Agree on the pulley. On the exhaust - who said? Its a 500 HP car trying to blow through a 2.5" exhaust with cats and stock mufflers. SVT Board or not....tis still conjecture.

Same could be said for the air intake, of course.

Bob

 

12.25 is a fast time, no doubt about it.

The surprising thing is (with me anyway), all these months, I had the expectation that any schmoe could take this 500 horse monster and run 12.25.

Instead, some better than average schmoes are making it run 12.9-13.1.....and it takes ES to make it run 12.25.

Anyhoo, it's a fast car. It's an interesting car. It's a car that spices up the automotive scene. But this is FAR from the formula I'd want for a 5th gen Z/28. VERY FAR from it.

 

I happen to know someone who spent $38K on his '02 SS coupe.

 

The Hissman guy over at SVTPerformance, a board you seem to frequent. Yes, it is all conjecture at this point, but he seems to have some sources he considers good.

 

Wow. Didn't say it didn't happen, but it definetly wasn't even being close to being the norm either. I remember actually browsing several Chevy lots when the cars were brand new, and I never saw pricing this high.

Honestly, the highest priced 4th gen standard production fbody I can recall seeing was a 02 Firehawk vert with most if not all of the SLP options, and it was still under $40k (although not by much.)

 

Yes, I do go there from time to time - but conjecture it is, and I can't imagine not seeing the same gains from this car as one saw from changing exhaust pieces on an 03/04. Though that is conjecture, too.

Bob

 

And that's why the LS1 F-bod rocked so hard.

People don't see why they're screwing themselves over for asking for extra engine options...

BTW- The GT500 is an overweight pig of a damn quick car.

 

Which is what, IMHO, made the LS1 F-body the "bang for the buck" king of the 90's for the hardcore gearhead. I came VERY close to getting a new 98 low-option Formula back in the summer of 98. Later, I did get a low mileage 99 T/A - though I think I would have been happier with the 98 Formula.

Bob

 

High horsepower != low ET.

 

like, derr!!!!!

however this is in reference to

 

Did you read my whole post, or just the part you emphasized in bold? Let me re-emphasize in my own (far less obnoxious) way:

You can spend $20,000 modifying a Viper, make an 1800hp dyno run, and then go to the track and run 11.xxx @ 150. I think it's possible that the GT500 will, in practice, be similar, and I was simply raising the issue as a possibility.

 

Could be. But for some people, that's not really a problem.

I've never driven down a dragstrip at this point (), but I like to enjoy the occasional quick romp in my car. So for me, a fast/powerful car is a higher priority than one that "hooks" hard at the line. In other words, for a car I'm going to drive and enjoy on the street, and maybe occasionally at the track, I'd rather have a car that runs 12.0@120mph than one that runs 11.8@113 or something. If the car is a track car only, where I'd be actually competing and quickest ET wins with trap speed meaning nothing, then sure. But I think the 120 mph car is probably more fun at any point other than just after the immediate, axle straining launch.

This is kind of a tangent, but you brought it up as a possibility for the new Stang (and the Viper), so I thought I'd comment.

Back on topic a bit, I wonder why the BMW M6, with equal power and far less peak torque, and very similar weight, traps a few mph higher... In any case, I think the new Stangs are really sharp looking cars, and I'd certainly love to drive a GT500. That said, when spending actual dollars, I can't possibly imagine buying one when for damn near the same money I could have a Vette. However, buying cars of this type isn't always just a comparison type purchase. There are lots of Ford/Mustang guys who will line up to get one of these bad boys, and that is a good thing for Ford (and the rest of us enthusiasts). It really is too bad that it didn't come in weighing about what a 4th gen weighs, because this car would scream (and would have far less detractors). But for someone who wants a damn fast car, a damn good looking car, with lots of style, daily drivability, 500 hp bragging rights, and the ability to get lots more power with relative ease, the GT500 is a pretty good choice.

Honestly, similar money will get you the much less powerful, slower, even more heavy SRT8 sedans, with automatics only. Great if you need a real back seat, but that's about it.

Myself? I'd take a Vette, no question. But I can't exactly fault a guy who wants to buy the GT500 (though someone paying $60k for one ought to have his head examined...).

 

While we're off on tangents, I would like to relate an opposing POV. My last car was a 550 RWHP 04 Cobra. Before that, I had a 355 RWHP 99 Cobra. The 04 would eat the 99 alive on the highway (if I had ever been able to race them). However, the 99 ran 11.4s on DRs, and for me, was far more fun both on the track and on the street.

It's all a perspective thing.
Bob

 

Besides, if I ever get the chance to drive cars of that power level for extended periods (as in if I owned them, rather than the couple of brief 20 minute drives I've had in a C6 Z06, for example), it could turn out that I'm in the same camp as you after all...

 

Dang, 11.4 out a 355 rwhp '99? That's awesome. Props. What was it trapping?

Anyway, I totally understand what you and 96_Camaro_B4C are both saying. I do tend towards a car with a higher trap speed and a decent ability to launch though, like 96_Camaro_B4C said. What I don't like are the AWD 4 bangers that use an awesome, and slightly abusive, launch to get their E.T's. Any typical driving in those cars feels MUCH less impressive. Having the ability to mash the gas from a roll, or from a rolling launch, and FEEL the car slamming you forward is more fun for me.

That's why I say that the GT500 is still going to be fun as heck to drive, but isn't for the die hard drag racing, or track fan. People will modify then for both uses, but the weight will be it's downfall in both cases.

Dan