Owner Review; Ford GT vs. Viper ACR (Long, w/photos)


Fast Freddy

GPS'D 225 MPH
Mark II Lifetime
Aug 5, 2005
2,727
Avondale, Arizona
Mitty, one question did pop into my head. You stated that you were comparing your GT to the ACR in its pre-Whipple stock form. That said how would you compare the Whipple GT acceleration to the ACR acceleration?
Just curious......:biggrin


me thinks he would say something like the following...... except only way better than anything i could ever dream up :willy

"the whipplecharged Ford GT rocketed past the Viper ACR like a sidewinder missile shot from the wing of a F-16 Fighting Falcon on its way to blowin the MIG-25 Foxbat away" :club
 
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w. mitty

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 1, 2005
704
me thinks he would say something like the following...... except only way better than anything i could ever dream up :willy

"the whipplecharged Ford GT rocketed past the Viper ACR like a sidewinder missile shot from the wing of a F-16 Fighting Falcon on its way to blowin the MIG-25 Foxbat away" :club


Very well said, and you got the flavor just right:wink
 

ROCK

GT Owner
Jul 10, 2006
412
Miami
Hey W. Mitty:
When is the book coming out ?
Better yet the movie...
Great post ! :thumbsup
 

ELIM

Member
Jan 15, 2008
16
the OC, CA
What an amazing review!

Thanks.
 

AlohaGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 13, 2007
1,600
Honolulu, HI
Your literary talent is exceeded only by your obvious affection for outstanding cars.

Thank you for sharing. It was, at once, entertaining and informative.
 

Waxer

Well-known member
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jul 22, 2007
927
Mr. Mitty: Whoa! That was one of the best most entertaining reviews I have ever read!!!! I couldn't stop reading.

I would submit it as a sample to Motor Trend, R&T etc...I think you found your second calling.!!!!:thumbsup

I love the characterzations..Ironman and Hellboy :thumbsup

Question: How would a track prepared GT fare with proper track suspension, alignment and rubber?


Thanks for posting the review!!!!
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
thanks Evan! :)
 

GT35065

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Thank you for the time and effort you put in to inform us of your impressions of these two awesome cars. Your photography is top notch, and the writing is very informative and entertaining. It means much more to hear from an owner than a jounalist who may have at best, spent a couple hours driving a car they are reviewing.
I have enjoyed all of your reviews. Hope you keep them coming.
 

t32b

Verde
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 21, 2007
432
Bay Area, CA
Wonderful write up. Of course, I never look at the photos. Just here for the articles :)
 

DoctorV8

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Feb 28, 2006
1,173
Houston
A treat to read as usual, Walter. Now tell us how the acceleration of the Whippled GT compares to the ACR!

For roughly the same money (yes, even the non-ACR Viper is more expensive, but only by a bit, and what’s $10,000 when automotive greatness is at stake?) the Viper bests the Corvette in every category.

Every performance category, maybe, but with equivalent MPS Cup tires on a late model Z06 with minor mods, and the difference would be FAR less.....never mind that the Z06 is so much better in the role of a street car than the ACR that it's not even funny! The added refinement of the upcoming ZR1 with its magnetorheological shocks which raise the bar further in the refinement/livability arena.....
 
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Neilda

GT Owner
Oct 19, 2005
3,559
London, UK
As I'm unlikely to ever drive an ACR, the knowledge that your reviews are untainted by commercial or partisan reasons essentially gives me the truth in the language I like.

Great review, very interesting comparison.
 

S592R

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Dec 3, 2006
2,800
As I'm unlikely to ever drive an ACR, the knowledge that your reviews are untainted by commercial or partisan reasons essentially gives me the truth in the language I like.

Great review, very interesting comparison.

come to the states and we can fix that. driving the acr that is. :biggrin
 

ROCMAN

Big Dawg!
Mark IV Lifetime
Mar 9, 2006
1,625
USA
the Z06 is so much better in the role of a street car than the ACR that it's not even funny! The added refinement of the upcoming ZR1 with its magnetorheological shocks with riase the bar further in the refinement/livability arena.....

