Official '11 Mustang GT vs 370z Thread

[m4a1mustang]

I think that really depends on where you live. Around here Z's are quite common like the Mustangs are, especially the 350s.

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I think that really depends on where you live. Around here Z's are quite common like the Mustangs are, especially the 350s.

Yeah, but they're all generally enthusiast drivers. You have to be. It's a two-seater with a powerful V6 strapped to it. Not every Mustang driver is an enthusiast. It's an affordable 4-seat coupe that has a performance image. Granted, the new stang's v6 trim pops out 300 hp, but it's still seen more as a sporty coupe than a sports car.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Yeah, but they're all generally enthusiast drivers. You have to be. It's a two-seater with a powerful V6 strapped to it. Not every Mustang driver is an enthusiast. It's an affordable 4-seat coupe that has a performance image. Granted, the new stang's v6 trim pops out 300 hp, but it's still seen more as a sporty coupe than a sports car.

I don't know, I have seen some clueless chicks driving around in 370s. I doubt "Daddy, get me that one!" counts as "enthusiast."

[Z eliminator]

I was at the drag strip 2 weeks ago and a guy hads a shelby cobra mustang there with drag radials and skinneys/ The motor is huge and the sipercharger is unbelivable.
It dynoed out at 726 rwhp.
what a car.

[ImportConvert]

The mustang betters or equals the 370Z in every performance category.

Either you like this, and the mustang's styling, or the Z's styling, etc. is enough to overcome this for you.

At least, that's how I see it.

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

The mustang betters or equals the 370Z in every performance category.

Either you like this, and the mustang's styling, or the Z's styling, etc. is enough to overcome this for you.

At least, that's how I see it.

I think the Z still has better cornering and feel in the corners, but that advantage is very small. The Stang corners pretty much just as well but blows it out of the water in acceleration.

But the Z looks a lot smexier and is still great performance-wise. I'd still take the Z every day of the week. Performance is not a direct correlation to fun for me. They're related, but it's not everything.

[370Z_Fan]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

The mustang betters or equals the 370Z in every performance category.

Either you like this, and the mustang's styling, or the Z's styling, etc. is enough to overcome this for you.

At least, that's how I see it.

Hate to wake you up from your dream but in almost every instrumented testings, aka magazine tests, the Z consistently outgrips, outhandles, and outbrakes the 5.0 GT. The only thing the 5.0 GT has on the Z is straight line acceleration, that's not a surprise here considering the 5.0 GT has a large V8.

[b1adesofcha0s]

Originally Posted by 370Z_Fan

Hate to wake you up from your dream but in almost every instrumented testings, aka magazine tests, the Z consistently outgrips, outhandles, and outbrakes the 5.0 GT. The only thing the 5.0 GT has on the Z is straight line acceleration, that's not a surprise here considering the 5.0 GT has a large V8.

Was this a direct comparison between the two you're talking about? I haven't seen one yet, but if you can give a link to one that would be great. I think that huge power difference alone would be enough for the 5.0 to beat the Z around a track though. In tighter autoX courses it might be a different story. The 5.0 GT is currently at/near M3 (best bang for buck supercar under $100k ) performance level and I don't think the Z is quite there.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by 370Z_Fan

Hate to wake you up from your dream but in almost every instrumented testings, aka magazine tests, the Z consistently outgrips, outhandles, and outbrakes the 5.0 GT. The only thing the 5.0 GT has on the Z is straight line acceleration, that's not a surprise here considering the 5.0 GT has a large V8.

Not that I have seen. They are very close. The Z might have a tiny edge over the GT on paper, but it's very minimal.

Here is an example:

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezfl...61a7a3bb51.pdf

vs.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test

The 370Z pulled .04g more and stopped from 70mph in 2 feet less.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezfl...06745e8d34.pdf

http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezfl...a75bba7421.pdf

Again, VERY close outcomes. The Z handles the slalom only 1.4mph quicker, and the GT out-brakes it from 60 barely, but the Z wins from 80, barely. The GT threw down some dismal skidpad numbers here, though.

