Even though the suspension is stiff in the Track setting, the few bumps and dips in the new surface at M1 had no impact on cornering grip and when you come out of a turn, the combination of the 3.73 gears, the 5.0-liter V8 and the sticky Michelin tires allows you to push the Mustang wide open. Where other cars will struggle to get traction on a hard pull out of a turn, the Performance Pack 2 features and chassis tuning permits full use of all 460 horsepower at any time.
In the long run, I was a bit rusty when I hit the road course with the 2019 Mustang GT with Performance Pack 2, but I found that this pony car is very forgiving. With some cars, braking late from high speeds or entering a higher speed turn at an awkward angle will force a driving move that will cause the car to slide, but as hard as I pushed the Mustang GT, the Performance Pack 2 components replied by making the car wonderfully controllable and a complete blast to drive.
Not to mention, the Mustang’s active exhaust system offers one of the sweetest sounds on the market today, allowing the pony car to sound as great as it grips.
If you enjoy racing with turns and you have been considering a new Ford Mustang GT, the Performance Pack 2 is an excellent alternative to the GT350. Sure, you can get slightly better handling and braking along with more power from the Shelby, but anyone who wants a great-handling Mustang for less than $50,000 – this might be your dream car.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
