How well do you think the GT will handle, skidpad wise, i'm thinking about .83g.
however i think it should pull about .90g so it will compete better with the 350Z, RX8, and S2000.

 

.90 is begging for IRS

 

 

 

My '04 Cobra will pull .85g and it has lousy weight distribution so I expect the '05 to be at least .85g if not better even with a solid axle.

 

As for smooth road, steady state cornering, there shouldn't be too much difference between a live axle or IRS. Throw in a few bumps and otherwise make it more challengine than just orbiting a single cone and the IRS will be much better able to maintain that level of adhesion whereas a live axle, saddled by its huge unsprung weight, will be more readily thrown from the saddle.

But I think what will be the most significant improvement in the Stang's handling is not so much steady-state track numbers -- how fast it goes --- but rather, that the overall feel and balance of the chassis will be much improved -- how the car goes fast.

The current Stang, and just about any car for that matter, can be made to pull big G's on the skidpad by dint of a very stiff suspension and wide, sticky tires. But its qualitative handling is, well, lacking in numerous ways, from numb, non;linear steering to an ancient live axle easily befuddled by the merest of bumps.

The S197 appears to have been paid far more engineering attention in the chassis and suspension design, in spite of retarining a live axle (though vastly improved too), to address the "how well" aspect of handling in addtition to the "how much." The S197 ought to be a car that works with you in the bends and hangs right in there when the going gets tough.

 

LMFAOROTF!!! I knew we'd get to use it.

 

you know it cheech...
Anytime someone asks anything that we may need the swamie

 

So how expensive , or even possible would it be to get an aftermarket IRS? Ideally Ford would decide in the next model year to through in an otpional IRS for the GT.

 

Probably wait till the Cobra comes out with IRS and do a swap/buy a Cobra IRS.

 

Watch the video with the mustang, the GT, the roadster, the stang really looks good handling, it really goes in turns really flat, doesnt seem to be under alot stress in the turns, even when it is sideways still flat, alot of cars would really get all twisted up like this, the stang seems to just flow.

 

As for cost, hard to tell, perhaps an extra $500-1,000 for IRS alone, apart from any extra possible package content. An aftermarket IRS would certainly be possible as the S197 chassis is designed to accomodate one, but that I imagine would be even more expensive than a factory setup. The Cobra will of course have one and there's been rumor that mid-level models may get one too. As to whether the GT proper would get one as an option???