Got ahold of the new Hot Rod magazine yesterday. I knew the new Mustang was drive by wire (I don't like this, but seems everyone is going that way) but with sporty looks at 300+ horses, 8 cylinders, rear drive and $25,000 perhaps that's just nit-picking.

But it seems this electronic throttle is connected into Ford's ECU computer which among other things measures engine speed, driveshaft speed, and wheel speed. If anything gets out of line, the computer senses "abuse" and goes into shutdown. This means that a stock 2005 Ford Mustang with the new 3 valve V8 engine will squeal away from a stop, the car is incapable of doing burnouts or powershifts!

Sure, you can reprogram the code in the ECU, but then you void the warranty for altering the computer.

The whole package is aftermarket friendly, and there seems to be plenty you will soon be able to do to the car (right down to reprograming the variable camshaft). But the new Mustang is turning out to be a car that's best bought used once the engine warranty runs out.

Before you pile on Ford, also be aware that the GTO has a computer program that drastically begins cutting engine power when the air coming up the intake starts climbing above 80 degrees.

 

I thought you were hinting that your were going to "lease" a new Stang for 2-3 year until Chevy's new coupe comes out?

With the amount of miles you put on a car in a given year (as you have mentioned in previous threads) I don't know if it would ever want to lease unless you use rental cars for those long commutes.

 

I don't believe that to be true. Somewhere on the net there was an 05 Mustang GT doing a pretty good smoke show for the camera.

The comment about the GTO may explain why they are now turning low 13's stock during the cold months and in the Summer could hardly break into the 13.s.

 

You can get around the computer to do a decent burnout (latest issue of 5.0 and Super Ford Magazine has a burnout shot and details on how they did it), but there is a lot of speculation that electronic throttle is responsible for the low trap speeds of stock 05s.

Still too early to tell for sure, IMHO.

 

How is 102 - 104 mph low trap speed for a car that weighs 3450 lbs and has 300 HP? Perhaps even 310? Seems right on.

 

The only problem I have read was the speed shifting..Computer did hamper this.. So what, get a reprogram for that. Most likely no one will even notice warranty wise with a reflashed computer....Only obsticle would be if you needed an update and it erased your custom program. ???

 

Thats like saying all LS1's trap at 107 - 109.
The 05's trap low, but I know why so I don't really care. I better powershift and abuse the hell out of my car to be able to stick with one up to 80ish MPH.

 

IAT temps on the goat are real sensitive. It pulls a ton of timing as it starts getting hotter. At least on the '04 cars.

Bob, have you had a chance to hop into a '05 GT to see if it can take your shifting?

 

i thought ford was about to get a jump on GM, with these new mustangs selling like hotcakes, a gt40-esque showroom car and the upcoming shelby cobra.
but how could mr. ford let this get by him? did he have a choice? if GM does this to the next rwd coupe you can count me out. i'm not saying how eager i am to jump ship and all, but if you want to take the fun factor out of a sports car you are pretty stupid...i mean....really....really stupid.

 

Problematic as this may be, I dont think it overshadows the fact that it still only has 4.6l worth of displacement and STILL doesn't make the power our LS1's make, much less an LS2. And on top of that, it will not have the potential (primarily due to CI limitations) that these LSx engines provide .

 

Are you sure about that? Or are you just assuming that these are the implications of the "abuse shutdown" feature of the Mustang?

 

If only we had a Camaro for these engines now....

 

I know a lot of people have issues with drive-by-wire but it is a proven technology. Once again the automotive world has taken something used in airplanes for years and applied it.
The C17 (which I work on) is fly-by-wire and many fighters have been for years. The systems we have are very reliable so I don't have a problem applying it to cars. Hey, there's only 2 dimensions to worry about.
As for the situation with the computer controlling drivetrain 'abuse', reprogramming will have to do. I don't like the idea of 'Big Brother' telling me how to drive a car but Mustang people are going to have to live with it or void the warranty.

 

but you must admit it isn't nice to market a car one way and then telling the driver how they should drive it.

 

The ls2 in the 05 GTO is drive by wire, however turning off traction control turns off all the checks etc maybe the same can be said for the 05 mustang?