After a brisk early morning bike ride Saturday, Amy and I were out having breakfast with Paul M. We were driving by the Ford dealer on the way back to the house, so we stopped in to look at the 2011 Mustang GT 5.0. We had stopped in there about a month ago and it wasn't in yet, but one of Amy's co-workers got one and she LOVED it.
So Amy and I have owned and raced a lot of Mustangs in the past, but the 4.6L GTs never really did it for me. Just didn't have enough oomph to overcome the added weight of the SN95 or S197 chassis Mustangs. But the 2011 GT gets a 5.0L V8 that has 412 hp, and it revs to 7000 rpm - plus they had some brake upgrades for 2011 as well - so that all peaked my interest. The 2010 Mustang got a new front and rear look, the 2011 interior got some updates, as well as a killer optional hdd based NAV/music system - which peaked Amy's interest. From a business point of view I'd sure like to get my hands on a S197 chassis Mustang for a good while, to further develop suspension parts for them. We make camber plates for these but I'm not happy with the design just yet - it needs several tweaks and some extra polish before we release it.
So the test drive was pretty good - the dealer just tossed us the keys and we tore ass out of there for a good 20 minutes. This GT had the 6-spd and the optional 14" Brembo front brakes (which automatically changes the wheels/tires from 235mm/18x8" to 255/40/19/19x9") and nothing else. I was worried the 19" tires would make it ride like a truck, but with 40 series sidewalls - these things are mega tall - it still rode (and handled) like a big marshmallow. Brakes worked REALLY well.
We talked to the dealer a bit and I noted my apprehension with this car as well as the new 2010 Camaro - excessive curb weight. I asked if I could bring my scales up there to weigh the 2011 GT they had (only a couple were left on the lot - and this red one was fairly close to how we'd order it). She said "take it home, keep it all day, and weigh it there." So we did!
The results were about what I expected... 3605 lbs with a half tank of fuel (about 8 gal). Balance was OK with 55.6% was on the front wheels (sans driver), and a good cross weights of 49.2%/50.8% (with driver).
This weight was with the "trunk junk" removed (which didn't amount to much). Here's the options this car had...
All in all it was quite fun to drive and would shred the 255 Pirellis. The optional 3.73 gears gave it good acceleration but 2nd gear topped out at only 60 mph. That's not going to work for autocross use (ESP class would be the best place for it) so I need to run the numbers for the standard 3.31 gears and the other optional 3.55 rear ratio. The 6-spd is nice, the clutch effort is easy, and the steering seems quick - but the suspension is mushy, jacked up and needs springs and shocks in a big way.
Surprisingly larger swaybars - 36mm (obviously hollow) in front, 24mm (solid) out back - but it still has way too much lean and sway in transition. It badly needs a LOT more spring rate, and more tire.
The optional brakes are a GOOD upgrade... 14" Brembo 4-pot in front, 11.8 in back, with "updated" programming. The bigger brakes necessitate the 19" wheels, but the added inch of width is welcome (19x9") and nearly as big a wheel as the GT500 (9.5" wide).
So the weight is a bit much, but with "typical track/autocross prep" it should lose 150 lbs or more. The battery is up front and high. The power driver's and big passenger seats have to be porty, and I'm sure headers and a cat back would drop more. The car is too damn quiet anyway - I could barely hear the engine (it must have hundreds of pounds of sound insulation).
The dealer said they'd sell us one at invoice if we special ordered one. We're giving it some thought. Here's the options we might get:
Total comes to $38,350 and Invoice is about $4K less. Still... do I want to drop over thirty five grand on a 3600 pound Mustang??? Hmm... I gotta give it some thought. It wouldn't even be raced much until 2011, due to the many projects we have going on, so I might wait until Fall to order it. That way I can see how people like the new engine (dyno charts, anyone?), brakes, and how they do on track.
Kent's ESP prepped 2005 GT has ASTs, VoMo plates, 18x10.5" Enkeis, and now 315mm Hoosiers under stock fenders
I suspect they'll be a popular FStock option for 2011, as they are a good bit more powerful than the Shelby Mustangs. We'll see. Again, I'd only want to do ESP, so I could put a real suspension under it (ASTs), with good camber plates (Vorshlag), some adjustable Eibach bars, and then do NASA Time Trial with it as well. We sure have the best ESP competition (Madderash) here in DFW to gauge against.
We'll see...
