Ford Mustang Boss 302 Dyno Session

[overst33r]

7700rpm and some serious low end from a 5.0L v8. I drove a GT and I was already impressed, can't even imagine how nice this would be. This is really impressive stuff!

Ford claims the Boss produces 444 hp at 7,500 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm -- a substantial horsepower gain over the stock 5.0 GT's 412 hp at 6,500 rpm and 390 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm. Ford reengineered just about every piece of the Boss 302's engine so the gain should be substantial. And it is.

http://blogs.insideline.com/straigh...yno-tests-the-2012-ford-mustang-boss-302.html

 

[LordMorpheus]

Autoblog has a review up that makes me really want one:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-laguna-seca-first-drive-review/

 

[Castiel]

The 2011 intake manifold from what i read is the biggest restriction over 6500rpm. Power drops like a rock after it.

Just read the article and very nice but for 41K i'd rather just spend 9K more and get a GT500

 

[Demo24]

The 2011 intake manifold from what i read is the biggest restriction over 6500rpm. Power drops like a rock after it.

Just read the article and very nice but for 41K i'd rather just spend 9K more and get a GT500

I was looking at this and to be honest, the Gt500 doesn't seem to offer all that much in terms of performance than a base GT. Its only a hair faster in basically all categories. It does look nicer and has a somewhat better engine, but the 15-20 price premium doesn't add up. I'd rather spend money on the factory supercharger kits which would add like 6k at most, maybe 10k for the top of the line (cant remember the pricing) and you'd get a good power boost.



However a Boss302 is high on my want list at the moment. :thumbsup:

 

[Castiel]

I was looking at this and to be honest, the Gt500 doesn't seem to offer all that much in terms of performance than a base GT. Its only a hair faster in basically all categories. It does look nicer and has a somewhat better engine, but the 15-20 price premium doesn't add up. I'd rather spend money on the factory supercharger kits which would add like 6k at most, maybe 10k for the top of the line (cant remember the pricing) and you'd get a good power boost.



However a Boss302 is high on my want list at the moment. :thumbsup:

In stock form the GT500 isn't that much faster because of traction issues but all you have to do is add a pulley/tune/intake for 550rwhp. You also have to take into account the GT500 is built for boost and has 5.4L compared to 5L in the GT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBzPtU-H9tc

 

[KeithP]

I loved to have one as long as somebody else paid for it. $41K? Really? When you are sitting inside it you see the same basic view as someone that plunked down $20K for a Mustang V6. When you hit that price level, there are better choices for vehicles. They may not be as overtly fast, but the overall day to day driving experience would be far better.

Also, from the article it is clear that the engine is more than just a power upgrade, that being said, +32HP/ -10lb-ft of torque aren't really numbers to crow about.

-KeithP

 

[fbrdphreak]

Autoblog has a review up that makes me really want one:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-laguna-seca-first-drive-review/

Thanks for the link, I missed that.

I'm disappointed about the rear brakes not holding up to track use. I understand that of all the details on the car, adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of the car for the rear brakes was far down on the list, but I still can't help but be disappointed in that fact.

And I'm surprised how comfortable they found it driving around town. That sounds like some good work by Ford there.

And holy-snikeys at the launch control. I hope they were in the Laguna Seca model with R-compounds, because a freakin' 5K RPM launch?? If I'd tried that in the GTO we'd be in the ditch.

I'd definitely rock a Boss 302.

One of these days...

 

[exar333]

I loved to have one as long as somebody else paid for it. $41K? Really? When you are sitting inside it you see the same basic view as someone that plunked down $20K for a Mustang V6. When you hit that price level, there are better choices for vehicles. They may not be as overtly fast, but the overall day to day driving experience would be far better.

Also, from the article it is clear that the engine is more than just a power upgrade, that being said, +32HP/ -10lb-ft of torque aren't really numbers to crow about.

-KeithP

That is exactly what I was thinking. Those performance differences appear to be more applicable to high rpm driving, and I don't know if losing the torque is really worth it or not. This certainly shouldnt' cost much more than the standard GT, otherwise get the GT + SC and call it a day.

 

[fbrdphreak]

You guys are missing the point. Driving this car is a different experience than a regular GT. This is for the guy who LIKES to ride through the gears and have the rev range to power through a corner and into the straight without shifting. I would be surprised (though not shocked) if anyone who bought a Boss 302 didn't go to the track already, even just for regular HPDE's.

It's kind of like the difference between a base model WRX and an STi: more power, more revs, better handling, better braking, etc. You'll generally only opt for something like this if you want to punish the car around nearly every turn you encounter.

It's true: the 302 is less of a value when you have the really good 5.0 GT with optional track upgrades (brakes, diff, etc). But considering a GT starts at $30K and is into the mid-30's with any options, the 302 at $41K is NOT a bad deal.

And I'd love to hear what comparable options you have at $41K. M3 coupe starts at $55K. I don't know Audi models off hand, but they won't be any cheaper. A 335i or whatever the new 1 Series M-model is called won't be in the same league. A loaded Evo or STi will be close in price, but lack the raw power. A base Corvette would be close, but I would give the edge on the track to the Boss and the Vette is more expensive. Bueller....Bueller?

 

[EightySix Four]

insert GTR style transmission joke here

 

[Howard]

Man, Ford should just slap a big turbo on the 5.0L and call it a day. No more special editions.

