Ford not kidding? 200+MPH, 650HP 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 breaks cover

[conradb]

Furthermore, I went and sat in the GT500 and saw the new ZL1 vert at the LA autoshow yesterday. I talked with the Ford reps. The new GT500 will have launch control, CF driveshaft, short shifter, all new ratios, 3.31:1 final drive, 285mm rears 20", brembo brakes, magneto adjustable bilstein shocks (like the M's!), and a new traction control system. These cars are nothing to scoff at anymore. I'm a huge BMW/Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo fan, but the competition has now caught up in the performance area.

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by Mookster

Hopefully BMW is listening and giving us 550HP in next M3

No thanks. Balance is your friend

Cheers,
e46e92

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

We havent had the chance to try yet.

IF my friend keeps the car, he is going to be selling his wheels to go with the forged ford racing 19s so he can run re-11s. He is also planning on getting new shocks/springs and sways.

Hopefuly the stiffer sidewalls on the re-11s and the sways can alleviate the bodyroll and help the car stick better.

That said, when the car does slip, the solid rear axle is still going to cause the same issues. The tires cant help much with acceleration over broken/uneven pavement.

Its way too much car for the street, but still is fun as hell to drive

This hear sums up why I have chosen to spend 20k more on European sports cars. I don't have 'ring times memorized, 1/4 times or anything else like that. I have no skidpad times or 3's at the wheel memorized.....why? Because I don't buy a car for numbers, I buy it for how it feels, both on the street and for the handful (6 or so) times a year I get her on a track. That is why I can't think about spending 50k on a Ford or Chev muscle car, because they are far from balanced and don't "feel" right to me when I test drive them. It has nothing to do with what badge is on the car.

Now, I have / would happily buy an American sedan or SUV.

Cheers,
e46e92

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by WRXXX

That's because real men...

Actually, real men don't get an e-peen flare-up and crack out the tired pot shots every time there's a difference in opinion.

[mattixxg]

Originally Posted by conradb

Furthermore, I went and sat in the GT500 and saw the new ZL1 vert at the LA autoshow yesterday. I talked with the Ford reps. The new GT500 will have launch control, CF driveshaft, short shifter, all new ratios, 3.31:1 final drive, 285mm rears 20", brembo brakes, magneto adjustable bilstein shocks (like the M's!), and a new traction control system. These cars are nothing to scoff at anymore. I'm a huge BMW/Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo fan, but the competition has now caught up in the performance area.

Yup. And as I said before, the only thing thats going to separate the exotics is design and price. The time of being able to burn people on the road/track because of your exotics performance are becoming a thing of the past.

Youll be looking good...in last place.

[conradb]

Originally Posted by mattixxg

Yup. And as I said before, the only thing thats going to separate the exotics is design and price. The time of being able to burn people on the road/track because of your exotics performance are becoming a thing of the past.

Youll be looking good...in last place.

Quite true.

I can understand if you want a nice looking car. If you want that luxury and refinement, BMW will still be top. If you want performance with that design and luxury, heck, Euro cars are still good for that. But when we get down to sport/tracks cars, Europe has fallen behind.

Porsche needs an $80k GT3 to save themselves at this point. The new GT-R for $90k will destroy anything but the GT2 RS on the track. The Corvette ZR1 will destroy just about any street-legal car in the world on the track these days, and it's about $100k.

COME ON EUROPE!

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by conradb

Quite true.

I can understand if you want a nice looking car. If you want that luxury and refinement, BMW will still be top. If you want performance with that design and luxury, heck, Euro cars are still good for that. But when we get down to sport/tracks cars, Europe has fallen behind.

Porsche needs an $80k GT3 to save themselves at this point. The new GT-R for $90k will destroy anything but the GT2 RS on the track. The Corvette ZR1 will destroy just about any street-legal car in the world on the track these days, and it's about $100k.

COME ON EUROPE!

I'd like to see a new GT3 for $80k, I'd sign up right now. More like they start at $110K+, you can't even get the new 991 911S for under $95k.

