2011 GT500 vs Corvete GS
10-07-2010, 11:20 AM
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Staging Lane
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2011 GT500 vs Corvete GS http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/co...d-shelby-gt500
The Chevrolet Corvette is the classic American sports car. The Ford Mustang is the quintessential American pony car. In the past, a decision between the two might have been easy: If you like going straight, choose the Mustang. If you occasionally stray onto a curvy back road or find yourself at a track day, opt for the low-slung Corvette. But the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a pony that’s ready to run, straight or twisty, while the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport has the handling prowess of the Z06, but without that car’s 7.0-liter V-8—or its high price. So which car rules the American roost?
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
The Grand Sport replaces the Z51 in the Corvette model lineup. For roughly $6000 more than a base Vette, the GS gets the Z06’s brakes, dry-sump oiling (for its hand-built 436-bhp 6.2-liter LS3 V-8), wheel sizes, tires, front clip, hood and rear fenders. The Grand Sport shares the Z06’s anti-roll bars, but the springs and dampers are unique.
The result is handling performance about equal to the more expensive Z06. True, the GS suffers from slightly more understeer because of its weight (it uses a steel frame, as opposed to the Z06’s aluminum version) and softer springs, but it’s considerably more sporting than the previously offered Z51 performance package. And, it’s much less of a handful around the track than the Z06. There's still plenty of power, but the car is considerably less twitchy.
The handling numbers back this up, as the Grand Sport pulled 0.96g around the skidpad and averaged 70.7 mph through the slalom. But get this: The considerably heavier Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang managed an incredible 1.00g circling the skidpad, and was almost as quick through the slalom, with an average speed of 69.6 mph.
Of note, all Corvettes with manual transmissions now come standard with launch control. Foot to the floor, drop the clutch and feel (and hear) the awesomeness of this system. The distinctive pop and crackle as the engine control module manages torque with fuel and spark control is a beautiful thing.
With a base price of $54,770, the Grand Sport is a whopper of a bargain versus the Z06, costing nearly $20,000 less. Now that’s some math we can all appreciate.
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
Only last year, the Shelby GT500 received a serious makeover. Now the boys at Ford/SVT and Shelby have gone and done it again, dropping weight, adding power and giving it even more performance than the past-generation KR edition. From a pure numbers standpoint the new all-aluminum V-8 does little apart from removing about 100 lb. from the nose of the car. Power is up slightly thanks to a lower-backpressure exhaust that exhibits a bit more rumble than its predecessor. The newly introduced $3495 SVT Performance Package is the option that makes the biggest difference to the car’s dynamics. Larger Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires (265/40ZR-19 front, 285/35ZR-20 rear) really let the track-oriented suspension work. As our numbers show, the 2011 model trumps the “King of the Road” in every performance category, while hanging with, or besting, the Corvette Grand Sport.
At the test track, the Shelby’s 550-bhp supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 enabled it to consistently hit 60 mph in the mid-4s (the Grand Sport managed 4.1 seconds, although the cars tied to 100 mph—at 9.2 sec.) and suffered little to no heat soak after repeated runs. Around the skidpad, the SVT suspension worked its magic and resulted in exactly 1.00g, while the Grand Sport could only manage 0.96g. Think about that: A Mustang out-handling a Corvette! Since the Shelby’s suspension was designed more for the track than the road, it did give up some stability in our slalom, requiring a deft touch to keep the rear wheels planted; hence the reason the Shelby couldn’t quite match the Grand Sport’s slalom speed.
As an aside, the Shelby’s handling numbers are even better than the Ford GT we tested back in December 2003. Impressive stuff for a factory-modified Mustang to best a mid-engine exotic.
Conclusion
After the dust had settled, the Ford Shelby GT500 came out as the winner. It can hang right with the Corvette Grand Sport in acceleration and handling—and in some cases, such as the skidpad, even outperform it. What’s more, the Shelby’s starting price is about $6000 less, while its as-tested price is almost $13,000 less. Don’t get us wrong: The Corvette Grand Sport is one heckuva good car, and a true bargain in the Corvette world. But the Shelby GT500 is even more of a steal, and without question the most impressive Mustang we’ve ever driven.
