The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: A Car That Packs a Punch
When it comes to cars that are more than just a fashion statement, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is certainly one that stands out. This car boasts an impressive supercharged V8 engine from the Ford GT, which produces 447 horsepower. To put this into perspective, when tested on a rolling road, the GT500's true horsepower reading was almost identical to its advertised figure of 325 horsepower.
One of the most notable features of the GT500 is its power output. With 500 horsepower under the hood, it's no wonder that the car has been a hit with enthusiasts in America. The queues have been out of the door, and many people are eager to get their hands on one of these powerful cars. However, the question remains: is this car more than just its impressive engine? Unfortunately, some aspects of the GT500 may be seen as old-fashioned, particularly when it comes to suspension technology.
Ford has chosen not to equip the GT500 with modern suspension, instead opting for a live axle setup that features fully independent rear suspension. This means that the car's rear end is connected by a single large girder with wheels attached at each end. While this may seem like an old-fashioned solution, it does provide some unique characteristics to the car. However, when all goes wrong, the GT500 can become as imprecise and dynamic as its more conventional rivals.
In comparison, the Shelby Mustang has taken a different approach to suspension technology. Its 415 brake horsepower engine is not matched by the same level of refinement as the GT500's more modern counterpart. When driven on a track, the Stig found that the Roush Mustang struggled to find grip and stability, particularly when cornering.
However, one thing is certain: the Shelby Mustang does have its own unique strengths. Its limited-slip differential helps to channel power through the tires, making it a formidable opponent on the track. Additionally, the car's exhaust note is distinctive and attention-grabbing, setting it apart from other high-performance vehicles.
The Roush Mustang's performance was put to the test when the Stig took it out for a spin on our track. The result? A time of 1:28 minutes and 28 seconds – just two seconds faster than its GT500 rival. While this may not seem like a massive difference, it does highlight the Shelby Mustang's impressive capabilities.
In contrast to the GT500's more conventional suspension setup, the Roush Mustang features a more modern arrangement that helps to improve its handling and stability. This, combined with its superior brakes, makes it an attractive option for those looking for a high-performance vehicle. However, it also comes at a price – 10 grand more expensive than the Shelby Mustang.
Ultimately, the choice between these two vehicles will depend on individual preferences and priorities. While both cars offer impressive performance capabilities, they cater to different tastes and requirements. For some, the GT500's raw power may be enough; for others, the Roush Mustang's more refined setup may be preferred. Regardless of which car you choose, one thing is certain: these vehicles are sure to turn heads on the road.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ennow this is the new Mustang we drove it a while back and we found it a bit late but the thing about the Mustang is you can always improve the breed as I shall now explain with a rather noisy history lesson many great things about the Mustang is that it really introduced drivers to the whole idea George buzz came out in the early 1960s and he wanted a poco standard walk with a 6-cylinder engine there this is the bullet muster so one Steve McQueen hurled into movie history around the streets of San Francisco the gt390 is in car terms very very few cars live up to their hype and I'm using it to make a Mustang point everything that made it good the engine delights the stripes was extra basically if you wanted a good one yet to forget cheap and cheerful and go for the bells and whistles version and that is what's been missing so far from the new one until now this is the Mustang gt500 and from every angle you can see its muscle car biceps straining to burst out of the bodywork it's also festooned with menacing Cobra badges a tribute to tuning legend Carroll shoulder now Shelby only ever put his name to the fastest and most powerful Mustangs which means this thing has got to be more than just a fashion statement and it is you see this car has the supercharged v8 from the Ford GT No point nine seconds in America the gt500 has gone down a storm the queues are out of the door and ran the block now if you wait your turn you could put one of these on your drive to Britain for 35,000 pounds sounds tempting question is should let's start with the power that 500 horsepower it's a bit you know meat this is a rolling road it's a sort of lie detector for engines and gives the true horsepower reading genuinely looking forward to this what's gone really right so this gt500 actually makes 447 almost there you go that seems fair enough thinking about what I've got the machine it has when it is brand-new 325 horsepower and I'm assured by the man inside anyway back to the job in hand and speaking of disappointments killing geometry to a remote reservoir dampers fully independent rear suspension please adjust some of the things that this Mustang now what this car uses is a live axle which as rear suspension goes is basically a whacking great girder with a wheel at each end it's not exactly the most because the technology is old-fashioned he can have some good old-fashioned fun but when it all goes wrong the Mustang becomes as precise and dynamic as well enough now Ford say they didn't give the gt500 modern suspension because it would have added $5,000 to the price of each car ridiculous decision you can't just give a car an extra 200 brake horsepower and then leave it with prehistoric suspension what you're left with then is a car that looks great and goes fast in a straight line and that's it but don't despair if you really want to spend 30 grand on a Mustang that looks good and goes fast in a straight line makes a great noise by this one well not this one obviously that much power in a car without changing the suspension you just can't all the brakes the rest of it can't handle it anyway we must now find out how fast the Shelby goes round our track and to do that we're gonna put it in the hands of our tame racing driver some say he isn't machine washable all these potted plants are called Steve all we know is he's called the Stig okay away he goes and you can see the back wheels bobbing around struggling for grip that's the low-tech suspension for you let's see how it affects things in the corners diving into the first one now looking fairly composed so far not too bad just breaking loose a little bit on the exit there guiding his hands she helped him to unbutton her pretty lilac gloves more gushing fiction from Stig's collection there Chicago now see it John a cocker back wheel and it gets all I've shape on the way out that is messy hammerhead now heaving forward on the brakes when he's lurching over into the turns thing kicks it into a bit