Shelby Cobra GT500

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shaker281

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Well here is the showdown, and as expected, the Ford with live axle has too rough of a ride for the street versus Delphi's Magnetorheological tech. used with the ZLI. That is on CA roads too, which are far better than here in the rust belt. The Ford's brakes surprisingly give up after one lap. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1206_2012_chevrolet_camaro_zl1_vs_2013_shelby_gt500/

Surprising, yes, it is highly suspected that the GT500s brakes were compromised from previous testing/abuse. There was a real world showdown at VIR between a new zl1 and new 2013 GT500 (youtube). The GT500 experienced zero brake fade after many laps and crushed the zl1, which suffered from severe heat soak issues.

Yes, the zl1 will have a more comfortable ride due to MRC. On the track and 1/4, it will still dominate. Some folks want a comfortable ride and others want the most brutally powerful muscle car ever produced, take your pick. I am happy with my 2008, not buying either.
 

shaker281

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The Ford family would have lost all their controlling B stock if they took the govt bailout.

Don't make Ford out to be a white knight for not taking bail out money. It was about the handful of Ford family members keeping their nontransferable B stock.

Ford did not take bailout money because they did not need it. they had secured a line of credit prior to the credit crisis. Remember the government terms were not that good. Which is why both GM and Chrysler sought private financing as soon as they were able. The B stock issue is irrelevant.
 

shobote

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Surprising, yes, it is highly suspected that the GT500s brakes were compromised from previous testing/abuse. There was a real world showdown at VIR between a new zl1 and new 2013 GT500 (youtube). The GT500 experienced zero brake fade after many laps and crushed the zl1, which suffered from severe heat soak issues.

Yes, the zl1 will have a more comfortable ride due to MRC. On the track and 1/4, it will still dominate. Some folks want a comfortable ride and others want the most brutally powerful muscle car ever produced, take your pick. I am happy with my 2008, not buying either.

There are those that believe beating another car by 0.2 seconds a few times a year on a smooth track is more important than how it drives all the time, every day of the year, but I'm not one of them. I've also driven a Gen I SHO with coilovers. road race springs, and a ride like a buckboard, which was totally miserable as a street driver, and will never do that again Like the Gen 4 SHO, the GT500 is a great engine, good job Ford, but mounted in an outdated chassis that needs to be retired The 2014 model will finally dump the ancient live axle and go independant, and is expected to have far better manners both on and off the track. It makes no sense to buy a 2013, as it will ride like crap in comparison, and will quickly depreciate in value.
 

RonPorter

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New C&D came out. Same observations about the better ride in the Chebbie. Both turned the same track times @ Grattan. GT500 kicked butt in the 1/4.
 

RonPorter

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As the article said, no one will change their opinion. I've seen new Camaros in every color, and I don't like any of 'em. Even if it had 100 HP over a GT500, I wouldn't buy one.

Not that I have the $$$ for a new GT500, but it's a consideration used. Plus, the new 5.0 GTs run 12s easily. Saw that at out Drag Day.

And I will still NEVER buy a new GM product......
 

thebigjimsho

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GT500 is still KING! Bow down bow-tie boys!

Not according to all the car rags.



As for the track, the GT500 has the potential to be faster on fast tracks. VIR Full Course is a VERY fast track. The Laguna Seca comparo showed the Chevy much faster in the turns, while the Ford was much faster in the straights. At a course like Grattan, or tighter courses, the Chevy will be better.

And with all of Chevy's fluid coolers, it WILL be the better long term track car.
 

shaker281

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There are those that believe beating another car by 0.2 seconds a few times a year on a smooth track is more important than how it drives all the time, every day of the year, but I'm not one of them. I've also driven a Gen I SHO with coilovers. road race springs, and a ride like a buckboard, which was totally miserable as a street driver, and will never do that again Like the Gen 4 SHO, the GT500 is a great engine, good job Ford, but mounted in an outdated chassis that needs to be retired The 2014 model will finally dump the ancient live axle and go independant, and is expected to have far better manners both on and off the track. It makes no sense to buy a 2013, as it will ride like crap in comparison, and will quickly depreciate in value.

The 2013 GT500 is hardly a buckboard. In fact, it has been lauded for what it is, even though it comes up short when compared to IRS with MRC. However, when it comes to muscle cars, beating the competition at the 1/4 mile (or at a stoplight) by many car lengths, is what defines them. There are plenty of second best cars that deliver a comfy ride. Not everyone is happy playing second fiddle and having to rationalized it. For most GT500 owners it is a weekend driver, so a cushy ride is not a priority. I daily drive my 2008 in the warmer months and have no issues with the ride. Just like I can tolerate the SHOs torque steer and less than agile handling, because I appreciate it for what it is.

The new Mustang chassis will be a 2015 model. And I will bet money that the 2013 GT500 will not depreciate any more than the 2013 zl1. In 2015, once again Mustang will be ahead of the Camaro in the refresh cycle. GM was playing catch up with the Camaro when they introduced it as a 2010 model and is still playing catch up. Historically Mustang buyers simply did not want the IRS (and the added weight) in their pony car and Ford paid attention to that, putting emphasis on straight line performance. In 2015 they will likely provide IRS and still keep the weight down.

I give kudos to GM for MRC, it is an effective technology. Since it was developed for the Corvette, GM already had it in their parts bin to apply to the zl1. If not, it would have added tremendously to the zl1's cost.
 
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shaker281

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Not according to all the car rags.



