Help me understand these Motor Trend #s on 3 Stangs

[Fireguy615]

Motor Trend tested the 2003 Cobra vert 0-60 in 4.9 sec. And tested the new Mustang GT coupe 0-60 in 4.9 sec. 2010 Shelby GT500 0-60 in 4.5.

The Cobra vert weighed in at 3780 lbs. The 2010 GT Coupe at 3572. 1/4 times were 13.1 for the '03 Cobra and 13.5 for the '10 GT.

The GT is only 200 lbs lighter than the Cobra, but lacks 75(!) HP but they run the same 0-60 sprint?? Lacking 200lbs can't make up 75HP, right!?

On a side note, I thought the 540-hp Shelby would be stronger than 4.5 to 60, right? For $50K??

Flame suit is on:burn:, but if my car didn't have a pulley/tune, and lined up next to a new GT, there is cause to be a tiny bit nervous??

Granted, this is only 1 magazine test I looked at, but I dunno....the 2010 GT can't be that good, can it??

 

[ac427cobra]

Weight is a buzzkill when it come to any type of performance! :read:

FWIW

:thumbsup::coolman::beer:

 

[hunterp]

Motor Trend doesn't exactly have the best drivers. Other reviewers have gotten considerably better times out of the cars.

 

[NFCstang]

MM&FF was getting 12.6s out of a Cobra on street tires.

I like reading R&T and MT but their drivers suck

 

[rotor_powerd]

Take magazine numbers with a grain of salt, regardless of who's reviewing the car.

 

[YellowCobra04]

I have heard a range of times in the magazines. 0-60 from 4.5-4.9 and 1/4 mile times rangeing from 12.8-13.3. These time can not be taken to heart, no one knows what the conditions where when tested.

The only thing that matters is how you run your own car. I don't care if you have a 10 sec car, if you can't drive you will never be able to break into the 12's.

 

[03Snake04]

iron fist lead foot shows our cars pumping out the 1/4 in 12.8 for the vert, and 0-60 in 4.5ish seconds (for the coupe)... not sure who was driving in that run in the OP, maybe me?:burn:

 

[Jroc]

MM&FF was getting 12.6s out of a Cobra on street tires.

I like reading R&T and MT but their drivers suck

Evan Smith who is an editor for MM&FF ran a 12.43 in a bone stock 03 Cobra. He's run outstanding times in many cars though.(Fbodies, GT500's, FGT's, etc)

A new GT with track pack weighs less, with 3.73's, and is probably easier to launch.(actually I'm pretty sure its quite a bit easier to launch)

 

[cobracide]

Yes, Evan kicks ass and knows how to drive. Motor Trend? Eurotrash lovers.

 

[c6zhombre]

magazine 0-60 times are about the worst performance barometer one could choose for rwd, street tire clad muscle car. very difficult to harness the power for the best of drivers and in the best of conditions. quarter trap is about the best shot at seeing realistic numbers.....and that in most cases isn't good because magazines run out on a road and are taking snapshot trap readings at 1320 feet. A drag strip on the other hand takes a 1260 reading and 1320 reading and averages the two.

magazines suck