Corvette toasts GT500, according to C&D

[goblue]

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...avy-pedal.html

A lot of people think the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro duel has been the most exciting rivalry in the history of cars. Others think of it as the automotive equivalent of a People magazine cover story on Jessica Simpson — it’s a worn-out story, but you give it a look anyway.

By now you know that GM no longer makes Camaros, so our ritual is in limbo. (The Camaro’s obvious stand-in, the Aussie-born Pontiac GTO, is about to join the Oldsmobile lineup on the discontinued heap.) But Ford has not called it quits in the muscle-car department and has in fact produced the 2007 Shelby GT500, which is not only the most powerful Mustang ever made — 500 horsepower — but also the most expensive at $41,950, including destination. So without a Camaro, the Corvette, which lists at $44,490 and comes packed with 400 horsepower, becomes the obvious crosstown challenger.

More at the link...

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Both vehicles were tested on the same track, on the same day - and the GT500 lost in practically every acceleration test, in spite of an extra 100hp, and a supercharged torque curve, not to mention the MPG contest - which is no contest. Also, apparently on a track the GT500 vs the Charger SRT-8 would be a better contest. They ran the segment on the same track as a previous test, and the results were surprising. Personally, I think Ford didn't make the best choices, a 500ci N/A 425hp aluminum block would have allowed almost as much speed, better handling than the mustang GT, and a far better weight distribution.

[FoMoCo Fan]

Again, apples and oranges. However, don't make the mistake of thinking this is forever the "ultimate" Mustang. Carroll Shelby has said there will likely be a model that surpasses the GT500 in performance. KR.

[56 Starchief]

honestly, i dont think its fair to the mustang--the mustang is supposed to be a sloppy muscle car in comparison to a thoroughbred racing machine.

on the other hand, the mustang is too heavy. period.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by 56 Starchief

honestly, i dont think its fair to the mustang--the mustang is supposed to be a sloppy muscle car in comparison to a thoroughbred racing machine.

on the other hand, the mustang is too heavy. period.

I actually am not convinced its too heavy, ie thats not the biggest problem - its the weight distribution. The GT 500 is a great car, but its not as great as I thought before. I had assumed it was better than the Mustang GT in every way, well apparently not.

As far as comparisons - first, price rules the day. That dictates what you have access to. Then its vehicle class. Many people who can afford these cars do not need a back seat, and then these two vehicles are in exactly the same class. Throw in the fact that the Vette is the better daily driver, and the GT500 may be a weekend machine - depending on what you're willing to put up with - and the back seat becomes even more useless.
It is completely reasonable to compare these vehicles.

[BigAls87Z28]

Uh...not apples to oranges. Apples to Apples. Not Chevy's fault that Ford cant make a proper sports car.
Same price, more hp, and the car still gets its butt handed to it. I remembe when the Mustang-Fanboys were talking about how the GT500 was going to jump on Z06's and give them a run!! BWAHAHAHAHA!! I wish I saved those threads.
How they said it was going to come under 40 grand....nope
How it was said that it would do all this crazy stuff, and it doesnt.
Same suspension that a Mustang V6 has. Bigger engine, one more gear, and gfx. And Carol Shelby has the testicular fortitude to mock the Camaro concept?
GT500 is a performance flop.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Uh...not apples to oranges. Apples to Apples. Not Chevy's fault that Ford cant make a proper sports car.
Same price, more hp, and the car still gets its butt handed to it. I remembe when the Mustang-Fanboys were talking about how the GT500 was going to jump on Z06's and give them a run!! BWAHAHAHAHA!! I wish I saved those threads.
How they said it was going to come under 40 grand....nope
How it was said that it would do all this crazy stuff, and it doesnt.
Same suspension that a Mustang V6 has. Bigger engine, one more gear, and gfx. And Carol Shelby has the testicular fortitude to mock the Camaro concept?
GT500 is a performance flop.

It's a pleasure to agree with you.

[FordGMfan]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Uh...not apples to oranges. Apples to Apples. Not Chevy's fault that Ford cant make a proper sports car.
Same price, more hp, and the car still gets its butt handed to it. I remembe when the Mustang-Fanboys were talking about how the GT500 was going to jump on Z06's and give them a run!! BWAHAHAHAHA!! I wish I saved those threads.
How they said it was going to come under 40 grand....nope
How it was said that it would do all this crazy stuff, and it doesnt.
Same suspension that a Mustang V6 has. Bigger engine, one more gear, and gfx. And Carol Shelby has the testicular fortitude to mock the Camaro concept?
GT500 is a performance flop.