Make/
Model
2010 Chevrolet
Corvette
2011 Ford Shelby
GT500
List price $54,770 $48,645
Price as tested $68,365 $55,537
Curb weight est 3360 lb 3820 lb
Engine, transmission 6.2-liter V-8, 6-sp manual 5.4-liter supercharged V-8, 6-sp manual
Horsepower, bhp @ rpm 436 @ 5900 550 @ 6200
Torque, lb-ft @ rpm 428 @ 4600 510 @ 4250
0-60 mph 4.1 sec 4.4 sec
0-100 mph 9.2 sec 9.2 sec
0-1320 ft (1/4 mile) 12.4 sec @ 116.5 mph 12.6 sec @ 118.9 mph
Top speed 190 mph* 155 mph*
Braking, 60-0 mph 112 ft 117 ft
Braking, 80-0 mph 197 ft 197 ft
Lateral accel (200-ft skidpad) 0.96g 1.00g
Speed thru 700-ft slalom 70.7 mph 69.6 mph
The Chevrolet Corvette is the classic American sports car. The Ford Mustang is the quintessential American pony car. In the past, a decision between the two might have been easy: If you like going straight, choose the Mustang. If you occasionally stray onto a curvy back road or find yourself at a track day, opt for the low-slung Corvette. But the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is a pony that’s ready to run, straight or twisty, while the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport has the handling prowess of the Z06, but without that car’s 7.0-liter V-8—or its high price. So which car rules the American roost?
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
The Grand Sport replaces the Z51 in the Corvette model lineup. For roughly $6000 more than a base Vette, the GS gets the Z06’s brakes, dry-sump oiling (for its hand-built 436-bhp 6.2-liter LS3 V-8), wheel sizes, tires, front clip, hood and rear fenders. The Grand Sport shares the Z06’s anti-roll bars, but the springs and dampers are unique.
The result is handling performance about equal to the more expensive Z06. True, the GS suffers from slightly more understeer because of its weight (it uses a steel frame, as opposed to the Z06’s aluminum version) and softer springs, but it’s considerably more sporting than the previously offered Z51 performance package. And, it’s much less of a handful around the track than the Z06. There's still plenty of power, but the car is considerably less twitchy.
The handling numbers back this up, as the Grand Sport pulled 0.96g around the skidpad and averaged 70.7 mph through the slalom. But get this: The considerably heavier Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang managed an incredible 1.00g circling the skidpad, and was almost as quick through the slalom, with an average speed of 69.6 mph.
Of note, all Corvettes with manual transmissions now come standard with launch control. Foot to the floor, drop the clutch and feel (and hear) the awesomeness of this system. The distinctive pop and crackle as the engine control module manages torque with fuel and spark control is a beautiful thing.
With a base price of $54,770, the Grand Sport is a whopper of a bargain versus the Z06, costing nearly $20,000 less. Now that’s some math we can all appreciate.
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
Only last year, the Shelby GT500 received a serious makeover. Now the boys at Ford/SVT and Shelby have gone and done it again, dropping weight, adding power and giving it even more performance than the past-generation KR edition. From a pure numbers standpoint the new all-aluminum V-8 does little apart from removing about 100 lb. from the nose of the car. Power is up slightly thanks to a lower-backpressure exhaust that exhibits a bit more rumble than its predecessor. The newly introduced $3495 SVT Performance Package is the option that makes the biggest difference to the car’s dynamics. Larger Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires (265/40ZR-19 front, 285/35ZR-20 rear) really let the track-oriented suspension work. As our numbers show, the 2011 model trumps the “King of the Road” in every performance category, while hanging with, or besting, the Corvette Grand Sport.
At the test track, the Shelby’s 550-bhp supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 enabled it to consistently hit 60 mph in the mid-4s (the Grand Sport managed 4.1 seconds, although the cars tied to 100 mph—at 9.2 sec.) and suffered little to no heat soak after repeated runs. Around the skidpad, the SVT suspension worked its magic and resulted in exactly 1.00g, while the Grand Sport could only manage 0.96g. Think about that: A Mustang out-handling a Corvette! Since the Shelby’s suspension was designed more for the track than the road, it did give up some stability in our slalom, requiring a deft touch to keep the rear wheels planted; hence the reason the Shelby couldn’t quite match the Grand Sport’s slalom speed.
As an aside, the Shelby’s handling numbers are even better than the Ford GT we tested back in December 2003. Impressive stuff for a factory-modified Mustang to best a mid-engine exotic.
Conclusion
After the dust had settled, the Ford Shelby GT500 came out as the winner. It can hang right with the Corvette Grand Sport in acceleration and handling—and in some cases, such as the skidpad, even outperform it. What’s more, the Shelby’s starting price is about $6000 less, while its as-tested price is almost $13,000 less. Don’t get us wrong: The Corvette Grand Sport is one heckuva good car, and a true bargain in the Corvette world. But the Shelby GT500 is even more of a steal, and without question the most impressive Mustang we’ve ever driven.
