S550 underwelming...

[wanted33]

I think I understand. Owning a 2018 GT, and an '06 GT I find the '06 is as fun to drive as the S550. However, to me that doesn't take anything away from the S550. Both are enjoyable to drive, just in different ways.

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[Norm Peterson]

83 G’s.. amazing his insides didn’t turn to mush.

IIRC - and I didn't go back to check - Col. Stapp did end up with some vision effects as a result.


Norm

 

[Norm Peterson]

Well for what it’s worth Norm. Us old farts will have made it to the limits of car performance! With the Tesla Roadster and the cold air thrusters they are talking like 1.5 second 0-60 times. The base cars are said to be faster than the 1.9 second figure so figure maybe around 1.4 seconds 0-60! Tesla is always conservative with performance numbers.

I will say that those numbers sure are impressive. But from a driving point of view the fact that the driver doesn't have to do much more than find some grippy pavement and mat his right foot is just 'meh' to me. Once or twice to say I'd been there would be enough.

What does this have to do with this thread? If your disappointed - Buy a Tesla!

So if one's disappointment really lies in straight line performance taking center stage over a more balanced mix of performance metrics, then what? Dare I even breathe the notion that anything else take top spot?

I’ll even add this for IC cars. Take your Mustang with a Whipple supercharger. Nothing but wheelspin off the line.

2WD vs AWD would be a big part of that, especially given that adding that W to an RWD car just moved the car's weight balance away from its drive wheels. But AWD in a Mustang only belongs in such Frankenstein builds as Ken Block's Hoonigan 1966 Mustang.


Norm

 

[ClayDee]

So I have now owned two S550 mustangs, a 2015 gtpp base and now a 2018 gt 10r80. After driving these cars every day for the past 3 years now I must say they are great cars with a lot of power and performance and great handling compared to other gen mustangs but I find myself having more fun/better time driving in other mustangs I have owned. I have had a 1990 lx hatch 5.0, a 1996 mystic cobra and a 2004 mach 1 in comp orange. Althoug all three of those stangs are no where close performance wise to the S550 platform, in my opinion they were just more of a blast to drive. They had more of a muscle car/ raw feeling that the S550 lacks and they actually felt like a proper mustang. Dont get me wrong, I love my S550 but the other gen mustangs I have owned are just more fun and exciting to drive and they actually feel like proper muscle cars. Anyone else feel this way or am I crazy? Lol. Maybe I just need a whipple.

I've owned a 99 GT, 04 Mach 1, 03 Cobra and now my GT350, and various other cars over the years. I would say my 04 Mach 1 was something I enjoyed very much. There was just something different it had that stood out from the rest. I really enjoyed driving that car. Of course my 350 is by far superior in every way and it's my favorite. Something about the New Edge stangs just felt like a more true muscle car. More rawness. Wish I still had my 03 Cobra though. Straight line in that thing was a blast!

 

[hws52]

So I have now owned two S550 mustangs, a 2015 gtpp base and now a 2018 gt 10r80. After driving these cars every day for the past 3 years now I must say they are great cars with a lot of power and performance and great handling compared to other gen mustangs but I find myself having more fun/better time driving in other mustangs I have owned. I have had a 1990 lx hatch 5.0, a 1996 mystic cobra and a 2004 mach 1 in comp orange. Althoug all three of those stangs are no where close performance wise to the S550 platform, in my opinion they were just more of a blast to drive. They had more of a muscle car/ raw feeling that the S550 lacks and they actually felt like a proper mustang. Dont get me wrong, I love my S550 but the other gen mustangs I have owned are just more fun and exciting to drive and they actually feel like proper muscle cars. Anyone else feel this way or am I crazy? Lol. Maybe I just need a whipple.

I get what your saying but I think your trying to compare apples to oranges. I sold my '03 Mustang GT 5speed due to bad knees and bought my '18 GT Premium 10r80. The interior comforts, sound insolation, ride, handling out my '03 to shame. One of the first things my wife noticed, (besides the performance), was how much more solid the doors sounded when they were closed and how much quieter it is, (other then the exhaust, the active exhaust is great when she needs more quiet), and how much more comfortable it is. Just my 2 cents worth

 

[Genxer]

I remember taking a 2015 auto premium on a test drive and thinking... that's all? And I daily drive a 4 cylinder Accord. I guess power application was so smooth and the car so well bolted together and insulated that it didn't feel ragged or on the edge at all. Yes, before I knew it the car was at speed but there wasn't the wow moment I had expected. Then I drove a 3.55 manual. A bit better but still kind of tame. When I test drove the PP car, it was much more of what I was expecting and with a tune, completely what I wanted. A nice "throw back in the seat" feel. Traction control can't quite keep up even in 2nd gear and the throttle has to be manipulated. Love it. My last "muscle car" was a V8 Maverick, which is a dinosaur in all aspects by today's standards. It was way slower, but felt fast. Cars have just gotten better, and we are going faster than we realize. Look at how the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times have dropped over the years. It's eye opening.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I get what your saying but I think your trying to compare apples to oranges. I sold my '03 Mustang GT 5speed due to bad knees and bought my '18 GT Premium 10r80. The interior comforts, sound insolation, ride, handling out my '03 to shame. One of the first things my wife noticed, (besides the performance), was how much more solid the doors sounded when they were closed and how much quieter it is, (other then the exhaust, the active exhaust is great when she needs more quiet), and how much more comfortable it is. Just my 2 cents worth

Not apples v oranges at all - it's the same comparison just seen from different points of view. Two sides of the same coin.

