Mustang GT 500 in NYC

[SRT10]

[plumcrazy]

sweet car

[viperama]

....must have one.

When will they definitly released?

[Jay Herbert]

The word is they'll be available next summer. Bet lots of the Viper fellows will end up with one as a daily driver.

With a 36-39K projected price, at least for a while ,demand will outstrip supply. If you have not put your "order" in, you may be to late. I was talking to one of the Viper dealers (that has a Ford store too), they already have 30 deposits.

Even though Ford says they'll make as many as they can sell, that may be a problem. They goofed on the Mustang 6 to 8 cylinder mix. They thought it would be 60/40 (+/-) 6 to 8, but it has ended up reverse of that. So, although they can make enough bodies, they can't get enough V-8's for the mix they are selling. This may be corrected by the time the GT-500 comes out, but if not, only expect 3000 or so the first year, which will definitely lead to more buyers than cars. But hope springs eternal, Ford need the cash, so they'll do all they can to make enough.

[Casey]

Forget the ZO6 crap I was going to try to pull off.

I am headed to the ford dealership tomorrow! 3000 the first year. Nice!

[SRT10]

I'm on a waiting list for one! The new Car and Driver has it rated at 475hp!! There is also talk that SVT will issue a new Mach 1 and a Boss Mustang next!

[viperama]

waiting List?
Where?
A few weeks ago my Parents checked a few dealers in LA/Whittier area... nobody wanted to put them on a list.

[Jay Herbert]

waiting List? Where? A few weeks ago my Parents checked a few Dealers in LA/Whittier Area... nobody wnted to put them on a List.

Woodhouse was keeping a waiting list, but I think they have so many on it, they've stopped. You may want to try Buhler Dodge (ask for Darren Buhler), I'm pretty sure he has a big Ford Store too. I'd check the west Coast Viper dealers to see if any of them have Ford Stores.

You'll just need to keep trying until you find a dealer willing to take a deposit. This may seem awkward if they have never delt with this sort of car before as the car is not able to be ordered yet through their systems.

Here is how it works, and how the brokers make thier money in case you wanted to know.

You find a dealer willing to take a deposit, this varies, it can be $1, but most want to make sure you are serious, and require from $1000, to $5000. Whatever it is, something of value has to change hands to make the contract legal....

Have them write you out a contract, be sure it is clear which car you are getting "The first GT-500 delivered to Bo's Ford", this is important as if you do not make it clear which car, they'll let you have one, but it might be a later one....

Also, make sure it is clear whether the deposit is refundable, or non-refundable. Most smaller dealers want to make it non-refundable because they do not want to get stuck with the car, but in this case, they may not mind and make it refundable as they could likely easily sell the car.

Finally, make sure you agree on a price. Since the car is not yet priced, it will likely be based on MSRP or invoice. i.e. Invoice + $5000, or MSRP, or MSRP - $2000, whatever. If they want to say "Market", better be sure you define what "Market is.... an ad out of Dupont Registry? AutoWeek?, Barret Jackson Auction?? If they want to use "Market" best to avoid this and go somewhere else.

Another thing, make sure the contract is signed by a dealer representative.

I'm not a dealer, broker, or lawyer, so the above is NOT legal advice Happy hunting.

[viperama]

Thank you.

[onerareviper]

White with Blue stripes please.... That car in awesome, and probably UNDERRATED! Easily/Cheap/Reversible big HP from that car with pulley/exhaust/retune. The big question is how she will handle/brake.....

[Casey]

White with Blue stripes please.... That car in awesome, and probably UNDERRATED! Easily/Cheap/Reversible big HP from that car with pulley/exhaust/retune. The big question is how she will handle/brake.....

My guess is NOT VERY WELL, considering it's only a $39000 car.
Those big HP numbers are going to make put this car in CRAZY DEMAND, and if they keep the numbers down it will be worth some $$.

Ford Dealer must be a SVT Dealer to get these. I learned that yesterday!

[onerareviper]

My guess is NOT VERY WELL, considering it's only a $39000 car.

I thought the same, but from my reading they have raced these (same solid rear axel + frame) in the Gran Am (sp?) series and done VERY well. I'm sure it wouldn't be in the Z06/Viper territory, but if it is close I will be very impressed. Say 110 feet of less braking from 60, .92G's of above on the skidpad, and a good salom/track time.

[TCKTPLZ]

I would have been quite interested myself if they would have offered this car with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Solid rear axles plus a 4-speed auto makes for a great drag strip car. Considering that this is probably most of the racing this car will be doing, I really don't see the rationale of not offering it.

[Vic]

In their July issue, Car and Driver thinks this car will have 475HP, (Ford told them between 450 and 500), turn 4 second flat 0-60 times, 12.5 second 1/4 mile @ 116mph. Sounds a bit optomistic...Its a heavy car, at 3850 pounds, and will only have 285s on the rear. Stock GT weighs 3575 lbs. Most of us Gen2 owners run 335's on the rear, and our Vipers can go up in smoke even w/those steamrollers, howz the GT500 gonna hook up w/little 285's out back? Maybe the lower torque will make those skinny rear tires ok. Wait a minute, the article also says the torque will be 450 lbs/ft. Gawd, dem rears don't seem like they are up to the job.

That iron block (adds 175LBS), and the bigger brakes, bigger tires and 18" wheels all add weight. 57% of the weight distribution on the front end aint' gonna make this car a track star for road courses. Turn-in with that heavy nose, and 255s on the front, will be akin to taking your pick-up truck to the track. Lots of understeer, and you have to rotate the rear with the throttle. Good old-fashioned "point and squirt" handling dynamics. Its the 60's all over again!

Regardless, I think it looks great, would be great fun to drive, and its not outrageously expensive. I'm jonesn' for one now..... :-D