I came over here from the TMS Boss 302 Forum because I was so excited when I heard about the 2013 GT500. I LOVE my 2012 Boss, but I wanted to learn more about a 650 HP, 600 lb-ft, 200 mph American made car. Most of what I have read here is about ADM's (too big), tire sizes (too small), ZL1s and Vettes (too fast) and how Ford will mess this up. In October I went to a driving school at Laguna Seca. One of the cars we got to drive was the Mercedes SLS AMG. It is a very nice car, but afterword I told my wife "I am now even more impressed with what Ford has done with the Boss 302 for 20% of the price of the SLS." Ford does a great job of creating affordable world-class cars and then gets criticized because they aren't absolutely perfect. By the way, I have no connection at all to Ford. (I even drove a Honda S2000 for 5 years prior to the Boss.)
I just don't get the negativity towards what seems like it could be a great car from a company that has come a long way in the last 5 years.

 

That's far and in between from a few who have either no intentions or means to get one. As long as Ford improves and upgrades the GT500 it will be a fun car to drive for those who understand its limits and experience what the car is all about.

 

I'm excited to see what the new GT500 can do! I'm pretty confident that Ford has worked out all the previous shortcomings of the car and the '13 is going to be a monster.

 

Well the GT500 will never have the poise of the Boss, the 5.4/5.8 with its supercharger gear puts alot of weight up high and out front and with all that power its the very definition of a nuclear broad axe. Thats not a condemnation mind you, as I think its awesome that a car like the GT500 exists since it is the quintessential musclecar and a celebration of what made detriot great.

 

I would look at it this way from my experience, 996GT3 and 99GT2 with full suspension. Porsche GT3 light high reving nimble machine. Porsche GT2 = Sledgehammer but doesn't have the nimble feel of the GT3.

Peter

 

Man, is it bad the one Porsche I really lust after is a GT2 RS... this seems to be a theme in my life.

 

The way I see it the gt500 is a perfect platform for dragging where as the boss is for the twisties. Throw a supercharger on your forged boss and pull even faster track times by killing it in the straights. As for the gt500 I've seen guys pulling 8s on stock motors. I'm dying to see what evolution performance does with the new 5.8 gt500 mid 7s?

 

The GT500 is a great car. But like you said for the price the Boss is a great car, I love everything about it. I had a 04 Mach1 and i liked that car as well, But in the evolution of the Mustang the Boss is just so refined and yet feels so raw like a Muscle car..

 

What negativity?

 

I am not into straight line speed so much as I am into cornering. I guess that's why I'm keeping my Boss. My initial reaction to the 2013 GT500 was "650 HP, 600 lb-ft, 200 mph! Wow!" but then reality kicked in and I realized that I'd probably never use that much power. I just don't drive that fast. BUT kudos to Ford for giving those who want that much power the option. Even if the car is $60K that will be a bargain compared to anything similar. I agree that $60 K is still a lot of $, but 650 HP and 200 mph is A WHOLE LOT of car. If it handles well (and Ford seems to have figured that out with the Boss) it will be a GREAT car.

 

it also needs to be said to those being negative that we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. we know very little about the 13 gt500 at this point. I'm really excited to see the full specs and some tests

 

The '12 GT500 PP beat the Boss 302 by a second and half on what I believe was a three mile lap. The '13 GT500 will likely do a lot better.

 

I couldn't agree more!! And here's mine for sale!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2012-...m=270864510320


(Shameless plug)

 

wow what an awesome ride!

 

I want that 2013 gt 500

 

I hadn't seen any side-by-side comparisons...that would be interesting to see.

They're both great cars. in the grand scheme of things...they're really only slightly different. I was at a stop light (in my boss) last night next to a kid in a '70 camaro. I gave him a thumbs up, he did the same. My son, seated next to me, asked why I'd give a thumbs up to a guy in a camaro...at 13 years old and an avid car buff, he's swayed by all this us vs. them stuff. I told him that, in the grand scheme of things, I think that we (in our 2012 boss) and him (in his 70 camaro) are on the same side...extolling the virtues of great American muscle cars.

I suspect the 13 gt500 will be an incredible car. perhaps 'legendary'? I also want to see more info about them, but I'm pretty sure I want one. And if I had my choice, I'd keep the boss too.

 

The 2013 GT500 will no doubt be A-FREAKIN'-MAZING. I think we all agree that the boss will be more nimble as it will be considerably less pudgy. The Shelby should in fact, given sufficient traction, teleport when you step on the tall pedal on the right side of the driver foot well.

By the way am I the only one who is terrified at the idea of going 200 mph in a mustang??? I've been mustang faithful since the mid 70's, but still 200 in a mustang. Oh how the times have changed. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have the ***** to go over 175 in the thing. That's ok, I'm also pretty sure I don't have the ***** to come home and say, "Hey Honey, look what I traded in my 2011 5.0 for.... It's a 2013 Shelby.... SURPRISE!"

Yep, don't have the *****! I envy anyone who gets one. Maybe mid 2014 I can talk the wife into it... Maybe not.

 

Yes!! Lolol all kidding aside we all know Ford is very conservative and they usually understate things so if they are advertising a 200mph car then you can be sure that it will be quite safe at that speed and not as scary as you think. Besides up the boost and you could hit 200 and slow down to 50 before you get to the end of the Texas mile track. Heck there are guys who took the speed limiter off Thier current gt500s cuz they are going faster than 155 in the 1/4 mile.

 

As a Boss and GT500 owner, all I can say is rock on Ford. They are waiting for no one and just keep pushing the envelope. Maybe they're racing the inevitable clock against the EPA, DOT and every other federal agency trying to take the fun out of our lives, or maybe, just maybe they're just figuring out a way to keep one step ahead of them and still make the cars perform better and be more fun. I'm just waiting to trade my '07 GT500 on whatever they have up their sleeve for the 50th. Kudos Ford

 

as the most bad-**** S-197, Imagine if the next gen super Mustang kept the 650hp but sheds some weight and has a better Cd.

What a rush that would be, although I find once you've done a certain speed more than a few times it kinda wears off. Still, I'm game, give me a straight road where I wont get surprised by something big and moose like darting from the side and I'm game.