05' GT Handling on twisties

[bullet]

hey, i'm newbie so have patience

I'm from Europe and I'm interested in importing a new Mustang GT but I'm quite concerned about Mustangs handling cuz of the rear live-axle... I know you guys have mostly straight roads in USA (or it is said so, if it's not true then i'm sorry) so I know you don't have any problems with handling...

In my country we have almost no straight roads :p lot of hills :rolleyes: lots of snow in winter :mad: and occasional potholes :eek: so how is Mustang's handling? I'm kinda worried cuz I will be using the car every day and don't want to kill myself... how is the handling on twisty roads compared to other car's?

and a bonus question - urban mpg lightfoot/heavyfoot?

thx for answers

[saulsse]

As with any car with a live axle, the Mustang does have its limits, but she will handle rather well. The car does a good job of telegraphing the point the rear is about to break on you.

Gas mileage dependent on heavy/light foot.

Around 12-13 heavy city

Around 18-19 city light.

Snow/Ice

Does rather well on ice. Vehicle is well balanced front to rear.
Recommend that you utilize automatic/manual gears lower ranges for better driving conditions in sloppy conditions.

We do have curvey roads here in the states, so we have seen what she will do.

Regardless of whether it has live axle or otherwise, the Mustang is a driver's car, say unlike some of your European contraptions which may be faster, more luxerious and refined... ergo hit a pot hole and you don't feel it... well the Mustang embodies one to feel the road.

If feeling the road, or waiting for the point the rear begins to break is not for you, then seek another vehicle, but if you enjoy the feeling of a challenging vehicle, then the Mustang GT will be worth the trouble to import.

Good luck on your decision.

Stephen from Atlanta

[beerme]

When I made my purchase I looked at a bunch of cars and narrowed it down to two: an 05 Mustang GT premium or a Subaru WRX STI. I had one salesman express my choice very well, its the difference between a European style sports sedan and an American muscle car. Now I?ve thrashed a rental Mercedes through the black forest between Stuttgart and Baden Baden, I?ve been redlined, white knuckle, fifth gear down the autobahn and I once dam near put a VW Bora turbo diesel in the Marne river outside Epernay France. But there is nothing quite like sitting at a stoplight with a Detroit V8 growling in front of you, waiting for green so you can light off the rear tires. This is the first rear drive, solid rear axle, V8 I?ve owned or driven and it is different. It handles very well but get on the throttle a little too quick at the apex and the rear end WILL come out. A Euro sedan is a scalpel , the Mustang is a clever. It depends on what your looking for.

[reddrako]

'nuff said!

[MRigney]

well said beerme!

[saulsse]

Being that Americans are accustomed to the live axles, ergo most of our SUV's over here sport live axles, we tend focus on other attributes.

It may be true that the Mustang may be in some fashion a clever, but in the right hands it becomes a finely honed scalpel.

Never underestimate the abilities of the car itself. We may have vehicles that have super sophisticated suspinsions that pamper one through the daily drive, and if I had wanted a Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Acura, Cadilliac, Audi, Sabb or some other European inspired vehicle with the funky suspinsion I would have gone out and bought it.

Instead I focused on the Mustang, rear wheel drive, live axle, very low center of gravity, and the growl of the V-8.
(There is no mistaking the 05 Mustang... On the otherhand, you can mistake a Lexus for a Toyota and vice-versa... or that silly Kia or Hyundai that mimicks the Mercedes Benz)

I am used to driving live axle. No biggie here.

I can still have fun on city streets, and surprise the drivers of the aforementioned vehicles when taking off from the red light. (While they are still thinking about accelerating, I am already at the speed limit.)


We all have our favorites. Some of them are good in some settings, and others perform better somewhere else. But we still enjoy the fun of slinging the 'stang through the corners just to see if that rear will break free and at what speed.

Stephen from Atlanta

[bullet]

thx a lot guys, you helped me a lot... i especially like the scalpel & clever stuff :D i think i will give this car a try!

[dmwason]

So I have a CLK 430 and 05 GT.

Creature comfort. No comparison. The CLK wins.

Radio I have the shaker 1000 they close the MB is better for classical the GT is better for RAP or stuff you want to feel it not hear it.

Straight road the GT will out run the clk. Especially in second third about the same. 4th gear the stang will start to pull away. Put you money on the GT every time unless the driver can?t shift.

Corners the CLK hold?s the road a little better but has more body roll when pushing the limits . the clk will hold you on the road cut power apply brakes and do its best for the idiot behind the wheel. BUT when she brakes loose forget it. All bets are off.
CLK always has under steer

The stang you can feel it begin to break loose and can control it . Steering under steer or over steer can be controlled by your ?FOOT? IT?s power related. YOU have to drive it to get what I mean.

On gravel with a good driver put money on the mustang. If you want your grandmother to drive it get a CLK.

