Why Boss instead of GT-500
Originally Posted by FCMalie
Yea, I seem to remember a thread in the Boss section asking what people were paying and there were quite a few for MSRP.

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I went with the GT500 instead of the Boss. Why? Because I could get the GT500 for invoice and the Boss was MSRP. Then because of Fords infinite wisdom not to include a black roof and stripes on Kona Blue I'd have to shell out another $2k to get that swapped. So the spread between both cars was down to a couple grand. On top of that the Boss inside is just a base Mustang GT inside with limited options. No Sync, no HID, etc. Those are features that are important to me. If I could have snagged a Boss for invoice I might be in one now. I might even switch over next year with the new color and stripe schemes. Either way you are WINNING!
Last edited by bpmurr; Mar 29, 2011 at 10:38 PM.
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I went with the GT500 instead of the Boss. Why? Because I could get the GT500 for invoice and the Boss was MSRP. Then because of Fords infinite wisdom not to include a black roof and stripes on Kona Blue I'd have to shell out another $2k to get that swapped. So the spread between both cars was down to a couple grand. On top of that the Boss inside is just a base Mustang GT inside with limited options. No Sync, no HID, etc. Those are features that are important to me. If I could have snagged a Boss for invoice I might be in one now. I might even switch over next year with the new color and stripe schemes. Either way you are WINNING!

Last edited by Rather B.Blown; Mar 29, 2011 at 11:01 PM.
Easy, if your a purist, then the Boss will mostly likely appeal. If your out and want to be dressed to impress, then the GT500.
I'll echo that both cars are designed to do different things. The GT500 is pretty much a 428 Cobra Jet Mach and well the GT500KR for the modern day. Its a relaxed big block boulevard crusier (albeit with a DOHC supercharged 5.4) Its not meant to be the track car that the Boss is.
I'll echo that both cars are designed to do different things. The GT500 is pretty much a 428 Cobra Jet Mach and well the GT500KR for the modern day. Its a relaxed big block boulevard crusier (albeit with a DOHC supercharged 5.4) Its not meant to be the track car that the Boss is.
Some of these numbers are from fantasy land. Whoever did this test should spend more time with the vehicles or stop testing. I guess the GT500 they tested with didn't have the PP package since you put a 3.55 final. Let's not forget that the 5.0 in the boss has been seriously pushed to the limit to squeak out an extra 30hp. For a 150.00 you can easily get another 50hp with a blower pulley. That much power can easily be put to the ground with a few added parts. One last thing, I'm not sure how ford gets it's weight but I've weighed my 500 and it's 3793
That being said it really comes down to which one looks better to you.
"I wanna go fast"
That being said it really comes down to which one looks better to you.
"I wanna go fast"
the Boss 302 motor is not being pushed to the limit. Here's a fun fact, they ran it over 8000 RPM for hours with no issues, and it made over 500 HP N/A. What did the GT500 make when it came out? With how much more displacement? And that's in stock Boss 302 trim. Don't forget JPC made 507 WHEEL Horsepower. At 15% drivetrain losses, that's 596 crank HP. And considering the Boss 302 is meant for road courses, I know I would rather have 600 HP, a 7800 RPM redline, and no heat soak issues. The new Boss 302 motor has technology in it that you WISH your GT500 had.
It's a legitimate debate...
As someone who bought the most expensive Mustang he was willing to pay for, I think I did okay with 90% of the performance for under $30k (thank you, Xplan)...but with an extra $15k to throw around, honestly, I would have a hard time deciding.
The following is just my opinion. I would just about kill for either one of these cars...and I love them both but...
..the thing that bugs me about the BOSS 302 is that it's extremely pretentious. They're selling it as a race car. It's not a race car. It's a nice chasis with a nice motor in a fairly hot state of tune with some decent street rubber, big brakes, a some really nice trick parts, etc...and it will certainly turn respectable lap times...but the stripes and the pretentions mean that you're driving a slow race car rather than a fast street car.
The GT500 on the other hand is a badass street car. Yes, it too comes with a bit of flash but where the BOSS 302 has just about every thing but roundels/numbers on it, the GT500 makes no such claims...and retains the sense of being a mean as hell street car...that coincidentally would be extremely formidable on a race course...for a street car.
