Originally Posted by Byprodrive

I would think many guy's that own a V-8 powered Mustang have alot more tread on the front tires than the rear.
.

Originally Posted by mmarshall

I've often posted (with a fair amount of justification) about the number of young people I've seen tragically hurt or killed in V8-powered Mustangs over the years, particularly in GT, Mach1, Boss, SVT, Shelby, and Cobra models. Also, as a group, they probably the most aggressive drivers I have come across in a single make or model of vehicle, although those in BMW Ms and 3-series come close. (some of the most aggressive BMW drivers I've seen are on the new jersey Turnpike). But, even though there are definite and unmistakable patterns, I don't believe in stereotypes per se, and that does not mean that there aren't any sensible Mustang or 3-series drivers, even in V8 models....there are indeed.

Today, as I pulled out on the main road in front of my condo-development, I got quite a surprise. I didn't have my cell-phone camera with me, or I would have tried to get a reasonably shot of it under safe conditions, but there was a recent Mustang (a GT, I think, but I wasn't sure.........you can tell the 2015-and-later models by the very low-stance and slanted-out triple-taillights). An older guy was driving it, in the right lane....couldn't guess his age for sure, but clearly not a young adult. It was painted the classic aggressive Arrest-Me-Black, and had a sticker on the rear end....."I FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMIT".

And......guess what? He was following the posted speed limit....he nailed a perfect posted-35 MPH, until I turned off on another road to my destination and lost sight of him.

There's some hope for the world yet....and for Mustang insurance premiums.

Originally Posted by 427Monster

I think everyone who buys a high-powered car should take some form of driving class to just learn the basics. I attended 3-day session at Ron Fellows driving school...and boy did that save me many times on the street.

I bought a Cobra when I was in my 20s. Of course I showed off on the street. Now in my 30s with a beautiful wife and 2 lovely sons, I still take my fun cars out but politely decline any offers — usually from younger ones

Originally Posted by mmarshall

Back in the mid-60s, when dual-quad Chrysler Hemi 426s were first introduced, Dodge and Plymouth dealers were instructed not to sell them unless potential buyers could show evidence of (or agree to take) a high-performance driving school. A remarkable policy, during a period when the main issue wth most automakers was simply to push as many new vehicles out the door as possible. That only applied to the full-race dual-quad versions...not the regular 4-barrel 426.

For a while, BMW was giving M-buyers a course at its own high-performance driving school...I'm not sure if that policy is still in effect.



For a while back in the 90s, Cobras were not running the full-rated power from the factory....Ford even admitted that. I remember trying a new one out from the mid or late 90s (I don't remember exactly which year). It had one of those hand-built engines where the technician signs off on the block. While I test-drove it sensibly and didn't go to the max, it didn't have quite the spunk I thought it would have from what the official figures were stating.

Originally Posted by mmarshall

I've often posted (with a fair amount of justification) about the number of young people I've seen tragically hurt or killed in V8-powered Mustangs over the years, particularly in GT, Mach1, Boss, SVT, Shelby, and Cobra models. Also, as a group, they probably the most aggressive drivers I have come across in a single make or model of vehicle, although those in BMW Ms and 3-series come close. (some of the most aggressive BMW drivers I've seen are on the new jersey Turnpike). But, even though there are definite and unmistakable patterns, I don't believe in stereotypes per se, and that does not mean that there aren't any sensible Mustang or 3-series drivers, even in V8 models....there are indeed.

Today, as I pulled out on the main road in front of my condo-development, I got quite a surprise. I didn't have my cell-phone camera with me, or I would have tried to get a reasonably shot of it under safe conditions, but there was a recent Mustang (a GT, I think, but I wasn't sure.........you can tell the 2015-and-later models by the very low-stance and slanted-out triple-taillights). An older guy was driving it, in the right lane....couldn't guess his age for sure, but clearly not a young adult. It was painted the classic aggressive Arrest-Me-Black, and had a sticker on the rear end....."I FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMIT".

And......guess what? He was following the posted speed limit....he nailed a perfect posted-35 MPH, until I turned off on another road to my destination and lost sight of him.

There's some hope for the world yet....and for Mustang insurance premiums.

Originally Posted by 1QWKGS4

I hope the power doesn't corrupt me. But I definitely don't want to drive like a freggin Jag-off..