That is what the ACR is all about. The ACR is not a street car, so it would be safe to say that any street car is better for the street than the ACR. Don't let the car scare you from driving it on the street though. I drove mine 2400 miles home last month. :banana
 

Fast Freddy

GPS'D 225 MPH
Mark II Lifetime
Aug 5, 2005
2,727
Avondale, Arizona
That is what the ACR is all about. The ACR is not a street car, so it would be safe to say that any street car is better for the street than the ACR. Don't let the car scare you from driving it on the street though. I drove mine 2400 miles home last month. :banana

2400 miles :eek we should give you the iron butt award :driving:

back in July of 2001 when i bought my 2001 ACR new; i drove it home to Tucson, Arizona from John Elway Dodge in Denver, Colorado. it was 1000 miles and i didn't even want to look at the car for a week after i did that :eek:ld:
 
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ROCMAN

Big Dawg!
Mark IV Lifetime
Mar 9, 2006
1,625
USA
2400 miles :eek we should give you the iron butt award :driving:

back in July of 2001 when i bought my 2001 ACR new; i drove it home to Tucson, Arizona from John Elway Dodge in Denver, Colorado. it was 1000 miles and i didn't even want to look at the car for a week after i did that :eek:ld:

Haha. Believe it or not, it was quite comfortable all the way back. Luckily, I had the foresight to have a lowering kit installed at the dealer. The car is extremely comfy.
 

cobrar1339

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Feb 2, 2006
956
Diamond Bar, Ca
A treat to read as usual, Walter. Now tell us how the acceleration of the Whippled GT compares to the ACR!



Every performance category, maybe, but with equivalent MPS Cup tires on a late model Z06 with minor mods, and the difference would be FAR less.....never mind that the Z06 is so much better in the role of a street car than the ACR that it's not even funny! The added refinement of the upcoming ZR1 with its magnetorheological shocks with riase the bar further in the refinement/livability arena.....

Totally agree the Vette's are the most practical of all the high powered cars. I have several miles in the C5 and C6 Z06's. They rock. The ZR1 a friend got drive at a rally in the mid-west. He was in awe.

Our cars actually ride as good and maybe better than the current C6 Z06 IMO. They are much more refined at speed as Walter pointed out. Steering feel and stability are hard to match.

We get speed without all the drama or vibrations. The C5Z actually feels faster than my GT, just because it makes a lot of noise, squats nice on launch, just a lot of mechanical sounds that amplify the exerience. It's 400 pounds lighter and more tossable.

But what feels fast is not always fast. Our cars launch like they are bolted to a rocket sled, just linear. The motor in the back is the big deal here IMO. When I first got the GT I though it was weak. I had to go drive them both in the same spot to see the Mph reached in both to understand.

But, the Vette, ACR, Viper, GT are a lot like weapons. Each is used for a different purpose. The one you carry is the one that is the best all around.

In magazine racing I will take the car that was close and had the worst tires everytime. Tires mean a lot in every category. Run Flats, F1's, Scuderia's or PS2's. Cars running the Run Flats will be 4 -5 secs faster on most 2.5 mile tracks. The F1's maybe 4 seconds, Scuderias about 3 using the PSC2 as the bar. It may give up 1-2 vs a Hoosier.
 

shesgotlegs

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 20, 2006
1,183
Thanks for making me forget my appointment! Another riveting and well written piece.

Can't wait for the next one. :thumbsup
 

Kirby Vieira

GT Owner/B.o.D
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 22, 2005
1,768
Atlanta
Thanks Walter. You wonderful write-up leaves me feeling as satisfied as if I had personally spent a couple days with an ACR. :cheers
 

86blackwidow

Well-known member
Mar 10, 2008
67
Ventura,ca
Awesome write-up.
 

SteveA

GT Owner/B.O.D
Mark IV Lifetime
Dec 13, 2005
3,697
Sandpoint Id
Always a joy to read!