of a drift smoking inside not elegant locking your arms round his neck just softly pressed her lips to hers into follow-through chance to see this card is best now which is in a straight line that's fast through the tyres two corners left oh they're wallowing about like a frisky there just Gambon to negotiate now he Hills it in precisely as same as a manaro yes which is good but as you could see it wobbling about in that fit I mean it stings all over the place and that really brings me on to this okay which is the Roush Mustang now it's only got 415 brake horsepower this okay which obviously isn't as much as the Shelby but they have changed the suspension they have changed the brakes and I drove this last year in America and it was just brick I mean really properly brilliant car but if I'm right this is what 10,000 pounds more expensive than the Shelby well yes but it's 10 grand more car it really is in fact earlier wrong after the Stig had been out in the Shelby we gave this to him and this is this is what it looked like out there there he is coming up to where is he now that's Chicago you see look there's no modeling like there was in the Shelby what's that makes that supercharger whine and then the exhaust this is got a limited slip diff as well which the Shelby hasn't so it doesn't just spin all the power away on the inside where it's such a nice car do you know what the time was god okay 415 horsepower what was this 450 or thereabout yeah it was 128 minute 28 so it's two seconds faster than the Shelby but it is m3 money yes but honestly I'd have one of those if I were the sort of person who looked at my sister and thought mmmnow this is the new Mustang we drove it a while back and we found it a bit late but the thing about the Mustang is you can always improve the breed as I shall now explain with a rather noisy history lesson many great things about the Mustang is that it really introduced drivers to the whole idea George buzz came out in the early 1960s and he wanted a poco standard walk with a 6-cylinder engine there this is the bullet muster so one Steve McQueen hurled into movie history around the streets of San Francisco the gt390 is in car terms very very few cars live up to their hype and I'm using it to make a Mustang point everything that made it good the engine delights the stripes was extra basically if you wanted a good one yet to forget cheap and cheerful and go for the bells and whistles version and that is what's been missing so far from the new one until now this is the Mustang gt500 and from every angle you can see its muscle car biceps straining to burst out of the bodywork it's also festooned with menacing Cobra badges a tribute to tuning legend Carroll shoulder now Shelby only ever put his name to the fastest and most powerful Mustangs which means this thing has got to be more than just a fashion statement and it is you see this car has the supercharged v8 from the Ford GT No point nine seconds in America the gt500 has gone down a storm the queues are out of the door and ran the block now if you wait your turn you could put one of these on your drive to Britain for 35,000 pounds sounds tempting question is should let's start with the power that 500 horsepower it's a bit you know meat this is a rolling road it's a sort of lie detector for engines and gives the true horsepower reading genuinely looking forward to this what's gone really right so this gt500 actually makes 447 almost there you go that seems fair enough thinking about what I've got the machine it has when it is brand-new 325 horsepower and I'm assured by the man inside anyway back to the job in hand and speaking of disappointments killing geometry to a remote reservoir dampers fully independent rear suspension please adjust some of the things that this Mustang now what this car uses is a live axle which as rear suspension goes is basically a whacking great girder with a wheel at each end it's not exactly the most because the technology is old-fashioned he can have some good old-fashioned fun but when it all goes wrong the Mustang becomes as precise and dynamic as well enough now Ford say they didn't give the gt500 modern suspension because it would have added $5,000 to the price of each car ridiculous decision you can't just give a car an extra 200 brake horsepower and then leave it with prehistoric suspension what you're left with then is a car that looks great and goes fast in a straight line and that's it but don't despair if you really want to spend 30 grand on a Mustang that looks good and goes fast in a straight line makes a great noise by this one well not this one obviously that much power in a car without changing the suspension you just can't all the brakes the rest of it can't handle it anyway we must now find out how fast the Shelby goes round our track and to do that we're gonna put it in the hands of our tame racing driver some say he isn't machine washable all these potted plants are called Steve all we know is he's called the Stig okay away he goes and you can see the back wheels bobbing around struggling for grip that's the low-tech suspension for you let's see how it affects things in the corners diving into the first one now looking fairly composed so far not too bad just breaking loose a little bit on the exit there guiding his hands she helped him to unbutton her pretty lilac gloves more gushing fiction from Stig's collection there Chicago now see it John a cocker back wheel and it gets all I've shape on the way out that is messy hammerhead now heaving forward on the brakes when he's lurching over into the turns thing kicks it into a bit of a drift smoking inside not elegant locking your arms round his neck just softly pressed her lips to hers into follow-through chance to see this card is best now which is in a straight line that's fast through the tyres two corners left oh they're wallowing about like a frisky there just Gambon to negotiate now he Hills it in precisely as same as a manaro yes which is good but as you could see it wobbling about in that fit I mean it stings all over the place and that really brings me on to this okay which is the Roush Mustang now it's only got 415 brake horsepower this okay which obviously isn't as much as the Shelby but they have changed the suspension they have changed the brakes and I drove this last year in America and it was just brick I mean really properly brilliant car but if I'm right this is what 10,000 pounds more expensive than the Shelby well yes but it's 10 grand more car it really is in fact earlier wrong after the Stig had been out in the Shelby we gave this to him and this is this is what it looked like out there there he is coming up to where is he now that's Chicago you see look there's no modeling like there was in the Shelby what's that makes that supercharger whine and then the exhaust this is got a limited slip diff as well which the Shelby hasn't so it doesn't just spin all the power away on the inside where it's such a nice car do you know what the time was god okay 415 horsepower what was this 450 or thereabout yeah it was 128 minute 28 so it's two seconds faster than the Shelby but it is m3 money yes but honestly I'd have one of those if I were the sort of person who looked at my sister and thought mmm\n"
