Mustang or Falcon

[Falc'man]

It's something I keep thinking about; If Mustang was offered alongside it's
performance four door distant cousin, would it be more desirable to own?


Assuming both had same driveline/chassis/price/power/quality, i.e., no
arguments about live axles and which has better power to weigh ratio, the
question is more about the two different cars.

The poll question is not about whether you think the Mustang will
survive in this market, nor is it about the Falcon/GT brand being too
strong. It's about what YOU would rather have as a performance car.

Examples.

XR8 or Mustang GT?

Mustang with Ecoboost V6, or F6?

A supercharged FPV GT, or Shelby GT500?

Which is it for you, the Mustang or the Falcon?


We too familiar with the Falcon, so here are some shots of the Mustang.

[Mongoose]

Mustang by a mile.

[GT69]

Falcon for me, Supercharged FPV GT please

[GTENVY]

Mustang anyday. Definitely the only thing from stopping me from buying one is that they are so expensive.

[Burnout]

A supercharged FPV GT, please!?

[Papa Smurf]

I have to be honest here, The MUSTANG.... sighs

Since I was a boy, mustangs have ALWAYS done it for me.. I was 11 and I remember seeing the first one in a magazine my Uncle had.. Love at first sight.

[BionicGT]

2010 Shelby GT500 for me (no probs with a diff bush either )

Here's the GT500 interior http://pulseautosport.com/wp-content...llpaper_0c.jpg

[Mr X]

Are you gazing into a crystal ball Falc'man? If the two were built on the same floorpan-and it has been rumoured from time to time-then a Mustang would have to come our way
Its also interesting how Americans on Mustang forums lust after our GT/F6 and our utes.

Red and black Super Snake please.
:

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Mr X

Are you gazing into a crystal ball Falc'man?

I'm just curious about the responses to this question, but there are further implications.

Originally Posted by Mr X

If the two were built on the same floorpan-and it has been rumoured from time to time-then a Mustang would have to come our way

Why the Mustang was never designed for RHD decades ago still troubles me. It is a "world car" in it's own right.

Originally Posted by Mr X

Its also interesting how Americans on Mustang forums lust after our GT/F6 and our utes.

The common trend is - as pointed out by 'chevypower' in another thread - they (in the U.S.) are way more inclined to the ponycars when it comes down to performance, not sedans.
Naturally, when they see our range they will react like you said; but will they really go for it?? There's only one way to find out.

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Good thread. I feel I can make a comment as I have lived in the states and have driven a Shelby Mustang GT-H (basically a Mustang GT with some go fast extra 20hp parts) as well as common renter V6 stangs.

We see Mustangs here as special and 9/10 Ford enthusiasts will buy a Mustang in a flash (if they sold them in OZ for the equivelant of $30k USD) as they are so rare. Fact that a right hook ready to rego 2008 Mustang GT will sell for $115k its hardly going to pop up in every street or bar in Melbourne.

But picture this if they were in every street and every garage, every poor uni student had an older V6 model, suddenly they will be common fair like our Falcon. This is how a Mustang is in the states, as common as apple pie and a road house franchise of the state highway.

As for the driving experience, the Falcon and Mustang have a different appeal. The XR8 is more refined, polished and you can have fun around a set of twisties without being scary.
Conversely a Mustang is a true 2 door sports coupe, it feels low, tight around you and you can never have that feeling out a sedan (even a sport factory tuned one).

I have dug up an article I actually wrote when I hired a stang and compared it to my XR8 as I feel this is befitting to this thread. PS. Sorry for the long post.

