[Bob Cosby]

Yes, taking a clover leaf at anything over 5 mph in a GT500 will likely result in a rollover. Ya know?

The car handles GREAT - the ZL1 simply handles better (GREATER, if you prefer). We know this.

And some of us actually prefer the SLA...believe it or not. Bob

[72MachOne99GT]

I agree with everything eolson said up to the VERY last part when he said Ford needs to get with it.

The car, for having it's Terribly outdated, underperforming live rear axle performs nearly on par with this "new age technological world beater" in every category except ride comfort and handling disruptions in pavement. Ford and SVT both know what the majority of their customers want.

Power with a very good handling suspension to go with.

Just like the Zl1 gives

Suspenion/Handling with very good power.

[Bhobbs]

Will the next get Mustang have a live rear axle or independent like the Camaro?

[Bob Cosby]

IRS.

[tt335ci03cobra]

Not just irs but also a state of the art chassis that's brand new, stiffer and lighter. The body work should be considerably more aerodynamic and slippery... Turbos are plausible as well. I think a forged 9.8/1 win turbo 5.0 coyote with vvt-i would be a great replacement for the 5.8, lighter as well and shorter/smaller for a better center of gravity.

700hp could easily be had from 5500-7000rpms with this motor configuration with just 10psi. With vvt-I it could easily make 600lb/ft from 2400- 5500rpms peaking at 700+.

I hope both Chevy and ford switch to turbos. They are incredible when engineered correctly. Lag is a problem of the past now that so much is known and understood regarding spool and sizing a kit. They could get it setup with twin 52mm turbos that would literally have 10psi by 2200rpms.

[truth411]

Originally Posted by eolson

The Edmunds article seemed clear and objective to me.

The data from the slalom and figure eight seem consistent with other sources. I didn't hear that the GT500 had excess sway or was unbelievably heavy feeling. The ZL1 simply can produce more G force in cornering while maintaining grip, and therefore is 1.8 mph faster in the slalom test. The ZL1 at Gingerman Raceway(2.4 miles) was .7 seconds faster in back to back tests.

This is objective information, and consistent. Now it can be compared directly to the big three magazine tests for consistency, and soon the real differences will be tangible by repetition.

Gingerman regulars are saying .7 seconds at that course run by one driver is not a large variance, as the slower to fast times of cars that run there 147 down to 134, depending on the car, the driver, and the drivers ability with particular cars varies the times a good deal. They consider a 145-146 OK. .7 seconds difference for a single driver needs to be repeated by other drivers.

I have no doubt the ZL1 is faster on the road courses, it's just verifying objective averages of how much at this point for me would be helpful and accurate, just as the 0-60 and 1/4 mile averages have been multiple to verify. Erik

The ZL1 .7 sec quicker laptime would have been greater if it wasn't for the driver's miss-shifts or it would have been 1.2 sec quicker per lap according to the article. Also I would submit if the driver left P.T.M. engaged he would have been quicker still, in other words there was alot of ZL1 performance left on the table based on this review.


ZL1 = Track star
GT500 = Dragstrip star

edit : Also I don't see the point of averaging track time differences when no track are the same configuration or length.

[A-little-perspective]

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

I agree with everything eolson said up to the VERY last part when he said Ford needs to get with it.

The car, for having it's Terribly outdated, underperforming live rear axle performs nearly on par with this "new age technological world beater" in every category except ride comfort and handling disruptions in pavement. Ford and SVT both know what the majority of their customers want.

Power with a very good handling suspension to go with.

Just like the Zl1 gives

Suspenion/Handling with very good power.

I agree, I don't think Ford is that far behind.

Looking at the big picture. Everyone is benchmarking the Shelby to the ZL1 in terms of handling. Yeah it underperforms. However, no one really knows how good or bad the Shelby is compared to other cars.

I hope MT throws a 3rd car into the comparison just to put things in perspective. Perhaps an M3 or Grand Sport. If nothing else Laguna Seca has one configuration with a bunch of published times. That may be all there is to go by.

[truth411]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

I agree, I don't think Ford is that far behind.

Looking at the big picture. Everyone is benchmarking the Shelby to the ZL1 in terms of handling. Yeah it underperforms. However, no one really knows how good or bad the Shelby is compared to other cars.

I hope MT throws a 3rd car into the comparison just to put things in perspective. Perhaps an M3 or Grand Sport. If nothing else Laguna Seca has one configuration with a bunch of published times. That may be all there is to go by.

Hasn't both the ZL1 and GT500 done V.I.R. runs?

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

Will the next get Mustang have a live rear axle or independent like the Camaro?

IRS, like the Gen-10 T-Bird. But I doubt they'll have 662 hp... A nice n/a 5.0 or 5.8 @ 450-500 hp, in a lighter/more compact platform will make for efficient "balanced" performance.

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

I hope MT throws a 3rd car into the comparison just to put things in perspective. Perhaps an M3 or Grand Sport. If nothing else Laguna Seca has one configuration with a bunch of published times. That may be all there is to go by.

The current Laguna Seca session for MT includes several cars of several Classes. Details next week...

[C5RocksC5]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

The current Laguna Seca session for MT includes several cars of several Classes. Details next week...

can't wait to read about that. To me, it isn't about the ZL1 vs GT500 anymore, it's about these two awesome $60k american cars vs the $100k+ cars.

[assasinator]

a 1984+ corvette is faster than my 02 Deville.

so is a mustang....any of them


so is a camaro...all of them. Does it mean anything to me?

if you want a car to compete with another, you need a lot of cash IMO. Because you will be buying one after another.


If a 5th gen fan bought a ZL1 to be king of the road, well... it was purchased for the wrong reason. IMO gt500 fans can quit shoving it in the face of folks who love their cars, and go race each other, or go race 1500rwhp superleggeras.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

IRS, like the Gen-10 T-Bird. But I doubt they'll have 662 hp... A nice n/a 5.0 or 5.8 @ 450-500 hp, in a lighter/more compact platform will make for efficient "balanced" performance.

I agree but it would be a hard sell going from 660+ HP to even mid 500s unless they can take a hit in the HP but still put down as good or better 1/4 mile times.

[tt335ci03cobra]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

IRS, like the Gen-10 T-Bird. But I doubt they'll have 662 hp... A nice n/a 5.0 or 5.8 @ 450-500 hp, in a lighter/more compact platform will make for efficient "balanced" performance.

I highly doubt they'll axe 162-212hp dude. That's not gonna happen. The next gt500 may have to wait and come out as a 2016 model year in 2015. That said, it won't be so they can water it down. They'll come back with 700hp, modern 5.0 coyote's with twins have pulled 26mpg highway and made 700whp on 12psi.

They'll do well to end up putting something like a tt 51mm 5.0+ coyote with 9.8/1 fully forged and vvt-I equipped in it making 700hp and 700+ tq.