BlackRiderX

Don't be surprised if the manual is only a little better performance wise instead of the 99-04 cars. I think this review speaks wonders about the difference the new 5-speed auto has made over the clunky 4-speed. We will have to wait and see though.

The Deviant One

I don't think so. :nono:

With the 400hp LS2 in the 05 GTO.....it will still definetly own the GT.

lodom

When I was at the 40th anniversary show in April in Nashville, TN, I talked with one of the Ford reps for a while. This review confirms what he told me. He said the automatic actually felt faster than the 5-speed in some gears. He didn't say it was faster car, but just a lot closer than it was in the past. He wouldn't quote any performance numbers at the time. I'm pretty pumped, since I ordered the automatic.

Dan

Guys, this car is faster than a Mach 1 according to MT!

I mean, the auto did the quarter in 13.6s !!!! That's insane.

The gap between the auto and manual will get closer as lodom pointed out, so 0-60 will be (as MT said) about 4.8-4.9sec. But what does this say for the 1/4 mile! Could the new 05 be pulling low 13's out of the mags! What does that mean for the quickest guys (I'm to excited to think it but could it break into the 12's)

I wanted Mach 1 performance in the 05 and from what I've read here, it looks like it is AT LEAST Mach 1 quick. I mean, could it possibly be a bit quicker? MT thinks it is. That has me pumped.

Ford said F-body fast. The fastest F-bodies run low 13's consistantly. What a treat that would be if it was on par with that.

Thanks Steven for you effort in typing this up!

So much for those 13.8sec 1/4 mile times everyone was guessing.

BTW, I know a certain person (me) who said it would be in the low to mid 13's a looonngg time ago. That was part educated guess and a lot of wishful thinking.

foxhtn

Thanks Steve. Wow! Just remember guys, this is a stock prod. car. No aftermarket stuff yet!

bring back the horses!

Dan

I wonder if Ford tuned it up later in the game so that it would edge out the 04 GTO and be on par or slightly quicker than the Mach 1? Or if that was the plan from the get-go?

If the car is that quick, I think I'll do a few bolt-ons such as exhaust and maybe intake and that's about it. Best of both worlds: I keep my warranty and I have a fast sounding car that'll wake the neighbours up at 1:00am.


When Steve and I asked Thai-Tang how quick the car was, he said that the early guesses of 5.2-5.3 were close. Looks like he did a good job of keeping this a surprise.

I remember that in one article in one of the first mags, a Team Mustang guy was asked what would suprise people the most......he said the engine.

StevenJ

(Galaxie, Other Steven)

So other's don't get confused. I wish I could make it to a major autoshow. Again, it's nothing. Though I did miss Formula 1 in China due to me typing it up! Darn, I wanted to see that!

V10

Thanks for typing they Steven J.

Man am I glad I did not buy that 2003 Mach 1 (used).

As BlackRider & Dan said the ATX performance will be a lot stronger because of the 5 speed ATX that has a much taller 1st gear (3.23 vs 2.84 of the old 4 speed).

However the MTX has the 3.55 rear axle ratio and the MTX's 1st gear is 3.38 1st gear. Note that M/T complained that the ATX felt good in 1st 2nd & 3rd gears, but felt dead when it shifted to 4th. I wonder if it had to shift into 4th in the 1/4. This might explain the low trap speed, if it was shifting right near the finish line.

I'd expect the MTX to be just slightly faster 0-60 (4.9 @ best) but I wouldn't be surprised to see it turn 13.1 @ 104 in the 1/4. If you can run it to 6200 RPM, you'll be able to finish the 1/4 in 3rd gear. (6,200 RPM in 3rd gear = 107 MPH).

The 267 RWHP (286 lb ft) is in the same ball park as Steeda's 275 RWHP (292 lb ft) measuremnt.

V10

Way back in February a Ford engineer said "If there is one thing we got right on the new Stang, it's the 3V GT engine."

200mphcobra

Wow! if MT can get a 13.6 with an auto, MM&FF is really gonna make people excited when they get a 5-speed man. They always get .2-.3 less than everyone else, cause they flog it. It looks like that rear suspension is working too.

Greywolf

I don't know about gear ratios but could you put the auto in D3 so it doesn't shift to fourth? Or would that exceed the rev limiter?

harleybill

Since it looked interesting I went to the motortrends site and lo and behold...

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0402_mustang/

Check it out if you haven't already. Has some good info.

harleybill

By the way, here are the specs and it's at 13.90 (estimated).

