Test drove the 2011 Roush Stage 2 Mustang GT today

[TRZ06]

My impressions......

ACCELERATION:

The magazines have got this one nailed. Feels just as quick, but not quicker then the M3. For having 100lb ft more torque, I was expecting a little more "pinned to your seat" feel. Yes, you do feel the additional TQ a little in light city traffic driving and when taking off, but for balls out acceleration onto the freeway, felt no faster then the M3.



HANDLING:

This is the one I was more curious about given the Roush suspension work. I will say it felt nicely dampened and firm/sporty, however the chassis isn't very confidence inspiring. After driving the M3 for a while, we take for granted just how inspiring the chassis is and how easy the M3 is to drive fast. Does the Roush have the composer and limits to hang with the M3 at 9/10th and 10/10ths? I don't know maybe, but I am not sure I would want to take that chance to find out with the Mustang chassis. The chassis does not say "PUSH ME HARDER", it says, "I might be able to hold my own with the M3 but I am not sure and I might kill you trying"



INTERIOR:

This is obvious, not BMW luxury, but it's not meant to be. I will give Ford props for the instrument panel though, very well done and reminds me of my 67' Mustang I had when in my early 20's.



EXTERIOR:

Very aggressive and with a kick ass attitude. 20's look perfect on the Mustang



FINAL THOUGHTS:

Shifter and gates feel very nice and without slack. I HATE my gearbox in my M3 with a passion!!! Grinds from 1st to 2nd when pushed to redline half the time (see multiple threads on this) and feels sloppy compared to the shifter/gearbox in the Roush (even my Corvette Z06 and Audi S4 that I used to have felt miles ahead)

If I hadn't been spoiled by the power and handling of my Z06 and the confident inspired/refined chassis of the M3, I would be all over this Roush, however being older and having experienced some of the greatest automotive engineering the last 10 years in the Z06 and the M3, I just can't appreciate anything lesser and would be disappointed with this Roush.

[xxs65xx]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

My impressions......

ACCELERATION:

The magazines have got this one nailed. Feels just as quick, but not quicker then the M3. For having 100lb ft more torque, I was expecting a little more "pinned to your seat" feel. Yes, you do feel the additional TQ a little in light city traffic driving and when taking off, but for balls out acceleration onto the freeway, felt no faster then the M3.



HANDLING:

This is the one I was more curious about given the Roush suspension work. I will say it felt nicely dampened and firm/sporty, however the chassis isn't very confidence inspiring. After driving the M3 for a while, we take for granted just how inspiring the chassis is and how easy the M3 is to drive fast. Does the Roush have the composer and limits to hang with the M3 at 9/10th and 10/10ths? I don't know maybe, but I am not sure I would want to take that chance to find out with the Mustang chassis. The chassis does not say "PUSH ME HARDER", it says, "I might be able to hold my own with the M3 but I am not sure and I might kill you trying"



INTERIOR:

This is obvious, not BMW luxury, but it's not meant to be. I will give Ford props for the instrument panel though, very well done and reminds me of my 67' Mustang I had when in my early 20's.



EXTERIOR:

Very aggressive and with a kick ass attitude. 20's look perfect on the Mustang



FINAL THOUGHTS:

Shifter and gates feel very nice and without slack. I HATE my gearbox in my M3 with a passion!!! Grinds from 1st to 2nd when pushed to redline half the time (see multiple threads on this) and feels sloppy compared to the shifter/gearbox in the Roush (even my Corvette Z06 and Audi S4 that I used to have felt miles ahead)

If I hadn't been spoiled by the power and handling of my Z06 and the confident inspired/refined chassis of the M3, I would be all over this Roush, however being older and having experienced some of the greatest automotive engineering the last 10 years in the Z06 and the M3, I just can't appreciate anything lesser and would be disappointed with this Roush.

i dont understand how you can grind from 1st to 2nd, i have never experienced that, but then again i dont really launch the car much

[330CIZHP]

There is no doubt left M3 S65 engine is an overachiever. M3 engine is trapping stock 4 - 5 mph higher than the Coyote 5.0 Liter engine with similar power and weight and almost 100 ft-lbs more torque.

With almost 300 ft-lbs of torque, all out acceleration does feel savage especially in lower gears. CarAndDriver got 12.4 secs@114 mph from an M3 competition package recently. That is astonishing for a car with "only" 414 HP.

[datalink7]

Originally Posted by xxs65xx

i dont understand how you can grind from 1st to 2nd, i have never experienced that, but then again i dont really launch the car much

I was actually wondering about this. I seem to grind sometimes when I push to redline and go from 1st to 2nd (only gear change that does this). I thought it was just my lack of ability on a manual (Been driving on a manual for 8 years but I taught myself so I thought maybe I had some bad habits), but maybe not?

[serge]

Originally Posted by stingray23

The new 5.0 stangs dont trap 4-5 mph less then the M3. They both trap about the same. Lets not use Car and Drivers recent test of the M3 competition as the "norm" for the car. Its definitely not. 12.7-12.9 @111-113 is norm.

Really?

[330CIZHP]

RoadAndTrack got 12.5@115 mph from a 6 speed manual M3 so 12.4@114 mph is not a far stretch from an M-DCT transmission and some other differences that are in the competition package.

Besides, M3 sedan/coupe has run 12.6 (atleast in 3 comparisons) far more often than the Stang GT 5.0 has 12.9.

Suffice it to say, in a direct comparison M3 has a probability of running 114 - 115 mph as much as the Stang GT 5.0 has of 111 mph.

Originally Posted by stingray23

Thats like showing the latest article of the m3 competition getting 3.9 and 114mph trap

There have been other articles showing the new GT trap much higher. research it.

Motortrend tested the GT twice and got 12.7@111.3 and 12.8@110.8

[Dave07997S]

Saw a stock auto with 3.15 geared 2011 Mustang GT run a 12.7 @115mph...

reported on SVTPerformance as well..

Here is the timeslip..car 4810 on the left...



That being said I do believe the M3 will post more consistent time slips due to the fact the 2011 GT has so much torque getting it to launch without roasting its tires is a very hard feat.

[serge]

Originally Posted by stingray23

Thats like showing the latest article of the m3 competition getting 3.9 and 114mph trap

There have been other articles showing the new GT trap much higher. research it.

Motortrend tested the GT twice and got 12.7@111.3 and 12.8@110.8

I don't need to research it, I'm subscribed to MT, CD, RT, Bimmer, and also three European auto mags. Like you said, the fastest time the new Mustang has produced so far is 12.7@111 mph, slower than most of M3s.

Anyways, why are you dissing the latest C/D M3 article? Are you aware that this is the second time the M3 has produced such crazy numbers? Perhaps fake numbers too?

[MMMorish]

You guys subscribe to too many car magazines and that means you all spend way too much time on the toilet. J/k

Someone please settle this the old fashion way: find a buddy who has a new 5.0 Mustang, hit the track for a day and do a few 1/4 mile passes. Let the best driver/V8 win! In th end of the day, there are way too many variables in all these magazine tests and only a real world test will suffice.