2011 Mustang GT 5.0

[Nethead]

HA! Sucks for anyone that got the 525 hp one.

hotrodalex:  I wonder if anyone actually has, since I believe all three horsepowers were offered simultaneously?  Some things are just beyond comprehension..."Born to Be Mild" Schleppenwolf  

[Nethead]

This brief article is also posted in Morris Minor's "The Power & the Fuel-Sipping Glory" thread.  Since the award was given by Popular Mechanics for the new 5.0L V8 as well as for the new 3.7L V6 so credit needs to be given in this thread, too:

The Top 10 Cars of 2011: Auto Excellence Awards
PERFORMANCE VEHICLE OF THE YEAR:

Throughout the year, (the editors of Popular Mechanics) record the functionality, technology, value and feel of new cars from our test drives. Near the end of the year, we gather and argue for the best cars and trucks of 2011. Here they are, the year's top 10 cars and trucks. By The Editors

Ford Mustang
Base Price: $22,145

Last year, we picked the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 as the best performance car, and we didn't expect to bestow the honor on the original ponycar again for quite some time. After all, the performance category is brimming with dynamic-handling, powerfully motivated competitors from around the globe?the BMW M3 and the Chevrolet Corvette were recent winners?and they're all improving, all the time.

But over the course of the past few months, Ford has re energized the entire Mustang lineup. First, the new (base Mustang) arrived with an astonishingly versatile V6 engine that developed 305 hp while attaining more than 30 mpg. Alongside that entry-level engine, we witnessed the rebirth of the 5.0, a nostalgic number that represents high performance?by virtue of its 412 hp?like none other.

Except, perhaps, for the 302. Ford reincarnated the Boss 302 nameplate for 2011 as a naturally aspirated 440-hp race car you can drive to the racetrack. You can manually tune the adjustable shocks to their hardest settings, win the race, and then revert to the softer street settings and drive home.

Finally, the 2011 Shelby GT500 still sits at the extreme side of the spectrum, featuring a new, lighter aluminum block for its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 (which makes 550 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque). Race ya' for pinks?

[Cobra93]

October 2010 sales figures:

Mustang: 5,317
Camaro: 5,013
Challenger: 3,182

[GoCougs]

2010 sales numbers through October:

Camaro: 71,512
Mustang: 64,1171
Challenger: 30,964

[SVT666]

Cougs is a much worse troll than I give him credit for.  He has to post the YTD numbers to show how well the Camaro is doing because it got outsold last month.  Step aside Nethead.

[Cobra93]

2010 sales numbers through October:

Camaro: 71,512
Mustang: 64,1171
Challenger: 30,964

Yearly sales numbers 1965-2001

Mustang: 7,899,556
Camaro: 4,821,768

[Cobra93]

First item of business:

[the Teuton]

Yearly sales numbers 1965-2001

Mustang: 7,899,556
Camaro: 4,821,768

That doesn't factor in that the Mustang has had 11 more model years than the Camaro. Accounting for that, the across-the-lifetime average for each is more like this:

Mustang: 168,076/yr.
Camaro: 133,938/yr.

Mustangs have traditionally sold more "secretary" versions than Camaros, so it's naturally going to carry more volume.

[FoMoJo]

That doesn't factor in that the Mustang has had 11 more model years than the Camaro. Accounting for that, the across-the-lifetime average for each is more like this:

Mustang: 168,076/yr.
Camaro: 133,938/yr.

Mustangs have traditionally sold more "secretary" versions than Camaros, so it's naturally going to carry more volume.

That's true.  Most women wouldn't be caught dead driving a Camaro .

[Cobra93]

That doesn't factor in that the Mustang has had 11 more model years than the Camaro. Accounting for that, the across-the-lifetime average for each is more like this:

Mustang: 168,076/yr.
Camaro: 133,938/yr.

Mustangs have traditionally sold more "secretary" versions than Camaros, so it's naturally going to carry more volume.

You took that seriously? 

[the Teuton]

That's true.  Most women wouldn't be caught dead driving a Camaro .

Women don't drive cars that look like giant phalli.

[68_427]

That's true.  Most women wouldn't be caught dead driving a Camaro .

Last Wednesday I saw a blonde MILF in an IOM Camaro SS 6MT with what sounded like headers+exhaust.  She was awesome. 

[Rich]

Nice job, thoughts?

[the Teuton]

Last Wednesday I saw a blonde MILF in an IOM Camaro SS 6MT with what sounded like headers+exhaust.  She was awesome. 

The Camaro SS is way too muffled from the factory. Just saying...

Also, I got to sit in one again. It's better than I initially reported, but not much. I could drive one if need-be.

[68_427]

Which is why I was saying it sounded like it had some aftermarket goodies.

[Cobra93]

Nice job, thoughts?

Love it but haven't had a chance to drive it much yet. Definitely much stronger than my 2005 was.

[Rich]

Love it but haven't had a chance to drive it much yet. Definitely much stronger than my 2005 was.

How's the ride comfort compare?

If you've been able to drive it aggressively, does it wheel hop as much as the '05?

[Cobra93]

How's the ride comfort compare?
If you've been able to drive it aggressively, does it wheel hop as much as the '05?

It rides noticeably better than the 2005. I haven't driven it hard enough to induce wheel hop yet

[hotrodalex]

Last Wednesday I saw a blonde MILF in an IOM Camaro SS 6MT with what sounded like headers+exhaust.  She was awesome. 

There's a super hot blonde chick that owns a white Camaro w/ flat black stripes around here. It's perfect.

[GoCougs]

Very nice there Cobra93.

[Cobra93]

Very nice there Cobra93.

Thank you very much. You're actually the last guy I expected that from. 

I'll post some more after it's lowered and the 275 rears are on there.

[GoCougs]

Thank you very much. You're actually the last guy I expected that from. 

I'll post some more after it's lowered and the 275 rears are on there.

Dunno why - I've always said that the Mustang was a great car, with the '10 refresh being a very good styling update.

[SVT666]

Dunno why - I've always said that the Mustang was a great car, with the '10 refresh being a very good styling update.

It was far more than a styling update.

[SVT666]

That is sweet.  I'm so envious Christians would say I'm going to hell.

EDIT:  Is the pony finished in black chrome?  It doesn't look like it, but it's supposed to be.

[Cobra93]

That is sweet.  I'm so envious Christians would say I'm going to hell.

EDIT:  Is the pony finished in black chrome?  It doesn't look like it, but it's supposed to be.

From what I've read, the 2010's had the black chrome pony. The 2011's don't.

[SVT666]

From what I've read, the 2010's had the black chrome pony. The 2011's don't.

Well, when I get my 2011 (in about 3 years), I'll be getting a black chrome pony to put on it.  I think it looks better.

[Cobra93]

Well, when I get my 2011 (in about 3 years), I'll be getting a black chrome pony to put on it.  I think it looks better.

It's a popular mod for the black ones. I've seen several people do it.

[SVT666]

275s will be a nice touch.  I've believed ever since I heard the 412 hp figure that 275s should have been standard.

[GoCougs]

It was far more than a styling update.

Anything to start something, eh?

(Enter a laundry list of the non-styling updates...)

[GoCougs]

I'm not sure about the flat black lower trim that surrounds the whole car. Probably not realistic to get it painted the same sheen as the body, and removing it probably uncovers some unsightliness.