An idea of how big our cars are.

[SBR70.3]

It doesn't need to be a two-seater, it just needs to get smaller.

I know I'm probably in the minority here and it would cost Ford way too much to make this happen, but if they made a new Mustang model about the size of the GR86 but with a small v8 (maybe 3 to 4 liter), I'd run to the dealership immediately.

Agree. The Mustang is no longer a "pony car" and far more of a muscle car. Unfortunately those who track Mustangs are in the minority. Most people feel safer with a larger vehicle, the reason Expeditions and Tahoes sell like crack in the US. The new Dark Horse weighs 4000 friggin lbs. Unbelievable. Despite my love of driving my M1 at the track, my next track car will not be a Mustang.

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[RobZ71LM7]

I feel like I’m driving a boat/pig at times. It makes my old autox f-body feel like a go kart.

 

[Hack]

If the mustang was a 2 seater I wouldn't own one. I would have just bought a C7Z.

I really like the idea of the C7, but I can barely fit in one with a helmet on. I strongly dislike the 7 speed manual. It's just dumb. 6 gears are plenty and it's too easy to select the wrong gear in that 7 speed. I don't think of myself as a luxury or quality snob, but the Corvette build quality is too cheap and it rattles too much for me on every little bump in the road.

I test drove a low miles C7 grand sport and I was thrilled to get back into my Camaro afterwards. Much quieter, roomy and still plenty sporty enough. No rattles and although the gen6 Camaro has a stiff ride, it's soft compared to the GS - even when the GS is in comfort mode.

As a Mustang replacement, I would buy a Camaro way before a vette, especially now that there's no manual in the C8.

It doesn't need to be a two-seater, it just needs to get smaller.

I know I'm probably in the minority here and it would cost Ford way too much to make this happen, but if they made a new Mustang model about the size of the GR86 but with a small v8 (maybe 3 to 4 liter), I'd run to the dealership immediately.

I agree with most of this. The GR86 is a great size. At 6'4" I had plenty of headroom in my GR86. Subaru isn't as good of a car manufacturer as Ford, but the basics/ergonomics and size are there in the GR86. Ford could put a small 5 liter cam in block V8 engine like the small block 302 in a Mustang that size and I would buy it. Something that could easily make 300 HP without DI or forced induction and not be optimized and tweaked for maximum power as far as the current Coyote. That engine could be dead reliable with 5 liters and 300 hp.

I realize Ford wants lots of profit per unit and they probably wouldn't try to build the Mustang at a GR86 competitive price point.

I would even buy it as an upscale Mustang in a reduced size if they did a small V8 like that and put a manual transaxle in the rear like the old T56 Tremec GM used to use in the Corvette. It's not the greatest transmission, but if you get rid of the stupid 1-4 shift nonsense, I'd be thrilled with that in a Mustang. Having a better weight balance would make for a great driving car.

You can make a small car that feels safe. The body structure just has to be solid. Don't copy the Corvette is my advice. That car feels like a death trap to me.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

I really like the idea of the C7, but I can barely fit in one with a helmet on. I strongly dislike the 7 speed manual. It's just dumb. 6 gears are plenty and it's too easy to select the wrong gear in that 7 speed. I don't think of myself as a luxury or quality snob, but the Corvette build quality is too cheap and it rattles too much for me on every little bump in the road.

I test drove a low miles C7 grand sport and I was thrilled to get back into my Camaro afterwards. Much quieter, roomy and still plenty sporty enough. No rattles and although the gen6 Camaro has a stiff ride, it's soft compared to the GS - even when the GS is in comfort mode.

As a Mustang replacement, I would buy a Camaro way before a vette, especially now that there's no manual in the C8.

Totally get it! The GS is a stiff one! My cousin has had a 2SS 1LE and C7 Z51 and I have a good amount of seat time in both. I don't mind the 7 speed, but would rather a 6. I don't plan on tracking so the helmet is a non issue for me. I didn't like the camaro near as much as the Vette, but his was super low mileage and never had rattles when I drove it. The C8 just doesn't interest me at all until the ZR1 trim.

 

[Hack]

Totally get it! The GS is a stiff one! My cousin has had a 2SS 1LE and C7 Z51 and I have a good amount of seat time in both. I don't mind the 7 speed, but would rather a 6. I don't plan on tracking so the helmet is a non issue for me. I didn't like the camaro near as much as the Vette, but his was super low mileage and never had rattles when I drove it. The C8 just doesn't interest me at all until the ZR1 trim.

This C7 GS I drove had 7,000 miles on it. Barely used at all, but I don't blame the original owner for not driving it much. It rattled everywhere on smooth, newer roads. I barely had to drive it at all to be 100% sure it wasn't for me.

The C7 Z51 is a much better choice, I think. They drive like a muscle car in my opinion. The suspension is reasonable and they feel sporty. I have driven one in the past, and I don't remember excessive rattling on that car. Part of my issue with Corvettes vs. Camaros is at 6'4" I'm a tight fit in the Corvette. It doesn't feel very safe when your head is an inch from the plastic removable roof panel and you can't get a regular hard top.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

Me being only 6ft helps! LOL

 

[MAGS1]

I test drove a low miles C7 grand sport and I was thrilled to get back into my Camaro afterwards. Much quieter, roomy and still plenty sporty enough. No rattles and although the gen6 Camaro has a stiff ride, it's soft compared to the GS - even when the GS is in comfort mode.

