Stock, yes the car handles pretty poorly. The GT's suspension is setup too soft and the car has a ton of body roll. The car is also under-tired from the factory. All of that is easily changed from the aftermarket. I've spent a lot of time and some money putting together a good suspension setup and it works well. The thing that is missing is overall feel and confidence. Drive a BMW or Porsche and they are like a precision surgical tool. My Mustang is like a steak knife. It's sometimes a handleful to drive and is rough around the edges. Most of this has to do with the ox-cart rear end that Ford chose to provide us. With an IRS rear, the car would feel much more planted on the street.

 

Technology exists in the good ole' USA, but not at Ford. GM is starting to build cars now that can compete on an even playing field with the Japs and Germans. The new CTS is a great vehicle and shows that GM is learning and refining their product. I do not see this at Ford. Ford has been slow to change and it's costing them market share. For us performance guys, Ford doesn't invest in the right Motorsports R&D. Nascar, NHRA, and GAC does little for us performance guys. Again, look at GM and how they campaign the C5R/C6R. The technology used in those race series is the reason why the Vette is that good. Leasons learned on the race track in the C6R made their way on the street car. Hell, look at manufacturers in Formula One. If you look at the majority of performance technology developed in the past 30 years, it was pioneered in F1.

 

Face it folks, we have a nice performaing car - better than most cars in the USA.

It looks nice and sounds nice - a muscly car.

but it won't hang with a BMW M6 - don't kid your self.

Look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DzsdSWTMug

 

that video reminds me... I need to upgrade my brakes (and also that I didn't pay 100 grand for a base model! haha!)

 

Sorry but the twisties just isn't for me. Most road racing suspensions are a little harsh for some of us. I am getting too old to saw on the wheel and doing the heal-to-toe is like patting your head and rubbing your tummy....or is patting your tummy and rubbing your head?? Starve a fever and feed a cold?? Anyway if I do change anything it will be to Hawk ceramic pads for less brake dust. The increased stopping power will be an added benefit. BYW...I was thinking of low HP imports and bland euro models when I made the squwaking about handling and braking comment. Sorry if I confused anyone.

 

english euro trash..... what do they make...jaguar..owned by ford..****ed me off watching it..the mini??owned by bmw

 

I think our cars handle pretty good for it's price range.

However, this is an example of good handling :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PD9Z8DYqI0

I wouldnt try that with our cars.

 

Compared to what? Cars that cost $10K more? Or $20K more?

For $26K, the car handles pretty well I think.

 

The car (even with some suspension work) does not handle like a M car or a porsche does. They are different beasts. I have had a bunch of seat time in friends and relatives E36 and E46 M3's and own an older porsche myself.

BUT...with some mods the mustang is a VERY respectable handling car. It is also how you set them up and option them. When I was test driving them new I was floored at the difference in feel between a 17" wheeled car and an 18" car between the wheel/tire upgrade and the different suspension tuning.

Now after having my car modified since the spring, and recently driving a 17" bone stock GT for a day, I can say the stock car is a bit more comfortable, but there is a night and day difference.

 

+1

 

Seriously different worlds there, guys. Our 'Stangs are "muscle cars." We're loud, powerful, and fkin' ***** on the straightline. A Porsche is a race car that someone decided to put on the road (even though it's capabilities as a race car can't be found on the road...*scratches head*...least not without committing a felony...)

If yer gonna talk race performance with a Mustang, yer gonna have to put a little work into 'er before you can match up. Remember where the 'Stang came from. It was a car, that BECAME a race car, not a race-car that became a street car.

I got a coworker who raced professionally and he said the Mustangs were always great track cars, but you have to play with the suspension.

As for the Porschers...stock you could likely beat any of them off the line (and sound better doing it, too), but they've already got the work done to them that the 'Stang needs to have done.

 

wow, I never expected this post to escalate like it did, but I like it...