So...while they're both amazing, I like the concept of the GT500 a bit better. JUST my opinion.
As someone who bought the most expensive Mustang he was willing to pay for, I think I did okay with 90% of the performance for under $30k (thank you, Xplan)...but with an extra $15k to throw around, honestly, I would have a hard time deciding.
The following is just my opinion. I would just about kill for either one of these cars...and I love them both but...
..the thing that bugs me about the BOSS 302 is that it's extremely pretentious. They're selling it as a race car. It's not a race car. It's a nice chasis with a nice motor in a fairly hot state of tune with some decent street rubber, big brakes, a some really nice trick parts, etc...and it will certainly turn respectable lap times...but the stripes and the pretentions mean that you're driving a slow race car rather than a fast street car.
The GT500 on the other hand is a badass street car. Yes, it too comes with a bit of flash but where the BOSS 302 has just about every thing but roundels/numbers on it, the GT500 makes no such claims...and retains the sense of being a mean as hell street car...that coincidentally would be extremely formidable on a race course...for a street car.
So...while they're both amazing, I like the concept of the GT500 a bit better. JUST my opinion.
..the thing that bugs me about the BOSS 302 is that it's extremely pretentious. They're selling it as a race car. It's not a race car. It's a nice chasis with a nice motor in a fairly hot state of tune with some decent street rubber, big brakes, a some really nice trick parts, etc...and it will certainly turn respectable lap times...but the stripes and the pretentions mean that you're driving a slow race car rather than a fast street car.
The GT500 on the other hand is a badass street car. Yes, it too comes with a bit of flash but where the BOSS 302 has just about every thing but roundels/numbers on it, the GT500 makes no such claims...and retains the sense of being a mean as hell street car...that coincidentally would be extremely formidable on a race course...for a street car.
So...while they're both amazing, I like the concept of the GT500 a bit better. JUST my opinion.
The GT500 on the other hand is a badass street car. Yes, it too comes with a bit of flash but where the BOSS 302 has just about every thing but roundels/numbers on it, the GT500 makes no such claims...and retains the sense of being a mean as hell street car...that coincidentally would be extremely formidable on a race course...for a street car.
So...while they're both amazing, I like the concept of the GT500 a bit better. JUST my opinion.
And while I agree they're selling the Boss as a race car INSPIRED design, I don't think anyone has the thought it truly is a race car, except owners of these (and they'd be correct, of course):


There's still a big difference of a track tuned street car and a street-car-based race car. The LS is probably the closest you'll get without getting paid to drive, in the Mustang realm at least.
BUT, you can say the same things about the 911 GT3 and its RS models and such, quite pretentious with all the stupid decals all over, and the painted wheels and such -- while nice and visible on the track (you can pick your's out of the pack with all those bright colors) they all just turn into cop magnets on the street:


Last edited by CO_VaporGT_09; Mar 30, 2011 at 07:50 AM.
Originally Posted by Ducky
the Boss 302 motor is not being pushed to the limit. Here's a fun fact, they ran it over 8000 RPM for hours with no issues, and it made over 500 HP N/A. What did the GT500 make when it came out? With how much more displacement? And that's in stock Boss 302 trim. Don't forget JPC made 507 WHEEL Horsepower. At 15% drivetrain losses, that's 596 crank HP. And considering the Boss 302 is meant for road courses, I know I would rather have 600 HP, a 7800 RPM redline, and no heat soak issues. The new Boss 302 motor has technology in it that you WISH your GT500 had."I wanna go fast"
A base Boss at MSRP with the Recaro/Torsen option is $43k. A GT500 with the performance pkg at MSRP is around $53k. I love both cars but couldn't afford the $10k spread. Plus, I've always had a thing for the original Boss, ever since I wrote a paper on Larry Shinoda when I was in high school. It's really a personal and financial choice. It seems silly to argue which is better when the criteria for most people are very different. I was fortunate to find a dealer willing to sell at MSRP, so I think that I got the right car at the price I was willing to pay, and I'm happy as hell with my purchase.
