Car Throttle Tries Charming the Monstrous, 2020 Shelby Super Snake
Upgraded GT is more than a double dose of everything; power, handling and price. But is the beastly Shelby serpent worth it?
The engineering team behind Shelby obviously love the Mustang. It sits at the core of their identity. The company expanded its expertise beyond the Mustang to offer insane versions of the F-150 and Ranger, but Ford’s muscle car lies at the center of Shelby’s heart. It’s no surprise then that Shelby now offers an a GT500 rival of their own with the 2020 Super Snake.
But is the beastly Super Snake worth it? That’s what the creative duo behind Throttle House set to find out. They ended up very much liking the modded Mustang’s powertrain but felt Shelby needed to do more to justify its price. In light of the upcoming 2020 GT500, the Shelby Super Snake faces increased competition from Ford. A bit ironic, but aftermarket companies constantly have to differentiate their products when compelling OEM vehicles are available. Fortunately, Mustang fans should be extremely pleased with the Super Snake.
Truly Authentic Shelby
Thomas Holland and James Engelsman start off the review with a funny Harry Potter related skit. It’s a clever way to hook viewers into their comprehensive deep dive into the Shelby Super Snake. The review wastes no time getting to the point: Shelby’s latest Super Snake is an absurdly powerful Mustang. “It’s still a Coyote. Still sounds like one. But it’s got a double shot of testosterone,” says Holland. Holland and Engelsman like the fact that the Shelby is offered with a manual transmission, an option that will not be available on the GT500. They’re less enthused about the price. While the Shelby gets almost double the horsepower of a regular Coyote, it’s more than double the price of a Mustang GT. It really needed to make a case for itself.
Fortunately, the pair loved the Whipple-supercharged Shelby. According to Holland and Engelsman, Shelby properly tuned the Super Snake so it’s immense power feels refined and readily usable throughout the power band. “It actually has fairly progressive power. The way that a naturally aspirated Mustang would, except the difference is is that when you roll past 3,500 up into six and seven thousand rpm it just builds torque in a way that the stock Mustang does not,” says Holland.
Driving a Shelby Super Snake
Beyond the engine, the duo examined what Shelby installed in the Super Snake and how it translated into the modified Mustang’s driving dynamics. The special Ford Performance short-throw shifter impressed the guys. “It makes my Miata shifter feel like a hockey stick,” says Engelsman. However, they felt that the steering needed additional tuning. “The steering is still Mustang so it’s a bit gooey on-center,” says Engelsman. The pair preferred how the Camaro’s steering felt when compared against every iteration of Mustang they’ve driven.
Holland and Engelsman also poured over the Shelby’s exterior. They generally loved its appearance but really wished the hood was carbon fiber because it felt heavy to them. Engelsman disliked their tester’s black paint job, but not because of anything Shelby-related. He essentially recommends buyers go for one of the lighter colors.
The team considered the interior as well. Shelby’s interior accoutrements left them wanting a bit more than what the car offered. Unlike the GT350 and upcoming GT500, Shelby’s cabin lacked premium niceties like Alcantara or a unique key fob. Holland loved the old-school gauge setup Shelby installed above the center stack. Engelsman felt differently. Overall, they think the Shelby specific parts are great, but wished Shelby worked a bit harder to separate their model from what Ford puts into their Mustangs.
Shelby’s 2020 Super Snake might get overshadowed by the GT500, especially because of its price. It might lack absolute value, but the Shelby experience cannot be replicated. Holland and Engelsman concluded that there is something truly special about the Shelby. The price tag might turn buyers away, especially in light of the GT500’s stellar reviews. Nevertheless the Super Snake definitely makes a case for itself. Watch the entire video to get Holland and Engelsman’s excellent and thorough take on the Shelby.