The reason the Mustang is so popular is that there are too many fake Mustangs that sell for $20K. You don't have a muscle car without a V8 (sorry all you silly Honda guys). Now that the competition is largely going away (demise of the Camaro and Firebird), what's the future of Mustang? Will they come down to the level of the rice-burners? Will they become even more popular or less so? There won't be anything pushing it to add power or performance except the demands of Mustang loyalists.
By the way, the Mustang's competition does NOT include the Corvette. Corvette is out of its league unless you order the $47K SVT Cobra R. Then you might be close. Still, nothing can touch the Corvette ZO6. On the other hand, the rice burners aren't even close to the V6 Mustang's league. I don't care how much they spend on ground effects or chrome exaust tips, it's still only a Honda.
One last thing...In light of Sept. 11th and the growing downturn in the economy, now is the perfect time to preach American car loyalty! Imagine the positive impact on the US economy if everyone all of a sudden started buying American again!
although i love mustangs dearly, and i recently bought an 88 5.0 that runs low 13's, i must say... that my 1997 honda prelude will take v6 mustangs, even if they are supercharged (buddy has one, and raced me) so i just wanna say you gotta give credit where credit is due (honda s2000 - will take all stock GT's and cobras) anywho, im not defending the ricer's or anything, but im just trying to say that you gotta be open minded, thats my two cents, lol
I'd have to disagree with you about the Honda S2000, although its got some power and it is rear wheel drive, it still would not take a Mustang Cobra, that 240 HP doesn't do it much good when its only making 150 ft/lbs. of torque, and for close to 10 grand more than a Cobra and about 15 grand more than a GT, its not really a performance bargain. Now I would believe any stock 94-98 V6 Mustang will be taken down by any Prelude, but as far as 99 V6 Mustangs, I think it would be close, they have had supercharged V6 Mustangs making 220 HP at the wheels which is around 250 or 260 at the fly, and I would love to see a supercharged prelude and a supercharged V6 stang on the track with some experienced drivers, it would be interesting.
hmmmm, if you look at the 0-60 times for the s2000, its 5.0-5.1 sec, but for a 99 svt cobra, the 0-60 is 5.5 sec at best, and stats show that the s2000 will just slips by the cobra in the 1/4 mile too. Also the s2000 will turn out better results in lap times too, because of its superb handeling (p.s- im not trying to be a wise ass or anything, but all preludes are 4 bangers)
My bad, I thought some came with 6 cylinders, I'm not saying the S2000 is not a performance car, but I've looked at some tuner S2000's in some of the Sport Compact mags, and some with 9 lbs. of supercharger boost are all around 300 HP, now to spend 35K on a car and then a 9 lb. supercharger and only get 300 HP? 9 lb blowers on most of the new 4 cam cobras boost you well over 400 HP.
Now for stock vs stock, I don't really trust what the manufacture #'s are, I believe it when they are tested, now I know the 99 Cobra was a dog, but the 2001 made 4.6 sec 0-60 done by Car & Driver I believe, and a couple of the Mustang mags have tested convertable 2001 Cobras in the 1/4 mile and they have gone 13.50's and faster, thats with weighing in at 3600 lbs. and on street tires, I don't know what can be done with a stock S2000, but I would like to know.
alright im not gonna argue with you experts, i like the 2001 cobra better than the s2000 anyways, i just think the s2000 is a piece of art producing 120hp/liter. (most efficient engine in the world)
I'm not saying the S2000 is a bad car, cause 240 HP( I believe the newer models make 250) from a normally aspirated 2.0 L is very impressive, but a little more displacement from a larger motor or even a small V6 would give it some much needed torque.
I hate to say it, but the mustang is just falling behind in the horsepower and performance wars.
I own a Vette and like the looks of the new mustangs. But I just can't see why Ford doesn't step up to the plate and get you mustang guys some horsepower!!
I mean to be beat by a S2000 is pretty shameful and we all know that Ford could make the mustang at least beat it in the 1/4 mile. First Honda's make mustangs look bad in the the twisty's, now they are out powering them too!!
I would personally like to see ford put in their V10 in the future stangs without raising the price tag too much, i believe that would really make the stangs contenders not only against the imports, but also against the domestic heavyweights IE: zo6 or vipers
I agree with everyone concerning the power in the mustangs. I would really like to see a bigger and faster engine put into the new mustangs.
Now the newer mustangs do have more horsepower than the 5.0/V8 from the earlier models. But in comparison to torque, the earlier models had much more.
I have a 93 5.0 w/ a blower & a 97 cobra w/ a blower.
Between the two they are different cars. I had to put money into both of them to be able to compete with my buddies who were driving the new Camaros and SS's. Don't get me wrong when I say I'm beating them now. But we are talking about $4,000 later. It would be nice if the cars were a little more even......OR if the mustang was just plain FASTER!
You're right, an LS6 powered ZO6 Vette will stomp a Rustang, an SS, and a Hawk- LS6's are seriously fast; that is unless the Z06 driver doesn't know how to launch. I also agree that Vette's are not considered the same type car, hence not the real competition (Camaros & Firebirds are the competition for Rustangs).
I'll race and IMHO stomp any stock rice car. I can't imagine any rice outrunning my LS1.
However, there may be good news for the underpowered Rustangs in the future...SLP, the GM tuner/converter of Camaros to SS's, TransAms to Firehawks is apparently going to work on Ford's side now since GM hasn't saved the F-Body by actually advertising/marketing it over the past several years. Hopefully Ford will fire SVO and you'll start seeing SLP Rustang GT's with the 300+ RWHP of the SS's and Hawks.
To begin with, check our what SLP will be doing with the Ranger pick-up at www.slpthunderbolt.com/ . If Ford uses the same deal as you get with SS's and Firehawks, you'll go to the Ford dealer to order the thunderbolt or other Ford's SLP gets to mod.
Some of you Rustang fans may not even know what a Hawk is or what SLP options you can get on an SS from the dealer. Check out www.slpeng.com/
While I enjoy making fun of Rustangs and how slow they are compared to SS's and Hawks, I would think even from a Rustang lover's perspective, it's sad that the rivalry between our cars is being forfeited by GM and the buying public's desire for SUV's that are hard to look around of to pass.
haha what a joke! I like Firehawks but i dont like you,there must not be a lot of firehawks on the road or else you would have your own MB to go to.I dont know what city you live in but its not near Dearborn,sucka.If you live somewhere in northern cali ill come and race you anywhere,anytime.As for beating stock rice, can you beat a mitsubishi 3000gt vr4,toyata supra twin turbo,acura NSX,nissan skyline (just to name a few) and if you think you can beat all of these,your mouth does more running than your car.
Gosh slick, have you recently been beaten by a stock rice burner?
Maybe you haven't kept up with your competitors stats but fully optioned SLP SS's and Hawks are rated at 345 hp. This is universally understood to be underrated so as not to tread on the Vette. Stock SLP SS's and Hawks are turning low 13's in the quarter and zero to sixty in 5 seconds or less.
Now I'll freely admit that I haven't kept up with rice competition, but you obviously have. Is rice faster than a Hawk or SS from SLP?
Message Boards...yes primarily www.ls1.com/ and the board on SLP's site (link posted above). We have Rustang owners post on our board and frankly we enjoy the jousting. You on the other hand must be a sensitive Rustang owner...
Mustang popularity and competition 