Texas Road Experience - Shelby Mustang GT-H
If you want a car that makes you feel like Steve McQueen, cruising the state highways with that V8 thumping and strumming in background then the Shelby Mustang is for you. From the moment you approach the car you notice that it has a stance of a street fighter. Step inside and you sit low exaggerated by that huge Shelby custom bonnet perched right up in front of the windscreen. Gripping the old school leather wheel, you know that despite being modern this screams a muscle car of the old school. Despite this retro ambience, the Shelby reminded me that you can only get that togetherness feel at the wheel in a 2 door coupe. A 4 door saloon will always be compromised. First impressions that got me were how cool those retro dials are. It makes a pleasant change to the usual instrument cluster you see on other mainstream modern cars. I also love how they made the steering wheel look 1960’s and feel chunky whilst still concealing an airbag. Sadly though, the dashboard and various plastics are not the Mustangs forte. There’s a sharpness and hollowness when you touchl them. Think of it as the same texture as those grainy pattern stackable chairs you get in Big-W and you will get the picture. The leather seats are quite comfortable with a drivers electric forward and back mechanism, incidentlly its something I really miss in my XR8. The steering column has tilt adjustment but absent is the rack n reach adjustment.

Fire up the stang and you’re immediately aware that this thing is properly loud. At idle you can almost count the firing of that 4.6L V8. The local petrol heads agree (even Chevy Enthusiasts) for the right small block V8 sound, nothing sounds like a nicely exhaust tuned Stang. I am amazed how Ford has pulled off that trick as the engine is an overhead cam design.

Put it in drive and notice how the transmission lever is chunky and very stubby. From the moment you drive off you notice the car is tuned with a fairly loose torque converter.
I felt there is a touch of stall built in to keep the telegraph road racers amused. Racers aside, this gives the car a sense of urgency when you take off. Put your foot down at 40mph and the Shelby instantly drops a gear or two and you’re in the engines power band.

The mustangs automatic gearbox is not the most sophisticated on the market but I must say, I do like the no nonsense approach Ford have done. It’s a 5 speed unit with no fancy sequential sports shifts, no power button just a straight out P,R,N,D,3,2,1 T bar arrangement with an overdrive button on the right side of the Tonka like lever to make up the 5th gear over ride.

Mash on the gas from standstill and there is a sensation that you are in a drag car. The revs jumps to around 2500rpm along with a brief constant noise just like a car equipped with a mild stall. By this time the Shelby has gathers momentum and sings with an old school V8 bellow with shifts occuring at 6000rpm all while the BF Goodrich’s are protesting against the road for traction. Not only you hear the exhaust roar but you get a lovely whistling induction roar to boot. That Ford Racing intake fitted to these GT-H models is certainly doing its business.
The Shelby is quite a rapid car as anything should be with 320hp, but I did notice a slower rate of acceleration after 85mph.
The roll on mid range acceleration I thought was very good. So far then so good it seems that the GT-H is displaying the Mustang’s heritage of muscle car seduction.
Sligh complaints, well I will have to agree with the specialist media in terms of engine being slightly asthmatic even with an added 20hp pack. With the 4.6L overhead cam configuration and a near on square bore and stroke I was expecting the engine to really give a surge in power at the top end of the rev range. But it feels strangled some how as it gets towards redline. I think either the standard intake manifold is quite restrictive and perhaps the engineers focused on the mid range power. Worth noting though, there are plenty of aftermarket intake manifolds that will sort this little achillies heal and see the 4.6L engine revving past 6400rpm. All things being equal I felt my XR8 has a superior top end punch than the GT-H.

On the road, the ride is firm but not too jarring thanks to the relatively thick profile rubber fitted to many modern American muscle cars. The suspension has that typical live axle composure when encountering pot holes or rough dips in the road. Not awful but something to be mindful when pushing along around some corners.

Coming from the XR8 one learns on how a long wheel base chassis can make cornering at the limit much more forgiving as it gives constant warning before and during cornering under power. The Shelby’s combination of a shorter wheel base, live-axle and a gearbox that wants to drop a gear at a touch of the accelerator can prove to be quite a handful.

With a straight line road from the start then approaching two 90 degree left handers separated by a 30m straight then onto a further 1/4+ of straight, this secret test track (private property offcourse) was the place to give the Shelby a shakedown in its handling and acceleration abilities.

