How do you feel about your '10-'14 after the reveal of the S550?
12/11/13, 03:15 PM
#141
12/11/13, 04:25 PM
#144
12/11/13, 04:33 PM
#145
Shelby GT500 Member
12/11/13, 04:51 PM
#146
Shelby GT500 Member
For the last time, RE: axles...
No one has said that the SRA is better than an IRS in this thread. Not one single person. As far as being archaic, it really depends upon your criteria--and in terms of performance, Ford has managed to get their Mustang's SRA to run around road courses at less than 0.1 seconds slower than one of the more "sophisticated" suspension/frame vehicles with an IRS. Could the Mustang have been given an IRS before now? Yes, and it was given one--and most people who owned one of them hated it because it was tacked on for its cache and not for its performance abilities. Ford knew the suspension was going to require a serious overhaul to implement the IRS in the S197, they decided against it and planned to put it in the next (S550) iteration of the Mustang. I do think the IRS is a better suspension--it's why I'm putting off buying a S197 V8 and turning it into a NASA/SCCA race car and waiting a few years to see how the new Mustang does and what can be done with it. That said, the real benefits of the IRS over the SRA are only going to be realized by the very best drivers on a road course; that's all there is to it. I've driven plenty of vehicles with IRS, and yes, they're more comfy around turns on bumpy roads and over potholes. I've also had people tell me how surprisingly comfortable the ride is in my Shelby--which is anything but a Cadillac ride. It is an improvement, but it's not night-and-day different.
That's all I am saying.
No one has said that the SRA is better than an IRS in this thread. Not one single person. As far as being archaic, it really depends upon your criteria--and in terms of performance, Ford has managed to get their Mustang's SRA to run around road courses at less than 0.1 seconds slower than one of the more "sophisticated" suspension/frame vehicles with an IRS. Could the Mustang have been given an IRS before now? Yes, and it was given one--and most people who owned one of them hated it because it was tacked on for its cache and not for its performance abilities. Ford knew the suspension was going to require a serious overhaul to implement the IRS in the S197, they decided against it and planned to put it in the next (S550) iteration of the Mustang. I do think the IRS is a better suspension--it's why I'm putting off buying a S197 V8 and turning it into a NASA/SCCA race car and waiting a few years to see how the new Mustang does and what can be done with it. That said, the real benefits of the IRS over the SRA are only going to be realized by the very best drivers on a road course; that's all there is to it. I've driven plenty of vehicles with IRS, and yes, they're more comfy around turns on bumpy roads and over potholes. I've also had people tell me how surprisingly comfortable the ride is in my Shelby--which is anything but a Cadillac ride. It is an improvement, but it's not night-and-day different.
That's all I am saying.
12/11/13, 05:03 PM
#147
Ford wants to compete in the sense providing similar power and handling characteristics at much lower price. Working class M3. Same formula as the current Mustang. They don't want to go upmarket, that is a different ball game (Lincoln?). What is going to happen is that Ford will have to give up some of that money they were pocketing by selling cars with SRA and justify the decision by telling enthusiast that it's the best thing since slice bread.
12/11/13, 05:44 PM
#148
Ford wants to compete in the sense providing similar power and handling characteristics at much lower price. Working class M3. Same formula as the current Mustang. They don't want to go upmarket, that is a different ball game (Lincoln?). What is going to happen is that Ford will have to give up some of that money they were pocketing by selling cars with SRA and justify the decision by telling enthusiast that it's the best thing since slice bread.
Mustangs have so many awesome things about then but to me the greatest is there ability to modify so easy. You can buy a 305 HP stang for under 23k and build a 350 HP car over time for under 2k in mods.
Hopefully Ford will keep it to where consumers can still by a base 2015 mustang for around 28-30k in price.
12/11/13, 06:29 PM
#149
Legacy TMS Member
12/11/13, 07:37 PM
#150
I hope I'm so wrong and not even close but it just seems to me that Ford may be moving away from what the mustang really was and should be. Not a high end worlds super sports car. I hope a base 5.0 is still around 31K. I hope the base V6 is still around 24K. This still gives middle class ,blue collar workers the opportunity at owning a new iconic pony. Depending on the price Ford sets for the 4 banger turbo it may be a few thousand less than a 5.0. For a few thousand less here in America majority will buy the 5.0 over the 4 banger. European sales will be very different which the 4 banger will sell far more units than 6 and 8 combined.
12/11/13, 08:44 PM
#151
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Just got my '13 back in June, still learning how to drive it (my first manual, only 2k miles logged). Love the S550 redesign. Waiting to see what happens with the Boss 302 and GT 350 variants.
