Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1998
Posts: 253
From: New Jersey
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by Ken S
Now how about the interior and build quality? If thats also up there, Ford has a sure winner on their hand... How does it compare with the GTO in that case?
Here's an excerpt from the MT review...
Is this Mustang worthy of the loyalty the brand has always enjoyed?
A quantum improvement is noticeable from 10 feet away, and it's not just the fab retro/modern styling. All the panel gaps, surface alignment, and detailing on these salable early preproduction cars look Japan right and orderly. Interior craftsmanship in similarly first-rate, with real aluminum on the steering wheel and dash (on cars with optional appearance package) and a chic, woven headliner.
A higher beltline and narrower windows conspire with a proper bucket seat and heck-'n'-toe pedals to make the new Mustang cockpit feel sportier, though the car stands an inch taller and the seat is a half-inch higher off the ground. Shorter folks may find themselves banging their funny bone into the console lid while shifting the short stick, which was moved aft this year. Everyone will notice the dead pedal is tipped forward at an awkward angle that doesn't match that of the accelerator. The rear seats accommodate sub-six-footers reasonably well, but they'll have to hold their own lattes- Ford neglected to mold a pair of cup holders into the back of the center console.
After just a few Michigan potholes, one wonders if Ford's modest structural improvements figures are overly conservative. The body feels snare-drum tight, attenuating impacts instantly. The extra rigidity coupled with the revised suspension allowed Ford to tighten up the shock valving and roll control without ruining the ride, which is slightly busy but never uncomfortably harsh. Bend the GT into a set of esse and two more contrast between new and old come into focus: The seats actually restrain the occupants so the steering wheel rim and grab handles don't have to, and the steering responds way more quickly. The ratio is actually a fraction slower (15.7:1 vrs 15.0:1), but there's so much less slop just off center that it feels more precise and nimble. And the steering feel is free of the increasingly unwelcome electronic tailoring of the ratio or effort.
A quantum improvement is noticeable from 10 feet away, and it's not just the fab retro/modern styling. All the panel gaps, surface alignment, and detailing on these salable early preproduction cars look Japan right and orderly. Interior craftsmanship in similarly first-rate, with real aluminum on the steering wheel and dash (on cars with optional appearance package) and a chic, woven headliner.
A higher beltline and narrower windows conspire with a proper bucket seat and heck-'n'-toe pedals to make the new Mustang cockpit feel sportier, though the car stands an inch taller and the seat is a half-inch higher off the ground. Shorter folks may find themselves banging their funny bone into the console lid while shifting the short stick, which was moved aft this year. Everyone will notice the dead pedal is tipped forward at an awkward angle that doesn't match that of the accelerator. The rear seats accommodate sub-six-footers reasonably well, but they'll have to hold their own lattes- Ford neglected to mold a pair of cup holders into the back of the center console.
After just a few Michigan potholes, one wonders if Ford's modest structural improvements figures are overly conservative. The body feels snare-drum tight, attenuating impacts instantly. The extra rigidity coupled with the revised suspension allowed Ford to tighten up the shock valving and roll control without ruining the ride, which is slightly busy but never uncomfortably harsh. Bend the GT into a set of esse and two more contrast between new and old come into focus: The seats actually restrain the occupants so the steering wheel rim and grab handles don't have to, and the steering responds way more quickly. The ratio is actually a fraction slower (15.7:1 vrs 15.0:1), but there's so much less slop just off center that it feels more precise and nimble. And the steering feel is free of the increasingly unwelcome electronic tailoring of the ratio or effort.
S.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by guesswhoo
AAhhh, I love it. It is wonderful to read " Welcome to 9 years ago"...........
It is better to have a new car then to dream of one...............
It is better to have a new car then to dream of one...............
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1998
Posts: 253
From: New Jersey
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by SNEAKY NEIL
I think it was "welcome to 10 years ago", and it is still pretty good to have the old car that can still put a nice beat down on the "new" one.
Unless I'm missing something, the high-13 second claims for LT1 A4 cars were in the hands of private owners.
No mag ever tested an LT1 A4 that ran anywhere near a 13.6. In fact, nearly all of the tested M6 cars ran ~14.0's.
Keep kidding yourself.
I guess I'll lump this in with the mid-13 second A4 GTO's...which are virtually nonexistent.
S.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,030
From: Frankfort, KY U.S.A.
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by PaperTarget
I hear the leather seats are of great quality, like a Lincoln.
.
.
That is not saying much.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 248
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by 30thZ286speed
That is not saying much.
Lincoln seats remind me of leather suburban seats... Just the Lincoln seat are softer.
just messin' 30th.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by Snorman
Tell me again how a 10-year old car is going to put the "beat down" on an '05 Mustang GT.
Unless I'm missing something, the high-13 second claims for LT1 A4 cars were in the hands of private owners.
No mag ever tested an LT1 A4 that ran anywhere near a 13.6. In fact, nearly all of the tested M6 cars ran ~14.0's.
Keep kidding yourself.
I guess I'll lump this in with the mid-13 second A4 GTO's...which are virtually nonexistent.
S.
Unless I'm missing something, the high-13 second claims for LT1 A4 cars were in the hands of private owners.
