Will this car out drive me?

[Driium]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at ordering a GT PP within the next month or so and I I get closer to pulling the trigger I find myself wondering: Will I wreck this car?

I'll elaborate: My current vehicle is a VW Rabbit, 170HP/160TQ FWD, I can drive this car at its limit without exceeding my own driving capability. I;ve never driven a RWD car with more than 250 HP.

Without getting into what I do ;), In my profession, I drive ford explorers and crown vics 12+ hours a day and at least once a day I drive those cars balls to the wall to where I need to go.

The Crownvic is literary the only RWD V8 I have ever driven in a "High performance" capacity, those who know the crown vic know they arent exactly tail happy power houses, you actually have to deliberately floor the gas around a turn to break the tail loose even a little.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I have yet to drive a vehicle that could quiet possibly exceed driving skill. (I like to think I'm a little more skilled than your average driver :headbonk

How easy is it to lose it in one of these cars?

How many folks here went from a low power commuter to a GT and how did you adjust to the difference in performance?

Have any of you guys while driving your GT's had a moment where the car drove you rather than you driving it? Looking forward to joining the club

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[cbrookre]

You will definitely need to adjust, especially if you drive in Sport+ or more. I have definitely needed to feel the throttle out regularly, especially in corners, as you can spin this car out really quickly if you are not careful. I have not done it but only because I am very aware. Have kicked the tail end out a half a dozen times, and it can raise your blood pressure for sure. Short story: respect the car and assume that you could lose it at any moment if you are not careful. Look forward to hearing your story and how it turns out!

 

[jasonstang]

If you never experienced 400hp, it will scare you a little bit.

 

[Billy1]

I'll assume from your description you are a l.e.o.. With that said it is very easy to lose a GT if you don't respect it. Keep the stability control on (at least the first 6 months-to a year) until you learn how to drive it. Absolutely don't ever screw around with the car in the rain.

Be careful of on-ramps by not flooring it. If you can find a local SCCA(sportscar club of America)sign up for local autocrosses. Start slowly, then start going faster and faster with each autocross even. Never powershift it when going around turns. Don't ask me how I know this from my mis-spent youth.

 

[Schu]

Any high HP car will... out drive you... if your base of expertise is a 170hp fwd volkswagon.

Specially if that 400hp rwd car weights around 3700 lbs...

 

[HappySquirrel]

Everything these guys have said is true. I'll add to this by saying that I just picked up my new ecoboost this weekend, and even with over 100 hp less than you I already had an "oh sh*t" moment. Last night I was getting onto a multi-lane on ramp (luckily there was no one else around) and I decided to give it a bit of gas for fun. I was in normal driving mode, and even still the tail suddenly broke loose, I let off the gas and overcorrected the opposite direction. Luckily the car righted itself very quickly and no harm, but it scared the crap out of me. If there had been traffic on either side of me it could have been an accident.

So yeah, respect the crap out of your car. If I accidentally did that in an EB in normal driving mode, well...let's just say when I see those Cars and Coffee wrecks I have a little bit more understanding, and I will be a bit more careful going forward.

 

[StoplightWarrior]

Yeap, I have learned my lessons over the years from some oh sh1t moments that luckily didnt end in disaster.

Now, with my auto, I don't drive unless it's nice and sunny out, and I don't get too hard on the gas unless i'm pointing straight!

 

[04SloSnake]

Stay away from Mustang Week and you should be good.

 

[Decosse]

If you can find a local SCCA(sportscar club of America)sign up for local autocrosses. Start slowly, then start going faster and faster with each autocross even. Never powershift it when going around turns. Don't ask me how I know this from my mis-spent youth.

+++1 SCCA autocrosses will allow you to take the car past your limit-and it's limit- under controlled circumstances. They frequently have handling and performance driving classes as well.

I autocrossed in the late 80s in a Firebird Formula and attended a couple of those classes. I learned how to practically "lose" the car and pull it back, to feel how it was on the edge. Actually I did lose it once or twice, but in a parking lot close to a quarter mile in each direction, all that happened was some tire smoke and a couple of wounded cones. With that much RWD power you can go from understeer (which a Crown Vic is good at ) to power or snap oversteer in a split second.