Tell me how I'm wrong. Have you ever been on a road course? That extra 1500 RPM makes all the difference in the world. Nothing sucks more than being 100' from a turn and you run out of gear. Shifting up would be a waste because you would immediately have to downshift again, and holding it in gear is wasting speed. Weight is also huge, not just with turning, but with braking. Nobody cares how fast you can go if you can't stop. Just as important as overall weight, is weight distribution. Griggs can take an S-197 GT and give it 50/50 weight distribution with a 200 lb driver in the seat. You think they can get that with a 70lb blower on the nose? And the heat soak and high power is an issue when you have to turn. I spoke with a guy at a track day at Laguna Seca with a GT500. He had pullied it and regretted the decision because he couldn't put the power down and his lap times decreased. Don't get me wrong, the GT500 is a killer car. And I would kill for one. But you're high if you think the GT500 is a better track car, and that the Boss 302 is being run at it's limit. You think it's an accident that Ford entered the Boss 302R into the Trans-Am race series instead of a "GT500R" or something? Of course not. And it's winning.
^^^ Edmunds just tested the V6 vs GT vs Boss vs GT500- GT500 beat the Boss...
Same day, driver, track, full factory performance packages on each. But it depends on the persona of the driver and the course and from there- which you'd prefer.
Also the other listed and verified lap time at Willow Spring:
GT500 1:23 (2010)
BOSS LS 1:26 (2012)
http://www.insideline.com/ford/musta...shoot-out.html
Take of it what you will.
Same day, driver, track, full factory performance packages on each. But it depends on the persona of the driver and the course and from there- which you'd prefer.
Also the other listed and verified lap time at Willow Spring:
GT500 1:23 (2010)
BOSS LS 1:26 (2012)
http://www.insideline.com/ford/musta...shoot-out.html
Take of it what you will.
The new Boss 302 motor has technology in it that you WISH your GT500 had.
Hey there is a guy in Florida, you might know him? Al Papitto - he has built 5.4 4v engines that don't have a problem reving 8800+ rpm and using the older 4v cylinderheads (prior to the R model Cobra, the Ford GT(40), and the GT500) and making 500+ hp.
The current 5.0 is certainly the best N/A engine Ford has made to date, but it doesn't outclass the 5.4 in the GT500 by any substantial margin. For every 600hp 5.0 there is probably another 750hp 5.4 to go with it.
Hey, that's great. If you want to go in a straight line. I enjoy how you ignored all of my other points though. I am not discounting the power of the GT500 motor. I remember in 05/06 when KB came out with their blower for the GT500 and made 800 RWHP on the stock fuel and ignition systems (and internals). But I'm not saying that the Boss 302 is the better/faster car overall. Only that it's better/faster on a road course. Which is convenient since that's exactly where it was built to play. The 5.4 is meant for something else, which is exactly why it sits under the hood of the 9 second factory Cobra Jet.
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But I'm not saying that the Boss 302 is the better/faster car overall. Only that it's better/faster on a road course. Which is convenient since that's exactly where it was built to play. The 5.4 is meant for something else, which is exactly why it sits under the hood of the 9 second factory Cobra Jet.
"We expected the Boss 302 to be little more than a marketing exercise in nostalgia, a somewhat more brutal, slightly faster GT, with alluring graphics but primitive predilections. It isn’t. Nose to tail, this feels like a whole new equine—thoroughly sorted, conscientiously massaged, the object of considerable forethought and ambition. As automotive resurrections go, this is a knockout that venerates the original Boss while embarrassing it objectively and subjectively in every meaningful measure. What this is, is the best Mustang ever."
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...302_-road_test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...302_-road_test
Some people feel the same way about the Boss, I mean really the main reason for one or the other is just personal preference. I'd take the Boss over the GT500, that said I'd rather have the GT than either of them.
Why are we arguing about which is better, GT500 or Boss?!? Jesus Christ, I'd kill to put either in my driveway. Hell, I'd be glad if someone handed me a 2011 V6. Perspective my friends, go argue with the Camaro fanboys if you want to argue...


