Official '11 Mustang GT vs 370z Thread

[Kirkster]

Originally Posted by Shamu

Agreed I havent been on track for two years and had never driven that track before that weekend. But for purposes of the discussion I will say the 370Z is a very balanced car and would be much easier for an inexpereinced driver to fling around a track than a Mustang. However I dont place much relevance in some pro drivers either the differences amongst the pros can be fairly significant as well. I see the car as the enabler just as much as the driver. Good drivers can often drive past a cars flaws easier than an amatuer can. This too can hide flaws of the Mustang that wont show in standard performance data.

What I can offer to you is that I have driven Porsche race cars and the 370Z is a very capable car on track. This Z handles like a Porsche and is very confidence inspiring. More so than a Mustang could ever imagine in near stock trim. I have driven the new Mustang and while impressive it isnt really what I would call a good track car out of the box. It would take some extensive work on the Mustang, not just a set of coilovers to get it to handle anywhere close to the 370Z. The new Boss Laguna Seca probably approaches something a little closer to a track car but good luck getting a deal on that car! It wont come cheap!

I'm going to be watching Grand Am race at VIR to see how the 370Z does against the Boss Mustangs. Those Grand Am cars maintain much of their stock suspension mounting points, engines arent overly moddified and weights are reasonable in comparison to each platform.

The weight and solid axle of Mustang are not something that work well on more technical road courses. Thats an issue regardless of the nut behind the wheel. However the Mustang definitely belts out the ponies. Its all in your preference. I tend to enjoy a car I can attack turns with. Mustang aint going to cut it in that element. That high reving Ford V8 certainly wins points on sound track front however!

Its all good I just think 370Z is more of a sports car as opposed to the Mustang muscle car.

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The Grand Am series shows just how good of a track car the Mustang can be. It, along with the M3s, are dominating this year. If you haven't seen much of it might surprise you a bit.

I agree with a lot of your points, many are ones I have made in the countless 370 vs. 5.0 debates. I'm not sure what Mustang you drove, base suspension or Brembo package, but in either case the stock shocks/struts are the limiting factor on the stock suspension. You'd probably be really surprised at how much a difference a proper set of shocks/struts or coils will make on one of these cars. I'd venture to guess you'd be pretty pleased with the feel of a Brembo package 5.0 on Koni yellows and Steeda sport springs... much better control. I'd actually be pretty interested in your thoughts on the Boss if you get a chance to get behind the wheel of one on track.

But that's really beyond the point. It's still not going to "feel" like a sports car because like you said, it really isn't. It might put down the numbers and get lumped into that sports car performance category, but it won't feel quite like a Z or a Cayman.

It's a different driving experience and it all comes down to preference, like you said. I'm just glad there are still people out there willing to discuss this kind of stuff maturely!

I do suspect the 2014 redesign will be somewhat of a game changer. If what Ford is saying is right, we're looking at a smaller, lighter (250lbs or more) Mustang with a direct-injected 5.0 and IRS. Should be interesting.

Ok you two... Stop trying to drag this thread back on track. Its just not going to happen. Especially after Whitney has made an appearance.

[GZ3]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I do suspect the 2014 redesign will be somewhat of a game changer. If what Ford is saying is right, we're looking at a smaller, lighter (250lbs or more) Mustang with a direct-injected 5.0 and IRS. Should be interesting.

this could potentially be a game over move!

wow low 12 to high 11sec 1/4 mile stock?!!?

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by GZ3

this could potentially be a game over move!

wow low 12 to high 11sec 1/4 mile stock?!!?

Well Ford will probably put a skinny tire on it again and it will run a 12.8 @ 119.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by Kirkster

Ok you two... Stop trying to drag this thread back on track. Its just not going to happen. Especially after Whitney has made an appearance.

Shouldn't you be busy installing a supercharger?

[GZ3]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Well Ford will probably put a skinny tire on it again and it will run a 12.8 @ 119.

12.8 @ 119

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

At least where I live they do. 90% of c6's I see on the road are driven by 40-50 year old women.

The only 2 Z owners I personally know are a young white guy who is self-employed and a mid-30's black female cop. What's your point?

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

The only 2 Z owners I personally know are a young white guy who is self-employed and a mid-30's black female cop. What's your point?

