Stock vs tuned ?

[Mike B]

Good day all !

So, I’ve had my SHO for well over 3 years now and she’s been bone stock. From what I’ve been reading everyone said I should tune my car.
Is there really that much of a difference between stock vs tuned ? ( with the added colder plugs and 3 bar map of course ).

car currently has almost 70,000 miles and already has had the PTU replaced and all the fluids changed.

 

[4sfed]

YES! Once you go Gearhead, you won't go back.

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[Mike B]

I plan on going Gearhead indeed. In fact I’ve already ordered the SCT X4, plugs, thermostat, and 3 bar map from them.

 

[StealBlueSho]

Night and day difference! You won’t regret it! And Gearhead for the win!


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[Zpak]

Your only regret will be not doing it sooner.

 

[SM105K]

These cars tuned should have performed like this out of the factory.

 

[Tim Teague]

These cars tuned should have performed like this out of the factory.

Agreed, then we could have made them even faster!

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[StealBlueSho]

These cars tuned should have performed like this out of the factory.

100% correct... ford could have easily bumped the power to advertise 400/400 (crank mind you) and it would have made the SHO more of a contender...

There have been lots of talk about why... everything from not wanting to take away from the high margin mustang sales, to falling into a different category for insurance purposes, and several others....

Who knows..


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[SM105K]

100% correct... ford could have easily bumped the power to advertise 400/400 (crank mind you) and it would have made the SHO more of a contender...

There have been lots of talk about why... everything from not wanting to take away from the high margin mustang sales, to falling into a different category for insurance purposes, and several others....

Who knows..


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We all know the real reason...

Ford didn't want their family sedan/rental car with a cool engine, outrunning their precious pony car straight off the lot.

 

[Mike B]

How would these cars handle against a 15+ GT tuned ( the Taurus being tuned and the GT being stock ) ??

I rented a 2019 GT mustang last year and wasn’t at all impressed with its power to be honest. Felt like my stock sho wasn’t much slower. Only plus side was the amazing sounding exhaust the GT had lol

 

[StealBlueSho]

How would these cars handle against a 15+ GT tuned ( the Taurus being tuned and the GT being stock ) ??

I rented a 2019 GT mustang last year and wasn’t at all impressed with its power to be honest. Felt like my stock sho wasn’t much slower. Only plus side was the amazing sounding exhaust the GT had lol

On the street the SHO will crush it 99% of the time....light to light.

At the track the Mustang SHOULD outrun the SHO on the back half... with tire and a driver they should take the SHO start to finish..

On the highway a Mustang will walk a tuned sho..


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[SM105K]

On the street the SHO will crush it 99% of the time....light to light.

At the track the Mustang SHOULD outrun the SHO on the back half... with tire and a driver they should take the SHO start to finish..

On the highway a Mustang will walk a tuned sho..


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Pretty much...

The key to beating Mustangs is simple. Always play to your strengths....ALWAYS.

 

[LinkyPwns]

After tuning is there any negative impact on the longevity of the drivetrain? I’ve wondered the same as OP but I want to keep this car running at least until 200k miles if possible.


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[StealBlueSho]

After tuning is there any negative impact on the longevity of the drivetrain? I’ve wondered the same as OP but I want to keep this car running at least until 200k miles if possible.


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Tuning will stress the motor and drive train more. If you are gonna tune it, make sure your car is up to date on all its maintenance items as well as make sure to address/fix any current issues.

A well done tune designed within the limits of the vehicle and supporting modifications shouldn’t be the cause of an issue.

Longevity is much more related to how hard you drive and take care of your car and if you are running a solid tune from a reputable tuner.


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[ridered74]

My first car was a 2011 with 102K miles when I bought it. I waited almost 6 months to get it tuned and once I did, only regret was not doing it as soon as I got it. I drove it for over 3 years and it had 169K miles on it when I sold it. Replaced the O2 sensors and the battery in that time. Drove great still and could have kept it longer but I really wanted the massaging seats. That's been over 2 years now and ran into the guy I sold it to about 3 months ago. He said he has not had any issues with it since he bought it.

Current car is a heavily modded 2015 that I ran down the track 130 plus times last summer and countless times on the street. Probably at least double the amount of track runs. Maintenance is key. Only issue I've had with this one was a stuck open injector, but that was probably the 6th time that I had run it on zero miles to empty or near that at the track. Not smart to do that, but they say every pound saved is quicker down the track. Now I try to keep it at 1/4 tank or more.

More than likely if you bought the car used, whatever issues you run into tuned you would also have run into if you left it stock.

 

[76FoMoCo]

Your only regret will be not doing it sooner.

^^^^ this!

 

[RonPorter]

How would these cars handle against a 15+ GT tuned ( the Taurus being tuned and the GT being stock ) ??

I rented a 2019 GT mustang last year and wasn’t at all impressed with its power to be honest. Felt like my stock sho wasn’t much slower. Only plus side was the amazing sounding exhaust the GT had lol

Have to remember that the SHO came out in 2009. At that time, it compared very well with comparable cars.

Now, just one example of the 2015 GTs (and the 2018+ GT with the 10-speed is high 11s stock). Steve Bates rented one to come out to 2015 SHO Convention in Chicago. He decided to run it at our drag night at Great Lakes Dragway. Ran a 13-flat. I was impressed for a rental car!