Why do people think Mustangs are slow when they have so much horsepower? I mean, if you look at a C8 Corvette, it has about half the power of a Shelby GT500, but it still beats the Mustang from 0-60. Sure, weight plays a part, but even on the track, the C8 keeps up pretty well.
A ZL1 Camaro also beats the GT500 on the track and in 0-60. The Nürburgring times are crazy too. A ZL1 LE does 7:16, while the GT500 times I’ve seen are way slower, sometimes even around 8 minutes, though that’s from non-pro drivers.
And it’s not just that. A Mustang GT with 480 hp loses to a rear-wheel-drive Supra with 380 hp. It even loses to a Kia Stinger with 365 hp in a drag race.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the way Mustangs sound, they’re some of the best-sounding cars out there. But what’s slowing them down? Is it the weight, the powerband, or maybe the transmission can’t keep up?
No worries. If “upgraded pony” threw you off, it’s because the 2018 model had a new transmission and engine compared to the 2017. But the car they tested was still completely stock.
It was definitely the 10-speed, right? The manual versions drop off fast after 60 mph. They usually beat me to 60, but by 80 mph, I’m catching up. And don’t even get me started on those 10-speeds. They’re a mess. Ford and GM mixed a bunch of parts together. I had to replace 20 of them last month alone. Ask any Ford tech, and they’ll tell you those 10-speeds are garbage. The only good thing is that it has 10 gears at least until it breaks.
You mentioned it yourself, it’s all about the weight. There’s a 400-pound difference between a 2021 Mustang GT and a 2021 Supra, which is huge. More powerful engines have to drag all that extra weight.
Take something like the Ariel Atom with a 245 hp supercharged I4 engine. It weighs 2,000 pounds less and does 0-60 in the 6-second range. It’ll easily dust a Mustang GT, even going up against a Ford GT, a 911, or an M5.
The Supra weighs 3,400 pounds, and the Stinger has AWD with launch control, which gives it a massive advantage in a drag race.
Also, your Nürburgring comparison is off. The 7:40 time comes from the 2013-2014 GT500, which was faster than the Camaro ZL1 back then. Ford hasn’t done official Nürburgring times with the newer GT500.
The Mustang isn’t “slow” for its horsepower. You’re also comparing numbers on paper against what world-class drivers can do.
Exactly. Different people have different driving abilities. You can’t judge a car’s potential based on amateurs. GM had a professional driver with tons of experience take the ZL1 1LE around the ring on super sticky tires. That’s way different from an average person doing a few laps with a GT500 for fun.
At VIR and Laguna Seca, the GT500 was actually faster. Honestly, it’ll always come down to the driver. The Camaro is lighter, but the Mustang has more power.
Honestly, put either of us in that ZL1 1LE, and we’d probably get beaten by a pro driver in an EcoBoost Mustang. Talent and a trailer full of tires make a huge difference.
And by the way, 0-60 times don’t really matter anymore. With all the power cars are making now, AWD and mid-engine setups will always have the upper hand.
