GT500. Getting what you pay for?

Question

The Ford GT500. It's a powerful car, weighing in at a fairly large 550 HP from the factory hooked to a Tremec 6-speed transmission.

My question is: are you getting what you pay for? This car costs 50,000 dollars and you get 550 horsepower that acts like 450. That's right, I said it. This big lug has 40 more horsepower than a Dodge Viper and STILL can't manage to get the same 0-60 time, coming in at half a second SLOWER. Then there's the matter of it's top speed. First you've got your Viper SRT-10 - 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and a top speed bordering on 200 mile per hour - Then comes the Ford GT500 reaching 0-60 just barely faster than a Dodge Charger SRT-8 and hitting a mere 154 MPH, the same top speed as a similarly powerful Dodge truck (SRT-10 Ram) that weighs a good full ton more.

At 50K to the Viper's 80,000 it's a bargain, but for 550 horsepower, do you think it's up-to-par? Give me your thoughts

Aight 'fordman', what the hell difference would it make in the FAVOR of Viper if it's engine is larger. The two vehicles are making the same (relatively) amount of power. If anything the Viper would be slower because it has such a huge engine, but it seems that the GT500 still can't match it.

Excuse me, it seems I mistook the horsepower figure on the Ford. It's actually 500 flat, not 550.

Answer 1

The GT500 only has 500 horsepower, and it weighs about 3700lbs. Its 1/4 mile is barely as fast as a standard Corvette (which costs about the same). Motor Trend had an article about a GT500KR which will have 540 horsepower, and a 0-60 of 4.0 seconds. That's only .2 seconds behind the Z06. It will still cost about $7,500 less than a Z06.

To answer your question, I think it is worth the price, although the performance isn't amazing.

Answer 2

FIrst off, please stop useing 0-60mph times, its embarassing. No one that has any racing or track experiance uses 0-60mph times to determine the speed or quickness of a vehical. There are many different reasons why which I wont get into here but if you are truely intersted then post a question or shoot me an email. They dont even keep track of 0-60 at a drag strip, it is a useless statistic. The car manufactures use it as a way to fool people. Next, top speed is also irrelevant. Most cars now a days have a limiter, that is why the gt 500 top speed is not faster because it is limited from the factory. It is estimated that a stock gt 500 without the limiter has a top speed of beteen 175-180mph. In addition, you will never drive your car at its top speed. The best measurement to use is 1/4 mile time. To answer your question about getting what you pay for. WIth out a doubt, no question, you get way more bang for your buck out of the gt 500 then the dodge viper. Its no contest what so ever. For an additonal 5k you can swap out the eaton supercharger for a kenne bell and now you have a 700+ hp gt 500 for $55,000 that will smoke a $80,000 viper.
http://www.kennebell.net/superchargers/ford/Shelby/Shelby.htm
As you can see from the above studies done at the website I provided for you for about 6k-7k you can get your shelby gt 500 close the 1000hp mark. So as anyone can see it is pretty obvious that the shelby gt 500 is far superior to the dodge viper as far as best bang for the buck goes. As you can see from the web site below, even the shelby gt 500 with the most basic mods are running high 10 second 1/4 miles which is a full second faster then the dodge vipers 1/4 mile. These are shelbys with the stock supercharger, one has modified exhaust and ported the stock eaton supercharger and the other basically just has some nitrous and they both are much faster then the $80,000 dodge viper. Its really no contest.
http://www.dragtimes.com/compare2.php?make1=15&model1=1344&op1=%3D&year1=0&make2=-1&op2=%3D&year2=0&make3=-1&op3=%3D&year3=0&make4=-1&op4=%3D&year4=0&submitButtonName=Compare%21

Answer 3

you are definitely getting what you paid for. ford is the only dealer that gives you what you want at an under-the-market value when compared to all of the other car makes out their. if you don't think its worth it, don't buy it
also, how many people are you planning on driving around??? last time i checked, the mustang seated four, compared to the much more expensive dodge viper that seats two. and another thing the 2008 dodge viper is putting out 600hp so whats your new argument...bmw m6 is slower than an 08 viper? and the vipers much cheaper. you need to take some time and think before you ask.
an understandable question would be...why is a mercesdes-benz sl550 cheaper than a cl550 when they both use the same engine and the sl is a hard top convertible

Answer 4

The engine on the Viper is a lot larger than the GT500. The Ford has it's speed limited by the car's computer to match the speed rating of the tires. If it's acceleration that you want, change the rear end ratio.

I also think that the car's will be worth some money, once Carroll Shelby passes away. There won't be anymore after that. The guy is a legend.

Answer 5

FORDMAN IS CORRECT.

AT THE MOMENT FORD PEOPLE AND SHELBY GUYS DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SALES AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR VEHICLES.
THEY'VE LOST A CRAZY AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE PAST 3 YEARS.
THEY ARE JUST BUSY MAKING HISTORY.
THEY KNOW THAT THE GT500 IS ONLY PUTTING 440 HP TO THE WHEELS AND THEY KNOW THAT ANY COMPETITOR IN ITS CLASS IS A BETTER PERFORMER.
BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT AFTER 20 OR 25 YEARS THE SHELBY GT500 WILL BE WORTH MORE THAN ANY VIPER OR CORVETTE.
FORD PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE NAME "SHELBY" WILL NEVER DIE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY....
THEY ARE SMART.....

A 2007 SHELBY GT500 WITH THE PRODUCTION #00001 WAS THE VERY FIRST SHELBY GT BUILT IN 2007.
AND GUESS HOW MUCH DID IT GO FOR???
$600 000

IF DO NOT BELIEVE ME HIT THE LINK BELOW.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/06/27/013030.html
CAN YOU SELL A 2007 VIPER #0000001 OR A 2007 CORVETTE #00001 FOR THAT PRICE???? NO!!!!!

OTHER THAN THAT SHELBY GT500 DOES NOT OFFER ANYTHING TO IMPRESS PEOPLE WHO LIKE PERFORMANCE.
THAT'S WHY I DIDNT BUY IT.

Answer 6

No ! Not worth it Get a Mustang Gt ,Camaro SS ,Challenger R/T ..Something with a payment which is a little bit lower and could save you on insurance! Those cars are nice,still fast and you can get whatever you want in it,Plus thoses cars would have you in a car payment thats like 350 to 500! Its up to you though,It wil be your car. Good Luck

Answer 7

the mustang costs about half what the viper does. It weighs 600 lb more and it has the same hp as the viper but it is a lot cheaper to make more. all you need is a pully and a chip and you can make 600 WHP

Answer 8

The Ford weighs over 3900lbs., not 3700lbs as stated by the other guy. The Ford even gets smoked by a 400hp vette(3200lbs.). The Ford will hold its value better than its competition. You can modify it. Just don't feel bad when the dealer service techs laugh at you, when you bring it in for warranty repair.

Answer 9

It's the cheapest car you can get for the power it produces, I mean isn't 154 mph fast enough for you, it's the best deal.

Answer 10

Too bad you're crazy enough to spend that on a car. I can spend 9 grand on a bike and spank the daylights out of you and a whole stable of your car racing buddies.