However, for a street car I like a car that is well built and put together..at least the preceived quality. I am all for US made cars and I absolutely adore Mustangs, its just they are still several steps behind the Euros and the Japanese when it comes to this perceived build quality.

Funny thing is when I was in my 20s or even early 30s I didn't give a crap about this..just the performance. Now I know I'm getting old, I am in my mid 40s and performance is important but so is a good build.

Now the next generation Mustang is going to be a game changer in my opinion. Ford is starting to build some good quality cars with nice interiors. I sat in a new Focus and I was shocked at the quality of the materials of this car for its price range. The new Edge and Exlorer also had some nicely done interiors, not quite up there with their Euro counterparts but darn close for quite a bit less money.

Dave

[WRXXX]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Actually, real men don't get an e-peen flare-up and crack out the tired pot shots every time there's a difference in opinion.

That's because real men don't shoot down cars simply because it only comes in a manual.

[CAPSGOD]

Real men drive diesel... come at me bro

[bimmerj]

Originally Posted by CAPSGOD

Real men drive diesel... come at me bro

lol a losing battle!

[WRXXX]

Originally Posted by CAPSGOD

Real men drive diesel... come at me bro

Nah, I would rather come at your...ahhh never mind.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by WRXXX

That's because real men don't shoot down cars simply because it only comes in a manual.

You wouldn't buy a DCT, I wouldn't buy a 6MT. Preferences - that's all it is.

Now, why are you still talking?

[chungdae]

I wonder what the MPG is like.

[adc]

Am I the only one who is not excited at the thought of a 3900lbs 650BHP car?

Someone please build me a reasonably priced lightweight RWD car with 4 seats and 300BHP. Actually the new base 911 sounds a lot like it, except for the "reasonably priced" part.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by adc

Am I the only one who is not excited at the thought of a 3900lbs 650BHP car?

Someone please build me a reasonably priced lightweight RWD car with 4 seats and 300BHP. Actually the new base 911 sounds a lot like it, except for the "reasonably priced" part.

They are actually a tad over 3800lbs...The 2010 GT500 was at 3920 without the Mach 1000 stereo which weighs right in at 70lbs. With the EPAS and alum. block saving some 100lbs+ the curb weight for the new 2011+ GT500s are just at 3800lbs.

If I can get my finances in order I may be all over a new 991 911s.

Dave

[SCCAForums.com]

adc go drive a boxster then... 300BHP is for 4 and 6 cylinders now a days... If it has less than 500HP... it's meaningless to me... might as well race/track a miata.

Dave

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by adc

Am I the only one who is not excited at the thought of a 3900lbs 650BHP car?

Someone please build me a reasonably priced lightweight RWD car with 4 seats and 300BHP. Actually the new base 911 sounds a lot like it, except for the "reasonably priced" part.

Subaru BRZ might be the one for you. I'm not sure if it's confirmed to be 300bhp..

[Darth One]

we all knew this was coming:

[adc]

Originally Posted by erhanh

Subaru BRZ might be the one for you. I'm not sure if it's confirmed to be 300bhp..

2 seater. Might as well go Cayman at that point...

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by adc

2 seater. Might as well go Cayman at that point...

Check that - it's got four seats. Now, they might not be too comfortable for adults (though they may be fine on the other hand - I don't know), but when you really need them, the gulf between a car with only two seats and a car with four workable seats is huge.

Regarding the other 300hp question erhanh addressed, its not turbo'd and its only got 4 cylinders, so its nowhere near 300hp. But, if the car becomes a success, more powerful versions are sure to follow (even if Toyobaru is currently saying not to expect them).

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by adc

2 seater. Might as well go Cayman at that point...

BRZ is 4 seater, though rears will be uncomfortable. What you want (light and 4 comfortable seats) does not exist. And given the way things go in auto industry, I don't think we'll ever see.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Regarding the other 300hp question erhanh addressed, its not turbo'd and its only got 4 cylinders, so its nowhere near 300hp.

Yeah it'd need turbo to get 300hp. And you're right now I remember the head of design from Subaru said he doesn't like turbos and he won't approve them (good guy).