QToo Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Just had the pleasure of showing a Mustang GT the capabilities of the new GT Ltd. My wife went into labor last night so I figured that this was a free pass to let the Leg stretch it's legs. A woman in labor with towels under her (can't mess up the new leather) and pained look on her face would at least get me out of a ticket and maybe even get a police escort Jumped on the highway and only had to go 1 exit for the hospital. Came upon 2 cars in the left lane going around 70-75, with the Mustang GT directly in front of me. (I must mention that he had some silly vanity plate related to his Stang.) Car number 1 moved over but the GT continued to loaf along in the left lane so I couldn't get past, so I flashed him. His long glance in the mirror and the moronic plate, made me believe that he was a runner, so I downshifted into 4th and waited. I heard the V-8 bark and I hit the gas. He jumped out about 50 feet ahead of me but then I was on boost. I started to reel him in, hit about 5200 and shifted to 5th (still in my breakin period, so didn't want to go all out ;-) and closed the gap, much to his chagrin. I looked down and we were doing 110 before having to brake for left lane traffic ahead. As soon at it cleared, he punched it again but I stayed right with him. He then did some idiodic move to jump into the right lane and zip around traffic. My point was made so I just cruised to the exit, but he did the slow down dance so I would get caught up by right lane traffic and then he would goose it. I didn't play the game and got off at my exit. I have to say that the whole time, the Leg was so smooth and bereft of wind noise, that I was surprised we were going so fast, as was my wife. The car was very stable at that speed and the brakes took a nice bite and hauled it down without drama. Just reinforced my decision about the purchase of the GT. Daughter #3 came into the world shortly after mid-night. Within 2 days we will be bringing her home in a sports sedan that can hopefully jump start her passion for all things automotive and racing related. PS: Only 10 miles between the exits and my mileage on this tankful dropped by over 4 miles per gallon. Will have to stay out of the boost if I want to get decent mileage, but my overall average for the first 850 miles is 22.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Congratulations! Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBY Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Congratulations on the birth of your 3rd. Very entertaining read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demi9OD Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 The LGT is nice and stable at 130mph (as tested) :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatmank Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 I realize the Legacy is a safe car but DAMN! Not trying to rain on your parade but you had a big part of your life and future in that car! Take it easy. I know this is a touchy call, I just wouldn't have risked it. Glad you made it and congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Th3Franz Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Dang. Glad you made it and congratulations. :D -Franz The end of a Legacy http://www.youtube.com/th3franz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUBE555 Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Congradulations on #3 I agree with thatmank, lots of future in there, and hard work probably too. ;) Not chastizing, just try to keep it down on the return trip at least. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrQ Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Fabulous story! A celebration and a victory all in one night! Let us know how the GT handles three little ones in back! Todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 [quote name='QToo'] Daughter #3 came into the world shortly after mid-night. Within 2 days we will be bringing her home in a sports sedan that can hopefully jump start her passion for all things automotive and racing related. [/quote] Will the return trip include some street racing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSB Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Congratulations, but you do realise that :needpics: of the new addition, and I don't mean the Legacy. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axis008 Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Hahaha. I agree very interesting story! Thanks for sharing. Congradulations on your newborn!! Hope all is well with you, the wife, and the two other daughters (hopefully the won't get too jealous over attention towards the baby). -ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agctr Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Fantastic story and congrats on the new baby. Cant believe that your wife wasnt going nuts at u for driving like that, hmmm then again she had other things on her mind at the time. Great to hear that the Suby boys are giving it to the V8's or as I like to call them, "POINT & SHOOT" meaning they are good in a straight line