 

[Castiel]

Man, Ford should just slap a big turbo on the 5.0L and call it a day. No more special editions.

The 2012 GT500 is rumored to be getting the 5L TT Ecoboost

 

[Sinanju]

I loved to have one as long as somebody else paid for it. $41K? Really? When you are sitting inside it you see the same basic view as someone that plunked down $20K for a Mustang V6. When you hit that price level, there are better choices for vehicles. They may not be as overtly fast, but the overall day to day driving experience would be far better.

Also, from the article it is clear that the engine is more than just a power upgrade, that being said, +32HP/ -10lb-ft of torque aren't really numbers to crow about.

-KeithP

agreed 100%

 

[LordMorpheus]

The Boss 302 engine is built to be stable at 8,400 rpm. Take out the fuel cutoff and I'd love to drive a 5 liter V8 that spun to 8,400 rpm. Imagine the noise!

 

[Castiel]

The Boss 302 engine is built to be stable at 8,400 rpm. Take out the fuel cutoff and I'd love to drive a 5 liter V8 that spun to 8,400 rpm. Imagine the noise!

Me too especially with full exhaust

 

[eBauer]

If I can find a Yellow/Black Boss 302 at MSRP I'm buying one. Ford is even throwing in a complimentary track/instruction day at Miller Motorsports Park for every buyer.

To those who are saying 41k is a bad deal over a base GT: remember, this car is much more than a simple horsepower bump. Better suspension, transmission, wider wheels, etc.

 

[overst33r]

The Boss 302 engine is built to be stable at 8,400 rpm. Take out the fuel cutoff and I'd love to drive a 5 liter V8 that spun to 8,400 rpm. Imagine the noise!

Source?

 

[Arkaign]

In stock form the GT500 isn't that much faster because of traction issues but all you have to do is add a pulley/tune/intake for 550rwhp. You also have to take into account the GT500 is built for boost and has 5.4L compared to 5L in the GT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBzPtU-H9tc

The GT500 is now utterly obsolete, and the 5.4L is a much lower-tech motor compared to the new 5.0. The worst thing about the GT500 is that it's hella heavy and just not well sorted out at all.

The GT350 is what you're looking for. 1.05G handling, light, and available with up to 640hp out of the box before any aftermarket anything.

 

[Arkaign]

The 2012 GT500 is rumored to be getting the 5L TT Ecoboost

Now that should be something worth it's salt

 

[ayabe]

41K isn't that bad all things considered, except you should get the hot race tune and key from the factory instead of having to pay the dealer to install it after that.

The real problem is that these are going to be in limited supply meaning joker dealerships won't be selling them for MSRP - here is where the proposition goes from OK to not so good.

 

[Castiel]

The GT500 is now utterly obsolete, and the 5.4L is a much lower-tech motor compared to the new 5.0.

How do you figure? It's a 4V 5.4L motor. Its not like its using pushrods :biggrin:

 

[Arkaign]

How do you figure? It's a 4V 5.4L motor. Its not like its using pushrods :biggrin:

Hah, yeah, though the pushrod SBC is still an industry benchmark in so many ways.

Perhaps I worded that poorly. What I mean to say is that the 5.4L motor is an old one, and IIRC it was the prime culprit in the GT500 being so outlandishly porky. The recent GT500 is a mediocre drag racer for the $$, even though it puts out considerable power. The weight really punishes the handling as well. The regular 5.0GT is pretty near identical in performance already (with better handling to boot), and the new GT350 should be a dramatic improvement over either.

I haven't heard of the GT500 getting the 5.0 w/TT, but that would be super badass. I'm assuming that with the motor change the new GT500 will drop a bunch of weight and hopefully gain a lot of handling prowess.

 

[Demo24]

41K isn't that bad all things considered, except you should get the hot race tune and key from the factory instead of having to pay the dealer to install it after that.

The real problem is that these are going to be in limited supply meaning joker dealerships won't be selling them for MSRP - here is where the proposition goes from OK to not so good.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/11/2012-mustang-boss-302-to-come-with-special-key-for-race-calibrat/


Says nothing about needing the dealer.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

But does it have IRS? Per the last Mustang thread, several posters believe it will suck if it doesn't have IRS.

 

[overst33r]

Hah, yeah, though the pushrod SBC is still an industry benchmark in so many ways.

Perhaps I worded that poorly. What I mean to say is that the 5.4L motor is an old one, and IIRC it was the prime culprit in the GT500 being so outlandishly porky. The recent GT500 is a mediocre drag racer for the $$, even though it puts out considerable power. The weight really punishes the handling as well. The regular 5.0GT is pretty near identical in performance already (with better handling to boot), and the new GT350 should be a dramatic improvement over either.

I haven't heard of the GT500 getting the 5.0 w/TT, but that would be super badass. I'm assuming that with the motor change the new GT500 will drop a bunch of weight and hopefully gain a lot of handling prowess.

The GT500 has never really stood out in terms of performance IMO. Even though the aluminum block has brought the weight down to 3800lbs, it's still a porker compared to the GT's 3600lbs. Heck even a CTS-V, with identical power ratings manages to post the same time in the C/D 2011 Lightning Lap while weighing 400lbs more!

http://www.caranddriver.com/feature...plete_lightning_lap_times_2006_to_2011_page_8