I agree... like I said earlier, I don't care how fast or how much HP a Mustang has or who's name is on it, its still a Mustang and an uncreative "used-over" design. Who cares? This isn't a mustang forum.



To me, modernizing a classic design isn't the greatest thing out there. Try making an entirely new car that is true to its heritage... that is something to pull off. Even if the GTO wasn't a hit right away, it is very true to its heritage.... medium size 2dr coupe, big hp v8, rwd, and it looks like every other Pontiac on the road... just as the original GTO's did. I'm sorry, but the new mustangs don't do much for me and a "marketing goldmine"??? Come on, I could care less how many people jump on the mustang bandwagon and buy one. I'd rather be in our own small group of GTO owners... the same reason I like firebirds over camaros. More unique and rarer. Just my $.02

 

Car & Drivers number geeks pulled that figure out of their collective ***. It was an estimate based on the weight and power. Based on my figures (using the same calculations), LS2 GTO's pull 12.9's but that doesnt mean C&D could do that in real life. That also doesnt mean it cant be done either... (Since their are already people doing just that and better.)

A heavy car is harder to launch no matter how much power you have. Laws of physics pretty much overpower wimpy tires when you've got a lot of mass on top. Thats not to say wider stickier tires wouldnt be a big gain in performance, but their estimates really cant take that into consideration. It would be even harder to get off the line since it makes so much power. Tire spin much?

Needless to say, I somewhat like the new "GT500" but the price they will go for isnt going to be worth it to me. For the difference in cost between my 400hp GTO that is far more premium inside and likely rides better, I can add a few thousand in heads, cam, headers and a tune and make at least as much power. Or i'll just wait for a Magnacharger to come out (which is just around the corner according to a few people in the know) which should be worth at or over 450whp on an LS2. Talk about spanktastic!

 

You guys can make up your own reason as to why you don't like the 07 S/C Cobra. If you are like most enthusiast here. The common thread us car enthusiast have is a car with lots of giddy up! If it has some decent modern day comforts, ride and priced in the ball park...I'd say most here would be in bliss.

Some of you need to grow up!

My bliss would be the new Z06 but unless someone donates one to me it ain't gonna happen. Price is the major factor in most people of car choices. There are lots of great domestic performance vehicles be it Ford Dodge or GM.

Trust me if I get my *** handed to me from a 07 Cobra then so be it. If getting spanked by a S/C Cobra was a big concern for me I probably do something about it. Bottom line is fast is fast is fast! It boils down to what you want to pay and how much your alter ego can handle.

I truly enjoy the GTO over the Cobra but it's a different kind of animal. So is the Dodges SRT series vs. Fords SVT series vs. GM performance division. And yes for some price won't ever be and issue. The facts remain that any of these cars modded are capable of blowing the other away. It all boils down to the price of admission.

Compared to them high dollar over priced foriegn performance cars, anything domestic car that has 450+ hp on tap and can make a Porsche or BMW owner quiver after a nice spanking can sit in my garage any day!

Just be glad we all have choices!

From the specs alone the Cobra will be a stout performer right out the box no matter how you look at it.

 

Good post hyper. I agree, if your an enthusiast you look for hp and often times $$ to see who has the most bang for the buck. A good engine and well balanced car will always get my attention, because I love cars. As far as brand loyalty, I buy the car which I'm partial to and enjoy, but when something more powerful comes along thers no need to become so bias to my vehicle that I won't admit the other is a good machine.

The new cobra is quite the performer. As stated by almost EVERY current cobra owner, a pully, intake, exhaust will give it really great #s. Latest tests have shown braking close to vette and its standard with bigger rubber (265 front I think and 285 rear) Hell if I had the money I would consider it but my T/A in the garage is filling that spot already and doing a good job.

As good as it looks, it won't be priced at $40. The Mustang GTs were supposed to sell for $25 (loaded) but I am yet to find one fully equipped for under $30k. The 07 will have dealer markups and likely limited production, leading to even higher sticker prices. Even like-new 04 cobras are selling for $38K. Think about what ford had to package in this new vehicle. A roots s/c, iron block, exterior styling pieces, upped interior, and pay for carrol's name. Its easy to see the expected $10K-$15K jump from a gt.

Not to sound like a ford man. Regardless of the cobra ill still have two fbodies, a gmc suv, and numerous olds still sitting in my driveway past 07 svts roll out. I'm very partial GM. But just giving credit where its probly due.

The gto will probly hold its own as a different kind of car. A new fbody would be needed to really compare the cobra to something. My .o2

 

Please don't post again while you're under the influence of mind-altering drugs.

There's so much that's just plain ludicrous in your post I don't know where to start. Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

 

I hate to say it but performance wise the '07 Cobra would slaughter an 400 hp GTO. The '03/04 Cobra is slightly faster so you know the Shelby will be.

 

Still looks like a 25K V6 mustang.

Still the same old cramped, low quality interior.


For $40K+ and 3825lbs?............hell no

 

I have always been a Mustang fan, but when it was time to trade in my 98 T/A, I went and looked at the new mustang, test drove it and was impressed, except with the cheap *** plastic in the stang. I also looked at several other 2 door performance cars, but the last car I looked at was a 2004 Black GTO A4. Test drove it and was sold. Had my 10 year old son with me. HE got in back, like he did in all the test drives and this was the one with the most room. Interior was excellent, power was great, exhaust note sounded awesome. So the exterior was not retro enough, so what, I am 40 years old, past the pony days. Yes the new cobra may eat up a goat, well then I drop in a supercharger/ turbo and other bolt on mods, should be enough, eh? Well, I still got a hot rod car that sounds good, can carry 4 people comfortably, had a 300 pounder in the back and had enough room, try that in a stang. My point is this. If you want something that is a bit more refined, has more room, stays under the radar and you wont see one at every corner, get a GTO, otherwise get a stang and be 1 in 10000000. I love my GTO.

