So I've been calling around trying to find a GT available for test drive in my area and finally found one yesterday. It was a GT vert with 3.73's and California package. Unfortunately I wasn't that impressed. While the engine was obviously much more refined and improved, it really didn't feel that much faster in a straight line then my lightly modded 2005 GT with 4.10's. The pull in 3rd gear felt the best to me and did feel faster then my car...but not 90hp better. 2nd gear felt disappointing to me as fell. Just didn't have the pull I thought it would. Couldn't really play with 1st since it was damp out and had no traction.

Has anyone else found that they haven't felt as fast as they thought it would? I was all ready to buy one but now I am not so sure I will be happy with it.

On another note, are the convertibles softer sprung then the regular GT's? Because the car felt very soft to me.

 

I think it's probably faster than it feels. The 2010+ is so much more refined than the previous cars, which could disguise the speed. Certainly the stock exhaust is far too quiet.

But then there's so much more to the new car than speed alone

 

The verts do have different spring rates, so that accounts for your softness. I have been told gears make alot of difference while driving on the street as you feel the pull much more, but if I remember correctly the 4.10's in your old car is so close to the same gearing as how the 3.73s feel in the new one. The tranny gear ratios themselves are different so that may make your expectations for each gear different as well. You mention it was wet out so you did not mess with first gear much. Well, first without traction control is at a loss for traction anyway if you want it to be so the wet conditions really only muffled the tire squeal.

I have driven a manual 5.0 as well with the 3.73 and going along at like 30 in 2nd gear and punching it really did not feel spectacular until the RPMs got up over like 4K. I need to still drive a supercharged 4.6l to see if that would satisfy my taste buds when I actually go to buy a stang for myself since I do lots of city and low RPM driving...

A few issues that have been keeping me on the sidelines for now are the tranny torque ratings- waiting to see how they hold on a few years of use since they are rated lower than the engine they are mated to. Also the manual tranny skip shift seems to be only partly disabled with a custom tune as many still feel some sort of catch in their shifts. Could just be the quality of the chinese made tranny, or just that the skip shift solenoid inside was designed to be invasive from a mechanical standpoint as well as electrical. I desire a manual and want one with a stellar tranny as that really makes a car fun to drive.

The 2005 and newer cars look great and soon the 2010 body style will be as prevalent as the 2005 one, so the engine is all you have to base your upgrade decision off of I guess. I would keep the one you have and add a few more mods to keep you interested. Yours will still be a desirable and plenty fast car even without a 5.0 badge...

 

wtf are u talking about.

 

Done to death issue. It is that much faster, but the engine isn't built with the same philosophy as the 4.6L was. The 5.0 revs up to 6850 and you need to rev up past 4500 RPM to really feel the power. Low-end torque has apparently been kinda dumbed down in the stock tune since pretty much any custom tune will significantly improve that area. The car is definitely that much faster, it just doesn't throw you back in the seat as hard, the acceleration is more linear and constant. Mostly it just throws people off because the seat-of-the-pants meter doesn't do it justice and they don't rev it up enough, usually because they're scared of revving it up that high on a test drive.

I'd add a disclaimer, but there's no need, I've seen it several times on these forums. Just put it to red line before you shift and watch the terrain and the speedo. Oh, the 6-speed may also be fooling you a bit, since the spacing between gears is tighter. One thing I've noticed is that if you're trying to pass someone it's much better to drop it two gears lower, not just one. If you're at 2000 RPM, dropping it one gear will at best put it to 3000 RPM. You want to be closer to 4000 RPM. Not joking, it goes alright from 2000-4000 RPM, but around 4500 RPM you can feel it pushing you back in your seat even more.

 

Actually, I know exactly what you are talking about. But it's only a feeling, not reality.

