They are doing amazing things with the live axle setup these days, My Roush has the Stage 3 suspension and it will stink my eyeballs out of the sockets on corners, so I am not upset about the stick axle at all.

If I am not mistaken, the '05's running the Grand American series are stick axle and they just won their first race, so

 

Because at 40,000 to 45,000 dollars, it no longer matter what GM comes out with, becuase that's not the competition anymore.
[/b][/quote]


you IRS people might as well be darn driftoers


if a straight axle car outhandels a IRS car whtas that mean?

just because it cost x amount its required to have an irs


if you want an irs go buy a darn honda

 

Just my .02

The Camaro, as stated, is still up in the air, so, shouldnt the target be the more-likely-to-happen GTO Judge??

 

Well considering my two friends have switched out the IRS on their 04 cobras for a straight axles, I'm hoping the new svt mustang will not have IRS or at least have an option for deleting it, otherwise I'll be switching my IRS out.

 

If the Cobra has to have a live axle to handle the copious amount of power offered by the Cobra, then so be it. I'd rather have close to 500 than IRS.

 

My answer is that it depends. :-)

The live axle setup on the new Mustang has gotten some pretty good reviews so I will have to wait and see how the Cobra makes out with it since it should be tuned more agressively. The issue for me is the price and weight. If they have no IRS, the car is still heavy, and the price is $40K +, I will have to seriously look at buying a used corvette. Now if the car performs really well and has some good looks, that will matter also. I really will not know until I see the whole package from Ford. Looks, performance, price, availability, etc.

I bought my 02 GT for about $22K which is a nice price for what I was looking for. An american V8 sports car with a stick that handles ok and looks good.

I don't want just the GT but either an SE or the Cobra so I know it will cost me more, but I was hoping for mid $30's.

We'll see what happens next month.

 

If its got an S/C'd V8 then its gonna be heavier than the GT by an easy margin. I'd say a intercooled blower set-up will add an easy 50 to 70 pounds total. Negligible if your talking a 150hp increase. Thats assuming they dont use a cast iron block again.

IMO the cobra wlll probably offer equivalent or better accelration at a cheaper price, but the vette will walk away from the Cobra on a road course (IRS or not) because its lower and lighter with a bit more sophisitication to the chassis. However thats fine, because VIR is a bit to far away to settle a grudge match like that.

Other than the next SVT product, I'm waiting to see if GM unveils a much sought after f-body show car? I havent seen anything to say they will, but I love it when the GM guys get their hopes up only to left in the field listening to crickets... Muhahahahahahahahahaha..hahahahahahahahahahah...ha hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

 

Though i am dismayed that ford made this choice, in the end i will have to see if how it handles and rides.

Jason

 

you IRS people might as well be darn driftoers


if a straight axle car outhandels a IRS car whtas that mean?

just because it cost x amount its required to have an irs


if you want an irs go buy a darn honda
[/b][/quote]

And what, pray tell, straight axle car outhandles an IRS car? You really can't compare an 05 GT to an 03 Cobra, because the IRS in 2003 was compromised to fit into chassis that was never designed for it. However, a 2003 Cobra will put a 2003 GT to shame in terms of handling (and power).

Hey..if I'm shelling out over 40K for the vehicle, it better darn well have all the features I'm looking for. The only thing that would keep me from buying an M3 (and I am very tempted having driven a couple) is my loyalty to the Mustang nameplate.

So, more likely, I won't be buying a Cobra (yeah..I know you're all gnashing your teeth at that prospect).

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be in my garage cutting the shock towers in my 66 so I can fit a 5.0L Mod into it.......

 

I have driven an M3. Nice car all around, but, it does not have the grunt of even an '03 Cobra stock. This next car will have even more grunt. That is what I am buying ... a gruntmobile.

 

Here's my two cents. Here's what I know. 95% of Cobra owners will not race on any road course. Maybe a vette will pull up next to you and you both will drop the hammer. If you have 450 to 500 hp, You just might whip up on the 400 hp lighter car. You should anyway. So I know with me, I could care less about the IRS. I want something to put me back into my seat. Is IRS better for road racing? Probably. But how many of us will be racing at the track. Just reveal the darn car anyways.

