So today I got the June Car and Driver and it has a story on the new Saleen S281. It has 400 hp, 420 tq, and it costs almost $49,000. 0-60 is in 4.6 and the quarter is in 12.7 @ 114. So I started thinking, how much less would it cost to upgrade an F-body to get to 400 hp and beat the new Saleen? How much power does a supercharged LS1 make? The article did not say how much boost the Saleen has, which would have been nice for comparison purposes. Any thoughts?

 

For about 3/4s of the cost, including a medium miles LS1 f-body for around 11~14K, you could probably obtain close to 600 rwhp with either a turbo or supercharger (where the saleen is rated I'm sure @ the flywheel). Yeah, save yourself about 15~18K and build a garage with a lift and stocked with tools.

 

Ahhh, but 00t is in sunny california and would have neither a street legal car nor warrantee.

 

Ok, then forget the turbo (unless STS get's their CARB #). But, you can still obtain that kind of power with an ATI or Vortech and considering he has the car that it isn't that much of a concern. (though to be good and not worry about motor issues, a forged bottom end is a plus) Besides, warrantee? What's that on a project car?


BTW, It's probably only around 5~6#s of boost, and let's assume that's rated @ the wheels and using a 15% driveline loss and the good old ~30 HP per pound of boost.

Factory 305 rating x 15% = 260
Saleen 400 rating - factory wheel 260 = diff of 141
141 / 5 #s ~28 HP per # of boost.

 

the GT500 has more hp and is cheaper, and is straing from ford

 

Either way, they are both Fords. The new Mustang is okay looking, but both the Saleen and the GT500 are hideous! I'd rather but a used LS1 and bulid it up. And yeah, California sucks in that I can't do several mods due to the fact that my car will fail the smog check . I want LTs real bad...

 

I have driven the car and ran it ont he dyno... expect so see 390-395 RWHP not flywheel. These cars ar much improved over the previous generation. Im not a Saleen fanatic but remember this is a dealer sold financable car witha a factory warranty. All things considered .. not so bad.

 

if the saleen costs $49,000, i don't see how the "450" horse GT 500 is going to go for under $40,00

 

If its going to be under 40, it wont be by much. Maybe w/ some manual windows, no power door locks, no CC or anything like that. And remember, the GT500 will use more production based parts then the Saleen will. The Saleen uses racecraft suspension pieces and like with any tuner car, you're payin for the name. I'd rather have a 99-04 style Saleen w/ a 03 Cobra engine in it myself if that was the case (and yes, they do make Cobra Saleens) but that'd be about 49k brand new too.

 

I have seen a few Cobra Saleens but they have been all by customer request and built to order $$$.

 

sorry, but that is such a retarded and old arguement. who cares? it's a factory blown car, you can't compare that to a used aftermarket blown ls1.

 

I've seen the car in person and it's actually pretty nice. I stopped to get gas, here in "The OC" and it pulled up right next to me. All pretty, silver, black accents and these NUTTY 20's ALL AROUND!

The wife's a 'Stang fan, but not the newest, so much. We both didn't like the look of the new stang, but the Saleen one looks "right", especially the rear. We're going to see about a black one.

Granted for $50k, the wife says we should just go for a C6.

I talked to the guy, who worked for Saleen, and it sounds like a pretty tasty car, that's well put together. I'm going to drop by the shop on the weekend and see what they feel like.

 

I know the comparison is apples to oranges, since f-bods aren't made anymore. Nevertheless, it isn't much of an argument to me. I'm satisfied in knowing that my ls1 can beat a new Saleen with not much work.

 

I agree. The Saleen is a limited production car w/ respectable numbers from the factory which is priced less than $50k. It will also hold it's value pretty well. There's not really any stock C6's running as fast as this Saleen, but we aren't bashing the LS2 here are we? Different cars are made for different people.
Let's not get into tuning issues. Most all blown factory cars run flawlessly. Aftermarket blown cars usually have minor issues.

Some Joe Blow could buy a fox body 92 Coupe Mustang, reduce it's weight, put some 4.10's out back, and add a 150hp shot of nitrous to it, and kick some *** at the drag strip for a lot less than anything mentioned above, but who gives a crap?

 

apples to apples...

Factory Warranty
Saleen S/C to 400hp to $49k

Factory Warrantied when released
GMMG 381hp / 380hp cars... similar dyno and track numbers... less expensive.. but that was a few years ago... (inflation)

Lingenfelter offer a dealer network / distributor vehicle?

 

That'd be awesome, but I dont think it'll ever happen. Although LPE has a big name in GM EFI work, I dont think they could handle building the car even if GM supplied them w/ the frame and some other pieces w/o upgrading to a larger facility. But DAMN would it be great to head to a dealer and see "lingenfelter" along the side for only a lil bit more (yeah right lol).