Click above to watch the Saleen S281 and Roush 427R do battle
While Saleen and Roush have always been competitors for the dollars of Mustang lovers everywhere, the two companies have somehow managed to co-exist for decades. But which makes a better Mustang? Former FIA F300 driver Derek Hill of Web Rides TV had the opportunity to pit the Saleen S281 against the Roush 427R to see which legendary pony car tuner would come out on top.
At first, the battle of the two supercharged Mustangs doesn't look like a fair fight. The S281 has 465 hp and 425 lb-ft, some 30 more horsepower and 25 more lb-ft than the 427R. The S281 also weighs 300 lbs. less than the more visceral 427R. As New York Giants fans can attest, however, just because one team looks better on paper, when the game is being played, anything can happen. Hit the jump to view a video of the 427R against the S281 in 0-100-0, slalom, and on-track tests. The video is incredible, and the two vehicles aren't nearly as evenly matched as you might think.
[Source: Web Rides TV]
REPORT: Racer dies in 24 Hours of LeMons crash
VIDEO: Danica Patrick hits crew member on pit lane at Indy
Nick Hogan sentenced to 8 months in jail
Pontiac El Cami-"NO"
Spy Shots: Baby Cayenne caught on 'Ring!
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Project Track Slut, Part One: Pick a weapon on the cheap
By the Numbers: April 2008
_thumbnail.jpg "Lamborghini Reventon unboxed in Las Vegas")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Thedevil @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:54PM
No i haven't
Franz @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:07PM
Me either. Still a cool vid though... one serious gripe: not enough real time video. Everything was sped up too much. Still, I'm surprised at the body roll on the Saleen. The rebound rates seemed all screwed up. It was bobbing all over the place. I'd definitely pick the Roush over the Saleen if I wanted a $60k Mustang... but I don't.
Tim @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:54PM
This was awesome. The Saleen looks a lot better. I thought that these two would be faster since the stock stangs break under 5 seconds dashing to 60. I mean I've seen a Lexus IS 350 hit 60 well under 5 seconds and that with a automatic and 4 doors. I;m glad they took it to the track. You just expect more for 60,000. I guess it is an exclusivity thing.
mk @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:10PM
UNDER 5 SECONDS???? Stock Mustang that isn't a GT500?
Not so much. Under 6 seconds perhaps, but neither of those cars are light enough for their power rating to be 4-second cars to 60 MPH.
Mustangs are not lightweights, and neither is the IS350, really, when considering other cars like Miata or Sky, or even lighter Lotus Elise, and others that are truly lightweight cars.
Mustangs that cost more than 40k are anathema to me, anyway, and 40k is my idea of a generous upper limit. It's a MUSTANG. they are nice, but they've always supposed to have been an average-joe affordable car, even in the upper ranges. There are cars much nicer than the Mustang at the prices these factory and aftermarket specials demand.
I am not positive, but I don't even think that Fox-bodied Saleen Mustangs, or the 93 SVT Cobra were as outlandishly priced as these, adjusted for time value of money. 60k is 50% higher than the average household annual income (gross, not net) in this country, of ~$40k
The only thing that allows a car like Mustang, even aftermarket versions, to push above $50k or $60k is easy consumer credit. We all know how that is starting to bite the economy back.
naggs @ Feb 22nd 2008 11:32PM
ford claims 0-60 in 5.1 for the GT
Andrew @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:36PM
I have....this is an awesome comparison, long overdue. But where is the 1/4 mile showdown?! I think the Roush's looks will stand the test of time better. Great video quality, but it is true that more live shots would have been better. Would have been cool to have the GT500 thrown in too.
Brad Barnett @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:37PM
No such thing as a 2008 Roush 427R. The '08 models are 428Rs. But wow, more weight, less horsepower, $10K less in price, and the Roush outperforms the Saleen in just about every test.
flanken @ Feb 23rd 2008 5:43PM
Wrong... 428R is a special edition... only 100 made I think.
427R is still available in 2008.
http://www.roushperformance.com/vehicles.shtml
pat @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:37PM
i am pretty sure that road and track got a mustang gt to do 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and i think most other test place the mustang gt 0-60 around 5.0sec to 5.2sec range.
Ben Carufel @ Feb 22nd 2008 5:46PM
Possibly one of the most wooden, unnatural presenters I've ever watched...on any program.
Stick to driving cars, Derek. Leave the presenting to guys like the 3 Top Gear "blokes". Hell, I'd rather watch Alan Decadanet, and he can be pretty stiff sometimes.
MasterCKO @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:28PM
Oh god. You're so right. This guy is terrible.
XP @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:01PM
2:30 - 2:35 around Thunderhill, are you kidding me? I've driven my bone-stock Miata around there in under 2:20.
Tom Winch @ Feb 23rd 2008 12:02AM
No doubt! I race at Thunderhill and 2:30 is a sloooow lap for a 400+ HP tuned Mustang. Less than 2:20 in a stock Miata is pretty quick, but entirely doable. The good Spec Miata guys (basically stock Miatas with upgraded intakes & exhausts with gutted interiors, roll cages, and Toyo RA-1's, 120 hp 2100 lbs) turn laps in the 2:06 - 2:10 range. I race Mazda GT (Spec GT class, tube-frame, 12A rotary, 217 rwhp, 2100 lbs) and we're under 2:00/lap. If I wanted a new Mustang to drive on the track, I'd spend $15K more and buy the factory competition Mustang from Ford. As a daily driver, the GT500.
jcar302 @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:11PM
Umm, am i the only one that thinks something is wrong with the weight estimations of the saleen?
3356 lbs my A$$.
That number is like 400 lbs off.
cwcentral @ Feb 23rd 2008 12:43AM
Yeah, the stock 08 stang is somewhere in the 3600-3700 range.
3356 is lighter than my 95GT.
That One Person @ Feb 23rd 2008 6:09PM
Seeing as an 08 Mustang Bullitt weighs just under 3600lbs (according to MT), it may be possible...if the use of weight saving materials are used. But a savings of 250lbs is a tad much.
What cracks me up the most is that these two vehicles could smack the crap out of a GT500. Now, if this is what the GT500 was really like from the factory and not the 4k lbs pig it really is, I would have more respect for it. What is even more funny is that these things (I can never find the same weights online) weigh significantly less than a GT500...take note Ford engineers...
jcar302 @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:49PM
Remember, saleen adds parts, not takes them away, and with the regular models they aren't carbon fiber.
The rims alone are 70 lbs each with a tire on them, like 30lbs more than stock ones.
Add a body kit, bigger brakes, larger rims, that adds up to more than any regular mustang, no matter how you slice it.
vwboyaf1 @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:47PM
The numbers were all very strange. Why did he give the 0-60 times when it said 0-100 on the chart. How the hell did a car with more weight and less power come out ahead in braking and acceleration. Also, the Saleen managed to pull more g's in the slalom, but was worse on the track. Did it have something to do with the 20 inch rims. I know that they suck for performance driving. All of this should have been investigated more.
TwinTurbo3000GT @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:49PM
can i have a roush that looks like a saleen? lol
takamaru @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:14PM
i'll second that