Make/
Model
2010 Chevrolet
Corvette
2011 Ford Shelby
GT500
List price $54,770 $48,645
Price as tested $68,365 $55,537
Curb weight est 3360 lb 3820 lb
Engine, transmission 6.2-liter V-8, 6-sp manual 5.4-liter supercharged V-8, 6-sp manual
Horsepower, bhp @ rpm 436 @ 5900 550 @ 6200
Torque, lb-ft @ rpm 428 @ 4600 510 @ 4250
0-60 mph 4.1 sec 4.4 sec
0-100 mph 9.2 sec 9.2 sec
0-1320 ft (1/4 mile) 12.4 sec @ 116.5 mph 12.6 sec @ 118.9 mph
Top speed 190 mph* 155 mph*
Braking, 60-0 mph 112 ft 117 ft
Braking, 80-0 mph 197 ft 197 ft
Lateral accel (200-ft skidpad) 0.96g 1.00g
Speed thru 700-ft slalom 70.7 mph 69.6 mph
10-07-2010, 04:20 PM
#2
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hmm the shelby with over 100hp advantage and judging by there numbers it looks like the gs came on top imo. numbers for the skidpad and lateral g's for the shelby are pretty impressive though
10-07-2010, 04:40 PM
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Never quite understood comparing the handling prowess of two cars using slalom, braking, and skidpad tests. Why not put them both on a road course and see how they do? Actually I'd love to see these two go head to head on a good road course. I know the new Shelby has been given some impressive improvements, I'm just curious as to whether its additional girth would counteract its power advantages on an actual track.
Either way, I'm glad to see Ford and GM still producing some outstanding specimens for their two legendary icons.
Either way, I'm glad to see Ford and GM still producing some outstanding specimens for their two legendary icons.
10-07-2010, 05:20 PM
#5
Given my situation (family of 4 without the funds to have multiple badass performance cars), I'd opt for the GT500. Different people have different priorities.
I doubt the GT500 (which has 7-8mph in the 1/4 on the 5.0 GT) would get left in the dust by a GS on a road course. The 5.0 GT stays neck and neck on road courses with the new BMW M3.
I doubt the GT500 (which has 7-8mph in the 1/4 on the 5.0 GT) would get left in the dust by a GS on a road course. The 5.0 GT stays neck and neck on road courses with the new BMW M3.
10-07-2010, 05:58 PM
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10-07-2010, 06:11 PM
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I more surprised about the 2.4mph difference in trap speed. Interesting read though. I'm in he same boat as Ross which would make me choose the Shelby over the Vette.
10-07-2010, 06:16 PM
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The only official lap time for the 2011 GT500 is a 2:58.48 at VIR, done by Ford themselves.
In contrast, the 2010 C6 GS ran a 2:58.8; driven by C&D.
In fact, the GT500 is barely slower than a C6 Z06 tested by C&D in '05. The C6Z ran a 2:58.2.
All three are very close on a track that represents a pretty good track capability benchmark.
10-09-2010, 10:37 AM
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10-09-2010, 10:58 AM
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It's hard to say really. The GT500 was considerably faster than the 09+ CTS-V around VIR, but GM looks like they're trying hard to make the Z28 a good road course performer. It should be pretty clear which should be better once/if GM releases any of the Z28's times around the ring.
10-09-2010, 08:57 PM
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It's hard to say really. The GT500 was considerably faster than the 09+ CTS-V around VIR, but GM looks like they're trying hard to make the Z28 a good road course performer. It should be pretty clear which should be better once/if GM releases any of the Z28's times around the ring.
10-09-2010, 10:26 PM
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10-10-2010, 09:34 AM
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Keep in mind that the GT500 isn't really all that much faster than a standard SS. The GT500 does run about even with the CTS-V which has the same engine and damper system that the Z28 will have. The Z28 will be 300-400lbs lighter than the CTS-V however. The math is pretty simple from there.
Last edited by Blakbird24; 10-10-2010 at 09:39 AM.
10-10-2010, 12:31 PM
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What makes you think it won't be under 4000lbs? I consider the under-4000lb attribute to be a given. I also consider the magneheteorogical damper system to be a given in this car...which is why I fully expect it to be the better performer all around...albeit just edging out the GT500 in all performance categories, but that's about the best you can expect these days with these nearly-4000lb cars with ungodly amounts of HP..
Keep in mind that the GT500 isn't really all that much faster than a standard SS. The GT500 does run about even with the CTS-V which has the same engine and damper system that the Z28 will have. The Z28 will be 300-400lbs lighter than the CTS-V however. The math is pretty simple from there.