The last two generations have had 10yr life cycles, so we've got time.
The last two generations have had 10yr life cycles, so we've got time.
12/11/13, 08:48 PM
#152
Is the Boss coming back anytime soon. I thought 2013 was the last year..
12/11/13, 08:53 PM
#153
Cobra Member
I notice the SRA every time I drive the car, on something as simple as pulling into my driveway slowly or driving down a poor quality road, something we all probably drive on every day. It's not enough that I don't love the car, but it's a definite negative to me. You and your passengers' head/shoulders jerking from side to side , the noise, it's all a part of the SRA experience.
Of course they've been successful for 50 years with the car, but it's not because everyone loves their solid rear axles. Again, a great majority of people that own Mustangs probably don't even know that's what their car has. They just know it rides really rough compared to cars they're used to.
No, I don't have a research study confirming that 95% is completely accurate. But if 100K Mustangs are bought in a given year, there's not a chance more than 5,000 of them are being hardcore drag-raced week in and week out where they truly see the benefits of the SRA. Not a chance.
Of course they've been successful for 50 years with the car, but it's not because everyone loves their solid rear axles. Again, a great majority of people that own Mustangs probably don't even know that's what their car has. They just know it rides really rough compared to cars they're used to.
No, I don't have a research study confirming that 95% is completely accurate. But if 100K Mustangs are bought in a given year, there's not a chance more than 5,000 of them are being hardcore drag-raced week in and week out where they truly see the benefits of the SRA. Not a chance.
FYI the IRS will bring lots of wheel hop with it.
12/11/13, 09:11 PM
#154
Legacy TMS Member
I hope I'm so wrong and not even close but it just seems to me that Ford may be moving away from what the mustang really was and should be. Not a high end worlds super sports car. I hope a base 5.0 is still around 31K. I hope the base V6 is still around 24K. This still gives middle class ,blue collar workers the opportunity at owning a new iconic pony. Depending on the price Ford sets for the 4 banger turbo it may be a few thousand less than a 5.0. For a few thousand less here in America majority will buy the 5.0 over the 4 banger. European sales will be very different which the 4 banger will sell far more units than 6 and 8 combined.
12/11/13, 09:32 PM
#155
I can see where that's coming from, but remember, the average price of a new car is now over $31,000 (http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...ugust/2761341/). It's **** tough, if you're Ford, to balance the history you're talking about with the reality of profitability and being able to sell the car outside the US.
12/12/13, 04:41 AM
#156
Bullitt Member
I got my copy of Automobile magazine (I think it was that one) that had a cover story on the 2015 Mustang. They designed the IRS so it can 'easily' be removed from the car and replaced with a solid rear axle if desired. The rear wheelbase is 3" wider so im not sure if anyone will be able to retrofit that to our 'older' models (I know absolutely nothing about suspension).. Apparently they understood going to IRS would force many drag racing mustang fans to look elsewhere for another car with a solid rear axle. The magazine did also say that the Boss is done and there will be a GT350 in the distant future, but did not mention a GT500 returning. 2-3 years into this new model there will also be a twin-turbo 4 cylinder engine as well. I for one do not like the new front end at all (especially compared to my 13'), the headlights look unproportionately (lol) too far apart, however the interior and the back look pretty sweet to me. I also would rather see the retro faux gas cap on the back still, or nothing there rather than the running pony. It seems out of place... I'm wondering if us guys with the automatics will be able to possibly use the paddle shifters from the 15'?!?
12/12/13, 07:06 AM
#157
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I have a quick forum point of order question for when the 2015's hit the streets.
When the Ecoboosters join the forum, are my fellow V6 owners permitted to look down our noses at them like the V8 club does to us currently?
What is the planned pecking order?
When the Ecoboosters join the forum, are my fellow V6 owners permitted to look down our noses at them like the V8 club does to us currently?
What is the planned pecking order?
12/12/13, 08:15 AM
#159
Cobra Member
I think we are still bottom feeders, the v6 will be the base engine...
12/12/13, 08:33 AM
#160
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As far as the 2015 .. the only thing I like about it is the new rear panel and tail lights ... Everything else is just a mix of NOn-Mustang body lines that have been seen on numorous other cars over the years. Almost looks like a bastard child of a Charger and Camaro now ...
This could possibly be the demise of the Mustang .... if I wanted a curvy World-Car .. I'd buy a BMW M3 or an Audi ....
Last edited by dmhines; 12/12/13 at 08:37 AM.