I remember there was a YouTube video of him (Randy) in the Boss mentioning that "it had an SRA, but it's staying planted around the turns without problems". Something to that effect. I think the whole IRS thing is way over-rated.

 

Exactly, I feel like it is people complaining to complain. I have also heard that a torque arm can completely change the dynamic of how the SRA works coming out of a turn.

 

Ford should probably put one in the next Mustang, just to keep up with the times. But, you know what we'll see? A ton of "My half shafts keep breaking", or "SRA swappin' my '15 stang".

 

They should put the IRS in the 2015 and then offer an SRA drag pack car and charge more money for it.

Everyone's happy

 

Yup. Mach1 with a SRA sounds like a winner.

 

Actually a good idea IMO. Track pack options. Or track pack and drag pack, etc.

 

That would be a great use of the name plate

 

Would be nice to take it back to the 60's and 70's when you could order all the available options from the factory. Different motors, different rear ends, different suspensions would all be cool.

 

Lord knows we need more of those beemer owners.

(kidding! )

 

I do have the FRPP Adjustable and can tell the difference from the Base GT before it was upgraded. I would say now it matches the M3 that I had on smooth surfaces, but not before. All I am saying is when the rear end breaks loose, the M3 is more predictable. That is why most all high end sports cars have an IRS, which includes the new Mustang coming out, the Camaro, the Stingray, the C63 AMG, RS5, M5, Venom GT,....need I name them all.

Just because I make note of something and always strive to improve it, doesn't mean I can't handle the car. To keep defending the SRA, saying it's good enough, well then we might never have improved cars to the point that we are at today, if we were just satisfied with the status quo.

 

You've been the one whining about your Mustang, not us.

I have hundreds of thousands of miles on SRA, including on some rough two lane twisties with sheer drop offs on the side, and am completely comfortable and confident with it in all kinds of conditions, and it is perfectly 'predictable'. As do millions of other confident drivers who are way better than me.

It has been my observation FWIW, that the loudest complainers started out with either front wheel drive, or some kind of IRS, so the transition seems to be difficult for them. Whereas we who grew up on SRA, know it like a natural reflex. Long live Don Healey, Carroll Shelby, and countless others!!

 

I think you hang around animals too much

 

You are right, I am defending it because it does work well, and to be honest I have never driven a RWD IRS car, ever. But I can't see how an IRS snapping to one side or another is going to be more predictable then an SRA, and you also have to know that each of the cars you listed have completely different chassis which add to the dynamic. I also am all for progressing but I can see why Ford stayed with the SRA since they can make it work. As others have said an IRS comes with other issues, wheel hop, weight, half shafts not handling the power, increased drive train loss. I can't stress enough also that you track your car, if you don't already. I think you would gain a much better understanding of what it is doing when it steps out. What do you have the sway's set to?

 

Well... there was this stallion that ate me back in 99. He proved to be jus a lil bit 'unpredictable'. SRA's do what you tell them to do. Stallions on the other hand.... can be a crap shoot.

 

Your point is excellent. In the end, (quality) SRA is more versatile for multiple conditions and driver choices in one package. Whereas IRS is more limited in its ability. I can push my Bullitt on two lane mountain twisties hard and fast, or drop and go hard on the straight line quarter over and over, all in one dependable, predictable package.

 

btw, the thought just hit me since you have altered the suspension. I can't speak for the new GT or Track Pack, as Bullitt had its own tweaks... I understand it to be firmer than the stock GT of the comparable year, but more giving than the 2010+ Track Pack GT's. It handles excellent on my favorite mountain roads. I brake before the turn so I can be under acceleration or no less than neutral acceleration through the corner. This helps the rear stick (F-R weight transfer). So consider this:

You know there are some rough tracks on the F1 circuit that are rougher than others. On the rougher tracks, they 'soften' the suspension a bit so that it works more - as in 'absorbs' the road. Yes, even IRS gets loose if its too firm depending on conditions. Have you tried playing with your adjustment on the roads that are possibly spooking you?

 

I tell you what, you go buy an M3 and drive it for 18 months and compare it to the Mustang GT and let me know what you think like I have.

I think you need to lay off what I am saying and don't take it so hard. I am a software engineer, I used to work for IBM, I currently write iPhone apps(I have written 26) and my nature is to make things better. So it is not a matter of what I think is better so much is that IT IS better for certain things when it is proven in the world.

The SRA DOES have it's good points. It can take a lot of abuse and tow like hell like in my truck. A IRS would be crap for that. An IRS is only BEST in corners(and it may be only marginally better) then a SRA, but I like something that is better...YOU DON'T? If I had a drag car, a SRA would be better.

But, a 1250+ HP F1 Formula race car does not have a SRA. I wonder why?

 

But it's IRS DOES bounce and break lose on the rougher tracks. Why is that if IRS is so perfect?? IF the suspension isn't adjusted properly.

See my previous note.

 

Well, so far I haven't been spooked. Not much does, not even when the cop pulled a gun on me a long time ago on a traffic stop(I grew up with guns), but that's another story.

My settings are approximately 3 turns from full hard and I need to take a day and go to the Houston Police academy race track or go to Hennessey's track and try different settings to see how it reacts. As it is set now, I don't think I would change much on the front. It doesn't dive at all. Before the upgrade, I stood on the brakes many times to measure the nose dive and it was alot. Now it is almost nothing.

 

Certainly, the IRS does break loose on a hard slide, but it doesn't hop. It is more of a controlled slide sideways.

You have to think of the hop on a SRA, that when one wheel leaves the ground, it pulls the other one. On a IRS, the other stays where it was and is not affected. Certainly, if the hop is severe enough where both leave the ground on a turn, then the back end will go sideways according to the amount of G-force put on it.