Ford Cobra Mustang Vs. Corvette Z06
More often than not the true test of a performance car is not so much horsepower as it is body weight, construction and suspension. The Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 and Corvette Z06 typify the mistake the uninitiated make when using raw power as a yardstick for performance. The Mustang and Corvette are two performance cars that require skill to drive. Yet both handle so differently they really don't belong in the same class.
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Z06 Particulars
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For a performance car with a muscled V-8, the rear-wheel-drive Z06 is surprisingly light on its feet, registering a curb weight of 3,175 pounds. It's placed on a tidy on a 105.7-inch wheelbase, measures 175.6 inches long, 75.9 inches wide and 48.7 inches tall.
GT500 Particulars
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The differences between the GT500 and Z06 are immediately apparent. The rear-wheel-drive GT500 weighs 4,000 pounds. It sits on a 107.1-inch wheelbase, measures 188.1 inches long, 73.9 inches wide and 55.6 inches tall.
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Z06 Power
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Under the hood, the Z06 is powered 505 hp 7-liter V-8 offering 470 pound-feet of torque. Power is transmitted through a TR6060 six-speed manual transmission, which replaced the old T-56 transmission on previous Corvettes.
GT500 Power
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The GT500 features a supercharged 540 hp 5.4-liter V-8 wielding 510 pound-feet of torque via a six-speed manual transmission. The Cobra GT500 pays for the privilege of extra power with a gas-guzzler tax. The Z06 does not.
Z06 Performance
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The Z06 can reach 60 mph from a dead stop in 3.9 seconds. It can reach the quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds. Top speed is an electronically controlled 198 mph. At 825 pounds lighter than the GT500, the Z06 is more nimble and quicker on the corners.
GT500 Performance
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The Shelby GT500's 4,000-pound girth works against the 540 horses under the hood. It can reach 0-60 mph at 4.3 seconds and the quarter-mile 11.9 at 120 mph. Its top speed of 155 mph is electronically limited. Body flex, a less-than-sure rear end and an unequal front/rear weight distribution of 57/43 compromise its handling on windings roads.
Side-By-Side
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The Mustang Cobra GT500 is the brutish lout in the neighborhood bar. It has too much horsepower and can be dangerous in the wrong hands given its road handling limitations. Yet it's undeniably sexy, it possesses the Carroll Shelby name that after nearly 45 years still means something to performance car enthusiasts, and it's impressive to drive by any standard. The Z06 also has too much power for the average driver. Still, it's more refined than the Mustang. Its elegant styling, lightweight construction and 505 horses remind its owner that there are European rally race circuit thrills even when driving to the supermarket. If one is more concerned about appearances and never dare to drive above the posted speed limit, then consider this: the 2010 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 starts at a base price of about $46,000. The Corvette Z06 starts at $75,000.
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- Photo Credit Chad Horwedel, JLaw45, Ford Motor Company