No mag ever tested an LT1 A4 that ran anywhere near a 13.6. In fact, nearly all of the tested M6 cars ran ~14.0's.
Keep kidding yourself.
I guess I'll lump this in with the mid-13 second A4 GTO's...which are virtually nonexistent.
S.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,132
From: Santa Clara, CA
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by SNEAKY NEIL
Well, looks like someone is a little touchy on the subject. Anyway, the 2 comments are independent of each other. The 10 year old line was just an exaggeration and said more for fun but it does hold some truth, certainly for the LS1 cars. It appears to be shaping up that the "new" GT will not be as fast as an older LS1 car. I would be more concered at the fact that the car only ran 99 mph in the quarter which is not very earth shaking especially since the auto should be a better, faster unit than the previous car. Couple this with the other test run where the auto GT ran like a 14.2 at 96 mph and it is not looking as impressive as some were hyping things up to be. Now, of course these are not the definitive acceleration times but we will just have to see.
With its more upright stance, greater interior space, smaller footprint, and upgraded quality, it's also meant to appeal to a lot more buyers. People around here aren't much for V6s, but I think the new V6 Mustang is a very appealing car when you put it up against the BMW 325Ci, Camry Solara, Honda Accord coupe, etc.
Ford's high volume V8 is a little weak compared to GM's and Chrysler's, but that's true for just about all Fords. Their low volume engines do well, but the high volume models are a little behind. (See Ford 500). So high performance enthusiasts will have to wait for the 2006 or 2007 models and pay a few thousand more for an uplevel V8.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,029
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Personally I think it's great to see a car with 1.1L less engine displacement run the same types of numbers in magazine tests as more powerful GM cars. And to top it off, it only requires 87 octane to do it. I think that one thing (octane rating) thrills me more than I thought it would I think ANY TRUE CAR LOVER would see that this new Mustang GT is a very nice car for the price. Great build quality, uses 87 octane, has 300 hp (underrated) and handles very well. What isn't there to like that isn't objective to ones own personal tastes 
I think ANY TRUE CAR LOVER would see that this new Mustang GT is a very nice car for the price. Great build quality, uses 87 octane, has 300 hp (underrated) and handles very well. What isn't there to like that isn't objective to ones own personal tastes
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 98
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by PaperTarget
Personally I think it's great to see a car with 1.1L less engine displacement run the same types of numbers in magazine tests as more powerful GM cars. And to top it off, it only requires 87 octane to do it. I think that one thing (octane rating) thrills me more than I thought it would I think ANY TRUE CAR LOVER would see that this new Mustang GT is a very nice car for the price. Great build quality, uses 87 octane, has 300 hp (underrated) and handles very well. What isn't there to like that isn't objective to ones own personal tastes
I think ANY TRUE CAR LOVER would see that this new Mustang GT is a very nice car for the price. Great build quality, uses 87 octane, has 300 hp (underrated) and handles very well. What isn't there to like that isn't objective to ones own personal tastes 
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 174
From: Jackson, Michigan
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
The 300hp is not that underrated when they are only trapping 99mph. a 98-99 z28 rated at 305 would trap consistently 5mph faster comparing magazine time to magazine time to be fair. That is underrated.
1.1 less yes...but they are an ohc engine...technically bigger than an ls1
1.1 less yes...but they are an ohc engine...technically bigger than an ls1
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by PaperTarget
Personally I think it's great to see a car with 1.1L less engine displacement run the same types of numbers in magazine tests as more powerful GM cars. And to top it off, it only requires 87 octane to do it. I think that one thing (octane rating) thrills me more than I thought it would I think ANY TRUE CAR LOVER would see that this new Mustang GT is a very nice car for the price. Great build quality, uses 87 octane, has 300 hp (underrated) and handles very well. What isn't there to like that isn't objective to ones own personal tastes
I think ANY TRUE CAR LOVER would see that this new Mustang GT is a very nice car for the price. Great build quality, uses 87 octane, has 300 hp (underrated) and handles very well. What isn't there to like that isn't objective to ones own personal tastes 
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,979
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by PaperTarget
Personally I think it's great to see a car with 1.1L less engine displacement run the same types of numbers in magazine tests as more powerful GM cars.
Do we have to go into this again?
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
I'll wait till Car & Driver get ahold of a GT 5 speed before passing judgement.
Com'on, this is Motor Trend. The makers of the slowest times in all car rag-dom.
Some of you are the same guys that dismissed Motor Trend's times of the LS1 as "not realistic". Now you are treating the Mustang times, an automatic none the less (Ford hasn't made an acceleration friendly auto in well over a decade) as the final word??!
Ya killing me!
Com'on, this is Motor Trend. The makers of the slowest times in all car rag-dom.
Some of you are the same guys that dismissed Motor Trend's times of the LS1 as "not realistic". Now you are treating the Mustang times, an automatic none the less (Ford hasn't made an acceleration friendly auto in well over a decade) as the final word??!
Ya killing me!
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,029
Re: Reported: Newest Motortrend Has 05GT @ 5.1s 0-60 and 13.8 @99mph
Originally Posted by UltraZLS1
The 300hp is not that underrated when they are only trapping 99mph. a 98-99 z28 rated at 305 would trap consistently 5mph faster comparing magazine time to magazine time to be fair. That is underrated.