07-08-2010, 08:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-08-2010, 08:49 AM by darkpuppet.)
So my dealership was having an all-mustang event today. Go in, bring your mustang, and test drive any of the 2011 mustangs they had handy...
and of course, I pull into the parking lot to see it lined with 2011 GT500s, oh, a 5.0 GT, and of course, the Ford GT...
So, the first test drive was in a blue GT500 convertible -- since I'm a 'vert owner already...
The 1st thing that strikes me about the 2011 Mustangs is just how incredibly light the clutches are... they are lighter than the focus clutch (IIRC), and could be actuated by a 5 year old. In fact, out of the 3 pedals, the clutch is probably the lightest.
I'm not sure I'm big on this fact, since it ruins me... I'm so used to muscling my own clutch, that I never really got the hang of this incredibly light clutch, and it's quick actuation.
it didn't make for the smoothest shifts.
Another striking thing is the rigidity of the 2011 convertible. It's noticeably stiffer than the 2007 'vert I'm used to.. and the steering is light too. Once again, coming from the heavier feedback of my front end, it takes a bit of getting used to.
Of course, I'd love to tell you how it sounds, and it sounds amazing out of the box, but unfortunately, this particular gt500 hasn't passed it's minimum requirements for unlocking the supercharger, so the engine was limited to a butt-dyno-tested 250hp... and the only sound from the engine was a normally aspirated grunt from the dual exhausts.
But still, what a sound...
So, with this car still locked, it was time to try an unlocked GT500.. so we climbed into a silver coupe and went for a short drive.
And honestly, I've been driving cars that have been limited to about 200-220 HP, and climbing into something that has over twice that is quite a shock to the system. 0-80kph passes in first gear, and that's the end of the story... on city streets anyways. Unfortunately, this test drive wouldn't make the highway (too far from the dealership), but I can tell you without a doubt, that the acceleration is brutal, and the sound is just amazing.
It's almost gross negligence for Ford to make a car that sounds THAT good on boost.
This particular GT500 had the track pack, which meant super sticky semi-slicks and in a straight line you'll get no complaints from the traction control when stomping on it.
In short, the GT500 is absolutely amazing... I have a hard time seeing things that need improvement on that car. It's one hell of a package that Ford's put together.
So that's the GT500, what about the lesser stangs?
Well, there weren't any v6's in manual trim, so it was off to the 5.0 GT for a drive.
And the GT is very similar to the GT500 in terms of driveability, and to an extent, grunt too. you don't quite get that sudden assault on your senses that you get from the GT500, but you still get a good throaty surge as it asserts it's power.
Honestly, the new GT, with a track pack would likely keep up with the GT500 in all but the most demanding racing situations. It is a seriously quick car. The leap from the GT to the GT500 isn't quite so large anymore... it feels like the shelby, but with the volume turned down a notch.
It was a sad moment going back into my 2007 V6, fighting with the clutch to pull out of my parking space... and then lumbering home in quiet anonymity... I've never driven a car so eager to do what you want it to do as I have in the GT and GT500.
What a fun evening it's been so far... I'll be smiling for a couple days I'm sure -- and the car that I have that once brought me so much happiness, just doesn't feel so special anymore.
As in the focus, where 200HP makes it a VERY fun car to drive, the mustangs start hitting their sweet spot around 400HP... I foresee a lot of pre '11 stangs going for cheap in the near future as people upgrade.
and of course, I pull into the parking lot to see it lined with 2011 GT500s, oh, a 5.0 GT, and of course, the Ford GT...
So, the first test drive was in a blue GT500 convertible -- since I'm a 'vert owner already...
The 1st thing that strikes me about the 2011 Mustangs is just how incredibly light the clutches are... they are lighter than the focus clutch (IIRC), and could be actuated by a 5 year old. In fact, out of the 3 pedals, the clutch is probably the lightest.
I'm not sure I'm big on this fact, since it ruins me... I'm so used to muscling my own clutch, that I never really got the hang of this incredibly light clutch, and it's quick actuation.
it didn't make for the smoothest shifts.
Another striking thing is the rigidity of the 2011 convertible. It's noticeably stiffer than the 2007 'vert I'm used to.. and the steering is light too. Once again, coming from the heavier feedback of my front end, it takes a bit of getting used to.
Of course, I'd love to tell you how it sounds, and it sounds amazing out of the box, but unfortunately, this particular gt500 hasn't passed it's minimum requirements for unlocking the supercharger, so the engine was limited to a butt-dyno-tested 250hp... and the only sound from the engine was a normally aspirated grunt from the dual exhausts.
But still, what a sound...
So, with this car still locked, it was time to try an unlocked GT500.. so we climbed into a silver coupe and went for a short drive.
And honestly, I've been driving cars that have been limited to about 200-220 HP, and climbing into something that has over twice that is quite a shock to the system. 0-80kph passes in first gear, and that's the end of the story... on city streets anyways. Unfortunately, this test drive wouldn't make the highway (too far from the dealership), but I can tell you without a doubt, that the acceleration is brutal, and the sound is just amazing.
It's almost gross negligence for Ford to make a car that sounds THAT good on boost.
This particular GT500 had the track pack, which meant super sticky semi-slicks and in a straight line you'll get no complaints from the traction control when stomping on it.
In short, the GT500 is absolutely amazing... I have a hard time seeing things that need improvement on that car. It's one hell of a package that Ford's put together.
So that's the GT500, what about the lesser stangs?
Well, there weren't any v6's in manual trim, so it was off to the 5.0 GT for a drive.
And the GT is very similar to the GT500 in terms of driveability, and to an extent, grunt too. you don't quite get that sudden assault on your senses that you get from the GT500, but you still get a good throaty surge as it asserts it's power.
Honestly, the new GT, with a track pack would likely keep up with the GT500 in all but the most demanding racing situations. It is a seriously quick car. The leap from the GT to the GT500 isn't quite so large anymore... it feels like the shelby, but with the volume turned down a notch.
It was a sad moment going back into my 2007 V6, fighting with the clutch to pull out of my parking space... and then lumbering home in quiet anonymity... I've never driven a car so eager to do what you want it to do as I have in the GT and GT500.
What a fun evening it's been so far... I'll be smiling for a couple days I'm sure -- and the car that I have that once brought me so much happiness, just doesn't feel so special anymore.
As in the focus, where 200HP makes it a VERY fun car to drive, the mustangs start hitting their sweet spot around 400HP... I foresee a lot of pre '11 stangs going for cheap in the near future as people upgrade.
Contribute to focuscanada.net's future!
Donations of $20 and over get a custom title!