Tru'dat, the base suspenson for the S-197a was in my opinion entriely too soft. I really liked the addition of the FR3 suspension to my 07GT when I had it, Hopefully the S-197b (meaning 2010 and 2011) took care of that.

 

IMO that is one of the best improvements Ford made to the S197, the muffler placement. If I want to change the mufflers/exhaust on my Bullitt, I either have to cut it apart, which is somethig I don't want to do with the original exhaust which is still in excellent condition, or drop the axle to get it off, which is what I'll be doing this spring when I change the exhaust.

When I changed the mufflers on my '08 GT, it took me an hour to remove the stock mufflers with a few hand tools, and install the SLP Loudmouths, and I didn't even have to jack the car up. Had I bothered to jack the car up, it probably would have taken a half hour. I have seen mid-muffler exhausts for the S197, so I guess that is always an option. I just love how quick and easy it is to swap mufflers on the S197. I'll probably get another set or two of mufflers in the future just to play around with.

 

I am jealous of this.

 

I too am jealous of the axlebacks on the S197s, that was a brilliant idea

 

Well I'm impartial to the S197's but I have driven/rode in SN95/new edges and I must say that the S197's are leaps and bounds better. I will always like the look at the new edge cars but driving/riding in them isn't the best. I love my S197

 

The axle backs on the S-197 aren't there because Ford thought about the guys wrenching on thier cars. They had no choice, fuel tank mandates forced the tanks to be moved ahead of the axle in order to protect them. A boon for swapping them out, but the trademark Mustang sound will never be the same (and that's where I'm coming from, if I'm envious of anything about the fox cars or the SN95/New Edge cars its the sound).