2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT Barrett-Jackson from North America - Comments

How did a rear engine Porsche arrive in a Mustang review. I even question the validity of the comment or ownership. Now you need to be comparing to 100K and up exotics as well as the Viper and Corvette. The added amount invested in domestic technology can be clearly seen in the new Corvettes 0-60 under 4 seconds and Vipers.

I would not be comparing new Porsche to Mustang. I think driving a Porsche is too much work and especially the Boxster is not a real guys car.

To each his own as far as driving opinion. If I were a young driver I would immediate buy a nice used Mustang V8 (no six) and begin modifying it. A great great buy.

"I would rather have a C5 6 or 7 Corvette or this Mustang for driving with less breakage and issues."

Did you come from the future? Last time I looked we were only up to the C-6 Corvette. The C7 isn't due for three or four more years.

"It's sad that owners of V-6 Mustangs are not welcome in Mustang clubs or organizations. All Mustangs are great cars with a noble heritage. It's too bad that such an attitude of exclusivity and arrogance tends to pervade the overall Mustang community. I used to enjoy attending Mustang shows. After seeing the attitude expressed by owners on this site I think I'll stick to classic shows. They seem to have a more supportive and congenial attitude toward other car enthusiasts."

Is that true that V-6 owners are shunned by clubs? You're right. That is sad. I wouldn't ever own a V-6 Mustang as I do like the complete GT package, but would I care if you came by with your V-6 to celebrate the history of the Mustang. Heck no!! The more the merrier. I just can't see all clubs behaving that way. There are many modded out V-6's that are as fast or faster than a stock GT, and one car can be as cool as the next even if it isn't your perfect car.

I hope you find a better club to hang out with soon! And don't go buy a car rating site as to rate people's attitude. Everyone gets a little crazy when they type on here, but in reality things aren't as hostile. Mustang lovers are Mustang lovers!

"Okay, this line made me laugh! I have never been on the way out of the house thinking "Geez I better take this car over that one so I can slide around corners better without crashing it!" If you are weaving in and out of traffic and taking corners too fast for a Mustang to handle just to get somewhere, that in itself is a problem and maybe you should just stay home with your Mustang so the rest of us can be safer!!"

Back in the 70's I once had to get my wife to the hospital very quickly. At the time we had a 1970 Chevelle SS and a 1972 Plymouth Duster slant 6. Without a second's hesitation I grabbed the keys to the Duster. We negotiated 15 miles of mostly freeway, but some city streets at an average speed of 108mph. There was no way the poorer handling SS could have handled the weaving around cars (sometimes requiring use of the median or service lanes) as well as the far better balanced Duster 6 did and I knew that when the emergency arose. The Chevy would have ended up in a ditch or wrapped around a pole. Handling has far more to do with balance and weight distribution than horsepower. Big engines weigh a lot and result in cars that have too much weight in front and too little in the rear. I've owned 3 Mustangs V-8's and I wouldn't even drive them in the rain. Good handling they are NOT. I do hear that the 2010 is better, just as the 2005-2009 are a big improvement over the horribly unstable old 5.0 Foxes.

"Back in the 70's I once had to get my wife to the hospital very quickly. At the time we had a 1970 Chevelle SS and a 1972 Plymouth Duster slant 6. Without a second's hesitation I grabbed the keys to the Duster. We negotiated 15 miles of mostly freeway, but some city streets at an average speed of 108mph. There was no way the poorer handling SS could have handled the weaving around cars (sometimes requiring use of the median or service lanes) as well as the far better balanced Duster 6 did and I knew that when the emergency arose. The Chevy would have ended up in a ditch or wrapped around a pole. Handling has far more to do with balance and weight distribution than horsepower. Big engines weigh a lot and result in cars that have too much weight in front and too little in the rear. I've owned 3 Mustangs V-8's and I wouldn't even drive them in the rain. Good handling they are NOT. I do hear that the 2010 is better, just as the 2005-2009 are a big improvement over the horribly unstable old 5.0 Foxes."

The 70's were a different time and there was much less traffic. Today, you should be thinking about the safest way to get to the hospital. I know that in an emergency the thought processes aren't always the most logical. However, should you be driving at 108 mph on city streets to get someone to the hospital risking killing someone else on the way there? I have, and never will have to figure out which car I can unsafely speed through the streets in to get somewhere, over another car I own.

Also, what is so unstable about a Fox Mustang? I took dead mans curve in Cleveland with mine, which is basically a 90 degree turn on rt.90, at 65 mph without even pulling out of the seat or leaving the lane I was in. That car handled amazingly well for it's price point which was about $13K back then, brand new. It rode rough but I never felt out of control in it. The 2010 is by far the best Mustang yet for handling, though and a really amazing feat of engineering given that it is still on that old live axle rear end.