I talked to rep at Apple Valley Ford here in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He said the Cobra that's being revealed next month is a concept car. I don't want to see a concept car. Show me the production car. Pleaazzzzzz. :angry:

 

The moneys waiting on the car. I'll fix or replace whatever weakpoints they stick me with.

 

Will not having an IRS deter me from purchasing? Absolutely not, however I will be disappointed if Ford doesn't at least offer the IRS as an option for those who prefer it over a solid axle. Personally, I'd prefer to have an IRS for my '07 Cobra. Bottom line: Ford if you are listening, make the IRS available as an option. Just my $.02

 

All this discussion has me counting the days.....

 

And probably 95% of GT owners never see a 1/4 mile strip. But when it comes to real world driving where New England roads are not flat top smooth and there's only one dragstrip in a 6 state area, the advantages of an IRS system over a live axle can't be overstated.

And while the 05 GT handles great, and the rear does a solid job (pun intended), it's still hampered by the solid rear axles limitations.

 

Says who? Show us some proof, don't be shy w/ it.

If your so sure of yourself, lets make a friendly wager on it. Say $100? Not sure if betting is allowed on the site but if it is, what do you say?

 

When I see statements like this, I'm glad to be in GA. One thing that we do have is a DOT that makes sure that we have some smooth lanes of asphalt for our :drive: pleasure.

I know plenty of GT owners and Cobra owners, that constantly see the 1/4 mile strip and occasionally a road course. Speaking of, that time of year is getting close. We even have the luxury of them being in our "back yard".

 

Says who? Show us some proof, don't be shy w/ it.

If your so sure of yourself, lets make a friendly wager on it. Say $100? Not sure if betting is allowed on the site but if it is, what do you say?
[/b][/quote]


Wait and see

 

So is that a yes on the bet?

 

I am waiting to see what the New SVT Mustang offers, and how much it costs, before deciding whether to buy it. I currently own a 2003 Cobra convertible and I love the way it handles around corners. I also love the way my 03 with IRS handles on high-speed expressway curves with expansion joints.
I used to own a 1999 Mustang GT convertible before my 03 Cobra, and on those same expressway curves in my 99 I had to slow down to around 60 to be able to feel comfortable with the rear end jitters in the solid rear. When it would hit those joints in the roadway, the car would hop sideways. At faster than 60 it was scary. But with my 03 Cobra with IRS, I can take those same curves at 80 with complete confidence, no rear end jitters at all. It is like a night and day difference.
But the 03 IRS has its distinct disadvantages to the solid rear of the same generation. I used to be able to mash on the gas pedal when starting up from a stop in my 99 GT and never worry about wheel hop. In my Cobra, I cannot just mash on the gas from a stop, because the wheel hop is so violent I feel like my teeth are going to rattle out. For those of you have not experienced the wheel hop in an 03 or 04 Cobra, let me tell you it really stinks. It is flat out embarrassing to have someone riding with you and have wheel hop when you start too aggressively from a stop light. Your passenger looks at you with a bewildered/ concerned/ scared look that says "WTF was that?!" If you don’t let off the gas right way, you risk breaking your drive shafts or worse.
So, I love my 03 with IRS, and am saving up my $$ to install some well-discussed wheel hop "cures" such as FLSFCs, bushings, brackets, and shocks. For now, it is livable in stock set up (I've had it 18 months now and still have not changed it at all). I wish it didn't hop, but I can live with that as a compromise for the improved cornering and high-speed handling. Also, you can learn to work around the hop and mostly avoid it. I may never get around to dropping all the bucks it will cost to try to cure the hop, who knows.
As for the next Cobra, I am waiting to see what is offered, the price of it, and how it drives. Doesn't really matter too much to me if it is IRS or solid, given what I have heard about the handling of the 05 SRA. It sounds like the SRA in the 05 is really pretty good. If the next Cobra can handle the high-speed curves with expansion joints on the expressway, I will be satisfied. If it cannot, then I will be disappointed. I am looking forward to driving an 05 on those high-speed curves to see if the current SRA setup can handle it. I haven’t yet had a chance.
Final word: It sure would be nice to have 400 hp like I have now, and be able to mash the gas on a stock set up from the factory without worrying about hop. Seems to me it should be possible to design an IRS to do that.