Valve gear SOHC 3 valves/cyl
Bore x stroke, in/mm 3.55x3.54 / 90.2x90.0
Displacement, ci/cc 281.0 / 4606
Compression ratio 9.8:1
Max horsepower @ rpm 300 @ 6000
Max torque @ rpm 315 @ 4500
Specific output, hp/liter 65.1
Power-to-weight, lb/hp 11.4 (est)
Max engine speed, rpm 6250
Transmission 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic
Suspension, front; rear MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; live axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Brakes, f;r 12.4-in vented disc; 11.8-in vented disc ABS
Wheels 18x9.0 cast alum (17x7.0 standard)
Tires 255/45R18
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase, in 107.1
Track, f/r, in 62.3 / 62.5
Length, in 187.6
Width, in 72.1
Height, in 54.5
Cargo capacity, cu ft 12.3
Curb weight, lb 3425 (est)
Weight, f/r % 52/48 (est)
ESTIMATED PERFORMANCE DATA
0-60 mph, sec 5.2
1/4 mile, sec @ mph 13.90 @ 104.00
Braking, 60-0 mph, ft 116
200-ft skidpad, lateral g 0.85

harleybill

Of course this was the october issue and not the ACTUAL test of the november issue....I hope the lower readings are what we are truly in store for and not just a "hot" setup car for testing...

Robert

Well, guys, I just have one thing to say to the new-and-improved Ford Motor Co.:

"Thinking...always thinking."

Dan

It SHOULD be lower. Its an auto and it'll have higher losses. So IN FACT, the 275rwhp number is probably spot on.

foxhtn

I wonder if Ford tuned it up later in the game so that it would edge out the 04 GTO and be on par or slightly quicker than the Mach 1? Or if that was the plan from the get-go?

If the car is that quick, I think I'll do a few bolt-ons such as exhaust and maybe intake and that's about it. Best of both worlds: I keep my warranty and I have a fast sounding car that'll wake the neighbours up at 1:00am.


When Steve and I asked Thai-Tang how quick the car was, he said that the early guesses of 5.2-5.3 were close. Looks like he did a good job of keeping this a surprise.

I remember that in one article in one of the first mags, a Team Mustang guy was asked what would suprise people the most......he said the engine. [/b][/quote]
Can't really see them doing that, but anything's possible! I read somewhere on 1 of these 05 Ford sites quite a while back, that 3 of the ford team players were x-race car drivers. If that's true [Thanks guys! ] Some- how in my mind I keep comparing this thing to a 69, Z28 302 cu. in. Camaro. I don't know why. I'll probably have a lot of back flack over that one, Aluminum block I guess. I know the horses are a little different, in comparison, but still, this car should have a better ride, and, if this car is even close in performance, which I think it might be, there are going to be a lot of happy campers out there ! including me!

O ---- Dan, hope you have forgiving neighbours at 1:am! hehehehe!

USA-Adam

That has been on Motor Trend since like February or something. It's old, sorry to say.

StevenJ

That has been on Motor Trend since like February or something. It's old, sorry to say. [/b][/quote]
True but it's still relevant information. I think even he knew it was old. It was relevant and that's all that counts.

Dan

Here's something from Popular Mechancis a while back. See how the 05 compares to some great cars of the past:

-1997 Dodge Viper GTS: 450-horse 8-liter V10; 11.97 sec @ 118.88mph
-1987 Buick Regal T-Type: 245-horse 3.8-liter turbocharged V6; 12.52 sec @ 110.35 mph (eliminated the catalytic converters and increased the boost to 22 psi)
-1970 Buick GS-455 Stage 1: 360-horse 455ci V8; 12.56@ 111.78 mph (the 455 had a few "tweaks")
-1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-454: 450-horse LS6 454ci V8; 13.35 sec @ 104.16 mph
-1970 Plymouth HemiCuda: 425-horse 426ci V8 Hemi; 13.75 sec @ 101.24 mph
-1997 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT: 305-horse 4.6-liter V8; 13.89 sec @ 101.92 mph
-1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SCJ: 335-horse 428ci V8; 13.99 @ 101.83 mph
-1997 Pontiac Firebird Firehawk: 310-horse 5.7-liter V8; 14.21 sec @ 96.40 mph
-1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455: 290-horse 455ci V8; 14.31 sec @ 105.03 mph
-1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 SS: 310-horse 5.7-liter V8; 14.45 sec @ 98.19 mph
-1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409: 409-horse 409ci V8; 14.55 sec @ 99.05 mph
-1965 Pontiac GTO: 360-horse 389ci V8; 14.56 sec @ 104.67 mph
-1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30: 370-horse 455ci V8; 14.80 sec @ 97.47 mph