Still the suspension package is good enough to achieve an independently tested* 0.90 g road holding result through the 300 ft (91.4 m) skidpad, not too shabby. That puts it close to the much more expensive Acura NSX, BMW M3 and Porsche 911 Carrera, while tying it with the Honda S2000, Lamborghini Murciélago, Lotus Esprit V8 and a few other exotics. While it surpasses the 50th Anniversary Corvette by 0.01 g it falls extremely short of the Z06's 0.97 g rating. What's even more interesting is that the limited production Cobra R posted a 0.99 g result 3 years earlier. But in reality, how often do you find yourself driving around in circles at high speed?
The real test of a sports car is in the slalom. It's independently tested* 102.2 km/h (63.5 mph) slalom speed proves my initial feelings correct, bettering the old solid-axle 2000 Cobra R by only 0.5 km/h (0.3 mph). In comparison the Z06 manages the slalom at a blistering 108.6 km/h (67.5 mph) while even a stock BMW 330i is capable of 105.3 km/h (65.4 mph).
The new Nissan 350Z, a close competitor to the SVT Cobra in price, is also a little quicker at 105.6 km/h (65.6 mph), but amazingly enough its luxuriously equipped sibling Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe bests them all at 109.0 km/h (67.7 mph). A bevy of front wheel drive cars are also impressive starting with Ford's own SVT Focus at 104.9 km/h (65.2 mph), then followed by the Acura RSX Type-S at 107.5 km/h (66.8 mph), and topped off with the awesome Mini Cooper at 108.8 km/h (67.6 mph). There are, of course, many vehicles that are not as capable as the Mustang through the cones. But it should be good, as its hefty price tag isn't buying luxury items or particularly fine build quality.
The real test of a sports car is in the slalom. It's independently tested* 102.2 km/h (63.5 mph) slalom speed proves my initial feelings correct, bettering the old solid-axle 2000 Cobra R by only 0.5 km/h (0.3 mph). In comparison the Z06 manages the slalom at a blistering 108.6 km/h (67.5 mph) while even a stock BMW 330i is capable of 105.3 km/h (65.4 mph).
The new Nissan 350Z, a close competitor to the SVT Cobra in price, is also a little quicker at 105.6 km/h (65.6 mph), but amazingly enough its luxuriously equipped sibling Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe bests them all at 109.0 km/h (67.7 mph). A bevy of front wheel drive cars are also impressive starting with Ford's own SVT Focus at 104.9 km/h (65.2 mph), then followed by the Acura RSX Type-S at 107.5 km/h (66.8 mph), and topped off with the awesome Mini Cooper at 108.8 km/h (67.6 mph). There are, of course, many vehicles that are not as capable as the Mustang through the cones. But it should be good, as its hefty price tag isn't buying luxury items or particularly fine build quality.