ONLY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubie02 Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Thats actually somewhat of a myth, really, that the v-8 cars don't handle well--many of them actually handle pretty competently these days. Congratulations on the new family addition! As for the other--I sort of had a feeling that the new Legacy would actually shine on the highway as far as performance, whereas the wrx was more of an off-the-line sprinter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agctr Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Yes that may be the case that they have improved quite a lot BUT I will always back a AWD against a RWD (which most V8's are) when it comes to a twisties comp, oh and throw in a wet track just to spice things up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QToo Posted July 16, 2004 Author Share Posted July 16, 2004 Thanks for the congrats and everyone's concerns. The situation was totally under control, 4 lane highway, plenty of run-off room AND a SUPERB car :D . I have never done any street racing, but quite a bit of auto-x and Skip Barber competition course/lapping days. One thing that I will pass down to my kids is a healthy respect for cars, mechanical limitations and to always expect the unexpected (I should probably add state university and eloping to the list :) ). Each of them will also get an advanced driving course or 2 in addition to the std training. Now if only I could convince the wife about early training in go-karts :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IwannaSportSedan Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 [quote name='scubie02']Thats actually somewhat of a myth, really, that the v-8 cars don't handle well--many of them actually handle pretty competently these days. Congratulations on the new family addition! [/quote] I'll add my congratulations. Best of wishes for you and your family. As for the V8 question... Remember: This was a mustang you are talking about. For the record, during my high-school, and some of my college days, I was a mustang FREAK. Anything I could get my hands on. With that, what I am about to say, isn't all that flattering to mustangs. This was not a 05 mustang, those aren't on the road yet. That means this was likely a "SN95+" mustang, between a 94-04. Those cars are overweight, with long overhangs, and a high center of gravity. As an update to the fox body, it's lineage traces back to the mid to late 70's ford Fairmont. Not a paragon of stability or rigidity. What I like to call a "spaghetti frame". it is about as rigid as cooked spaghetti. Why ford thinks they can safely shoe-horn nearly 400bhp into the 04 Cobra, i'll never know. The engine and BFG KDWS tires will twist that unibody into pretzels after a few years of use. I'll bet in 5 years, the cars body gaps won't fit right, and there will be more squeeks and squirms than any car has a right to have. Chances are that it was not a Cobra, so it's pushrod, or SOHC 2v V8 probably has similar peak power numbers to a new Legacy's 2.5T boxer, with a larger torque curve at low RPMs. No doubt the Legacy's powerband is hitting like a hammer at highway speeds, which also helps our Suby contender here. Who knows if the Mustang was a stick or an auto, but most seem to be autos anymore. That's another negative check in the mustang's column, if true. I am not trying to excuse the Mustang, or even the odds, actually the opposite. I think the Legacy is probably a faster car, and that is that. The mustang is ancient, aside from the modular motors, and it shows. The guy who is driving as described, in that sort of a car, is probably all about a fast image, rather than a truly fast car. If he were into more than image, he wouldn't be driving a 90's mustang, especially not the way he was described to be driving. Sidebar: The 05 mustang, an out-of-the-park stylistic and quality improvement over the current model, still retains one ancient artifact. A solid rear axle. Scubie02 mentions that new V8 cars handle pretty well, and for the most part, is correct. I fear that the modern Mustang won't. If it does handle well, it won't be smooth, and it will be despite a live axle, which is a large deficit to overcome. When it shows that even the Chrysler and Dodge 300/Magnum twins (all independent suspension) can out-handle the 05 mustang, and be nearly lux-barge smooth, the proof will be in the pudding. Ford claims that it "listened to the die hard mustang fans" it may have listened to the 5-25% of people who occaisionally drag race their cars, and kept the sturdy rear stick axle. Not that serious drag-racers don't spend lots of money putting 4-link rear ends and spools in their cars anyway. I have a feeling that 75%+ people will just drive their new $18-30k 05 Mustangs around on the street, and not need the "robustness" and really wish they had a smoother car. For me, a car guy who can tell the difference, the solid axle is a deal-breaker, just like if it had been FWD. It is a MY2005, not another 1965 mustang. Too bad, Ford. Bad Choice, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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