Was just sitting in my neighbor's 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra

Streetwiseguy wrote: I once drove a 99 SVT 4 cam. I can't think of any time I was more disappointed in a car, although a great amount that was wrong with that particular car could be fixed with a rear gear change. 2.93 gears with a 5 speed and a no-torque motor?

I wouldn't say the 4.6 DOHC was a no torque motor. I always liked the 4-cam's incredible smoothness and the way it would pull at any RPM.

I do agree that the 2.xx gears and manual trans are ridiculous. Have to slip the clutch for what feels like a minute unless you want to accelerate quickly. And then you discover that the T45s almost universally shift like garbage.

I'm used to cable type non assist clutches, perhaps that is why I think half the people in here need to work on leg presses.... The Termi's clutch is by no means that heavy.

Hold on... IIRC the stock gears on the 99 cobra should be the same as the stock gears on my 97 cobra, which is 3.27, not 2.9x (I'll grant you, 80mph at something like 2.3K rpm in 5th with my T45, for autox we are talking 75mph or so at top of 2nd, which is a bit tall)

I would tend to agree that my 97 4.6 4v doesnt really bring much to the table before 3k RPM. It just has to get up on the cams and breathe.

Its honestly been a few years since I drove mine, but I drove a 2002 (or 3?) GT at an autocross a few times this year and it feels like it has a bit more low RPM punch than mine, but doesnt wind out anywhere near as well as mine. (some of this could be that I have been racing my STS Miata in the meantime)

Yes, getting stuck in traffic in one is NOT FUN.

If you think Mustang ergo is bad, try an F-body. Just couldnt find a way to get comfortable in one.

yamaha wrote: I'm used to cable type non assist clutches, perhaps that is why I think half the people in here need to work on leg presses.... The Termi's clutch is by no means that heavy.

have you ever driven an original big block car?? I had a 70 Mach1 428 SCJ.... That is a pretty heavy clutch....

oldeskewltoy wrote:

yamaha wrote: I'm used to cable type non assist clutches, perhaps that is why I think half the people in here need to work on leg presses.... The Termi's clutch is by no means that heavy.

have you ever driven an original big block car?? I had a 70 Mach1 428 SCJ.... That is a pretty heavy clutch....

I remember a Chevelle that we swapped the clutch out for a lighter one because he kept breaking Z-bars and the brackets. The clutch pedal felt like a non-assist brake pedal.

I agree, lotta limp-ankled people in here. I mean, Foxes by definition cannot have heavy clutches in them, because the quadrant will self-disassemble with even moderately heavy pressure plates.

Lotta tough guy clutch operators just showed up in here.