Drove up to rocky Mountain national park last week end.
7,500 ? 8000 feet from from 4900 feet in about 20- to 30 miles. It?s uphill :-} and twisty with only a few passing sections.
I had a BMW 530 in front of me who didn?t want me to pass . he was in the inside lane and body roll almost put him into my lane I backed off until we hit the straight away. I was in 3rd floored it and smiled as a passed him. I took the next bend and I could have sworn the GT was on rails. It was flat fast and handled like a dream. No more bmw he was stuck with the traffic.
My 13 year son was with me and asked. ?Dad where did you learn to drive..??
My answer I don?t why. ?
Cos I want to go there to learn how to drive. !!!!
I don?t think a mustang could get a better compliment than that !!!!

The car was an absolute dream. It was like it was made for the road the steep climb made the V8 seem like all other cars ware inadequate. I fell in love with the GT all over again.
BTW my CLK is the my garage. The GT is on the road.

Winter driving. If condition's are really bad the CLK will not move. You have to turn off traction control spin a little then re apply. Tires are VERY wide and I am sure it makes it worse. But it is awful. Just a little wet its GREAT.

GT wet roads its fun. Not good. Fun !!. When it is really bad it does much better than the MB seem like the traction control is not as aggressive.

The MB AMG may be better but mine was 65 K I would rather have blue GT and a Red one too. And some change in my pocket. Girls prefer my GT too : !!! It?s the CAR.

[bullet]

DMWASON geeeez, you are a great story-teller :D

you convinced me, im getting a Stang for sure!!! i think im going to really LOVE this car... "full-on" GT version costs $45000 in Europe but im sure it will be worth the extra cash and im pretty sure it will be the ONLY Mustang in my area...

my next and last problem is the colour :confused: which colour best suits GT? i like the torch red, mineral grey and satin silver, this will be a difficult decision

[dmwason]

I wanted a windveil blue the the light brown interior.
I saw my red one . i told the dealer find me a blue one. Nothing within 500 miles I would have had to wait untill now to have got the one i wanted.
guys that hate red cars love the red mustang with the porno red interior.
It realy says "mustang" loud and clear and from a distance. when its dirty nobody notices it. When its all clean and shinny. every intersection it gets looks. Its noticed.
Get the red one !!!!

[nshaner]

Having seen the red in person, I'm just not a huge fan. There is just something about the body paneling that doesn't make the red look right to me.

The Mineral Gray and Satin Silver are very nice.

I also saw one vehicle that was black with a red interior. For whatever reason, that appealed to me also.

It's just a matter of preference though.

[reddrako]

If you live in a damp climate I would say to order the mineral grey. It is a great color for hiding road grime until you can get a chance to wash it! Not only is it a great looking color for this car butit is functional. Good Luck and congratulations!!

[saulsse]

I can vouch that the mineral grey hides the grime rather well, but the Georgia Red Clay does show a bit.

Stephen from Atlanta

[bullet]

well, i just ordered my very first American car :D

I picked Coupe GT in Mineral Grey with Red interior (interior Upgrade Package), 5-speed manual tranny, machined 17 inch alloys, Shaker 1000 stereo, Active Anti-Theft System and Front Seat Side-airbags :cool:

i hope i will love the car!!! the only bad news is that it will take some time to produce the car and bring it to Europe, my importer said that it will take approximately 3-6 weeks to produce the car and then approximately 6-8 weeks to bring it to Europe, pass customs, pass all the european emission tests and put it on the European plates... man i hate those byrocrats (or is it spelled bureaucrat?:p)

i think that i will get a very little sleep next 9-14 weeks, cannot wait any longer to drive this beast...

[dmwason]

Congratulations. !!!!!!

[beerme]

This this might help you get through those lonely nights

[beerme]

I'll even let you peek inside.

[bullet]

You naughty boy!!! :D :D :D

[shibby]

Very cool. I like the red on white.

[MY05GT]

I just bought my 05 GT and love it.

Those red stripes look great against white. What color stripes (hood/roof/trunk) do you think would look good (great) on a silver GT?

I think that this car is best for a "driver's driver". If you're one of those people that just sits in the car while it takes you for a ride, it's not for you. If you love to drive and enjoy the thrill of it, this car is a winner!

[nshaner]

White Stripes

[skooter]

Man!!!! Those stripes look so slick. It makes the '05s look so much better. JEALOUS!!!!! :)

[tw0scoops123]

I would think black or blue stripes on silver would look hot. Eleanor had black stripes on silver and THAT was hot.

[reddrako]

Ditto

[05SilverBullitt]

I'm thinking of having the body shop match the color painted on the factory 5-spokes. By the way, just joined this site (been lurking a while as I was waiting on my car). How do I post pics?

[MRigney]

You can post them in the photos section ,but you will have to register for that too. I never linked both of them. The registration is just like this one. You can post your pics in that section or you can just attach a photo in the forums using the 'Attach File' at the bottom.

welcome aboard!

[05SilverBullitt]

I had figured it out from another thread. Pictures are up in 2005+ photos section. Can't wait to mod it from "factory" to "mine":D.