Apparently cops don't make enough money, because she should be driving a Corvette. oh well, there's still time.

jk

Associating cars with one group or another is pretty silly.

Admittedly, I make a lot of "mustang is for rednecks" jokes, but it's just me being silly.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Where I live 90% of them are driven by 60+ year olds that are less mature than I am, trying to get me to race by bucking forward and aft in 2nd gear at 45 mph whilst looking over at me in a pissed off manner. Z or Mustang, doesn't matter.

Though I can pull a stock C6 now which makes me happy.

The new 5.0's should be a driver's race for an LS2 C6 out of the box, and you're right, a tune and CAI and you should hang with an LS3 from a roll. From a DIG, those cars launch nicely. 1.7-1.8 60' on stock rubber is attainable for a decently skilled driver.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Apparently cops don't make enough money, because she should be driving a Corvette. oh well, there's still time.

jk

Associating cars with one group or another is pretty silly.

Admittedly, I make a lot of "mustang is for rednecks" jokes, but it's just me being silly.

Cops make around $50-65K a year. A new 'vette is easily attainable.

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Cops make around $50-65K a year. A new 'vette is easily attainable.

Well, I was making a joke. I know LEO's who own nice sports cars.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Apparently cops don't make enough money, because she should be driving a Corvette. oh well, there's still time.

jk

Associating cars with one group or another is pretty silly.

Admittedly, I make a lot of "mustang is for rednecks" jokes, but it's just me being silly.

It's just funny to me because I am the antithesis of all of the jokes you make, which are always hilarious.

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The Grand Am series shows just how good of a track car the Mustang can be. It, along with the M3s, are dominating this year. If you haven't seen much of it might surprise you a bit.

I agree with a lot of your points, many are ones I have made in the countless 370 vs. 5.0 debates. I'm not sure what Mustang you drove, base suspension or Brembo package, but in either case the stock shocks/struts are the limiting factor on the stock suspension. You'd probably be really surprised at how much a difference a proper set of shocks/struts or coils will make on one of these cars. I'd venture to guess you'd be pretty pleased with the feel of a Brembo package 5.0 on Koni yellows and Steeda sport springs... much better control. I'd actually be pretty interested in your thoughts on the Boss if you get a chance to get behind the wheel of one on track.

But that's really beyond the point. It's still not going to "feel" like a sports car because like you said, it really isn't. It might put down the numbers and get lumped into that sports car performance category, but it won't feel quite like a Z or a Cayman.

It's a different driving experience and it all comes down to preference, like you said. I'm just glad there are still people out there willing to discuss this kind of stuff maturely!

I do suspect the 2014 redesign will be somewhat of a game changer. If what Ford is saying is right, we're looking at a smaller, lighter (250lbs or more) Mustang with a direct-injected 5.0 and IRS. Should be interesting.

I know a guy on the Ford SUspension team who works on Mustang development. They have come a long way and they do get to several tracks to test setups including Laguna Seca. But they still are over coming overly front weight baised car with a single axle. Dont get me wrong its a great car but dynamically its a bit porky. Any doubts? Just watch Mustang come over corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Its not pretty.

The Z while nose heavy is much more composed. Yes the tons of money thrown at Mustang Grand Am cars have cured some of the ills but they still get real ugly to drive when you get into features where elevation changes quickly in a turn. Drivers have to "billy bob" the cars a bit. On tecnical tracks mustangs can be a handful.

Watch the VIR race this May. I think the Mustangs will have a new freind. AM Performance team has really done a great job of sorting out their 370Z race car. Found this video of a LS1 V8 powered Miata race car chasing them during testing at a local race. Look at how rock solid the Z is in and out of turns. While both BMW and Miata have more power the braking and in turn dymamics of the Z are far better. Also impressive as the Z is on hard skinny race slicks used in the Grand Am series. My car has benefited setup wise from the AM Performance race car. Spring choice was directly influenced from data collected from the race car.

LS1 Miata NASA SU Race - Thunderhill - Dean - Apr 16, 2011 on Vimeo

[m4a1mustang]

I definitely wish AM the best and would like to see them up front soon, but I have a feeling it's still going to be a BMW and Mustang show this year.

[GZ3]

when is this happening again!?

[Red__Zed]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

The only 2 Z owners I personally know are a young white guy who is self-employed and a mid-30's black female cop. What's your point?

My point is exactly the same as yours.