To be fair, you drove the stiffest C7 that GM made. I love it personally, but I probably wouldn’t drive it on long trips.

The Z51 and even the Z06 are a softer ride. I can see headroom being an issue for taller folks with a helmet, I’m 6’1” and I feel like the C7 has more room than the C8. But, there’s only so much seat adjustment in those cars.

 

[GJarrett]

If you want to feel really big, park yours next to a first gen Mustang. They look tiny compared to ours. If they downsized to first gen size again I'd be throwing money at the local Ford dealer as soon as their doors opened.

 

[Hack]

To be fair, you drove the stiffest C7 that GM made. I love it personally, but I probably wouldn’t drive it on long trips.

The Z51 and even the Z06 are a softer ride. I can see headroom being an issue for taller folks with a helmet, I’m 6’1” and I feel like the C7 has more room than the C8. But, there’s only so much seat adjustment in those cars.

Not sure if you are serious that you love it. If you are, I assume you own a C7 GS. What do you use it for? Track only, short drives on weekends on nice days - or do you commute in it? I could see using it for the track, but for me it's similar to a Porsche GT car in that I refuse to spend so much for something I wouldn't use all the time.

I like the concept of the car, but in practice I don't think the execution was very good. It seems like the car is designed to make good numbers for magazines, but it's extremely impractical. I might own a Z51 if I were shorter and didn't want to track it. The little plexiglass roof just doesn't seem that safe to me. I'd rather be in a Mustang or Camaro. They might be a little slower on track, but I'm not racing for money or anything.

 

[MAGS1]

Not sure if you are serious that you love it. If you are, I assume you own a C7 GS. What do you use it for? Track only, short drives on weekends on nice days - or do you commute in it? I could see using it for the track, but for me it's similar to a Porsche GT car in that I refuse to spend so much for something I wouldn't use all the time.

I like the concept of the car, but in practice I don't think the execution was very good. It seems like the car is designed to make good numbers for magazines, but it's extremely impractical. I might own a Z51 if I were shorter and didn't want to track it. The little plexiglass roof just doesn't seem that safe to me. I'd rather be in a Mustang or Camaro. They might be a little slower on track, but I'm not racing for money or anything.

I am serious, I really enjoyed my time driving them. It’s just a really stiff car, forged aftermarket wheels are almost a must because there were issues with the stock wheels cracking, mainly due to the stiffness of the car. The wheels were absorbing a lot.

I had one that I was test driving (dealer is one I’ve known a long time, he let me live with it for a few days). It’s really a track car and for shorter joy rides. I took it for an hour+ highway drive and my lower back was starting to hurt from hitting every little bump and crack. But, on some twisty roads, the handling was really good. Better than most cars I’ve driven. I ultimately decided not to buy it simply because I didn’t really have much free time to get it to the track. It would’ve been sitting in storage a lot, and that’s something I don’t like doing with cars. I buy them to drive them, and as much as I love the GS, I wouldn’t have driven it much because it’s not really meant to be a cruiser. Once the kids are both off to college and I have more free time, I plan to start getting to the track more and a GS is on my list for that. As is a GT350 or GT500. Haven’t decided which of the 3 yet, but I have a couple years to decide.

 

[Hack]

I am serious, I really enjoyed my time driving them. It’s just a really stiff car, forged aftermarket wheels are almost a must because there were issues with the stock wheels cracking, mainly due to the stiffness of the car. The wheels were absorbing a lot.

I had one that I was test driving (dealer is one I’ve known a long time, he let me live with it for a few days). It’s really a track car and for shorter joy rides. I took it for an hour+ highway drive and my lower back was starting to hurt from hitting every little bump and crack. But, on some twisty roads, the handling was really good. Better than most cars I’ve driven. I ultimately decided not to buy it simply because I didn’t really have much free time to get it to the track. It would’ve been sitting in storage a lot, and that’s something I don’t like doing with cars. I buy them to drive them, and as much as I love the GS, I wouldn’t have driven it much because it’s not really meant to be a cruiser. Once the kids are both off to college and I have more free time, I plan to start getting to the track more and a GS is on my list for that. As is a GT350 or GT500. Haven’t decided which of the 3 yet, but I have a couple years to decide.

Try your GT on the track a few times before spending a bunch on something else. You might be surprised at how fast they are. The Coyote really shines on track much more than on the street.

 

[RobZ71LM7]

I thought the grand sport had the same suspension as the Z06. ???

 

[Timbuck]

I sure agree. After driving my friends turbo ,manual , 86 feels so nimble like a go kart. I still think it would be a really fun project to get a wrecked s550 and cut it down to bare bones and make an exo-kart style. Easy make it 2000lbs and engine wise in stock form it would be a fun rocket and very cheap to do.

 

[Gen 6 Mach1]

Our cars are about a 1,000 lbs heavier than my 1968 Camaro SS I had for 36 years and Drag Raced her for 29 of that .

 

[13GetThere]

Our cars are about a 1,000 lbs heavier than my 1968 Camaro SS I had for 36 years and Drag Raced her for 29 of that .

And if we could get rid of the airbags, backup cameras, collision bumpers, etc., etc. then I think that would take care of a 1,000lbs and about half of the price of the car. Just sayin.

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