GT500 Road Test

"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote in news:bJydnT6qaMXL56DYnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

Hmm. Bolt-on stuff for my LX...

So what we're talking here is basically a 4-seater Miata, Solstice, Sky, S2000, etc. with 250-300hp. But it would have to slot between the present day versions of those and the current Mustang GT.

I'd put the coupe at ~$35-36k, but otherwise agreed.

You got me there. :) On a tangent, the Chryslers/Dodges have more MB in them than the other way around.

Damn straight!

It is a truly gorgeous car. There is one in the parking lot where I work - of course it's always in the 'Reserved' spot...

No way I'd get a hardtail for that reason. Not at my age... ;)

I can cut a great deal for a friend. ;)

Basically a lighter base Mustang. The rear wheel drive is the key to the car's success, IMO. There is a reason that nearly all luxury cars are RWD now. I would think the same logic could be applied to the Accord, Maximia, Fusion market segment. The power levels of modern V-6 cars are begging for RWD.

This is true. IMO, this is what has saved Chysler's ass in the recent years.

Hey, on the bright side, it would make your next rectal exam seem like a piece of cake. ;)

I have seen that car and it is gorgeous. I also saw the SLR McLaren (the $750k model) at the DC car show last year. Now that car was incredible. Here's some links to a few pictures I took there:

"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote in news:sJadna5WhewRkKPYnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

Call me when you decide to sell. BTW, when my son reads this I'll have to wipe the drool off the keyboard. He's driving the LX full time now.

Michael, I totally agree, but what current chassis are available for RWD nowadays in that vein? IMO that's the determining factor for such a car. Most makers have all the other stuff in the parts bins.

Indeed. And the vehicles are better for it.

LOL! A little anticipation never hurts anyone. Just tell him my last dyno pull showed 460 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels starting well under

They need to design a few new goodies to make it happen. The fact is though that the hp and torque levels are really getting beyond what FWD can productively use, IMO. Torque steer, weight transfer to the rear reducing traction for acceleration and poor overall steering feel are working against FWD. This is why the luxury market and mid size and up are moving to RWD. I don't think all small cars should be RWD but a handful could carve out a nice little niche.

"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote in news:8N-dnQW2nefeHKPYnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

He just read the torque figure @ 2500 and dribbled all over the place. :) Seriously, we'll talk in a year or so. The LX will be due for a complete rebuild within a few years, and the KB with all the goodies would be perfect for the new 302 crate I want to put in. As you know, the big difference will be the AOD backing it up. So far I think I like the LenTechs.

I fully agree with you about FWD. The power levels these days are about at the limit for any degree of sanity during hard acceleration. I'd love to see the whole power mode we seem to be in nowadays move to RWD. Once the Japanses start, there'll be no stopping the trend.

Decent 1/4 mile time my ass!That thing is a big time waist of money!You can get a saleen for half the money and crush its 1/4 mile time with less power! Also Mustang and Fast Fords tested two mustang gts.One had a procharger the other had a kenne bell,both were running 11 lbs of boost and had nothing more then exhaust and fuel injectors.They were making 500 hp and running low 11 second times.You can accomplish this with about $6000 in mods to a stock GT.

KBs and auto trannies are a great match. Actually, I have the heads and lower intake in the package I intend to sell. They have had the hell ported out of them for high rpm airflow. All you really need is a short block that will allow about an 8.7:1 compression ratio. With the KB you don't use the upper intake manifold. Here's a pick for him to study:

It is coming, IMO. Once these kids that have been weened on FWD get a hold of a nice balanced RWD smaller car with some decent power and torque they will convert immediately. Our son drove a Nissan 240SX for a year and now has a Mazda MX-6 and really wants a small RWD car again. Trouble is there is nothing with more than two seats that is affordable. Ford could make the replacement chassis of of the current Fusion RWD and it would be a home run. I believe a small, affordable RWD will materialize within the next 5-7 years.

Until those powder formed rods in the GT engine bend. ;) I agree though, for the price of a GT and $10k in mods you can have a stock GT500 killer. Trouble is that throwing a KB blower on a GT500 will likely net you 700 rwhp/rwtq. That is where those forged engine parts in the GT500 pay big dividends. Add forged rods and pistons to a GT engine and things get interesting again.

This is true.As a technician myself I cerntainly didn't overlook this issue. But as you said for around 10 grand you could eat the gt 500.The other thing is if you had forged internals you could also increase the boost.Those number were at 11 lbs of boost.The kenne bell unit is known to hold 30 lbs.Im not sure how much power the block it self can hold, but you could certainly put out atleast 800 hp at 20 lbs and probably more.And all that would be off blower alone.Top end of the block close to stock.

Where does one buy a new saleen mustang for $20 grand or even 30?

With factory waranty and reliability testing, and without the various other upgrades. Sure, you could probably upgrade a stock GT to similiar performance all around for about $10K, and then you're knocking on the door of the GT500's MSRP if you started with a GT with a similiar equipment level...

er Without...

The 4.6L block is pretty stout. I've seen them handle over 600 rwhp without a problem. It is a much better block than the 302. Plus the heads are bolted on much better and can handle a good bit of boost before popping a head gasket.

You can't get a GT500 for MSRP!lmao The cheapest ive seen them for was close to 80 grand.

The on-line brochure says: "Manual Transmission Standard fully synchronized 6-speed with direct-action short-throw shifter and clutch-starter interlock." Sounds like those two cars will prevent left leg degeneration.

But I agree with your distinction. I recently drove a M35X (very nice) with auto-stick -- shifts were reasonably fast, but it still felt a bit mushy due, I suspect, to the torque converter.

A friend of mine bought a new GT500 at Schlenker Ford in Hamburg, PA 2 months ago for $47,500. A nice White one with Blue Stripes...

That's not Ford's doing. Ford at least up'd the production volume to try and short circuit it.

Guess they've seen the light on some models.... but since I have to ask how much, I probably cannot afford it.

The thing is, the clutch serves as a way to control the rear wheels. One of the biggest benefits of RWD is that one has some measure of control over all 4 wheels rather than just the front ones. Take away the clutch and there is less control over the rear two.

I just saw one on Boyd Coddingtons website white with blue stripes for 80,000 wit 26 miles on it.lol