Question on track pack

[sotek2345]

I know this is probably a silly question, but what do you all think about the track pack for a daily driver? From many of the posts here it seems like it is a very popular option and a necessity for most people. I looked at the '14 pack on Ford.com, and the Brembo brakes seem like a good idea, but I am not a fan of summer tires.

Can someone help me understand better.

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[Nate408]

It also comes with wider tires which is a plus. The TP comes with a quicker rear-end for faster acceleration at the cost of a small amount of mpg. In the past it also came with things like a larger radiator and oil cooler(s). These features aren't really necessary outside of extreme driving situations (extended periods of WOT) as would be experienced on the track. However they will still serve to improve the longevity / reliability of the engine to a small extent.

TP is a natural for those with the means, and those interested in getting the full potential from their Mustang from the factory.

 

[Hashbrownn]

Big brakes = take my $$

 

[sotek2345]

The brakes definitely interest me. Wider tires are nice as well. The gear ratio would actually be a slight negative for me ( I intend to drive this baby about 70 miles a day to and from work, plus weekend driving, so an MPG hit gets expensive over time (I do know you have to pay to play though). The summer tires are definitely no good, They slide around in the rain way to much for my liking.

All in all, it sounds like I should avoid this one and just get an aftermarket brake upgrade if I feel the need.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Shredicus]

You would be a prime candidate for the Ecoboost stang with the Performance Pack. Should save you some serious dough as a DD.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

The brakes definitely interest me. Wider tires are nice as well. The gear ratio would actually be a slight negative for me ( I intend to drive this baby about 70 miles a day to and from work, plus weekend driving, so an MPG hit gets expensive over time (I do know you have to pay to play though). The summer tires are definitely no good, They slide around in the rain way to much for my liking.

All in all, it sounds like I should avoid this one and just get an aftermarket brake upgrade if I feel the need.

Thanks for the help.

In the '13/'14 GT's, you could have just looked at Brembo Package cars if you like the big brakes, bigger wheels & tires, but don't need the 3.73 Torsen, and extra cooling goodies. You could have the Brembo Package with the standard 3.31 gears for better mileage, as well (or 3.55's or 3.73's), with a manual transmission.

 

[Tony Alonso]

The summer tires are definitely no good, They slide around in the rain way to much for my liking.

Is this a general impression or are you talking about a specific experience with the current Mustang summer Pirelli tires on the GT?

 

[chopsui]

Why do the bigger brakes interest you if you're just driving on the street? Keep in mind, the base GT will come with brakes that are the same size and as good or better than the current Brembo package.

 

[sotek2345]

Is this a general impression or are you talking about a specific experience with the current Mustang summer Pirelli tires on the GT?

It was an experience I had on summer tires with my 2001 GT. I was driving it home in heavy rain and the rear tires hydroplaned during a low speed (about 10 mph,) left hand turn causing the car to spin out and crash into the curb. It destroyed one of my rims. Once I switched to all season that actually had decent tread, I never had the issue again.

Also, I live in the northeast. It would be far too easy to get caught in the first snow of the season (if it comes early), before I switch over to the blizzaks. That would be very bad news in summer tires.

 

[sotek2345]

You would be a prime candidate for the Ecoboost stang with the Performance Pack. Should save you some serious dough as a DD.

It probably does, but one of my favorite parts about a mustang is the V8 roar. My current ride (2012 Nissan Juke) is the turbocharged i4, and while it can be fun, it is no V8.

 

[alexx205]

Ragarding the tires:
Summer tieres don't mean they are worse in rain. Actually a good summer tire is better in the rain (in the summer) than a good all season tire! Just if it is getting really cold (and starts to snow), the all season is better. But then again a real winter tire is better than the all season in those conditions.

 

[Proudgeek]

The track pack also requires 20w50 oil as per ford. This oil requirement is intended to protect the engine during track use and has some cost implications if you typically have the vehicle serviced at a dealer.

 

[jimmypop13]

The track pack also requires 20w50 oil as per ford. This oil requirement is intended to protect the engine during track use and has some cost implications if you typically have the vehicle serviced at a dealer.

Wow I didn't know that. Thats good to know if the car ever has to go in for major service. I'm considering the track pack bc I like the black wheels and taller gear in the rear but my car probably would only ever see the quarter mile in terms of track use so I was probably gonna run Mobil 1 0w40 European formula. It did awesome in my built ls6 engine.

 

[sotek2345]

I didn't know about the oil either, that is a major negative. I like to do all of my own oil changes and that doesn't sound like something I can pick up at the local Walmart or advance auto.

 

[Tony Alonso]

It was an experience I had on summer tires with my 2001 GT. I was driving it home in heavy rain and the rear tires hydroplaned during a low speed (about 10 mph,) left hand turn causing the car to spin out and crash into the curb. It destroyed one of my rims. Once I switched to all season that actually had decent tread, I never had the issue again.

Hydroplaning occurs when the tread grooves are not able to evacuate the water fast enough. In fact, in the right temperatures, the summer compound grip should be quite good on wet surfaces, assuming the water is moved out of the way.

If "decent tread" means tires with more tread depth, then that is what gave you the wet weather performance improvement.

Summer tire performance in the wet would more likely be affected by lower temperatures (under 40 deg F).

Also, I live in the northeast. It would be far too easy to get caught in the first snow of the season (if it comes early), before I switch over to the blizzaks. That would be very bad news in summer tires.

Yes, precisely - summer tires lose their grip in the lower temperatures because the rubber compound hardens. All-seasons and winters have compounds to resist that. Also, the all-seasons and winters have a tread pattern which is more conducive to "biting" the snow.

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