Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris B.
Ignorant comments like this make me laugh. Before I bought my current Mustang, most of my cars were 1900-2400 lb cars that handled very well. I wasn't sure if I would like the Mustang until I drove it. Yes, its a bit heavy compared to a Miata or Civic, but that's the price you pay for having a V8 and meeting modern safety standards. You can always find something that handles better than something else, but to say it handles like crap is just plain ignorant
A 2008 Mustang GT weighs 3350 lbs. with no options. That's within 30 lbs of a 2008 350Z. Yet, I hear no one saying the 350Z weighs too much and handles like crap. The 2005-2011 Mustang GT's have a 55%/45%-53%/47% weight balance depending on options. That's similar weight balance to the 3 series BMW and 350Z. On a road course, the 2008 350Z track and 2007/2008 Mustang GT ran times within a few seconds of each other when completely stock. Both the 350Z and Mustang GT would suffer brake fade after a few laps. The brake fade issue is easily solved when the street pads are replaced with race pads and the brake fluid is replaced.
Currently the 2005-2009 Mustang GT is the dominant car in SCCA F stock. Not only is it fast, but at many divisional events, the F stock Mustang GT's are running faster times than the stock class RX-8's and S2000's.
I've run faster lap times in my Mustang when it was nearly stock than the Spec Miatas were running on the same track the same day. I'm sure the Miata doesn't handle like crap. In Car & Driver's lightning lap competition, a 100% stock 2010 Mustang GT ran faster lap times than the new Miata, Civic Si, the Mugen Civic Si, Mini cooper S, the VW GTI, WRX STi, RX-8, G37 Sport, the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works edition, 2010 WRX, Lotus Elise SC, Mazdaspeed3, Solstice GXP, Honda S2000 CR, Genesis Coupe, 3.8, BMW 135i, and EVO MR. That's not a sign of a car that handles like crap. For 2011 the track pack will include 4 piston Brembo brakes and upgraded springs, shocks, and sway bars. I can't wait to see how much faster it is on a road course after that.
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Time for some objectivity:
1). a few seconds a lap is a major difference.
2). laptimes don't just take into account handling, they take into account power and braking as well as driving ability.
3). BC of said power differences, it's really no reflection on handling ability to mention a host of cars that come with much less than the GT does.
4). Power to weight of the Mustang is higher than pretty much every car on your list. It makes sense for it to run faster depending on the track (short track, advantage shifts to a lighter better handling car...big track advantage shift to big power)
5). F Stock is a pretty weak SCCA class. The Mustang is put in there for a reason, and while the S197 platform is leaps and bounds better in the handling department than the old 1979 Fairmont fox body or SN195, it is not a good autocross platform due to its size and yes handling outside of F stock.
6). The 2011 is a huge step in the overall performance department. The next step is to get an IRS under the rear for better handling on bumpy tracks and better ride quality isolation over bumpy roads. Unfortunately, since 95% of Mustang owners drag race only, it'll be an uphill climb for people that know that a car has a steering wheel.