So Amy and I have owned and raced a lot of Mustangs in the past, but the 4.6L GTs never really did it for me. Just didn't have enough oomph to overcome the added weight of the SN95 or S197 chassis Mustangs. But the 2011 GT gets a 5.0L V8 that has 412 hp, and it revs to 7000 rpm - plus they had some brake upgrades for 2011 as well - so that all peaked my interest. The 2010 Mustang got a new front and rear look, the 2011 interior got some updates, as well as a killer optional hdd based NAV/music system - which peaked Amy's interest. From a business point of view I'd sure like to get my hands on a S197 chassis Mustang for a good while, to further develop suspension parts for them. We make camber plates for these but I'm not happy with the design just yet - it needs several tweaks and some extra polish before we release it.
So the test drive was pretty good - the dealer just tossed us the keys and we tore ass out of there for a good 20 minutes. This GT had the 6-spd and the optional 14" Brembo front brakes (which automatically changes the wheels/tires from 235mm/18x8" to 255/40/19/19x9") and nothing else. I was worried the 19" tires would make it ride like a truck, but with 40 series sidewalls - these things are mega tall - it still rode (and handled) like a big marshmallow. Brakes worked REALLY well.
We talked to the dealer a bit and I noted my apprehension with this car as well as the new 2010 Camaro - excessive curb weight. I asked if I could bring my scales up there to weigh the 2011 GT they had (only a couple were left on the lot - and this red one was fairly close to how we'd order it). She said "take it home, keep it all day, and weigh it there." So we did!
The results were about what I expected... 3605 lbs with a half tank of fuel (about 8 gal). Balance was OK with 55.6% was on the front wheels (sans driver), and a good cross weights of 49.2%/50.8% (with driver).
This weight was with the "trunk junk" removed (which didn't amount to much). Here's the options this car had...
All in all it was quite fun to drive and would shred the 255 Pirellis. The optional 3.73 gears gave it good acceleration but 2nd gear topped out at only 60 mph. That's not going to work for autocross use (ESP class would be the best place for it) so I need to run the numbers for the standard 3.31 gears and the other optional 3.55 rear ratio. The 6-spd is nice, the clutch effort is easy, and the steering seems quick - but the suspension is mushy, jacked up and needs springs and shocks in a big way.
Surprisingly larger swaybars - 36mm (obviously hollow) in front, 24mm (solid) out back - but it still has way too much lean and sway in transition. It badly needs a LOT more spring rate, and more tire.
The optional brakes are a GOOD upgrade... 14" Brembo 4-pot in front, 11.8 in back, with "updated" programming. The bigger brakes necessitate the 19" wheels, but the added inch of width is welcome (19x9") and nearly as big a wheel as the GT500 (9.5" wide).
So the weight is a bit much, but with "typical track/autocross prep" it should lose 150 lbs or more. The battery is up front and high. The power driver's and big passenger seats have to be porty, and I'm sure headers and a cat back would drop more. The car is too damn quiet anyway - I could barely hear the engine (it must have hundreds of pounds of sound insulation).
The dealer said they'd sell us one at invoice if we special ordered one. We're giving it some thought. Here's the options we might get:
- Mustang GT Premium ($32,845) with leather, 500W Shaker audio, SYNC system, Sirius Sat radio
- 6 speed manual (duh!)
- Rapid Spec 401A interior ($395) gets you some different trim on the seats, doors, pony badges, etc. ...."Its a wife thing"
- 3.55 ($395) or 3.31 ($0) rear ratio - depending on the tire height (Hoosier 315/30/18 or 335/30/18 = 25.6" tall) and 2nd gear ratios. Shooting for 70 mph in 2nd at 7000 rpm
- Brembo brake upgrade ($1695) - 14" front 4 piston, 11.8" rear, 19x9" wheels
- Tape Stripe Delete ($0)
- Race Red ($0)
- GT Decklid Trim Panel ($225) - the back looks pretty bland without it
- Electronics Package. This is one the wife wants and I DO NOT. This $2340 (ouch!) option includes:
- Voice-Activated Navigation System with integrated SIRIUS® Travel Link™
- HD Radio
- Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control
Total comes to $38,350 and Invoice is about $4K less. Still... do I want to drop over thirty five grand on a 3600 pound Mustang??? Hmm... I gotta give it some thought. It wouldn't even be raced much until 2011, due to the many projects we have going on, so I might wait until Fall to order it. That way I can see how people like the new engine (dyno charts, anyone?), brakes, and how they do on track.
Kent's ESP prepped 2005 GT has ASTs, VoMo plates, 18x10.5" Enkeis, and now 315mm Hoosiers under stock fenders
I suspect they'll be a popular FStock option for 2011, as they are a good bit more powerful than the Shelby Mustangs. We'll see. Again, I'd only want to do ESP, so I could put a real suspension under it (ASTs), with good camber plates (Vorshlag), some adjustable Eibach bars, and then do NASA Time Trial with it as well. We sure have the best ESP competition (Madderash) here in DFW to gauge against.
We'll see...
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