2020 GT500 Quick Drive Review: Return of the King
What We’d Change
Despite all of our love for the GT500, nothing’s perfect. First, we understand why some of you will long to drive this new Shelby with a manual transmission. It’s part of the tradition. The heritage. I too believe Shelby himself would have seen the merit with a manual as an option. But, to be honest, this DCT won me over with its quickness and accuracy and, despite the awful gear selector knob, it’s going to help owners win a lot of races.
The one thing truly missing for me, I’d argue, is supercharger whine. Unless you’re flying down a long straight at a high-speed track — which you can hear in some of the videos produced during the Vegas launch event—the GT500’s 2.65-liter inverted roots-type supercharger is virtually silent. Especially if your exhaust is in Sport or Track mode.
I don’t know if Ford will ever make a supercharged car that sounds like a Cobra Terminator again. But I think it’d be an auditory delight to hear this beast spool up as you race toward redline.
Lastly, other than uncontrollable annoyances like price-gouging dealerships (may all of you future buyers eventually find one at MSRP), the only minor quibble worth mentioning is interior quality. To be clear, it doesn’t bother me, personally. The true value of this car is in its sub-six figure supercar performance. That said, when folks are spending $75-$100 grand on a sports car, Ford’s European competitors are far more luxurious. Will this affect sales? I doubt it. The people buying a GT500 know what they’re getting. Still, it’s worth mentioning.
Bottom Line
I currently drive a 2013 Boss 302 and I love everything about it save for the cheap MT-82 clutch. Still, it’s, in my humblest opinion, the best handling live-axle Mustang ever made. The Roadrunner Coyote-variant loves to rev and sounds amazing. And it handles remarkably well (new PS4S tires are a big part of the equation). That said, I’m well aware that S550 Stangs are a big step up from what I drive. MagneRide-equipped cars handle beautifully and the newer 10R80 is very quick.
Still, even though GT350, Bullitt, PP1, and PP2 Mustangs are smoother and faster and more capable than my Boss in quantifiable ways, they don’t impress me enough to make me consider trading or selling (I’d still love to own them all, mind you, just not sell-to-replace, if that makes sense).
One single minute into driving the GT500 and it became my new favorite Mustang of all time. The canyon-carving adrenaline rush was surely part of this immediate reaction. But, even now, two weeks later, I can’t stop thinking about the GT500’s speed and precision and sound.
You may not have the same reaction, of course. And, to be honest, I’m not going to run out and sell my Boss today. Yet, for the first time in my three years of ownership, I’m considering it, which is rare for me. For a little more context, I’ve owned my first car, a 1987 Mercury Cougar XR-7, for over 20 years.
Whether the GT500 meets or exceeds your needs and expectations is a decision all Mustang enthusiasts will have to make for themselves. But after two short hours in one, I’m officially in love. It’s my new dream car and I hope one day to own one.
Thanks so much for reading and, if you’d like to read more about my GT500 drive and see more photos, please click HERE. Cheers!
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