Advice On Pushing The Limits Of The GT

[GTViperman]

Since I am rather new to the Gt driving world. I would like to ask some of the more experienced owners what to expect while pushing the limits of the car. I love driving on curvy mountain roads at a good rate of speed. What should I expect from the GT in the corners...understeer...oversteer? My other car that I drive in the mountains is a 06 Viper coupe with Moton shocks and some other mods. I really have no complaints pushing that car very hard. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, GTViperman

 

[Triheart7]

Hi GTViperman,

Welcome, especially as a new GT driver, and fellow Northern Californian. My best advise is get to know your car before you push it too hard. If you regularly like to push your cars, you probably will catch on fast. There are a number of posts on driving the GT as new owner. 2nd gear has a lot of torque and I know of drivers who have lost their car accelerating hard in second.
:cheers

 

[Gill Jr.]

With a stock GT I have experienced a strong tendency to understeer. Oversteer however can occur any time you want it to. My advice is to take baby steps and get to know your car. Be very careful with cold tires.

 

[Shadowman]

Since I am rather new to the Gt driving world. I would like to ask some of the more experienced owners what to expect while pushing the limits of the car. I love driving on curvy mountain roads at a good rate of speed. What should I expect from the GT in the corners...understeer...oversteer? My other car that I drive in the mountains is a 06 Viper coupe with Moton shocks and some other mods. I really have no complaints pushing that car very hard. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, GTViperman

Certainly your Viper is a cool gal too however when making a comparison between these gals it is IMO akin to comparing apples and oranges; both are simply fruit or in this case motorized vehicles. Is one better, is one more forgiving, are they different? These are questions that can only be answered by you however I can share that the Ford GT will take from the driver and do more for the driver when compared to most any other street going production gal once the driver and the gal become as one.

Do as suggested; get to know her and she will reward you with extreme moments in time and all of the associated smiles and sweaty hands to boot however if you fail to do this she can and likely will bite and she can bite hard.

These gals are both quick and fast a combination that has sent more than a few folks home sad.

All the best to you and your learning curve

Shadowman

 

[fjpikul]

Oversteer with the gas peddle down.

 

[ChipBeck]

Ass backward.

Gentlemen,

I am certainly not an expert driver and the only mid-engine cars I have extensive experience in are the Lotus Turbo Esprit and the Ford GT. But to me, the closer the engine gets to the rear of the car, the more unpredictable it gets at the limit, and the faster it'll get away from you when it goes.

The Porsche 911 and all of its derivatives are the cars that make me the most uncomfortable. I have not driven any of the latest versions and perhaps their electronic nannies have done away with the unpredictable nature of that car at its limit. I have twice had a 911 get away from me in a stunningly sudden manner. The Lotus Esprit and Ford GT both have no electronic stability control or traction control. They don't swap ends as quickly as the 911, but they are certainly harder for me to control at the limit than a Corvette or Viper.

Except for those rare occasions when I'm on a track I don't push the limits much anymore. But if I did, especially on public roads, I would rather tempt fate in a Corvette or Viper than I would in a Ford GT or a 911. JMO

Chip

 

[Mullet]

get some Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires for the car. You will notice a immediate improvement over the crappy stock Goodyears.

Once hot they stick like glue.

 

[roketman]

Go to the track and do a drivers school with a car club .Get a good instructor!

 

[jaxgt]

I don't think you can put Michelin Pilot Sport Cups on stock rims, can you ??

 

[fjpikul]

You can put Michelins on, but they are a wee bit smaller in diameter. Please see Kirby Viera's posts about this. He is very happy with them on his X-1.

 

[Yukonranger]

Amen. You will never find the limit of this car on the street and survive to learn from it. Really fast driving on public roads come down to how much risk you are willing to put yourself and others in. On a track, you will go around the same corners over and over and can approach the limit gradually. Additionally the track is designed to that if you go off, you are unlikely to be hurt and the car will probably be ok too. and all the cars are going the same direction....

As soon as you drive on a track you will realize that you were not driving fast on the street anyway. The rate of improvement on the track, particularly with an instructor or coach is 100x what it will be on public roads.

A day on the track with an instructor will cost you under $500 and you can drive really fast all day. If you drove that fast for the same amount of time on public roads you would spend more than that on tickets alone!

I hope this sounds like the constructive advice it is intended to be. Even if your goal is to drive faster on the street, that skill is best learned at the track.

Enjoy your car!

Go to the track and do a drivers school with a car club .Get a good instructor!

 

[skyrex]

I am sure you have seen threads about it before, but if you want to go to the limit and get GT specific input from highly experienced instructors you can't go wrong with the wealth of knowledge you will receive at the GT school. Tons of track time and a limited number of cars.

I noticed that you are NoCal so Willow Springs could be within your range to attend. Good luck and enjoy your car. It is always a great day when you slip behind the wheel of your GT. :cheers

 

[roketman]

I go out in the am and do the clover leafs (EXIT RAMPS )

 

[Kayvan]

I would clock a couple of hours (ie, 12) in the GT before pushing it at all

If you have not taken a high performance driving class, sign up for one at Skip Barber or Bondurant.

With the GT, always practice a warm up routine for the tires (min 30mins and never under 40 deg F) and fluids. Almost all the crashes cite cold trires, tires at night, tires in early AM or loose gravel, sand, salt, mist, etc.

Also, take a hard look at the crash photos on this, ebay and other exotic crash sites. Majority looks like single vehicle incident; sliding and hitting curbs, embankments or fixed objects to side of vehicle. Seldom is it head on or rear end or with other vehicle.

You should enjoy it; but step it up in increments.

 

[GTJIMMY]

All are correct..."Take it easy" in the beginning. I have driven several fast cars for years on the track (911 Turbo, Lotus Esprit, Lotus Seven & ZO6) but never have I had a girl this tough to tame.

From personal experience....on cold tires in 20 degree temps, my first GT got away from me in 2nd gear and I hit a light pole head on about 2 miles from my house. Nuf-said.

All other GT owners I met told me to "take it easy" in the beginning. LISTEN TO THEM!. This vehicle has no traction control and behaves like a 40 year old car when pushed.

My advice....get some lap time with a pro before you test the limits.

JL:eek

 

[OCPETE]

definitely track the car several times....R6 is the glue....and I fear on this car you will only experience your first and last mistake 1 time :biggrin

 

[donnymac]

But to me, the closer the engine gets to the rear of the car, the more unpredictable it gets at the limit, and the faster it'll get away from you when it goes.

Chip

Amen!!!!!!! :thumbsup

 

[GTViperman]

Thanks for the good advice. I was hoping to find someone that may have driven a later model Viper and give a comparison to the Gt? My experience has mainly been with Vipers and the NSX. Both of those cars feel rock solid in the Curves, but I was always a bit nervous about pushing the NSX to the limit. I think with the NSX not having extra weight over the front wheels did not give me as much confidence to push the car. I have done some track time in my Viper and I have never felt over my head in that car. The Viper is very predictable on a smooth track or road. By the comments and the photos of wrecks that I have seen, it looks like the GT may not be as predictable as a tuned Viper on curvy roads. Time will tell and I hope I am wrong on that summary. The Horsepower and torque are close so I was hoping that they may be similar in the handling department aside from the engine placement. From my limited experience I can tell the Gt is much better on rough roads and rock solid at high speed. I know there is a learning curve to any sport car and I will take it fairly slow like all of you have suggested. I will get some track time in the GT as well, it is just not an option for a while. Thanks again for passing on your comments,
GTViperman

 

[Superfly]

Thanks for the good advice. I was hoping to find someone that may have driven a later model Viper and give a comparison to the Gt?

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11918

Here you go. ACR, so it's a killer viper, but you get the idea. :cheers

 

[Black GT]

I have both and they are not simlar at all. Learn the Mid engine GT and she will reward you. Whatever you do do not put your foot to the floor in mid corner if it is cold outside or your tires are cold. You will swap end real fast, and be in a ditch. Other than that once you learn her she is the best car! I love my GT!!! Best car ever!!!!