How's the new Stang's Handling compared to

[ghostx]

other sports cars out there under $50,000. I hear about how good it is, but when I play need for speed, (WHICH PROBABLY IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE TO USE SINCE IT'S JUST A GAME) the Mustang handles are just about the worst. So what's the verdict on it's new handles?

[kman10587]

It handles fine. It's nothing extraordinary, but it's good for a $25,000 sports car. Mustangs have never been about handling, but this one should more than hold its own in Solo II.

[NISSANSPDR]

I see it like this...for 25k you get what you get and it doesnt have the IRS setup we all wished for. For 30k...you could get any # of cars that handle better than it...ie the Evo, STi, RX8, 350Z...etc

[kman10587]

Yeah, but if Ford put an IRS in it, it wouldn't cost 25K. And even with the solid rear axle, it still handles very well, almost on par with the 350Z. Ford was going to put an IRS in it, but people pressured them into not doing it, because it would have raised the cost. Hopefully, they'll release a special edition model like the Mach 1 with the N/A 4.6-liter V8 and an IRS; I'm sure it would still cost under 30K.

[MR2Driver]

Havent gotten to drive a 05 yet. But from all the magazine reviews and road tests i've read, it handles like a bonafied sports car.

Besides, dont you think they used a solid rear axle for a reason? (Think target demographic)

[FordJunky]

ford already said they have a kikass irs setup which will be an OPTION on the cobra...people didnt want irs for the cobra either, its heritage is straight line, fords gotta respect that. that being said it handles fairly well considering its setup.

[Ace$nyper]

Originally Posted by kman10587

Yeah, but if Ford put an IRS in it, it wouldn't cost 25K. And even with the solid rear axle, it still handles very well, almost on par with the 350Z. Ford was going to put an IRS in it, but people pressured them into not doing it, because it would have raised the cost. Hopefully, they'll release a special edition model like the Mach 1 with the N/A 4.6-liter V8 and an IRS; I'm sure it would still cost under 30K.

yea it's the best stock soild i've EVER driven in.

handles very well for what it is. Hell comparing to 50K cars that throws some evil things in so i can't say it would hold too well. Think Elise EVO STI M3 comparing to a stock GT.

[kman10587]

handles very well for what it is. Hell comparing to 50K cars that throws some evil things in so i can't say it would hold too well. Think Elise EVO STI M3 comparing to a stock GT.

Not to mention the C6 Corvette. And good luck finding a new M3 for under $50,000, I really don't think it's possible

[DinanM3_S2]

Originally Posted by kman10587

Not to mention the C6 Corvette. And good luck finding a new M3 for under $50,000, I really don't think it's possible

A new E46 M3 with a cloth interior, non-metallic paint, a 6-speed transmission, and no other options goes for ~$48,000. The only option that they stick on pretty much every BMW, even the lowliest 325i in America is a sunroof, which is about another $1,000. So theres probably a few sub $50,000 ones out there.

As for the Mustang, I hear it handles significantly better then the old ones, and is around the 350z in handling. It won't handle like an EVO, STI, C6, Elise, M3, etc... but its the only V8 sports car under $35,000 (GTO), making it a pretty good deal IMO. On the spectrum of sports cars, the Mustang leans a little more towards muscle then handling. I'll be interested to see how the Cobra/Mach1 does.

[kman10587]

BMWs very rarely go for MSRP though, and M3s very rarely come out of the factory with no options like that. I'm sure it's possible to find a new M3 for under $50,000, but it's going to be very difficult.

[GTStang]

IRS are not the end all of handling... Griggs and MM have a live axle 3-link set-up similair to what the new 05 GT have and they pull over a G in the skipad and will handle wit Ferrari's no problem. So it is an excellent base to start from and is greatly improved over the previous Stangs and that is without mentioning the new chassis.

There are a lot of cars under $50,000 that will out handle the GT but and interesting question will be how whatever model Ford decides (Cobra/Shelby/Mach1 )to use the IRS in, how it will handle.

[ghostx]

Pertaining to handling(understeer?), and as a total package(size and weight?) What's keeping it from being better than other sports cars under 35k?

[youngvr4]

it almost seems as if sometimes people forget speed has to do with track times. for 25grand you get a 300hp rwd monster that runs a very empressive 13.6 with decent handling. i'm sure it can get on the track with a 350Z and rx-8 and have some good competition.

[CrzyMR2T]

Originally Posted by GTStang

IRS are not the end all of handling... Griggs and MM have a live axle 3-link set-up similair to what the new 05 GT have and they pull over a G in the skipad and will handle wit Ferrari's no problem. So it is an excellent base to start from and is greatly improved over the previous Stangs and that is without mentioning the new chassis.

There are a lot of cars under $50,000 that will out handle the GT but and interesting question will be how whatever model Ford decides (Cobra/Shelby/Mach1 )to use the IRS in, how it will handle.

pulling 1.0 g isnt hard to do on a flat surface, you could make any car pull over a g on the skidpad. if the road had bumps and dips to it, an irs car will most likely perform better than a solid rear axle car. if it was an s curve, or the slalom, the irs car will again most likely perform better than the solid rear axle car. cars with solid rear axles just have really high rebound, you want low rebound for good handling. its hard to avoid for solid rear axle cars, because the axle is so heavy. lighter the suspension compenents, the less rebound you ll have. im not saying a solid rear axle car cant handle, just that an irs suspension will more likely perform better. a solid rear axle car can still handle good, but you ll feel its characteristics when you go to the limit, ike how a midengined car will show its handling characteristics.

[Ssom]

Track performance was probably never that high on the list when making any lower-end GT's (Though probably quite high when designing Cobras), It could hold its own with the best sub US$30k cars from Japan with a good driver.


What most people don't understand is that a cars trackability is about 80% down to the driver, as opposed to the car.