Just when you got the new Shelby Mustang kit...

[Chuck Most]

because it works quite effectively.

and so does that pushrod "small" block

Ah, yes, pushrods work as well now as they did 300 years ago. But that buggy-sprung IRS in the Vette was just a terrible design, period. A well-engineered solid axle setup (like the one in the Mustang) will trounce an iffy IRS design at the track, not to mention it's way cheaper to repair and service when needed. Like you said, Dave- quite effective. And it won't grenade if you stand on it, like the Cobra IRS was known to do. I always laugh when I read a review on the Mustang and the writer just has to slag its rear suspension design, because it requires a bit more effort to drive 'in a spirited manner' compared to IRS equipped cars. Weird, I always thought the whole point of a 'sporty' car was to ask for a little bit of skill from its driver. Keep your IRS setups and flappy-paddle gearboxes, give me a stick axle and a stick shift, thanks very much.

Edited November 16, 2011 by Chuck Most

[Craig Irwin]

Back in the 70's I helped a friend of mine change his 65 Corvette to a solid rear axle, and we put drum brakes on it too. We were drag racers, and thats what works.

I also owned a 69 Camaro, and pulled the 350 out and put a 427 in it. If I still owned it it would have a 572 crate motor in it so I'm not the one to ask who needs a 650 HP car.

I can also say my Nephew's GT 500 is a real blast to drive!

[Junkman]

well Christian, it's that "cutting edge technology" that makes it possible to have 650hp in a daily driveable car.

Nope. That's called "8 cylinders with supercharger". It used to be cutting edge technology around 1925.

[Harry P.]

A lot of you guys here are saying that a solid rear axle is better for drag racing. And adding drum brakes to replace disks is a good thing. Ok, whatever...

But the last time I drove my Mustang in a drag race was... um, never!

I'm not 17, I don't drag race my car. My Mustang is my daily driver, and personally I would prefer an IRS over the solid axle any time. In real-world, normal driving-the kind of driving we all do 99.99% of the time, not the driving we wish we did or we brag about-I think an IRS performs better.

But that's just my opinion.. I could be wrong!

[Rick Schmidt]

Like was said before Ya are right about no one "needing " 650 HP its all about "wanting " it ... If cars were all about "need" we'd still be driving Model Ts. Harry If I remember Right don't you have a Mustang? Do ya need it ?? no ya wanted it. Just as I do not need any of my 3 Mustangs I have them because I want them. If I drove a car based on just need I'd could just as easily get to work and back in such in a Toyota or a Honda ... I Want to drive my 01 V6 every day. As for that axle again as was said Ford uses it because that is what us Mustang guys want.. if we wanted IRS there wouldn't be Terminators Lurking about with live axles under them

Edit I was typing as ya posted this Harry so ya did confirm my thinkin ya have a Stang

Edited November 17, 2011 by Rick Schmidt

[Rick Schmidt]

Why Would an IRS benefit ya in Daily driving?? thought IRS was designed for high speed handling ?? Where do ya drive that an IRS would perform better than a lie axle in daily life ??

[Craig Irwin]

I would never switch a street car to drum brakes, but at the strip disc brakes drag, drums don't. The solid rear axle is much stronger with big HP.

IRS is not a selling point on a street car to me, it takes a lot of interior room.

[Harry P.]

IRS is not a selling point on a street car to me, it takes a lot of interior room.

Huh???

Do you usually sit in the back seat when you drive?

[Craig Irwin]

My grandkids do, and its more of a problem in the trunk.. Can't drive over 70 on the slab, and 55 anywhere else anyway.

[Rick Schmidt]

IRS takes Interior room ?? Pretty sure it took no more room in a Terminator than the Live axle did

[Joe Handley]

Why Would an IRS benefit ya in Daily driving?? thought IRS was designed for high speed handling ?? Where do ya drive that an IRS would perform better than a lie axle in daily life ??

An indie setup should ride much better they way some of our roads are around here, but solid axles aren't that bad so long as you have good shocks between them and the unibody. That said, I'll keep my Jeep with 2 solid axles, the rear one being located by 2 parralell leaf spring packs.

[Rick Schmidt]

Dave I'm just saying ... My live axle under my 01 performs just fine in my daily driving never had the time where I took a corner so fast or sweved around something and thought " Man I'd been able to do that better without this old live axle "

[Joe Handley]

You know, my Jeep is the same way Rick. It's done stuff on pavement that no vehicles like it have the right to do...let alone vehicles that should be more capable than it.

[timc]

Having owned an 84 GT.Built 5.0, trick flow headers,3" x pipe exhaust.Warner 5 speed and yes an 8.8 posi trak solid rear axle. Daily driver ?,yes as long as I could keep the foot out of it.It handled really well around here.( I'm 40 miles from Darin) As for the solid axle,that's what it was SOLID.It could handle a 5grand clutch drop and still cruise through town quietly to keep the po-po's of my tail.(no cat converters) Man I miss my mus-horse(muscle horse).I could pull low 14's through the 1/4 mile all nite long and still cruise through Bristol on the way home.

As for the solid axle,it might not be exotic but it sure does work.Why cange it?

I have a friend that drag races mustangs.His car would lauch so hard that the body would twist.One nite before he added sub-frame connectors,it twisted so bad that the windshield popped out on the hood. All this with a solid axle.

Just my 2 cents.sorry for ramblin on,bigtim.

[highway]

"Beyond that, the daily driver also will find this car perfectly fits his or her needs."

Um... what sane daily driver needs a car with 650 HP and 600 lb./ft. of torque?

I like fast cars as much as the next guy, but seriously...

Whoa, you totally read my mind on this. Exactly who is Fords target demographic on this? People with more money that brains? How many joe-average types with $85k to spend has any idea how to handle a car with that kind of power?

ME!!!!!!!!!!

The only problem is I'm a little light in the 85K department!

[Austin T]

See you guys are looking at the wrong daily driving.They are talking about daily driving on the track where 650Hp is needed.

[sjordan2]

Also being shown at the L.A. Auto Show for Spring 2012 introduction, a 5-liter 420 hp Mustang GT convertible, adapted from the Boss 302. A bit more civilized for daily driving.

http://www.ultimatec...onvertible.html

Edited November 17, 2011 by sjordan2

[Rob Hall]

Cool...wonder if Chevy will up the power on the '13 Camaro ZL1 to compete.

I think a 400+ hp GT would be adequate for a daily driver, though my ~300hp Caddy and sub-200hp Jeep are fine for daily drivers...

As far as IRS vs solid axle, I would rather see the Mustang offered w/ an IRS, though it seems w/ the GT and Boss 302 Ford has been able to make it handle quite well even with the limitations of a solid rear axle. I have to laugh when people try and argue that Mustang buyers prefer the old school rear axle...what about the Camaro and Challenger? I haven't heard any complaints about them having IRS... a modern RWD performance car should have IRS...it's not 1970.

Edited November 17, 2011 by Rob Hall

[whale392]

Wow, after reading half of the replies here, I can honestly see why you all build models instead of real cars. The LACK of proper chassis/suspension design/application knowledge here is staggering. Glad I don't have to be beside most of you at the track, or to and from the track for that matter.

Not saying I am any better, but my background in auto racing sure seems to help my understanding of chassis set-ups/balance/power-to-weight ratios.

Edited November 17, 2011 by whale392

[Rob Hall]

I've read that the next generation Mustang for 2015 will have IRS.