Overwhelmed: This exceeds all my expectations.
Underwhelmed: They missed the mark on this.
Satisfied: It's pretty much as I expected.

 

Overwhelmed. You have to see it in person.

 

A bit underwhelmed.

The great – clean, purposeful styling (especially front end) and hand-of-God drive train are let down by not-so-great – pick-up truck suspension, tarted-up GT seats and non-HID headlights.

If they hold the line at current Cobra pricing -- $35K -- the shortcomings are balanced out by the great drive train. If a penny more, then there simply needs to be more and better content to justify the premium. Looks like the bean-counters interceded and they were a bit more interested in meeting a price point than a performance goal. Not bad in and of itself, but the compromises to the overall performance envelope shows and they seemed to focus primarily on straight-line speed with everything else being distinctly secondary. But then, the original GT500 was more of a big-motored drag queen than road rat, so perhaps the focus on straight-line capability is in keeping with that tradition. Maybe a GT350 in the future with a better-rounded performance capability?

A very, VERY good car, to be sure, but not one that surprises or stretches beyond expectations, or even those promulgated by SVT's own earlier hints, boasts and statements.

 

I think it is a stunningly beautiful car and the only minor critique is that I would like to see the front end a little more purposeful.

However, I would have absolutely NO qualms about buying the Shelby exactly as shown as long as the price was less than $40k. Over that, it's not a good value for the dollar in my view.

But hey - if I see it in person and it grabs me, who knows?! I might pay 'whatever'!! :worship: :worship:

 

I don't know how Im going to pass the days till this bad boy comes out. Once it does, it will be absolute murder to see them at the dealers and wait till the convertible comes out

 

I voted Satisfied, although I must somewhat agree with Rhumb. I really expected IRS in this car. After all, Ford has said all along it was engineered for it from the beginning. I'm not bashing the SRA per se; if it works great so be it. I don't think that higher end cars (Vette, BMW, Porsche, et. al) use IRS because it is inferior. This was obviously a cost-cutting measure, not a performance enhancement. HID's would have nice also...
IRS aside, everything else about this car rocks!!! I personally love the wheels.

 

The attention to detail and an apparent fit and finish is excellent. I am extremely satisfied and will try to get one.

 

It was almost exactly what i was expecting and wanted.

Everything I dont like (rocker stripe, old man letters) can be easily taken off.

The only thing I would love to see on it is shelby (cougar) style taillights.

 

I just asked you about that in another thread.

 

The new Cobra GT500 leaves me....

....wishing for more money

Seriosuly though, price, and final specs will be a HUGE determining factor for me. If they drop the Whipple for an Eaton, loose the leather interior bits, reduce the size of the brakes, put on 18s and charge $40k, I will be underwhelmed.

However, if they build it as-is (with the stripes as an option) for $38k, I am overwhelmed.

 

That's just an outgrowth of the fit and finish of the 05 Mustang. People are amazed at the build quality and finish of the new Mustang, especially when compared to the previous generation.

With that said, there are aspects of the car that overwhelm me, others that underwhelm me, and others that are just right.

Overwhelmed: The engine. Let's face facts, I honestly didn't believe Ford had the attachments stick a 5.4L engine into the pony but they did.

Underhwelmed: The suspension. I'm not going to re-hash...but the lack of IRS is really dissappointing.

Just right: The styling of the body. I have to admit it's drop dead gorgeous. Just the right balance of agressiveness and subtlety.

Overall: About what I expected I suppose. I kind of had a feeling Ford would try to make up the lack of IRS with big headline grabbing hp. I'm sure it's a great car and will be a home run hit, but it's not a car that will make me save my money specifically to buy one.

 

I've seen this a couple times now, and I can't recall Ford EVER saying this. The concept was engineered for IRS, but it also had much different proportions from the production Mustang, and was based on a different platform (one that did natively support IRS). I suspect this is one of those things that people have begun quoting as gospel truth that isn't true at all.

 

I've seen this a couple times now, and I can't recall Ford EVER saying this. The concept was engineered for IRS, but it also had much different proportions from the production Mustang, and was based on a different platform (one that did natively support IRS). I suspect this is one of those things that people have begun quoting as gospel truth that isn't true at all.
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From Motor Trend when the 2005 Mustang GT made its debut.

As far as the concepts, they ride on the exact same chassis as the 05 Mustangs. They actually took pre-production models, stripped them, and wrapped them up in the concept clothing.

 

Overwhelmed. Floored, actually.

Folks the LS1 f-body's were considered something of a performance bargain in their hey day. And for what? The soul of a vette with a Camaro/TA wrapped around it. Same motor as the vette, and 9/10's of the vette's performance (in a drag, anyway) for about half the price.

Now consider this. A slightly detuned supercharged 5.4 lifted directly from Ford's $150,000 Ferarri killer (the GT). 450 ponies which we KNOW to be underrated this time (I'm betting on closer to 500 even at the flywheel), shoehorned into an already proven chassis with an understated but remarkably HQ interior, for a base price of around 40 large? I would pay 50 without hesitation. Find me an ANY car at that price point that could hold a candle to this car. M3? GTO? (over)Charger? Not a prayer. :nono: Heck even the canyon carving 2000 Cobra R (which sold for well over 50K as I recall) would probably see only tailights in a duel with this new Shelby.

This car will be an unabashed, runaway success. A good buy at 50K, a great buy at 45K, and a downright steal at 40K.

Sign me up! Time to start writing some more grant proposals...

 

you gonna get it in DHG with no stripes? lol, i hope you get one and wish you good luck

 

I am extremely overwhelmed!
I love it! although the rear could have been better with a little more spice, it is all-around excellent