10:35 sorry LS7 in the new Z06 Corvette is what I meant to say. The future is here with this great model.

I am in shows and a 6 appeals to me only in a Grand National or t bucket, or an early Vette or Chevy with triple single barrel carbs. Late model 6 cars are out of place; more for a mall shopping center than shows.

"10:35 sorry LS7 in the new Z06 Corvette is what I meant to say. The future is here with this great model."

That's an easy mistake to make for sure... and yes the LS7 is amazing!!

The 70 Chevelle 454. 450 HP would have mopped up the slant six on the freeway. The SS superior front and rear factory anti sway bars of which your Duster lacked rear sways as well as no disc brakes and small tires.

It's a wonder you survived, I drove my wife, had 3 children and drove each time with sense, instead of risking my wife, unborn child, myself and any other innocent motorist. Extremely poor example, in fact I question its validity to start with. Sure you didn't have a Nova 6 and a Chevelle SS? Odd pairing to own at the time.

"Also, what is so unstable about a Fox Mustang"

Everything. My wife and I were driving on a partially icy road a few years back in our Fox. We were doing 50 mph on a deserted 4-lane suburban road. The road was perfectly straight and level. I hit an icy spot and the rear end started to come around. I turned into the skid, eased off on the gas and the car continued to keep swapping ends. My wife said "Stop playing". I informed her I WASN'T. With the wheels cranked full lock in the direction of the skid the car proceeded to make a full 180% spin across all 4 lanes and ended up pointed back the way we had come in a snowbank. No damage to the car, and thankfully the road was deserted. Before you start yelling "POOR DRIVING", I might add that I am a former stunt driver and well qualified to judge car handling and to drive one very well indeed. The Fox Mustang is one of the most notorious cars in the world for poor handling. I have numerous books on cars and it is my primary hobby. Just last night I was reading one. In the section on the Fox Mustang the comment was made that it was a very poor handling car. I totally agree. Newer ones are marginally better, but a Mustang will still break loose so easily that I'd never choose one for aggressive twisty-road driving.

"Everything. My wife and I were driving on a partially icy road a few years back in our Fox. We were doing 50 mph on a deserted 4-lane suburban road. The road was perfectly straight and level. I hit an icy spot and the rear end started to come around. I turned into the skid, eased off on the gas and the car continued to keep swapping ends. My wife said "Stop playing". I informed her I WASN'T. With the wheels cranked full lock in the direction of the skid the car proceeded to make a full 180% spin across all 4 lanes and ended up pointed back the way we had come in a snowbank. No damage to the car, and thankfully the road was deserted. Before you start yelling "POOR DRIVING", I might add that I am a former stunt driver and well qualified to judge car handling and to drive one very well indeed. The Fox Mustang is one of the most notorious cars in the world for poor handling. I have numerous books on cars and it is my primary hobby. Just last night I was reading one. In the section on the Fox Mustang the comment was made that it was a very poor handling car. I totally agree. Newer ones are marginally better, but a Mustang will still break loose so easily that I'd never choose one for aggressive twisty-road driving."

Using an icy road experience doesn't make me think the Fox Mustang is a really bad handling car... sorry. You could hit ice with just about any car at 50 and potentially lose control.

I never had any handling issues with either of mine, nor have I ever had any issues with any later Mustang, and I think they are pretty tight overall and are easy to keep in line. I actually drove one of mine in the winter with Blizzaks on all four corners. I was cruising on the highway at 70 mph one morning like a young fool, and when I hit an overpass the steering wheel totally let loose on the ice. I just let my foot off the gas and coasted. It stayed perfectly true and straight and never once swerved to the left or right. Maybe I just have better control reflexes... I don't know, but I never felt too unsafe in that car. Yes the tires helped a lot, but running summer Gatorbacks in the snow on a 4X4 wouldn't get you too much farther. I put blizzaks on my last Maxima too because it was horrible in the snow so tires do make a huge difference.

And in the summer months I used to hunt for twisty roads and go like heck through them. Maybe I just didn't know any better, but I never lost the rear end and I never felt out of control. Freeway entrance loops were an easy 60 mph run with my Mustangs, and I used to keep up with just about everything else out there short of a Corvette or a superbike. I was always amazed at how flat those cars stayed in corners. You just have to know the right amount of gas to give it or not give it in order to not kick out the rear end. The traction lok axle helped that out a lot too. I had that on both of my cars. A 2.73 geared Mustang probably was a poorer handling car.

Being a professional driver probably sets your expectations higher, but to me the Mustang is more than capable and the 2010 being upwards of .9g's on the skidpad is really pretty amazing.