Evaluations coming from an appreciation for 'rawness' aren't going to be written up the same way as those coming from a preference for luxury and refinement.


Norm

 

[HoosierDaddy]

IIRC - and I didn't go back to check - Col. Stapp did end up with some vision effects as a result.

But they couldn't gauge the extent of the effects until they found the eye balls.

 

[Loki-GT]

Man I miss the days of eleven inch rotors and one piston calipers in a 400hp car...Don't forget torque boxes too..LMAO

I miss the days of 7.5" rear ends with a T5 transmission, nothing like blowing the spider gears out or hitting 2nd in the T5 and it exploding, miss those days!!

 

[jwhite]

I get it, I’ve got a SC’ed 15 GT/PP (not Pictured) my 16 GT350, a 71 Corvette and a 70 Mach 1. I love the s550 but the 70 and 71 are my favorite to drive. It’s jus pure driving fun. The 350 though is in a class of its own

 

[Loki-GT]

Not off the line. Not from a dig. Same thing for the present GT. Sure given enough room it is faster stock. But on the street you may be surprised. Stop reading the specifications and race one at the traffic lights - In Mexico...

Having owned and raced every version of Mustang GT (not GT500 or other special's) since I bought my 85 5.0 LX Coupe brand new in 1985 every Mustang built since the S197 is faster from the line, from a dig from every single measurement in stock form. For 1997 Ford actually went backwards in performance with the GT, I was so disappointed in that car I sold it after a year, that was a pig and in stock form never went faster than 15.0., compared to my bone stock 2018 at 12.0, WOW.

I'd love to invite any stock Fox Mustang (I LOVE Fox Mustang's by the way) to the drag strip for 0 to anything, heck 0 to 20 if that makes them happy or lets go in circles, that ends very badly for the Fox as well. There is no measurement where a stock Fox takes on a stock S197 through S550 and wins.

Having said all of this, I would gladly take my 1985 LX Coupe (If I still owned it), replace the trash 7.5", add a built 8" with a Coyote swap and the A10 with full suspension upgrades over my 2018 any day of the week, heck I'd take a '67 fastback done the same way.

Imagine your 1985 through 1993 Mustang with the current power levels in stock form weighing in at or under 3,000lbs..... hell yeah brother but fantasy.

In the end Ford has built the most capable Mustang GT ever. is it too fancy, yes, is it too luxurious, yes, is it too quiet inside, yes, is it the best Mustang I have ever owned, hell yes. Despite the damned nannies I frackin love this car! I don't have the coin to build my dream Mustang so I'll be sticking with my 2018 Mustang GT that puts a shit eating grin on my face every time I stomp on the gas and you switch from steering the car to steering with the rear tires, something us old farts had to learn back in the day before the nannies were installed right fatguy?

 

[Fatguy]

1988/1989 Mustangs had the 9” “bulletproof rear end. My first stripped car weighed in at 3150 with zero options and no radio. The weight saving in the wheels take it under 3000 for torque calculations. At least 3 to 1 for every pound of rotating mass saved.

 

[2018OFPP1?2]

1988/1989 Mustangs had the 9” “bulletproof rear end.

You rounding up? Pretty sure all foxes came with the 7.5" through '85, and the '86 - '93 5.0 got the 8.8", which although a vast improvement over the 7.5", is not nearly as stout as the old 9".

 

[Cobra Jet]

1988/1989 Mustangs had the 9” “bulletproof rear end. My first stripped car weighed in at 3150 with zero options and no radio. The weight saving in the wheels take it under 3000 for torque calculations. At least 3 to 1 for every pound of rotating mass saved.

Er... what?

All 1986-1995 Mustang 5.0’s came with a factory 8.8 rear, packed with shitty 3.08 gears backed up to the T5.

No 9’s from the factory under any Fox...

 

[Fatguy]

Er... what?

All 1986-1995 Mustang 5.0’s came with a factory 8.8 rear, packed with shitty 3.08 gears backed up to the T5.

No 9’s from the factory under any Fox...

As I recall we just called it the 9” rear end back in the day.

We didn’t call it a “Fox body” back then either.

We didn’t call the V8 a two valve pushrod.

Etc.

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