As for the track, the GT500 has the potential to be faster on fast tracks. VIR Full Course is a VERY fast track. The Laguna Seca comparo showed the Chevy much faster in the turns, while the Ford was much faster in the straights. At a course like Grattan, or tighter courses, the Chevy will be better.

And with all of Chevy's fluid coolers, it WILL be the better long term track car.

The Camaro has a tiny intercooler as a result of the OHV design and is subject to severe heat soak once you start running more than one hero lap at a track chosen to provide it the advantage. The stock fluid coolers are not nearly as robust as what Ford provides with the Track Pack (if you plan on road racing). Chevy had to include additional cooling because the car is so heavy. The Mustang simply does not need it except for severe duty. With the heat soak issues and a 4100 lb curb weight the Camaro will be at a serious disadvantage any way you cut it.

For $2000 in bolt ons the 5.8 produces 700 RWHP (that is appx 825 at the crank!) and the engine internals, SRA and carbon fiber driveshaft will handle it with ease. And retain stock driveabilty!

In the end 99% of all match ups will be on the street and on the strip and the zl1 will lose, stock for stock, mod for mod. But, they can always catch up later and explain how they have a more comfortable ride!:swing:
 
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thebigjimsho

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I'd be glad to take anyone to VIR in my V. Heat soak is virtually non-existent. Heat soak is only an issue in static situations. On the road course, not so.

As for the track pack, how much is that? Oh yeah, much more than the stock ZL1. The LSA has a huge aftermarket and for the extra money of the GT500 w/ track pack, an LSA can easily hit 700hp...
 

thebigjimsho

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Oh, and it's nt just a more comfortable ride, it's a better handling car, period. You can mock the MR suspension, just shows you what a g00b you are. It's an awesome suspension.
 

shobote

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Ford listened to current Mustang owners and kept the solid axle because they said they wanted that ? For anyone that believes that, I have a bridge for sale cheap. GM did not develop and does not manufacture the Magnetorheological tech; that is from Delphi Corp. who supplies numerous automakers worldwide with the latest tech. Magnaride, variable cam phasers, direct injection, common rail diesel, control electronics, a huge list. I really prefer the look of the Mustang over the Camero or CTSV, (a crested wreath is an anti-chick magnet) but in the end you have to live with how it drives on real roads.
 

1badsho

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just saw this thread ...... I had a 2007 Shelby GT500 and it was a incredible car
With just a few mods ..... smaller pulley/CAI and a more aggresive tune the car was putting out about 540 rwhp or low 600 hp .......
That coupled with 410 gears from the stock 333 .... only i drive the car. It was a very docile drive untill u floored it.
I recall one night driving home with NITTIO drag radials ..... and my wife following me in her vehicle and i punched it .... the car over rotated and at 40 mph I almost lost it but was able to over correct and straighten it up.

This car along with any High Performance car thats light in the rear you have to respect it.
It was the fastest color .... red with white stripes
 
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Scrming

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just saw this thread ...... I had a 2007 Shelby GT500 and it was a incredible car
With just a few mods ..... smaller pulley/CAI and a more aggresive tune the was putting out about 540 rwhp or low 600 hp .......
That coupled with 410 gears from the stock 333 .... only i drive the car. It was a very docile drive untill u floored it.
I recall one night driving home with NITTIO drag radials ..... and my wife following me in her vehicle and i punched it .... the car over rotated and at 40 mph I almost lost it but was able to over correct and straighten it up.

This car along with any High Performance car thats light in the rear you have to respect it.
It was the fastest color .... red with white stripes

seen a Red with White stripes this weekend at the track... guy had the dealer temp tag still... don't know if it was new or used... He was smoking the tires on his launch... I did manage to line up against him once... Beat him pretty good... just kind of shows you have to be able to get all that power to the ground!!!
 

SHOrod

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seen a Red with White stripes this weekend at the track... guy had the dealer temp tag still... don't know if it was new or used...
The one in your picture in your other post is not the current model year so I would say it's most likely used, unless it's been sitting on a new dealer lot for a couple of years.

-Rod
 

wildosvt

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Ford listened to current Mustang owners and kept the solid axle because they said they wanted that ? For anyone that believes that, I have a bridge for sale cheap. .

The development/design of the IRS in the D2C was done. It was $300 more to the price of the car. Mustang clubs nation wide screamed LOUD for the solid axle. And YES they wanted it!

I have a 2007 GT500 (Red/White striped) and if it had come with an IRS I promise you, If you could not swap out the IRS easily, I would NOT have bought it. It replaced a screaming yellow '04 Cobra. -End.

All of this "Oh my gawd IRS is the bomb!" crap is hilarious! The GT500 and the BOSS LS are pulling 1g+ with a model T rearend! And it is right on par with the capability of the Camaro with the "heaven sent" IRS and Magnetic shocks! Blasphemy! :rofl: :laugh_ti:
 

Scrming

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The one in your picture in your other post is not the current model year so I would say it's most likely used, unless it's been sitting on a new dealer lot for a couple of years.

-Rod

That's what I was figuring... don't know my GT500s... But I at least new it wasn't a 2013! ;) LOL
 

RonPorter

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That's what I was figuring... don't know my GT500s... But I at least new it wasn't a 2013! ;) LOL

Yeah, you woulda been TOAST with a 2013!!

When we were out there in April, guy had a newer one (not a 2013) with street tires. Ran low 12s-to-11.8x at 126-130 traps. Pretty sweet!

He had those new Nitto Invos. I have them on my list as a future Summer tire.
 

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