Originally Posted by Stroock639

i've definitely been corrupted by the power haha... sometimes i'll go to shoot a gap or make a yellow light in the lexus forgetting it can't do what the E55 can lol... all that oomph just opens up entirely new possibilities

something i've noticed that's generally true about 'jag-off' drivers, if they're driving that way it's probably because the car is really good at it... someone who's never driven like an M3 or something in that category can easily write off certain behaviors as reckless, but the car doesn't really start to 'make sense' until your begin driving a bit more spiritedly

once a car becomes powerful enough it becomes safer to perform certain maneuvers since other drivers don't even really have time to react before everything is said and done, and you're able to so effortlessly change your position in relation to all the other cars around you

obviously it's still irresponsible to fly past someone going twice as fast as them in the only available lane, but once a car gets to a certain power level you can kind of just casually 'work your way through the field' as though everyone else is paused

Originally Posted by EZZ

Exactly. So much easier to weave through traffic safely in a more powerful car. Its not just power...you really need a car with a good amount of torque or you're constantly downshifting in the higher rev band. For example, the IS350 always needed to be in the 4k band to get the car moving...anything under was pretty weak.

Originally Posted by Stroock639

as matt farah said after driving the P90D, 'there's no gap in traffic too small' to be able to just instantly negotiate yourself through lol

yea as long as the E55 is running (and the supercharger belt is intact lol) there's just tremendous torque at any rpm in any gear, even the LS is pretty good about this too with its engine that's really optimized for that low-mid range punch, in something like the IS 350 (for instance) it's definitely important to initially downshift to get the engine into that sweet zone for that quick response

Originally Posted by EZZ

Where I live, the Tesla dominate the weave through traffic...too many now just weave through. I find a good V8 is just as great too and probably better at higher speeds such as the long drive to Vegas. You can hit some nice stretches and an AMG V8 would be perfect for that. I distinctly remember doing the Vegas drive on a crazy hot day and my Maxima was overheating (when i was much younger) so I rolled down the windows and vented out the heat trying to keep the temperature steady...this Mercedes V8 AMG flies by and you could tell the passengers were in supreme comfort with AC turned up. Color me jealous

Originally Posted by Stroock639

that's what always impressed me most about the AMGs, they're just as usable and approachable as any other mercedes despite having like double the power as the 'regular' model... speaking of the mustang GT, my friend has a 2014 GT but he's afraid to ever really go that fast in it since it can become very unsettling when that solid rear axle takes a hop, and the electronics are garbage at keeping things in check

oh man to be in the E55 on an empty desert highway... just set the cruise control at 150 and relax haha

Originally Posted by EZZ

Yes definitely. I have a cousin with a C63 AMG. Mercedes makes the best V8s. They feel just as planted at 150mph as they do at 80.

Originally Posted by Stroock639

hopefully one day we can become a civilized nation like germany and have designated roads to utilize all that POWAHHH in a safe controlled environment without being sent to jail lol

Originally Posted by mmarshall

What people don't stop and consider, though, is that, when a vehicle DOES go out of control and crash at Triple-digit Autobahn speeds, the results can be absolutely catastrophic. Safety-systems or not, there is no getting around the laws of physics and Kinetic Energy....all else equal, the higher the speed, the greater the impact-force, and the more potential damage one is likely to see.

Watch what happens to this Lambo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvk2hSIJd9A

Originally Posted by Stroock639

i've definitely been corrupted by the power haha... sometimes i'll go to shoot a gap or make a yellow light in the lexus forgetting it can't do what the E55 can lol... all that oomph just opens up entirely new possibilities

something i've noticed that's generally true about 'jag-off' drivers, if they're driving that way it's probably because the car is really good at it... someone who's never driven like an M3 or something in that category can easily write off certain behaviors as reckless, but the car doesn't really start to 'make sense' until your begin driving a bit more spiritedly

once a car becomes powerful enough it becomes safer to perform certain maneuvers since other drivers don't even really have time to react before everything is said and done, and you're able to so effortlessly change your position in relation to all the other cars around you

obviously it's still irresponsible to fly past someone going twice as fast as them in the only available lane, but once a car gets to a certain power level you can kind of just casually 'work your way through the field' as though everyone else is paused