2015 Ford Mustang / Shelby GT350 Official - 5.2L FPC with 500+hp/400+ lb-ft

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

3,500 lbs isn't really a sports car is it?

What the hell is a sports car then?

Is a 911 a sports car? 3486lbs
Is an M3 a sports car? 3483lbs
Is an F-type a sports car? 3671lbs

C7, 370z, 458, M coupe and many other cars designed with sporting intentions all clock in over 3200lbs. Even a Cayman is 3100lbs.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by f0rge

What the hell is a sports car then?

Is a 911 a sports car? 3486lbs
Is an M3 a sports car? 3483lbs
Is an F-type a sports car? 3671lbs

C7, 370z, 458, M coupe and many other cars designed with sporting intentions all clock in over 3200lbs. Even a Cayman is 3100lbs.

In my book none of those are sports cars (Cayman is close), go back 15 years and a few of those would qualify as super cars but it's semantics. All I mean is that ~700 lbs is not insignificant.



Edit: The Boxster clocks in under 3,000, definitely a sports car, but again it's semantics.

[zenki_levin]

I've never driven one so i can't comment on that but man that thing looks good. Still waiting for the pricing of the 2.3 ecoboost for Europe.

[OrangeJuleas]

Originally Posted by f0rge

What the hell is a sports car then?

Is a 911 a sports car? 3486lbs
Is an M3 a sports car? 3483lbs
Is an F-type a sports car? 3671lbs

C7, 370z, 458, M coupe and many other cars designed with sporting intentions all clock in over 3200lbs. Even a Cayman is 3100lbs.

I believe those cars that you mentioned are technically Grand Tourers, not sports cars. While a Grand Tourer is luxurious, often in a 2+2 configuration (yes, that makes the FRS/BRZ a GT car), a sports car is defined by its lightweight chassis, nimbleness and its usual 2 seat layout (if it's uncomfortable for most people, chances are it's a sports car). The key to a sports car is minimum weight, which means that the MX5 is more of a typical sports car than the M3, or especially the F-Type that you mentioned.

Semantics, I know, but I'm just just to show where @strat61caster is coming from. The difference is so slight you can call any small performance vehicle a sports car nowadays (and most people do, myself included) since the era of real sports cars is pretty much dead. I suppose the current metric for determining a sports car is the power/weight ratio, which would include those that you mention above.

I do like this article: http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2013/d...ue-sports-car/

Again, not that I agree with everything, but it brings up a good point. Is the new Mustang's performance for enjoyment of the driver or are its statistics just numbers on a spreadsheet?

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

3,500 lbs isn't really a sports car is it? With the current test ride reviews journalists are basically saying the ecoboost feels the same as the outgoing V6, maybe a bit better suspension and road holding, for a car that runs close to $1k more than the '15 FRS and with the bottom of the barrel V6 only about $500 cheaper I think the Toyobaru will not take as big a hit on sales as detractors estimated.

Here's the leaked prices:

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/show...ing-1829.html?

Honestly not bad considering how much effort seems to have been put forth but it still seems to be in a different league than the Toyobaru, not as different as what was originally promised.

Are there official weights out yet? I thought the ecoboost would be a little lighter than 3500lbs.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Are there official weights out yet? I thought the ecoboost would be a little lighter than 3500lbs.

No, they've been mum on actual weight over the last few months, some have speculated that the GT will actually gain 100 lbs.

I doubt the Ecoboost will be noticeably lighter than the V6 due to the additional plumbing involved, advanced computer controls, and higher stresses inside the engine will likely add weight to the design that would not be accounted for when bullshitting about a 2.3L I4 turbo vs. a 3.7L NA V6.

My money is that it (both I4 & V6) will be within 100 lbs. of the 2014 V6.

[fatoni]

i understand that the original definition of a sports car is relatively strict but the car culture has changed. if we are gonna stick with archaic rules then i guess we can just consider african americans 3/5 of a person right? cars are heavier now. the frs is heavier than a 90 accord so just take a step back and think about it.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by MokSpeed

A 4 cylinder in a mustang is weird. Just typing that out felt weird.

SVO returns.

[fduboss302]

If it's awesome enough I might trade my Boss 302 in for one down the road! :o

[unsurety]

As I mentioned, the 2013 Mustang GT ran the same lap times as an M3. That would sound ridiculous 20 years ago. And that is with a solid rear axle.

It's no ballerina but it's probably one of the sportiest cars in that weight range. Consider the price, too.

Sports car is just a generic term now. You can now get a Camaro Z/28 which weighs more than and has less power than a Nissan GT-R Track Pack. And yet on the same track, driven by Randy Pobst, the Z/28 will turn out a better lap time.

[OrangeJuleas]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i understand that the original definition of a sports car is relatively strict but the car culture has changed. if we are gonna stick with archaic rules then i guess we can just consider african americans 3/5 of a person right? cars are heavier now. the frs is heavier than a 90 accord so just take a step back and think about it.

If the '90 Accord offers a more pleasing driving experience, then it could totally be argued that the coupe is a sports car. Was its handling designed to make it nimble? That's the key.

Remember that the '89 MX5 is a sports car. Also, the FRS/BRZ is not a true sports car, it is a Grand Touring sports coupe. Remember that the car it is at least spiritually based on was not a sports car by any definition.

The Mustang is a Pony Car at its lightest and a Muscle Car at its beefiest.

[Ctuckfly]

For the love of God it's a piece of shit ford not a Corvette! It clearly says brz/86 forum when you login.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by OrangeJuleas

Also, the FRS/BRZ is not a true sports car, it is a Grand Touring sports coupe. Remember that the car it is at least spiritually based on was not a sports car by any definition.

Nah - it's too small, unrefined, and noisy to be a grand tourer (which isn't a bad thing at all, in my opinion). Yes, it does have rear seats, but it's not big, it's not well-insulated, it's not adorned with leather everywhere and premium sound systems, and it's not driven by a large torquey engine. Instead, it's light, nimble, a bit noisy and rattly over bumps, and has an engine which needs to be wrung out to get the most out of it. It's definitely a sports car in my book.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i understand that the original definition of a sports car is relatively strict but the car culture has changed. if we are gonna stick with archaic rules then i guess we can just consider african americans 3/5 of a person right? cars are heavier now. the frs is heavier than a 90 accord so just take a step back and think about it.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law"]Godwin's law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]