STI vs stangGT vs EVO8

[syr74]

Actually, I have to agree about the Viper statement, although I don't think it was that big a deal. The fact that the Cobra R handled better than the Viper is no big surpirse, as, quite to the contrary of what everybody thinks the original Viper didn't handle that well.

The car stuck to a skidpad great, but the Viper was a porky puppy and slalomed like a pig. Also, the only term I consistently heard come up concerning 1st gen Viper handling was "scary". And, how long did the car go wthout anti-lock brakes again. I have heard it said over and over that with mods the car handled great, but Dodge never made them.

The Viper was awesome, but it was more straight line bruiser than road course cruiser in stock trim. Outfitted for racing they did much better though from what I have seen. In a straight line it would murder either Cobra...big surprise.

I am not actually a fan of the last Cobra R as IMO at that weight you may as well have left all the power amenities in it and not pretended the car was a lightweight to begin with. I don't think the performance benefits of the Cobra R outweighed what you gave up in comparisson to the new 03 Cobra. But, I do believe the Cobra R would outrun the 03 bone stock on a road course due simply to it's much improved handling.

And as far as that comparo above where the Viper lost to the Vette and the Z06 goes, before you shake your head at it if I recall they had a pro road race driver in the cars. If anyone thinks he is better than someone who does it for a living I am certain some team in the American LeMans series is likely hiring a driver.

If on only one thing the guy earlier was correct. If you wanna outhandle the 2000 Cobra R with a factory American car your car better be a C6 or a SRT10 Viper. Nothing else will do it. Again, to outhandle the first generation Viper in stock trim was no big deal. Frankly, for the money it handled awful.

If I recall the driver comlained that while it handled fine if everything went just right it was a mother to get everythiing just right and the car was wildly unpredictable. This jives with everything else I have ever heard.

[Kurtdg19]

Originally Posted by syr74

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I am not actually a fan of the last Cobra R as IMO at that weight you may as well have left all the power amenities in it and not pretended the car was a lightweight to begin with. I don't think the performance benefits of the Cobra R outweighed what you gave up in comparisson to the new 03 Cobra. But, I do believe the Cobra R would outrun the 03 bone stock on a road course due simply to it's much improved handling.

And as far as that comparo above where the Viper lost to the Vette and the Z06 goes, before you shake your head at it if I recall they had a pro road race driver in the cars. If anyone thinks he is better than someone who does it for a living I am certain some team in the American LeMans series is likely hiring a driver.

Do you know why the 00 CobraR was pushing such low hp numbers compared to the 03 Cobra? Isn't the engine in it the same in the 03 Cobra? And yeah the 00 Cobra R would of been a lot better if it were pushing the hp of the 03.


Theres no better comparison than having a pro race driver compare each car.

[kfoote]

03 Cobra is supercharged.

[syr74]

The 03 Cobra is a supercharged 4.6L DOHC V-8 based on the "modular design or Romeo series engine...whichever you prefer to call it. The 00 Cobra used a naturally aspirated 5.4L DOHC V-8 based on the same engine family but quite diffrent internally.

If Ford based a Cobra R in the spirit of that 00 model on the 03 Cobra...retaining the 03's supercharger (Good luck fitting a supercharged DOHC 5.4L Romeo under a hood that doesn't look like it came from one of Bob Gliddens old pro stock cars.)..Well, a Cobra based on the 03 Cobra would likely outhandle the 00 to a pretty significant degree as well....not just outrun it in acceleration.

However, the old fox based chassis...even in this configuration...is ready for pasture. Ford has done amazing things with it, but it truly is time to come out with that completely new Mustang for 2005. I can't wait

[Kurtdg19]

Hopfully this new Mustang that comes out doesn't retain as much weight as its predecessors. I would be very disappointed to see a new and just as heavy mustang as the others. Do you have anything on whats to come? I'm curious

[syr74]

Okay, the new Mustang will be based on a variation of the DEW98 platform used in the current T-Bird, Lincoln LS, and Jaguar S-Type. (Called DEW-lite on the pony) The chassis will be light years ahead of this one without doubt.

There are some changes from the more expensive DEW based cars......like the front suspension is going to be a MacPheron strut unit instead of the upper and lower A-Arm setup in the Jag, Bird, and Lincoln. Rumour mill has it this is due to problems with getting a 5.4L V-8 literally "up in there" on a production line with those big control arms in place.
Reduced cost probably didn't break Ford's heart either. Before anyone shoots MacPherson struts down note that every BMW made uses MacPherson strut front suspension.

In the rear the live axle will live on...at least in the GT and base V-6 versions. Nobody seems to have any idea what the Mach-1 will get when it shows up, and the Cobra gets IRS for sure. My guess is IRS will at least be an option in the Mach-1 if not standard. And, I believe IRS probably show up as an option in the GT eventually, but not right away.(Just my opinion)

If you want my two cents I think the move to struts up front was smart as they can be made to handle great, and they are much lighter for the drag racing crowd...less costly is a nice benefit too. I don't mind the live axle sticking around, but I do think IRS should be an option even on the lower dollar GT.

The new Mustang is getting a longer wheelbase, but overall length isn't changing much. (I am betting overall length is actually going to be a bit shorter IMO) Put simply proportions are going back to what they were like in the sixties. Most of that longer wheelbase is between the front of the door and the front wheel well as it used to be...and as it should be. (Pictures have shown this)

The car should weigh less than the current one if you take into consideration what current production DEW-based cars weigh. The Lincoln LS and Jag are both longer, larger, and more "content" heavy than any Mustang would be. And, those cars don't weigh a lot more than a current fully loaded Cobra.

For example the Jaguar S-Type is just under 4000lbs...03 Cobra is just under 3700lbs. How much lighter will it be than the current car?....we will have to wait and see. I would bet a Cobra should be at least 200lbs lighter than the current one, probably more.

As for engines the Cobra is the car Ford's SVT wants to go after the Z06 and the Viper with, not the new GT, so it is getting a major Wheaties infusion. Ford says the GT is going after bigger fish so the Mustang is left to play with those two. Seems the snake is getting a 5.4L V-8 this time around with a Lysholm style supercharger instead of the current rootes set-up.

The number 500+ hp for the nest Cobra has been tossed around even by the head of SVT...how much that plus will be nobody seems to know. The new C-6 Z06 is supposedly in this range and we know where the Viper already is so it fits. Shelby is working with Ford again, so some people wonder how this will mix up the Mustang line and wether the next "Cobra" will be badged an SVT or a Shelby...and what exactly it might be called. The rumour mill is buzzing on that one.

There are a lot of other changes too.....GT gets a lot faster.....The look is goin back to the original just as the concept car showed. You can get more info over at Brad's Mustang site...same place I get mine on the Mustang...especially the new 05. the site is awesome and the info on the new car is great.