A proper sports car? I hope you do realize the Mustang , GT500 or v-6 was never intended as a sport's car. It's called a MUSCLECAR. A 2 plus 2 with alot of h.p. and t.q. Ford makes a very proper sport's car. That's the FORD GT. As far as people saying it'll jump on the z06's I never really heard of such a claim , maybe the old z. You're right they aren't below 40k , but i've seen quite a few sold for 42-45k where the dealers aren't stealerships. For 45K you can't get a car anywhere on the market place today with 500 h.p. brand new. There will def. be a lighter,faster Mustang in the future and more than likely a "Proper" sport's car. The GT500 is far from a flop and the Mustang GT is a very good success to say the least. I agree i'd take a Corvette over the GT500 if i had 45k to throw around, but it certainly ain't apples to apples. Btw the MUSTANG is still around where's the Camaro besides 2009?

[XCR440SP]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Uh...not apples to oranges. Apples to Apples. Not Chevy's fault that Ford cant make a proper sports car.

It's funny how many GM guys call the Vette/GT 500 comparison apples to apples, but the Ford GT and Corvette isn't fair due to the price discrepancy.

[camaro chris]

this is old. i read this on vacation in june

[Bvonscott]

where's syr74? I remember him going crazy over how the GT500 would smoke the Vette. Nope.

[fireresq157]

Shelby just needs to get his head out of his ass just long enough to smell the roses. His strategy has always been if you can't beat them on the track/road, trash them in the media and make everyone think you can. I just love the way the drop in a slightly bigger engine and a supercharger add some badges and cha-ching 18 thousand more.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by XCR440SP

It's funny how many GM guys call the Vette/GT 500 comparison apples to apples, but the Ford GT and Corvette isn't fair due to the price discrepancy.

If you want to compare the Z06, at half the cost of the GT, and how it runs near side by side with it, we can do that too if you want, but we wont because that would just be even worse.
The Mustang IS A SPORTS CAR!!! Lets not get into symantics, its a sports car. 500hp Supercharged V8, RWD, 2dr coupe, manual trans...its a sports car. Ford has ONE car to get right...ONE CAR!! With the help of the old and crotchity Carol Shelby, and still cant beat a STANDARD VETTE!!
42k for a "Muscle Car" is amazing. And people laughed at the GTO saying that was too expensive. And if the GT500 is about the same as the SRT8 Charger...thats probably right along the lines of the 05/06 GTO's as well. Id like to see that fight.
And Im sure someone will come in here and say "well its a pulley and a etc etc away from 900hp" and thats all well and good, but from the factory, Ford could not make a better Mustang. If you think about it, the Mustang Cobra of 04 ran some what with a 405hp C5 Z06.
Now you have a 400hp C6, and the GT500, which has another 100hp, can hardly keep up??!?!?!

[jzEllis]

Originally Posted by XCR440SP

It's funny how many GM guys call the Vette/GT 500 comparison apples to apples, but the Ford GT and Corvette isn't fair due to the price discrepancy.

i've never heard that argument. i'm always comparing the z06 to the ford GT. i love the GT better, but for the money would buy the z06!

[mikesright]

Originally Posted by XCR440SP

It's funny how many GM guys call the Vette/GT 500 comparison apples to apples, but the Ford GT and Corvette isn't fair due to the price discrepancy.

Don't worry. The Z06 beats the GT on the track. All for $80,000 less. That's what we call "bang for the buck."

My friend was giving me crap about the GT500 for the longest time, saying it would match the new Z06 for performance, then pulled the "they're not meant to compete, not in the same class argument." Considering the price range is about the same (GT500 price is actually about $43K, Corvette base is $45K) they compete. A GT and a Vette compete because they perform close to one another, but not on price.

Personally I would like to see Shelby try to build a mustang with more performance. They'll need it to compete with the Camaro, since it will be able to actually handle in the corners with IRS, they'll have to have more hp to try and catch up on the straightaways.

[racy]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Uh...not apples to oranges. Apples to Apples. Not Chevy's fault that Ford cant make a proper sports car.
Same price, more hp, and the car still gets its butt handed to it. I remembe when the Mustang-Fanboys were talking about how the GT500 was going to jump on Z06's and give them a run!! BWAHAHAHAHA!! I wish I saved those threads.
How they said it was going to come under 40 grand....nope
How it was said that it would do all this crazy stuff, and it doesnt.
Same suspension that a Mustang V6 has. Bigger engine, one more gear, and gfx. And Carol Shelby has the testicular fortitude to mock the Camaro concept?
GT500 is a performance flop.

Agreed...and with a price difference of only $2,500 it is an obvious no brainer to go with the Vette.

Fomoco could have done better with this one. I still prefer the 03/04 Cobras in every aspect.

However, there is one obvious thing that the magazine articles can't account for and that is aftermarket modifications. The GT500 is likely capable of an easy 650hp with the slightest of mods - smaller pulley, intake and exhaust. Like its predecessor, for a small price, one ought to be able to get another easy 100-150 horsepower out of that engine. This is something we LSx owners have never enjoyed. We are required to dump several thousand into our engines to get a similar improvement in performance.

So while a bone stock the GT500 may be a loser, I am quite sure it will easily be the car of choice for mods.