Again, I beg the question, how are the poor-handling S197s doing so well in the Grand Am racing with inferior handling against Porsches and Beamers? Yes, I know these are not stock Mustangs, but neither are the Porsches and Beamers, I'm sure. I think the fact that they can even compete against these AWESOME HANDLING euro cars, which are priced significantly higher to begin with, speaks volumes about the Mustang.

The fact that the Stangs can be competitive with those other cars would seem to indicate that the right mods can level the playing field.

 

I just would just like to add a bit of economics into this discussion. Many people here who are defending the handling of the Mustangs explain that our cars are so much cheaper than BMW's and Porsches.

While this might be true in North America, its not the case in the rest of the world. The price of a Mustang GT in Europe is higher than many Porsches or Beamers (thanks to a whole multitude of taxes). Lets also not forget the running costs of the Mustang, primarily gas, which costs several multiples more in Europe. Finally, you need to consider that the purchasing power parity is different in both locations. In some places in Europe the minimum wage can be as high as $18 per hour.

You also need to consider these factors in reverse. European cars sold in North America are very heavily taxed. You must take these into account when comparing the prices of the cars.

 

As far as I know, Euro cars are faced with luxury and guzzler taxes, same as any expensive gas swilling vehicle here.

Minimum wages are higher across the pond, but so are taxes. The sorts of taxes levied in Europe would cause a revolt here (despite our ever increasing intent to become a socialist society here)
--->enough of that<---

Another thing to consider with the Mustang, it has to be all things to all people. Look at the posts in this thread, its gotta be a comfortable daily driver, a drag racer, and a road racer while looking good and being affordable all at the same time, ergo its a jack of all trades (while being master of none). In order to specialize, you have to take it upon yourself to nudge it in that direction and personalize the car.

--->and on discrediting drag racers<---
I wouldn't be to hasty to dismiss drag racers as a fringe part of the Mustang community(and by extension the live axle). They have spawned one or two competitive drag racing clubs (NMRA), with people competing in some very expensive machinery (easily 100k+ hardware). You dont get that level of commitment in a sport unless there are alot of people invovled.

 

For the price its good value and very stable. As as for ride, well it is called a Mustang!

If you need all the rest of the stuff you have two choices. Mod up, or pay up for something significantly better.

 

Go to Grand Am Cup's website and look at the rules to campaign various cars. You will see why the Mustang does well. It's amazing how much modification they allow for a Mustang. Then compare that to a 997 Porsche. GAC is like NASCAR and oddly enough owned by the France family.

 

I can't agree more, me here to!

 

I still don't get why you're comparing a Mustang to a 997 Porsche. I have no idea what a 997 Porsche costs, but I'm guessing it's a bit more than a Mustang, even a modded Mustang. Please correct me if I'm wrong...

I'll make a similar comparison - how does a Porsche 997 handle compared to an IndyCar?

 

Basically bolt on stuff, a welded body along with a intergal roll cage. As has been posted here before, Ford spent some serious time nailing down the suspension tune, otherwise its very similar to the car you buy off the show room floor (RWD, Mod motor, Tremec trans, 8.8 live axle - all heavy duty, but at least conceptually closer in design compared to the 500 or whatever they run in Nascrap). The FR500C aren't one off tube frame cars with exotic custom frabricated hardware hiding under a dzus fastened carbon fiber skin. They are tweaked production based cars, and that speaks pretty well about the base setup. Had the FR500C been fitted with a Windsor V8, SLA front, IRS rear with a trans axle, I might be skeptical about the production car's prowess.

 

+2 to the comment about BMW and porsche comparisions......

That said I hope ford look to the future with the 2010 and see how many post on this forum refer to suspension mods, it would seem that a fine handling care with big power and the best bits of 67-69 is what a lot of us want. ( as well as many still wanting the strip )

The popularity of euro cars / imports is simple, take a Scooby ( subaru ) WRX xti - 300BHP ( with a water injection button), handles, looks good AND responds well to simple mods. Does this sounds familiar??? it should its why many of us fell in love with the mustang in the first place

I would have paid an extra 2k for a mustang with an IRS