2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Part 3 of 3: Performance

The Shelby GT500s of the late 1960s were among the most iconic muscle-cars of the era. Their performance is the stuff of legend. So how does today's version of the Shelby GT500 stack up? Although the original is still one of the all time great muscle cars, it can't come close to matching the numbers put up by the 2008 GT500 it inspired.

When considering the performance of the latest Shelby GT500, there are two numbers you need to know: 500 and 42. Those are its horsepower (500) and its cost in thousands of dollars. It's this combination that makes the Shelby GT500 such a compelling car, and quite possibly the king of the bang-for-the-buck category.

Think about it: where else can you find that kind of power for so little money? The answer is nowhere. This car has an honest-to-goodness 500 supercharged ponies driving the rear wheels as the gods of the automotive world intended, for less than $50k... optioned up! Are you kidding me?

Any gripes you may have about the interior or the noise levels or what have you, are answered by this: FIVE HUNDRED HORSEPOWER!

Now, let's put that in perspective: How many cars on the market offer at least 500 hp for less than $100,000? And for simplicity, we'll limit the field to two-doors. Let's see, there's the Dodge Viper SRT10 - absolute animal. Then you have the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - incredible car. The BMW M6 comes in at just over $100,000. Then there's the GT500KR, which is essentially a GT500 with a few extra bits thrown in. It's a pretty impressive list.

The 5.4L DOHC 32 valve V8 is this car. Forget about everything else like the nav system or the throwback design of the seats or what-have-you. It's all about that V8 and its supercharger. Whenever you need power, it's there. Torque? There is torque EVERWHERE. Under the hood: torque. At the rear wheels: torque. In the glove box: yep, more torque! The truth is, this car answers every call you make to the accelerator pedal instantly.

The torque number may feel like a million, but it's actually a healthy 480 lb.ft. It's distributed through the super-short-throws of the Tremec six-speed manual and accompanied by a mean-sounding supercharger whine that fits the character of the car perfectly. The big Brembo brakes supply ample stopping power once you've started to run out of nerve - or road, and as with the torque there's always plenty there with zero fade.

Unfortunately, the transformation from civilian Mustang to special ops Shelby duty requires some major mods - mainly a heavy-duty iron block and the massive supercharger and its associated plumbing. That stuff adds weight exactly where you don't want it: at the front of the car.

Already slightly nose-heavy, the additional 150 plus pounds at the front end of the GT500 don't do it any favors in the dynamics department. Still, the Shelby handles itself admirably considering it's just shy of 3900 lbs. And the more you drive it, the less you notice its weight. Five-hundred horsepower just has a way of making any car seem relatively light.

Ride and handling balance leans toward performance as you might imagine, but there's still much more ride comfort than you'd expect given the handling. The suspension has a lot of travel and is relatively softly sprung. The car dives under braking and rolls on turn-in, but once it takes a set, it goes through corners really well, with excellent, predictable manners.

Yes, the live rear axle is unyielding over bumps, making the car side-step a little, and the supercharger whine is pretty loud and might get tiresome on a day-to-day basis, but these things are perfectly in keeping with the personality of this car. In my opinion, these characteristics just add to the Shelby GT500's entertaining nature at speed. It may not be for everyone, but personally... I love it!

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Performance
- Acceleration: Tire-shredding torque accompanied by awesome supercharger whine results in serious quickness
- Handling: More body roll than expected, but tons of grip once it takes a set - throttle steer always an option
- Braking: Big Brembos do what they're supposed to - lots of dive though

Design
- Exterior: Surprisingly restrained and true to its heritage - still a great looking car... once it's lowered a bit
- Interior: Too much hard plastic and cheap looking materials - more leather than other Mustangs helps though

Utility
- Comfort: Surprisingly comfortable ride given its handling capabilities
- Space: Lots of room in the front - decent sized trunk, but really, who cares?

Safety
- Dynamics: A little bit of understeer built in to keep you out of trouble
- Technology: Four airbags, but 500 horsepower and no stability control... yikes!

Value
- Price: Lots of money for one Mustang... but nothin' for 500 horses
- Mileage: Seriously? If you have to ask, put it in 6th gear and just try to stay out of it. Good luck.

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Grows on you with every push of the accelerator
- Fun to spank: An absolute kick-ass car to drive - makes you laugh like a little kid

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 5.4 liter, Supercharged V8
Power (SAE): 500 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 480 lbs-ft @ 4500 rpm
Redline: 6250 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed manual
Curb Weight: 3920 lbs.
0-60 mph: 4.5 sec.
1/4 mile: 12.8 sec. @ 115 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 14 city / 20 highway
Base Price: $42,685
Competitors: Dodge Challenger SRT-8, Chevrolet Corvette, upcoming Chevrolet Camaro SS