Wise of you not to want to be another internet video of a Mustang driver losing it

Oh, and not to assume anything, we had several officers of the law in our SCCA regional autocrosses and track days, and one of our instructors taught the local P.D. high speed driving courses.

As a bonus, it is a total hoot.

Wish you the best!

 

[plc268]

Also, be very easy on the throttle in rain or wet conditions. It doesn't take much to spin the tires. I learned that the hard way once when I tried making a pass on the interstate on damp roads. I hit the throttle a little too hard and next thing I know I was sideways.

I let off the throttle and the car corrected itself, but it was unsettling at the time.

Also since you'll be on summer tires, be similarly careful in temps under 50f.

 

[goldengooner]

Any high HP car will... out drive you... if your base of expertise is a 170hp fwd volkswagon.

Specially if that 400hp rwd car weights around 3700 lbs...

for me have always had fast cars, but i do treat them with maybe "to" much respect, really only let them fly on the motorways and only really went nuts on the autobahns in Germany
But the problem with the Mustang is the back can very easy slide out, I have a very tight turning where I live. have to swing out and do a right (like your left) so hit the pedal, to get out and on wet roads, the tires spin and the back slides, can be a bit worrying.
And it don't like roundabouts, mind you dont think you have many in the US

 

[tcman54]

Hmm, interesting, I drive my ecoboost very hard, 60mph taking turns onto sharp expressway ramps and have never had any problems. To me the handling on the car is fantastic, very planted all the time. Yes this is in Florida, it's always warm here 50-90F, never any snow and because I am retired and never really have to be anywhere at any given time... if it is raining I just wait to the next day to go out somewhere, it also keeps my car clean that way, lol. I addition I always have all the nannies on all the time.

But yes, the GT at 400+ hp could be dangerous if one isn't careful for sure.

Terry

 

[SpeedLu]

The power will definitely give you a wakeup call if you aren't used to it, and even if you are used to it the power can still get you if you're not paying attention. Several times I have spun my tires at a red light/stop sign without meaning to, or taken a corner a bit too fast and had the back end hop on me... with embarrassment following shortly thereafter. This car has some amazing tech though and it is good at righting itself.

One thing that will always surprise you is how quickly the car gets up to speed. Flooring it to pass someone or to merge onto the interstate will have you at 100+ REALLY quickly... I can't count the number of times I've passed someone at full throttle and found myself soaring down the highway at 110mph without realizing it until I looked at the speedometer. The ride is so refined that often you won't even realize you're hauling ass until you look down at your dash. :eyebulge:

This car just drives and handles its power very well, so well that high speed in the Mustang feels elegant instead of frightening. It's made worse by all the electronic nannies and stability/traction control tech that keeps the car so on point that you don't have fear anymore to keep your driving conservative. You can drive fast and hard and the car will take care of itself and stay glued to the road, which is a double-edged sword--it's easy to get overconfident and drive too aggressively when the Mustang does such a great job at correcting your overenthusiasm. The technology in the Mustang will correct some "whoops I forgot this car was so powerful" mistakes, but only up to a certain point so always respect :hail: the power and remember that electronic nannies are no replacement for good driving. You'll be fine but don't let the S550's refinement fool you; there really is a monster hanging out under your hood.

 

[5.0 Probie]

I will add... There is a huge difference between front wheel drive "Pulling" a car to go fast and rear wheel drive "Pushing" a car to go fast...

Mustangs are not puddle jumpers. They have become sports cars. One that will offer endless adrenaline spikes/smiles and will bite you in the ass if you get cocky.

 

[SnoopisTDI]

My last car was a stage 1 GTI. The Mustang is definitely a different animal.

I haven't really had any problem, and I keep it in Sport+ most of the time. I think the biggest thing to remember is if you just mash the gas pedal to the floor, and you aren't pointed perfectly straight, there's a good chance you're going to end up pointing the wrong direction. If you're going around a curve, ease into it. If you're passing someone, you can't just nail it while steering around them.

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