Based on: 1971 Mustang Mach 1In my younger days I was all about muscle cars. Every American teenager into cars was the same way. The throaty V8 rumble and tire melting power spoke of freedom and no-holds-barred fun. Someone forgot to tell the guys at Ford when they dreamed this one up.
Obtained: New Car Dealer
Drivetrain: FR
Horsepower: 618 BHP (@ 116 miles)
Torque:---- 712 ft-lb
Weight:---- 1438 kg
PARTS
GT Auto
Front Aero Type B
Rear Diffuser Type A
Rear Wing Type B
Tuning Shop
Weight Reduction Stage 1
Lightweight Windows
Carbon Fiber Hood (Body Color)
Engine Tuning Stage 2
ECU Tuning
Sports Intake Manifold
Racing Air Filter
Titanium Racing Exhaust
Sports Header
Sports Catalytic Converter
Supercharger
FC Gearbox
Semi-Racing Flywheel
Semi-Racing Clutch
FC LSD
FC Suspension
Sports Soft tires
SETUP
Body/Chassis
Aerodynamics
Downforce: 0/20
Transmission
Transmission
1st:-- 2.263
2nd:-- 1.384
3rd:-- 0.947
4th:-- 0.690
5th:-- 0.535
6th:-- x.xxx
7th:-- x.xxx
Final: 3.890
Max Speed: 249
Drivetrain
Differential
Initial: xx/20
Accel:-- xx/35
Braking: xx/5
Suspension
Suspension
Ride Height: -20/-15
Spring Rate: 13.6/6.5
Extension:-- 9/9
Compression: 6/6
Anti-Roll:-- 6/2
Camber:----- 3.4/2.8
Toe:-------- -0.15/0.15
Brakes
Brake Balance Controller
Brake Balance: 7/9
Intended Driving Options
Transmission: Manual (MT)
ABS: 1
Everything else: OFF
Tuner Comments:
This is the Mustang Mach R. What we've got here is... Failure to communicate. Ford wanted to see what could be done with this archaic chassis, we wanted to beat up the Viper ACR's Laguna Seca lap. Hence a bit over 600hp and extremely sticky sports rubber, the aero package, gutted interior, and low ride height; this ruined what Ford's vision was (good ride quality, quiet, comfy, and capable) but it did slightly more than we asked for, scoring a 1:32 lap with rather poor lines and a bit of slideways.
I normally go at least 3-5 laps in a stock car to get a decent feel for it before changing anything. I didn't make it all the way through two in this thing. It is dull, lifeless and boring. Max speed stock is 110-111 MPH, which I reached shortly after the final turn on GVS into the long straight. I got a nice half mile of bouncing off the rev limiter and a quick nap. The car feels pretty stable but at the speed it can muster that isn't saying much. It understeers on power a good bit making it even less cool than it should be. If you set it up well enough and dump the throttle through the firewall you can get the tail to kick like a muscle car should, but only just. I got through the last turn on the second lap and called it quits with an initial lap of 2'23.575".
Parts tuning definitely makes it more lively, but maybe too much. It still will understeer in a few places but there is a very fine line between that and ending up facing the direction you just came from. At this point it is faster when it has grip but extremely unforgiving of errors or pushing harder than it likes. With all the sliding around and babying the throttle I managed a lap of only 2'17.049". With the difference in power and potential this time, I feel, should have been much faster but the lack of consistent control did not help.
With the tune on it feels better. It is still a monster FR but it is more composed. There is still some power oversteer present but the control has increased making it easier to drive. Getting back on the gas is less of an anxious moment and sliding through a corner will not leave you staring into the cloud of smoke that had been behind you. The braking character in particular is very nice, remaining very stable at speed and also snapping into a turn. The increased control gave the drop in time was expecting, turning in a 2'02.157". It will still bite back hard if you treat it badly; it is a safer bet to punch it and correct than to try to finesse it through...as it should be for American Iron.
For my taste, there is a bit much power. I do like big numbers but I like control more than anything else. The tune has increased both but the power is the key player here and will take getting used to for me. I will say though, this is the best sounding car I've heard in a while. Every American, and even non-Americans, owes it to themselves to pop out to chase cam for at least a five minute run to listen to the sweet music coming from the exhaust.
Lap Times
Grand Valley Speedway: 2'02.157"
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