In the end, the 370Z MIGHT be a LITTLE more nimble, but it's a lot less powerful.

[m4a1mustang]

You have to stop posting before you get an aneurysm, Al.

Since I've had both I will say stock-for-stock, if traction is not a problem, the 370 isn't even close to the 5.0 in a straight line run. But traction is a huge problem with the 5.0, so it makes it a driver's race in that if the 5.0 driver is not on his game a properly driven 370 could easily get a good enough jump that the 5.0 couldn't overcome in 1/8 or 1/4 mile.

The 5.0 is basically a very low 12 second car running on high 12 second tires.

It's fun sometimes on the Mustang forums because every now and then you'll get a guy who thinks a 370 is a "sure thing," but then I have to educate them on jnaut, z eliminator, b1ades, etc. The Z can get into the 12s (and probably the high 11s on slicks) with bolt-ons and great driving. That's enough to serve some humble pie to a driver of any car who thinks he's hot stuff behind the wheel but doesn't have the skill to back it up.

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Since I've had both ... it makes it a driver's race

Thank you. I know the Stang's faster from stock, and if you mod for performance, the Stang can get much faster for much cheaper. But the Z can "get lucky" and catch a GT, just as surely as a v6 Stang can "get lucky" and catch a Z. Maybe the difference is less between the v6 and the Z, but whatevs. If you're buying a Stang and have a pair of testicles, get the v8.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Thank you. I know the Stang's faster from stock, and if you mod for performance, the Stang can get much faster for much cheaper. But the Z can "get lucky" and catch a GT, just as surely as a v6 Stang can "get lucky" and catch a Z. Maybe the difference is less between the v6 and the Z, but whatevs. If you're buying a Stang and have a pair of testicles, get the v8.

I think the V6 Mustangs are the cars that people really need to look out for in terms of "cars that are really much faster than I thought they would be." A lot of people dismiss them but they are already in the 12s on bolt ons and they are coming out with supercharger kits for them putting down 400+ whp.

Bottom line is on the street, anything can happen. On the track you might get lucky every now and then (but then again, who is actually racing at a Test & Tune event?)

[shadoquad]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I think the V6 Mustangs are the cars that people really need to look out for in terms of "cars that are really much faster than I thought they would be." A lot of people dismiss them but they are already in the 12s on bolt ons and they are coming out with supercharger kits for them putting down 400+ whp.

Bottom line is on the street, anything can happen. On the track you might get lucky every now and then (but then again, who is actually racing at a Test & Tune event?)

How many folks are racing their sports cars period? And how often? Because they are the ones who should be concerned with performance numbers. The rest are buying mostly on reputation and cruising from point A to point B quickly and in style. If that's what you're buying for, then a Z or Mustang of any trim can do that without argument.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

How many folks are racing their sports cars period? And how often? Because they are the ones who should be concerned with performance numbers. The rest are buying mostly on reputation and cruising from point A to point B quickly and in style. If that's what you're buying for, then a Z or Mustang of any trim can do that without argument.

Eggsackitalley.

[Red__Zed]

I'm a huge fan of the Mustang, and that is pretty well-documented I think. There's a good chance either the Subaru or the Z will be traded in for a 5.0 at some point, but I have to side with Al on some points here.

A lot has been said about how the Mustang handles as well in the corners as the Z, and I really don't think that is true. I know the 'stang will beat a Z on most road courses, but I think that is mostly a function of the massive increase in power. VIR full course is also notorious as a "power course", which is going to further the lead even further. C&D's Nismo times are also not even from actual hot laps-- several members on here have datalogs showing faster speeds and times than C&D was logging (cossie being the one that comes to mind).
For most of the driving that my car gets put through, the Z makes more than enough power. Granted, I probably drive more conservatively than the rest of you guys, but the Z has more than enough power to get going was faster than you need to on the straights in between turns. I know I'd be out of my league with the 5.0 on a track, simply because I don't have the skills to brake late coming in that hot. I think most of us would probably be over our heads even in something much slower.