Car & Driver re: brakes

66Satellite · Nov 4, 2004

Pretty much a rave review in the latest Car & Driver. They didn't even complain about the live rear axle. They only had two complaints: the interior (ok, fine--pretty subjective and not a huge deal to me anyway) and the brakes, which according to them a) didn't stop the car too well and b) had about the same feel/modulation of a Taurus. So what's the deal here? Is it as bad as they say, and how easily/cheaply can this problem be remedied?

RICKS · Nov 4, 2004

It's all relative. You may drive the car and think they're great, but those guys drive everything under the sun, and a different car home each day, so subtle things that we don't always have a problem with, absolutely SCREAM at them. I had the opportunity recently to open-track an '04 Mach, a Caddy CTS-V and a BMW M3 pretty much back to back. I drove the Mach last, and in direct comparison the brakes felt EXACTLY like C&D described the '05's brakes. Spongy, vague, and uncommunicative. Now don't get me wrong, once you got used to the fact that they felt like stepping into a bucket of mud compared to the other two cars, they DID stop the car hard and fast and did not fade much. But, in comparison, they felt bad. I had driven Machs prior to that, and had always thought that the brakes were GREAT. So sometimes it's just a matter of perspective and comparison. I'm sure that companies like SSBC and Baer and Wilwood will come out with upgrade kits.

RICKS · Nov 4, 2004

Please Mach owners, don't put me in front of the firing squad. The brakes did work well, they just had poor feel and modulation. I never realized it until I got the chance to jump out of a couple of cars with world-class binders, and then hammer on the Mach.

new22003 · Nov 4, 2004

They were almost gushing about how well the solid axle worked.

RandyB · Nov 4, 2004

No way the new '05 has better brakes than a Mach!

Mach squad RICKS

RICKS · Nov 4, 2004

Yeah, the article was very positive, and they totally trashed on the outgoing Fox-derivative platform (hint hint, to all you out there who were saying "I don't think the '05 will be that much better...) Randy, I doubt the '05 GT brakes are any better than the Mach, as the Mach does stop indeed stop fast. The '05 apparantly doesn't whoa strong enough.

new22003 · Nov 4, 2004

RICKS said:
Yeah, the article was very positive, and they totally trashed on the outgoing Fox-derivative platform (hint hint, to all you out there who were saying "I don't think the '05 will be that much better...) Randy, I doubt the '05 GT brakes are any better than the Mach, as the Mach does stop indeed stop fast. The '05 apparantly doesn't whoa strong enough.

God knows I love the fox platform as much as anyone but admit it is time for a new one. It was amazing what ford engineers did with the 25 year old platform. It was great having such a huge aftermarket for it, and Im sure aftermarket companies liked producing products for a platform that covers so many generations and cars, but it is time for a newer, stiffer, and better one.

RICKS · Nov 4, 2004

Yep... it makes a huge difference. For all of you out there who don't like the '05's styling, and are married to your 99-04, do yourself a favor and DO NOT go test drive a new one just for the heck of it. You'll hop back into your fox and it'll never be the same...Regardless of how straight-line fast your vehicle may be.

RandyB · Nov 4, 2004

RICKS said:
Yeah, the article was very positive, and they totally trashed on the outgoing Fox-derivative platform (hint hint, to all you out there who were saying "I don't think the '05 will be that much better...) Randy, I doubt the '05 GT brakes are any better than the Mach, as the Mach does stop indeed stop fast. The '05 apparantly doesn't whoa strong enough.

Oh, I don't have a Mach. I was laughing at what you said about the Mach owners and the firing squad. They are an unusally sensitive bunch for some reason.

I was hoping the new '05 Mustang brakes would have much better feel. The biggest complaint I have about my '98 Cobra is the pedal effort required. I wish they would fix that - hopefully it's a little better.

Svtpilot · Nov 4, 2004

RandyB said:
Oh, I don't have a Mach. I was laughing at what you said about the Mach owners and the firing squad. They are an unusally sensitive bunch for some reason. ...

Its because they all have "SVT ENVY"

Only joking of couse, I love the MACHs.

But I love the 05s more.

Maybe even more then my SVT.

66Satellite · Nov 4, 2004

RICKS said:
I'm sure that companies like SSBC and Baer and Wilwood will come out with upgrade kits.

What would an upgrade kit consist of? Are we talking about all new calipers and rotors? Is there a simple solution for the spongy/vague brake feel/modulation?

Mach428 · Nov 5, 2004

I honestly don't care for the brakes on my Mach, it was kinda scary when they started to fade on me at 120 and didn't want to F***in work, and my car doesn't like to slow down on the drag strip. I did however have more weight in the car then usual, that may be why.

MetikalSVT · Nov 5, 2004

Like someone said, its all relative. First off the car you drive compared to one the others may will be different, obviously not a whole lot but different. And when C&D tests cars they pound the **** out fo them, because they can so when they say that something is poor its after alot of abuse. When i subscribed to C&D that issue was the first one I got and i believe that was the most i ever heard someone rave about a car except for the 997 Carrera in the same issue(but they are compeletely differnt catagories). The brakes are probably exceptable but even if they are not you will be able to upgradet them in the near future, and since its a Stang it wont be very spensive

VOORHEES · Nov 5, 2004

RICKS said:
Yep... it makes a huge difference. For all of you out there who don't like the '05's styling, and are married to your 99-04, do yourself a favor and DO NOT go test drive a new one just for the heck of it. You'll hop back into your fox and it'll never be the same...Regardless of how straight-line fast your vehicle may be.

Boy, that about as accurate as it comes. I drove the 05 GT and I feel the same way. My GT is still pretty new as for mileage(53,000) but the difference is so noticeable.

Mach428 · Nov 5, 2004

Isn't the car supposed to have more of a European sports car feel to it??

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