Late model muscle car's

[Jeff Lee]

OK, I'm finally getting out of the stone age. I drove a 2008 Mustang GT/CS with an auto trans last week. All stock except Roush air intake. It had 3.55 rear. I couldn't believe how fast it was and was most impressed with the way the 5-speed auto trans performed. I mean, it didn't even slow down 5 RPM when it shifted from 1st to 2nd, it just kept accelerating. The last Mustang I drove was 3-4 years ago and it was a '98 (?) 4v Cobra. It was a lot of fun and would rev real high but had no bottom end. This 300 HP 3V '08 would probably blow it away. I have my eye on getting a 2010 Shelby if my new business works out. 540 HP w/ a 6-speed in a Shelby for $46K seems like a bargain to me. Thanks Evan.

Went to the track last night for the first time in over a year and drove a friends '06 Mustang GT with 3.55's and a 5-speed manual. It has a chip, intake and cat-back. It also has hard, worn out standard issue tires that need replacing. Obviously it took some finesse to launch it. I went 14.38 @ 101 MPH (it was 111 degrees out earlier in the day). Previously the owner has seen 104 and some change in cooler weather. He's got a total of $8500 in the car as it was an impounded vehicle. That's a mid-low 13 second street car with a/c with some ET drag slicks. Those MPH he runs are as good or better than my last "hot" street car, a '72 'Cuda with a pretty decent 340 and it sure wasn't as nice of a driver as this Mustang.

And the big disappointment was our friends '09 Challenger SRT8 with a 6-speed (all stock) and 3.08's in the rear. It was the first time down the track. Traction was an issue but even so, the MPH was only 98. That's only showing around 300 HP at the flywheel instead of 425 HP. I suggested he take it to the dealer because somethings not right. Anybody see any SRT8 Challengers on the track yet (stock)? A friend of mine in California has a SRT8 300 and can run 13-teens almost anytime. I'm not sure of his MPH.