jwfisher said:Exactly!
Dave, what would you think if your M3 had 400 RWHP, torque to match, and had about a 53/47% weight balance? That's not out of reach for this new chassis... with a little bit of engineering work on the part of SVE (versus some paint stripes and an Expedition engine).
And it wouldn't list at 50 grand either, which is essentially the starting price for an M3 (and on the low end of how they go out the door).
Or, conversely, what would you think if your M3 had a solid rear axle? :-(
Oh I definitely think that this is obtainable with the S197. In fact the IRS would add weight where its needed..to the rear. What Ford should do is give us the Al. block and the IRS and that would get us very close to the perfect 50/50 wieght distribution. M3's have almost a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Even my wifes new X3 has a 50/50 weight distribution.
Never would have boughten the M3 with a live axle. Live axle is such a turnoff to Euro buyers. Like I said..alot of us M3 owners that I know of on the M3 boards came out of Cobras. 45K for a GT500 properly equipped is a super bargain . For those of you who think that this price range would put us in Vette material better rethink this. 1st off the Vette is only a 2 seater, 2nd alot of us just don't like Vettes..I never have never will. Remember I could have boughten a ZO6 in 01 and 04 cheaper than I bought my M3 for, even though the ZO6 would kick the crap out of me on the straights and the twisties..Whats even funnier is that they coudlnt' give the C5 ZO6 away..all the incentives I saw and such..it wasn't until the 5th year in its production cycle can you get a M3 under MSRP.
So the buyers are out there for this type of coupeGT. I posted this info regarding the GT 500 on the M3 forums and there was alot of interest.
Dave