 

I agree. Mustang fan here too, but disappointed in the new stangs. Cheap interior, 4.6 is still lacking vs ls1 of years ago, and the only way to get better performance is pony up the cash for a shelby. They'll still sell either way. I have to agree though, the 450+hp shelby is gonna be bang for the buck when compared to other new high hp cars. (I.E. Porches, amgs, m3, and others falling into higher price brackets with less power) however it still won't be refined. I'd rather live with a supercharged goat.

 

I like the Shelby. Looks Good. But after being a drag strip rat this spring, I've seen too many newer model mustangs dead and being takin away on a flat bed including two Mach 1's and a newer s/c Cobra. I'm still waiting to see an F-body being takin away..........has not happened yet this spring at my darg strip. All Fords on the back of Flat beds so far. No thanks....owned a Ford once and that was enough for me.

 

Interestingly, the LS series engine was, I believe, developed with pushrod to keep the engine height low. Remembering that the LS series was developed initially for the C5 and now in use in the C6. Also, interestingly, the C5R and now C6R Vettes run a 7 liter version of the engine and are doing pretty well against cars with overhead cams, multi valves, etc. And, are about as bullet proof as you can get. See most recent results from the 24 Hours of Le Mans and see my frustration when I was a member of the Olive Garden Team running a 550 Maranello in ALMS and routinely being beaten by the C5Rs.

 

Thanks for the childish comments... I work as a quality engineer in the automotive industry and I know what it takes to build a well rounded quality vehicle. Just face it... a mustang is a mustang... a Neon is still a neon. Get over it. The new mustangs aren't all they're cracked up to be. I've looked at them and they are an old body design with a CHEAP interior and all the other stuff to go with it. Like I said, you can shove a 500hp motor in it if you want, but its still a low buck mustang. You could do the same to a 4th gen fbody... they were cheaply built, had poor quality, road rough, etc, etc... but they had great looks, power, handling, braking and I'm a GM guy so I guess I gotta love them but the GTO is 10 times the car that a new mustang or 4th gen fbody is/was. Just my $.02

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

I agree with that 4.6 vs. LS1 statement. The 2005 GT Mustang while impressive still will get pulled after 60 mph racing an LS1 Camaro, Trans AM. You don't necessarily have to get a shelby to get better performance though. You can get an '03/04 Cobra that will stomp an LS1 in the mid 20's now.

 

I guess when my priorities shift from going fast to being comfortable, I'll consider the GTO again. And while it's nice that you're an engineer, I'm an end-user and know what I want in a vehicle.

I looked at the 04 GTO before buying my Cobra and loved the interior, but performance-wise (after-all, I was shopping for a performance car) the car was severly lacking in all areas compared to the Cobra. Visually the car was also too bland. I've been in 05 Mustangs and don't like the interior either. I'd take an 05 GTO over an 05 Stang anyday, but not over the new GT500.

Maybe GM will make an LS7 GTO and I'll have something to spend my GM Card credits on.

 

450 Hp. In 2007. Big Deal. ****

 

It's probably underrated, and will go to 600 rwhp with bolt on's very easily.

But it will have a cheap interior.

 

Glad to see a little competition out there in Detroit land. I currently have a deposit down on a "waiting list" to get the Shelby. I dubbed this mission of getting this car "against all odds" but my hat is in the ring.

Anywho, glad to see some respect shown for this car. Saw the GTO at the NY auto show this past spring and liked the interior and performance this car puts out. However, as an old school muscle car lover, i was quite disappointed in the looks of the exterior. I felt the same way looking at the Dodge Charger. Great sedan but please call it something else. GM could've done so much with the exterior of this car....just don't know why they weren't a little more creative. I don't know if anyone saw the redention of the '07 Camaro, but thats what GM should do. The drawing looks fantastic and the only exterior change the car needs is to have the grille canted the other way.

http://popularhotrodding.com/feature...amaro_01_z.jpg

I hope GM gets to do this car but it doesn't look like it'll happen. Either way you look at it fellas, these are good times we live in !!

- see ya on the boulevard.

 

double post sorry jus read below

 

I worked on an 05 stang yesterday. It was a v6 but i was still impressed with some of the minor details. For example, the windows drop slightly when you open the door to seal better when shut (wish my t-tops did that). Also, the steering and brakes have a very solid feel. The wheel feels almost as tight as my T/A. The engine bay is also very clean and nicely constructed. I did notice that it was struts up front instead of coil-overs, not sure how that affects the ride for better or worse.

I did, however, notice a lot of downsides. It was an auto and the shifter felt flimsy and cheap. It didnt seem to fit the car very well and felt like the junk piece in hummers. The rear seats seemed to have less room than a fbody, they were literally touching the rear part of the front seats (can nebody say indian style). The instrument panel was clean, as well as the seats and center console. But the doors were poorly constructed, and the dash still felt like it needed a little oomph of styling. The car is clearly more solid than a previous gen stang but the retro theme of the exterior doesnt carry very well inside. With this all said, i would think that the 05 being 7 years newer than the fbody that ford would have constructed something with a better fit and finish. Now, with 450hp and a chinsy interior for $40K i would consider the 07 cobra. But then a magnacharger 06 GTO comes to mind for $35K and suddenly i couldnt care less about that SVT/Carroll/ or any of that retro stuff. As a daily driver a GTO with ~500hp definately works. I think im starting to understand what all these GTO owners are saying.