I approached the first corner with a speed that I felt was comfortable for the Shelby. With a neutral trailing throttle I was immediately aware of the mid-corner understeer. The front end does not feel as heavy as the XR8 and has good initial turn in bite. Continueing through, I noticed how much more lock I had to put in to make it turn.
The next corner I wanted to test exit out and power down which in my opinion is the critical part of cornering. I accelerated at a pace and throttle input I would use in my XR8 when driving quite aggressively out of a corner. In the GT-H, after I got past the apex I accelerated. As the road straightened the back stepped out with no inital warning that it was going to happen. It would be fair to say the Shelby would be quite a tricky car going up Kariong Hill just past Gosford in NSW (A favourite road of mine).

A few other points I noted, the very bad blind spot these Mustang convertibles have with the roof up. The rear window is very small for fold down packing reasons.
On rutted roads the convertible has a few creaks and groans coming from the back of the car. The Shelby exhaust is too low for my liking; on a small speed hump it has to be engaged with care so as not to scrap the underside of the centre muffler.

Honestly these are minor points of complaint. In conclusion I really love the car, I love the way it’s a car of the people yet it still turns heads. Even in Texas everyone takes a 2nd look at the Shelby GT-H.

[GK]

Falcon for me.

4 Doors always!

GK

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

I have dug up an article I actually wrote when I hired a stang and compared it to my XR8 as I feel this is befitting to this thread. PS. Sorry for the long post.

Texas Road Experience - Shelby Mustang GT-H

I always appreciate this kind of info; real hands on experience of different products, but we know in your case there's isn't any bias. Good write-up.

[Mr X]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

I'm just curious about the responses to this question, but there are further implications.

I'm intrigued.......where are you going with the topic Falc'man?

[noosacuda]

Mustang of course! Who wants to own a glorified TAXI!???

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Mr X

I'm intrigued.......where are you going with the topic Falc'man?

If I told you it might sway people's thought process when answering the poll question.

[CADSKY]

Falcon Ftw!

[Falcon Coupe]

The Mustangs really need to get rid of the live axle before i'd consider one, too many good cars in the same market.

[paule11]

This Mustang http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwSFQSOEtkk

[Mr X]

Originally Posted by paule11

This Mustang http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwSFQSOEtkk

saw it a day or so ago.........Brilliant .

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by paule11

This Mustang http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwSFQSOEtkk

There are so many things right about that video.

As said earlier, the Mustang is king, but for most of us mere mortals four doors is a must.

[dishpig]

I'd say falcon but only because I love utes too much

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

•2011 Mustang GT to be rated at 400 horsepower, will get increase in 2012

Falc'man, seems some people have overlooked this bit of gold! Sounds like DI will come for the new V8 in 2012 or late 2011 for MY2012. Although it is more pertinent to the 'coyote' thread.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Falc'man, seems some people have overlooked this bit of gold! Sounds like DI will come for the new V8 in 2012 or late 2011 for MY2012. Although it is more pertinent to the 'coyote' thread.

I should have. It's just that next year's Mustang will be a bell ringer, and this thread is more about the stang than it's motor.

The 2012 upgrade isn't d.i. afaik.

[Raptor]

As a pure performance car it has to be the Mustang.

BUT

If the car needs to fill more than that role and is also used as a family car or needs to seat more than 2 in any sort of comfort than it has to be the Falcon.

I don't think they compete in the same market.

[Fev]

GT500 ohhh yeah

[Papa Smurf]

Loved that and then there is THIS....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epDGQc7Gj9s

[GlenW]

Originally Posted by Papa Smurf

Loved that and then there is THIS....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epDGQc7Gj9s

Fkme thats hot. Imagine a FG Falcon pumped up on the same drugs.....

[Spanrz]

Mustang, hands down!

[gocruzin]

I'll take the Mootang too they just have to do something with the interior BLEGH!

[1LOUDXFUTE]

oh my gawd, that Iacocca mustang :sm_drool: :sm_drool: