2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Miami FL

November 3, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2008 Ford Mustang
DriverSide Overview
Thanks to the tire-smoking efforts of Jerry Bruckheimer, Nicholas Cage and several stunt drivers, the GT500 name was slapped silly with a renewed sense of passion a few years back. Born in 1967, the Shelby GT500 has always been about large displacement muscle replete with a raw, guttural soundtrack to match. Built in cooperation with Shelby, who currently makes 120-150 Cobras a year in addition to a staggering 9,000 Mustangs, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 is a no-nonsense powerhouse that takes the spirit of it’s namesake and pairs it with modern technology – that is, ignoring the solid rear axle. The result is a modern piece of American muscle begging you to smoke the tires at every stoplight, slide the tail out of corners and break the speed limit every time the opportunity is presented.








What's to Like
Raw, supercharged power is the GT500’s mission statement, and it certainly delivers. The unobtrusive traction control lets you have your cake and eat it too. Throwback styling gives the car both a sense of
aggression and nostalgia.

What's Not to Like
The GT500 is a heavy car, weighing in at nearly two tons, and as a result can be somewhat unwieldy in the corners. Low-grade interior doesn’t match the high-end price tag.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
500 horsepower means serious speed, and the GT500 hits hard off the line straight up to its 155 mph speed limiter. The supercharged V-8 sees the GT500 to 60 mph in 4.5 brief seconds and through the quarter mile in 12.8 seconds. All that power is put down via a somewhat antiquated solid rear axle, though it doesn’t result in too rough of a ride except on the most patchy and torn apart roads. Weighing in at 3,900 lbs, the GT500 can be somewhat of a handful in the corners and there is a minor delay between your steering inputs and the car’s reaction; it’s nothing major, but it’s certainly there. The less-than-perfect weight balance – 58 percent front and 42 percent rear – somehow doesn’t manifest itself as an issue during spirited driving.

Engine and Drivetrain
The GT500 is powered by a monstrous Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8. The engine makes 500 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Power is transmitted through the rear wheels via a heavily weighted six-speed manual gearbox. The clutch is somewhat springy and bites towards the top, but it’s easy to modulate once you are dialed into its behavior.

Interesting Vehicle Features and Options
In light of its focus on performance, the GT500 doesn’t have too many options. Luckily, navigation hasn’t been overlooked, and a DVD-based system is available at a $1,995 premium. An upgraded Shaker Audio system can also be added for $1,295, though we can’t see why you’d want to rob your ears of the GT500’s exhau...

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