I thought this was interesting...

http://www.examiner.com/x-5826-San-J...n-of-Pony-Cars

 

I agree, very interesting. And I agree with many of his points. However, I don't think the GT500 should be compared with the SS - the price difference is simply too great, IMHO. Ford SHOULD make the GT comparible to the SS. We'll see how things look next year.

 

Price does matter...

The response one person made that suggests that capability trumps price once the $30K price is exceeded is ludricrous.

Let me see... a $35K vehicle with no money down and financed for 60 months would come to around $700.00 a month.

$50k in a similar scenario would be $1,000.00 a month. Same buyer?

If such were the case every Corvette Z06 buyer would throw down for a ZR1.

I'll grant that some Corvette fans will pay what it takes for the top dog, same is true for Mustang buyers. Point is, the "air gets thinner the higher the price.

I think most folks might have a $30-$40 dollar possible bump in monthly payment over their target. More than that and it's game over.

 

Spill already Bob! We know it should be somewhere around 400HP. Sounds like a complete redesign with the body with IRS. What else do you know? I have a feeling it will be heavier than the current version based on impact standards.

 

Maybe in 2014, 2011 should just be uprated powertrains. If Ford comes out with a new chassis, I seriously hope its right aorund the current weight. a 4000 pound coupe with a 400hp 5.0 while probablyy have its *** handed to it by the 2010-11 GT its replacing (if indeed that were the case), but I bet you guys are swiping chickens and sacrificing them on the bowtie alter and praying that'll be the case, ain'tcha

 

I somewhat agree, its nice to have the GT coming iin essentially two flavors with the track pack( boulevard cruiser or back road terror). Otherwise IMO, the GT in any form should match or beat the SS in braking and accleration at nearly the same price point or cheaper.

To bad GM didn't go that route with the F5; SS = Boulevard car, Z/28 = Twisty Road Terror and Z/L1 = Ultimate F-body.

 

fastdog hit it right my payments are 700 a month right now lol n i only make 30k a year

 

good link....the truth is painful....the GT is totally outgunned by the SS in most if not all performance, equipment, styling standards....

 

The point is your enjoyment level and feeling good even when the payment comes due.

Folks that want something more in a vehicle will make a stretch to get what they want.

My point is that there's a limit to the distance folks can afford to reach.

 

If only the SS could put up vastly better handling numbers.

 

I lol'ed when he brought up "a used GT500 is closer in price". Sounded like a dirty little ricer.

 

The writer brings up many very good points, and Paul brings up some good points, yet although both seem at odds, BOTH are right.... because there are different buyers.

Buyer A is intrested in value, as Paul points out and I happen to fall into that camp. I decide I want to spend no more than $30K for a car, and the car that most fills my wants, desires, and (yes) compromises I'm willing to make, wins. I may be willing to give up a few tenths of a second in the quarter mile to get better handling. I may be willing to give up top speed to gain a little fuel economy. Interior space may trump raw horsepower. But my limit is still that $30K (with perhaps a creep of an extra grand or so).

I would be highly intrested in a comparison test that runs the Mustang GT Track Pack with a Challenger R/T and a Camaro SS. MT and C&D articles delivered for me, and gives me a good idea of the capabilities and compromises.


Buyer B, on the other hand, has a bit more money and wants the best of their favorite brand and is intrested in bragging rights and/or the attention. There is relatively little cross shopping, and the value equasion doesn't come into play.

The person who buys a Shelby GT500 as a group is either a Mustang enthusiast, and/or has had Mustang(s) previously. That person tends to be quite a bit older than the Mustang GT buyer, and tends to be an empty nester. Poll SRT owners, and you'll find a higher concentration of Mopar guys than you would in say, an R/T. Poll those who would buy a supercharged Z28 (which would likely cost over $40K+ not including markup) and you will almost certainly find that most all are either Camaro fans or previous Camaro owners that are older and have quite a bit more money to throw around.... and they aren't considering an SRT8 or a Shelby.

These are the guys who pick up the magazines and look to see how their top car compares with others.

The writer seems to favor the latter.


When you start passing the $40,000 mark in cars, you already have a pretty good idea of what you want, and you simply aren't likely to go dealer to dealer comparing prices and value. Your trip to the dealer will be more hands on, "Do I really want this vehicle???... Does this vehicle do it for me?" type of visit. The person who buys even an entry level Corvette has wanted a Corvette for many years prior. A person buying a CTS priced over $40K is buying one because he or she truly likes the car and it's made well, not because it offers better value than a Benz, while Benz and BMW buyers (like Corvettes) likely decided some time before that they want a Benz or BMW.

The writer is correct in his view.

Paul is also correct.

There is no single type of buyer.

The GT and R/T and even SS buyers aren't likely to buy the GT500, SRT8, or any potential Z28 (at least not now) while the SRT8, Shelby, or Z28 buyer would willingly settle for a lesser version. GT, SS, and R/T buyers will admire those top models, but there's a reason why those top models sell only a sliver of what the volume performance cars sell.

Mix and matching them and coming up with a winner simply doesn't make any sense.

 

the SS and GT500 shouldnt be compared IMHO. If we're comparing vehicles based on roughly the price than i would say the Challenger SRT8 would be more in the range for the GT500. The SS is just the better deal overall, most power and BEST LOOKING for the best price. Nuff said!

 

I think you can compare any car against any car. My thought is that there's a different customer for a $35K car and a $50K car.

Let's get silly here...

Ferrari's 430 Scuderia is their top entry level car. It's $281,000+.

Shall we line up all the car maker's entry level sport version and imagine we have found a winner?

I could manage one at $5,100 a month. It would be Ramen noodles for all meals, deal with the wrath of the wife, but I could certainly brag about my entry level find.

I figure we are all a bang for the buck crew. The mag comparisons of this type are abstract.

The new Camaro is just that. New. The car requires no apologies.

 

So they compared the most expensive models... so what?

I guess the potential V6 customers shouldn't be reading any of the articles that feature V8 comparisons.

Typical journos, putting their own spin on things and making it sound like their opinion matters most.