2008 Ford Mustang: All American Swagger - Get Some
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
| • Overall Satisfaction: | 5/5 |
| • Performance: | 4/5 |
| • Reliability: | 4/5 |
| • Comfort: | 3/5 |
| • Quality and Craftsmanship: | 3/5 |
Trim reviewed: 2008 Shelby GT 500 Vert. All Black w/stripe deletes, Shaker500,Nav.
The Shelby GT500 is not a luxury liner. It does not have the interior that you would want to set up an apartment in or drive your 2 kids and your schnauzer in unless maybe you dug retro glimming plastic and wall to wall plush carpeting without the plush. But who cares? Trying to compare it on interior cosmetic merits is silly and will just lead to frustration if that is what your in the market for, as thats not what its about.
If its a tiddy leather and walnut trim your looking for move to England. If its a a big heavy in your face American ball of fire that you cant help but smile when you drive it, then this cars for you.
Trying to compare the Shelby GT500 to flashy European and premium sports cars is missing the point. All have their merits and it is not an apples to apples comparison. It this were people it would be like comparing John Wayne to Elton John. The Shelby is all grit, cool and swagger. Its not flashy, glitzy and wearing funky glases or carbon fiber for that matter.
The exterior has classic lines that throw you back to yesterday and make you feel like your driving a piece of automobile history in a modern engineering forum because I guess you are. The vert. is relatively comfortable, with a clean retro interior.
Where it really shines is it can send a chill down your spine and put your heart in your mouth when you stomp on it and all hell breaks lose. You can feel its personality really jump up. How many cars are out there that can do that so intensely for the price?
For a relatively inexpensive bolt on and mod.(5K), I had mine tunned to 630hhp with 552hhp at the wheels and 550 torque. I am thinking thats all I will probably need most days to keep up with my fellow commuters in their hybrids and Enclaves. And its got a little extra for the weekend road warrior in me. Yeah it guzzles gas like a bad ass muscle car should but no more than other big blocks. It makes me think about how much fossil fuel I am burning more than any other car I have so it makes me environmentally aware at the same time. Therefore, it even has a socially redeeming trait ha ha.
Even at the going prices you are getting a lot of engine,(and yeah you can throw an extra small kid or two in the back and even the dog on those days the wife needs you to behave like a responsible adult. You cant do that with a corvette unless you have plenty of rope to strap them on the hood).
There is plenty of power, tight enough suspension and oversteer to give you that seat of the pants on edge thrill ride and if you really are looking at the plastic interior when your going 0-60 in 4.6+ seconds, its shinny enough to see the grin on your face in it which you cant say for all that dark expensive trim on those fancy pants cars.
The ride in the vert. is quite solid and although this thing should be on the "biggest loser" when it comes to its bloated weight, its still nimble enough and handles surprisingly well. Unless you a serious driving expert you wont notice it in the ride on the live axle. It feels far more stable and stiff body wise than pre stang vert. bodies. The Top flips down with ease after a quick flick of the two roof latches and sets nice enough behind the rear seats that it looks almost better without the boot over it.
This car says America all over it with a hint of nostalgia, a lot of cool and just plain gritty fun. Treat yourself
Review ID: 10000000005794821

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