Who else would love one?

[Edbear]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/7298...c-quarter-mile

[SMOKEU]

That would make a pretty sick skid car.

[ducatilover]

No thanks, have you seen the build quality on the Mustangs?
That engine in something that goes around corners? Yes!

[Tigadee]

Apparently the Mustangs have pretty ancient suspension systems? Or has this one's been upgraded?

[SMOKEU]

Apparently the Mustangs have pretty ancient suspension systems? Or has this one's been upgraded?

Live axle in the rear apparently. What is it with Americans and their (comparatively) poor handling vehicles?

[Geeen]

Last I heard they still had leaf springs in the back and a live rear axle. i could be wrong though.
Yes it makes roaring whirring noises but, meh, its a car.

[Edbear]

Next model will have independent rear suspension. This is the last of the "Big Bangers" the traditional Mustangs. Ford has done an amazing job on this model, it handles well and the standard GT500 will do a genuine 200mph, (202mph tested), with 662hp from its 351ci all alloy supercharged V8. It's the last car Carrol Shelby had a direct hand in and as such is an icon model. The team made it as a tribute to Carrol and put the best they could into it until Carrol could be satisfied he was leaving a legacy worth his name.

I would dearly love a GT500 to keep forever as we're never going to see this type of car again. The new one will be a completely new car with nothing but the badge in common with the old guard.

[mashman]

It's not pretty enough for my liking.

[GrayWolf]

Next model will have independent rear suspension. This is the last of the "Big Bangers" the traditional Mustangs. Ford has done an amazing job on this model, it handles well and the standard GT500 will do a genuine 200mph, (202mph tested), with 662hp from its 351ci all alloy supercharged V8. It's the last car Carrol Shelby had a direct hand in and as such is an icon model. The team made it as a tribute to Carrol and put the best they could into it until Carrol could be satisfied he was leaving a legacy worth his name.

I would dearly love a GT500 to keep forever as we're never going to see this type of car again. The new one will be a completely new car with nothing but the badge in common with the old guard.

Did you ever see the 'concept' Cobra Ford produced..... took certain 'cues' from the AC Cobra, but as usual an american overblown sports car. Wonder if that'll find production as an 'anniversary' in honour model in a few years?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Shelby_Cobra_Concept

[Edbear]

Yeah, the problem I have with the new cars is that while they are incredible in advances in dynamics and engineering for power and fuel economy, etc. they are losing the reason I own a '94 MX5.

Cheap. simple and fun. "Only" 130hp and a five-speed manual 'box, but we have a ball in it and we don't need to do 200mph, or even 200km/h and it gets an easy 37mpg, (7.7lt/100km), no matter how we drive it.

I do like the new Toyota GT86 as a suitable successor as it follows the same philosophy. Mazda are bringing out a new MX5 shortly to try and get back to the basic simplicity of ours.

[MIXONE]

Yum yum.I still prefer the original but could live with one of those.

[Edbear]

Yum yum.I still prefer the original but could live with one of those.

And since I am unlikely to be able to afford a Porsche Cayman S any time soon...

[ducatilover]

Live axle in the rear apparently. What is it with Americans and their (comparatively) poor handling vehicles?

Apparently the Mustangs have pretty ancient suspension systems? Or has this one's been upgraded?

Last I heard they still had leaf springs in the back and a live rear axle. i could be wrong though.
Yes it makes roaring whirring noises but, meh, its a car.

Old three link/panhard rod heap of rubbish, like you'd see in a pre-VT Commodore. Even my '73 Rover P6 was more advanced in terms of construction. It's a car build for a market of McD's lovers and high school kids, not a performance car sadly. Just like the original.

Yeah, the problem I have with the new cars is that while they are incredible in advances in dynamics and engineering for power and fuel economy, etc. they are losing the reason I own a '94 MX5.

Cheap. simple and fun. "Only" 130hp and a five-speed manual 'box, but we have a ball in it and we don't need to do 200mph, or even 200km/h and it gets an easy 37mpg, (7.7lt/100km), no matter how we drive it.

I do like the new Toyota GT86 as a suitable successor as it follows the same philosophy. Mazda are bringing out a new MX5 shortly to try and get back to the basic simplicity of ours.

I have to agree with you on most of that Ed, I've driven a normal 5th gen 'Stang and it was poo, didn't like it, no fun. The MX-5 has a great balance of delicacy, poise and "power", it doesn't need power to be fun.
However, the FT86 is a great looking car, but I wouldn't buy one, I'd buy an S2000 which I think is a better car. Honda reliability and 9-bloody-thousand RPM absolute joy to pedal those. The FT86 is properly neat, but it has something missing. I can't see it being the next MX-5 (although, it is nice and simple, possibly more so than the MX-5 is now)

[Grubber]

Next model will have independent rear suspension. This is the last of the "Big Bangers" the traditional Mustangs. Ford has done an amazing job on this model, it handles well and the standard GT500 will do a genuine 200mph, (202mph tested), with 662hp from its 351ci all alloy supercharged V8. It's the last car Carrol Shelby had a direct hand in and as such is an icon model. The team made it as a tribute to Carrol and put the best they could into it until Carrol could be satisfied he was leaving a legacy worth his name.

I would dearly love a GT500 to keep forever as we're never going to see this type of car again. The new one will be a completely new car with nothing but the badge in common with the old guard.

Although still not up to Porches standards perhaps, these beast have come a long way. They do handle way better than their predecessors and long way better than late model camaro.
I'd have one!

[Edbear]

Old three link/panhard rod heap of rubbish, like you'd see in a pre-VT Commodore. Even my '73 Rover P6 was more advanced in terms of construction. It's a car build for a market of McD's lovers and high school kids, not a performance car sadly. Just like the original.


I have to agree with you on most of that Ed, I've driven a normal 5th gen 'Stang and it was poo, didn't like it, no fun. The MX-5 has a great balance of delicacy, poise and "power", it doesn't need power to be fun.
However, the FT86 is a great looking car, but I wouldn't buy one, I'd buy an S2000 which I think is a better car. Honda reliability and 9-bloody-thousand RPM absolute joy to pedal those. The FT86 is properly neat, but it has something missing. I can't see it being the next MX-5 (although, it is nice and simple, possibly more so than the MX-5 is now)

I also love the S2000! Fabulous car! I'm down to drive the GT86 when it gets here so I'll see if it lives up to the hype.

Although still not up to Porches standards perhaps, these beast have come a long way. They do handle way better than their predecessors and long way better than late model camaro.
I'd have one!

With the best will in the world you can only take a live axle so far but they certainly have this as good as you can get it.

I had a good chat with a guy from Ford today at the Speedshow. The GT 335 is a car that belies its appearance and is better than you might think. 335KW is "a bit conservative" and Ford won't state performance figures for a reason... I'm seeing him next week for a drive...

He's a race driver from way back and has spent so much time at Puke and Hampton he could drive them blindfolded. He's raced single seater's as well and knows how to get the best from a car. He must be pretty good, he really likes the Kizashi's for their chassis and handling and was pleased to know I had one and for the same reasons he likes them.

Caught up with Simon Mead from Suzuki and he was impressed I'd done 30k in the year we've had the Kizashi, he's on to his second one now and has a manual.