I think consumable expenses at track are a real consideration. if you are burning through tires, fuel and pads twice as fast as a Z Especially with sky high fuel prices and increasing cost of tires. I don't see average Mustang buyer being someone who isn't going to be concerned about running expenses. Just a realistic consideration for An active track day driver.

The extra weight the porky Mustang GT packs mostly up front is an issue for tire wear and overall handling. I do know a guy who works on ford suspension team and he even admits the v6 mustang with same suspension package as GT handles much better and turns suprizingly fast lap times on Ford test track.

Just watch lap times at VIR Grand Am race as Mustangs start to overheat their tires as time goes on in the race. Their lap times will degrade and other cars will be closer to them.

Well I traded the Z in for a new candy apple GT yesterday and honestly it just boils down to tradeoffs. I will say though, the Ford seems to be the better put together car imo. No high frequency ringing from the ECU, the feel of the transmission is superior (and not nearly as noisy), and he engine sounds and feels fantastic. I prefer the look of the Z no question, and I'm going to miss the HID's, and not seeing another copy of my car every 15 minutes but the mustang really impressed me.

It feels like a tank compared to the Z, and even though the handling is comparable between the two, the Z just feels a lot racier and confidence inspiring. I'll be looking forward to getting the Stang out on the track for some road racing in the coming months and I'll report back.

Another Z falls victim to the 5.0 :(

Congrats on the new car though :tup:

you are really pushing it. while the mustang will consumer more of everything, but the z is no mr.lean. i dont know how the mustang does on track, but 370 is only good for 6 to 7mpg. the 285 30 19 or 18s arent cheap.

Also have to throw in the oil cooler too.

Which was a bitch the first time I took it out and didn't have it.

Congrats on the Stang, yet another 5.0 convert:tup:

Couldnt agree more though, although the handling is supposedly comparable, my Z definitely felt more nimble. The lack of low end on the Z killed it for me honestly, and the fact that with my job, back seats are a necessity. Couldnt think of a more perfect replacement honestly. I will say that I do miss the wow factor of the Z, there wasnt a day that went by that I didnt stare back at it lovingly as I walked away, in the looks department, it definitely had my Stang beat.

BTW, check my sig, intake/tune/exhaust will put you around the 420whp mark, not bad I say! Throw on some slicks and skinnies and its good for 11.7's all day.

We talk shyt to each other all the time.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3441242_n.jpg

Yeah if you had the performance of the mustang and the looks of the Z, it would be about the perfect car.

Gonna sell my exhaust on from the Z later on this week and maybe throw a catback and intake or something.

the lines of the Z are very sexy, but the 5.0 has grown on me...it looks so sleek and muscular, but honeslty looks are purely subjective, ive had more people tell me i look better in this car than the Z. And that they like this car better. but again subjective...the one and ONLY thing I miss from the Z at this point is the rarity of it....

Will a Z with your typical bolt ons (exhaust, intakes) surpass a new 5.0 in the straights?

No

A Twin Turbo'd Z will probably walk on it slowly in the top end, but i'm sitting comfortably at 417whp with less than a grand in mods. These things are firmly into the 11's with basic bolt-ons, its crazy how freakishly beast the new 5.0 engine is.

:icon18::icon17:

so true.