviews, for the most part, are pretty accurate.

You have to admit there's a lot of subjective things that go into picking a winner. (i.e. The feelings of most of us in here deciding between a Mustang or a LS1 Cambird.) And you have to give credit to C&D for actually picking winners. Motor Trend seems to always let the reader decide.

Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD

I'm reading between the lines. The fact they even mentioned this makes me suspect of the comparison. I feel they are really saying "The Mustang is better", wink, wink.

I don't think they are any worse than the other major car mag and in many respects they are better. Especially over the past few years. I think the '05 Mustang is an overall better muscle-type car than the GTO but I admit that I'm biased. I think this comparison was tweaked to give a close result but in the end leave the Mustang with a win. But then again, I haven't driven either car so what do I know. :)

Ahh! Figured so, but wanted to make sure. Cool!

-Mike

-- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote in news:1102882506.544304.61210 @f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Patrick, I agree 100% with you. The Mustang is a wonderful car and I'd probably get one if I were in the market now. For the price it's unbeatable.

My problem with the comparo was that the only category that the Mustang scored big with was the ridiculous "Gotta have it factor". It almost seemed that C&D needed that bogus category to have the Mustang win. When mags do that kind of stuff it just reduces their credibility IMO.

BTW, I couldn't find the new C&D. They only had the 12/04 issue in the bookstore we visited today.

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

This sure makes up for last years GTO being called the winner against the Cobra in a Muscle Car contest. The Cobra out performed it in every category except ergonomics, but I guess that was enough to claim it was a better "Muscle Car" by a couple old fogies.

Also the Cobra wasn't on their "Ten Best" list. ;)

Ford should be proud that the Mustang did this well in comparison with a car that costs so much more. (You left out the MSRP comparison. What is it?) But I wouldn't say the Stang "won," much less left hoofprints on the GTO. Just two categories -- value (10-8) and "gotta have it" (25-18) -- were enough by a factor of 9 to give the Mustang its 1 point squeaker of a win. And both are based on the perceptions of the marketplace, aka idiots. Try to step back from the hype and ask yourself which one you'd rather have in your driveway. It's no contest: the GTO.

The GTO can stay in the driveway...I'll be driving the Mustang.

Agreed. The look is growing on me of the 05 Mustang... I'd take it over the GTO any day. Sorry, GTO fans. Just does nothing for me.

-Mike

-- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch

Dinsdale wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

perceptions

I'm curious - what's the basis for the decision?

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

Simple, because I like the Mustang better.