I'll answer that one, Hollywood. Guy on my street bought a Charger when it first came out, he's still the only one with one. Nother guy bought a Stage 2 'Stang. Since then, 2 other people on the block have bought Mustangs (v6 vert and a GT coupe). The Mustang is way, WAY ahead in the style category.

 

 

As hard as it may be for to believe, SRT8's in spite of their weight truly haul the mail. Yes 0-60 times are around 5 seconds and the 1/4 mile times range anywhere from some rare high 12's to mid 13's on average, with most hitting the lower 13's stock.

Ours has dyno'd at 372 whp stock. I'm sure the IRS doesn't hurt, but anytime a roomy perfromance based family car can out do a muscle car, I think you have to tip your hat. All for about 10 g's less than the Denali we replaced.

 

The SRT8 version has wider 20X9 wheels with Goodyear F1s, bigger sway bars, stiffer springs and bigger brakes. Those upgrades help its handling a lot compared to the standard Magnum RT. And it has 425 hp.

The Mustang GT outhandles, out brakes and out accelerates the Magnum RT (non hemi) according to Road and Track's test results.

The Mustang GT and Magnum RT are more comparable in price, while the SRT8 Magnum is more comparable to the GT500.

According to Road and Track, the 425hp SRT8 does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds compared with the 300hp Mustang GT, which does it in 5.3.

 

Interesting. I know that Road & Track did another test in which they coaxed a 4.9 second 0-60 time out of a stock Mustang GT, too, so I guess at some point one has to interpolate to get the average.

Another way to look at this, might be to consider the fact that it takes a more costly, pumped up, SRT-8 version of the Magnum with 425 HP, to equal (or marginally beat) a stock Mustang GT with a SRA and significantly less horsepower.

 

Bingo. Tates Dodge's biggest, baddest Charger to nip the GT, and not by much. For the SRT-8's price and alittle elbow grease I could have a Mustang that bends it over a chair.

 

Ditto times two.....

My point all along is comparing something from a completely different price range...... SRT vs. base GT

Hell, after my Saleen upfit mods (Saleen suspension, blower), my GT probably totaled out at approx 35K when all was said and done - over 2K LESS that the bare BASE SRT - and I'd sure put it up against the SRT head to head

 

Dang skippy. And what fun it would be, too.

 

I don't wanna take sides on this one at all... In fact, no I would like to take the mustang side of this argument, but I still think its important to remember that a magnum is a four door wagon that can haul a hell of a lot more people and cargo. They're different cars really, at very different price tags. I don't think you can argue for one or the other in terms of performance. Other than that, one's much cheaper, the other's much more practical. I'd say they both rock my world equally.
Oh wait, until you count the looks. That's when you remember that we all have many reasons to be on a mustang site, and one of those is definitely killer looks.

 

I think one thing is certain. A mustang will never be as practical as a Magnum...and a magnum would never be able to touch the mustang in performance when modding.

 

Which is why you'll never see me Driving a Magnum.

 

I think if the SRT8 and Mustang GT were truly competitors in the same market segment, you'd have a valid comparison. However, we're talking about a 5 passenger performance orientated 4-door vs. the Mustang. How many prospective Mustang GT shoppers are considering an SRT? I'll bet not many at all and the reverse would also be fair.

What the SRT8's have done is to carve out a niche for the guys like me who are sick to death of cumbersome SUV's, and minivans, and want some performance with their needs. A cake and eat it too scenario.

Anyone that rags on the price of an SRT8 is really ill-informed. For 37k, I got a car with all the ammenities, including Nav, Rear DVD, sun roof, heated leather seats, F1 20 tires, Brembo brakes, and it truly performs. This car is an absolute steal compared to a loaded SUV. I have room for my two kids, and plenty of storage for luggage, etc. It gets better fuel economy than our previous Denali, and as I've stated, offeres better performance than my Mustang GT (when it was stock). What's the rub here guys? For Pete's sake my wife is looking at a loaded Odyssey that is over 35k.

If the criteria is no holds barred bang for the buck performance. Of course the GT is the stand out winner. However, I don't see that as any kind of valid argument or comparison. Apples and oranges fellas.

I'm telling you honestly. I've owned imports, Fords, GM's, etc. Our SRT8 is one of the nicest cars I've owned, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to have a well built, well engineered, high content, BEAST of a family car. What good days these are.

I think my reasoning may be lost on most of you if you do not have a family or have a need for a car with more doors and room. If you do have those needs and like performance, it doesn't get any better than an SRT8 in the domestic market.

 

I see your stance here in terms of a 'family' vehicle with performance.

Please note that I believe the reason you got the reactions you did is that you seemed to be comparing the two outright in your initial post - whereas now, above, you are saying its not fair to compare the two.....

Anyway it backs up my viewpoint - two different animals (with different price points) made for two different things (roles).

 

I think comparing the stock performance of the two cars is fine, but when someone injects the cost element of the SRT8 and the Mustang the discussion loses it's validity in my opinion because they are such different cars with different purposes.

 

Okay you lost me on that then...

I cannot see how you can compare the performance and NOT take the price point into consideration at all....

That's like saying you can compare the performance of my buddy's Mazda 3 and the Jeep Cherokee SRT8 I see everyday in my work parking lot - but can't interject the cost difference because they are two different vehicles with two different 'purposes'...

 

Well let me ask you this. Do you think the Jeep SRT8 owner was looking at a Mazda 3 or visa-versa?

If the SRT8 was two door musclecar like our Mustangs and cost 37k, I think you have a valid cost argument for debate. However, to say "yeah but the SRT8 costs more" discounts the fact that there is value in the room and ammenities it offers over the Mustang.

You have two performance based cars in the GT and SRT8. One is targeting people that need room and practicality and want ammenities. Another (the GT) is targeting people who want a performance value and do not need room, practicality, and have varying interest in ammenities. Of course there is going to be a significant cost variance.

So yes, I think it's fair and somewhat unavoidable to compare the performance of the two cars. However, the scope of what the cars offer and do needs to be kept in perspective when you start bantering cost.

I know alot of this discussion is probably a little anti-Chrysler banter too, which is fine. The only I problem I tend to see with that is that the gripes are typically not fact based, and when you press someone for a little explanation you tend to get a "well my '89 Omni was a POS" Well duh...........so was my new '87 Escort that I drove in college.

The proper perspective on the bashing is the relaization that it's just an opinion, and there are plenty of people that would disagree. You should have heard the GTO guys when they heard I was buying a Ford. Wow...blasphemy! The absolute truth is that the really isn't any overall significant quality desparity, it's more a matter of taste and loyalty.

 

My reaction wasn't that the SSRT-8 costs more, iut's that the SRT-8 is the range-topping Dodge. You can't get more than the SRT8, it is the apex of the model range. The GT, on the other hand, is a volume level package that's widely available and well below the top of the range. You can't fairly compare the performance of two cars if you're using the Ultimate A and the Mid-Level B. If you want to compare the GT against the Dodge, compare it to the R/T. If you want to compare a Mustang to the SRT8, compare it at least to the performance-oriented (and comparatively-priced) Shelby GT.

 

they don't even have their own military (its true), what can you expect

 

We do so. I met the guy once.

 

SRT=SVT

same idea from different companies....but the only Ford SVT model right now is the GT500...so you really cant compare an SRT8 to a Mustang GT horsepower wise.... more likely the GT500...prices are much closer too... (without ADM)