I said the same thing after test driving a 5.0 for the first time. But my problem was that my 2007 GT had the "All Out" tune which modifies the throttle control. So to my butt dyno, the 5.0 felt unexpectedly sluggish off the line. It didn't help that my 07 had 3.55s and the 5.0 had 3.31s. Mine also had more bolt-ons compared to your signature line, so I understand your initial dismay

After I had the car retuned by Wicked Motorsports, initially it FELT more sluggish off the line even though the dyno proved more horsepower and torque. After driving the retuned 2007 around for a few weeks, I tried the 5.0 again. All I can say is WOW! Once the cars were on the same "field", the 5.0 was a different driving experience. I bought it and never looked back.

Also, how did you drive a convertible with 3.73s? I was told that they are only available with 3.31s, which would be another reason that the 5.0 feels different compared to your current car.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I do know the car IS faster but I really only care about the feel of the car. The numbers don't mean very much to me. I did notice the lack of low end torque but I did beat the crap out of the car since I was by myself on the test drive so I definately wasn't taking it easy.

As you guys have said, it seems the a tune really livens up the car but I was really going to try and avoid putting aftermarket stuff on this car this time around.

Not sure how the vert had 3.73's. Maybe the ordering options are different in Canada? I know we can't order 3.55's up here so maybe some options are different.

 

vert's don't get an option for gears. 3.31's is allw e get for vert's

 

I'm not 100% certain, but I think there wasn't any differential options on my vert. Just the standard 3.31 (in manual) and 3.15 (in automatic).
Anybody know a way I can easily check my car to see if it has something different than 3.31?

 

You don't have to mod it, just drive it for a while. Once you get used to the different style, you'll wonder how you didn't love it in the first place Like when you look down at your speedometer, and realize how very fast you just reached the speed you're going...then your butt dyno "recalibrates"

 

The only problem is, my butt dyno recalibrates and makes my car feel slower and slower very day.... I need more go fast mods.

 

I had a modded 05 with 4.10's and my 2011 with 3.73's will beat the wholly bejeezes out of it in every category with the possible exception of best ****.

 

You must be crazy! This new '11 outperforms most mildly modded <'11 model years.

Hell, it feels almost as strong as my blown '05.

I think you need to recalibrate your butt dyno!

 

This. Maybe I'm missing something, but my butt dyno confirms reality -- that my 2011 is much, much quicker, faster and more powerful than the 4.6L 3V 2007 Mustang GT I had. I've also got no problem with a perceived lack of low end torque; my 2011 pulls from pretty much every gear, at all RPM's (of course, if you're expecting neck-snapping acceleration gunning it at 1,500 RPM's in sixth gear, it's not going to happen).

 

I've driven two '11's with 3.73s.

1. Is it faster than my '08? Yes, feels faster too. But the power builds and sets you back. It is not "big block torque monster" like. But is screams.
2. Does it handle better? Yes.
3. Does it stop better. Seems to. Slightly.
4. Does it look better? Eh, jury is still out. In some ways yes and others no.
5. New Trans? Dunno, seems like too much gear with a 3.73 rear. Shifting was sort of ambiguous. I like the 5 spd better 'cause I'm used to it.

Bottom line for me..it is a great car but it is not soo much better that I want to sell my '08 tomorrow and buy one. Not $10k better which is what the difference would between the two cars. Came close in July but the dealer waffled on the trade $$$ even though I had a buyer lined up for them.

 

I just purchased a 2011 5.0 with the Brembo package. I also have a modified 2007 GT. The 2007 has cams, headers and 4.10s. The 2011 walks all over the 2007. Its not even close. The 2011 is far superior to the 2007 in every way IMO.

 

I drove a vert with 3:15 gears, auto, i really didn't think it felt more refined at all.
It felt almost like i was driving my 09. It felt like a dog on the bottom end, sport mode
on or off. Top end it felt quick though.

 

I have to say I wasn't blown over with its power either, but a good tune quickly changed that. A tune is a must for this car. JMHO.

 

When I punched mine the first time went from 40 to 80, and it did not feel like I was at highway speed. Felt the same at 40 as 80...

And the 5.0 doesn't feel powerful unless above 3,500 rpm IMO.

 

In that case you should grab a 95 civic, it will FEEL fast as hell over 80mph lmao