Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca - First Drive Reviews

[Big Vito]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/02/23/520364.html

how many parameters are changing with the track key? I read 200,300 and now 400 ???

 

[Mark]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

$302

which article was that in?

 

[Big Vito]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

http://www.insideline.com/ford/mustang/2012/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-first-drive-and-video.html

 

[Big Vito]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

$302

which article was that in?

winding road

 

[Mark]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

http://www.insideline.com/ford/mustang/2012/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-first-drive-and-video.html

From this article:

"Drive a few laps in the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and it's not the outright speed — although that is impressive — that is its most defining attribute. Rather, it's a combination of its sound and absolute indifference to track abuse that's most arresting. "

"And even with the side pipes largely corked up from the factory (there's a 0.625-inch pass-through inside), the 5.0-liter makes a sound at redline like God's own piston-powered orchestra."

"Ford expects to build 4,000 Boss 302 Mustangs for the 2012 model year, 750 of which will be equipped with the Laguna Seca package"

 

[VoodooBoss]

Here's all the reviews in one post. I'll add to it as more go live. Let me know if I'm missing any. Nothing from the big three magazines yet.

http://www.autoblog.com/

http://www.auto123.com/en/ford/mustang/2012/review?carid=1121803601&artid=128247

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2012-ford-mustang-boss-302/

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-mustang-boss-302-first-drive-review.html

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/02/review-2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-and-boss-302-laguna-seca/

http://www.insideline.com/ford/mustang/2012/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-first-drive-and-video.html

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/02/23/520364.html

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1102_2012_ford_mustang_boss_302/index.html

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110224/CARREVIEWS/110229961

http://jalopnik.com/#!5769207/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-first-drive

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/drives/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-test-drive?src=rss

 

[RoadRacer78]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

LS is in between Willow Springs an VIR as far as top speed and tight corners.

I beg to differ. LS is far far tighter and “smaller” than VIR and Big Willow (not “Streets”). VIR and Willow are very, very fast with a lot more sweepers. I rarely use 2nd gear at Willow and VIR but I use it all over the place (and 1st once) as LS. And the straight(s) at VIR and Willow are a solid 20mph faster (on a 1000cc “Superbike”) than LS.

 

[cloud9]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

LS is in between Willow Springs an VIR as far as top speed and tight corners.

I beg to differ. LS is far far tighter and “smaller” than VIR and Big Willow (not “Streets”). VIR and Willow are very, very fast with a lot more sweepers. I rarely use 2nd gear at Willow and VIR but I use it all over the place (and 1st once) as LS. And the straight(s) at VIR and Willow are a solid 20mph faster (on a 1000cc “Superbike”) than LS.

That makes the lap time difference even "smaller". Both cars will run the same in the straightaways. Does anyone know the treadwear rating on the regular Boss stock tires compared to the Corsas? If I have it right, it looks like it's 220 vs 60 which is a HUGE difference. The GT500s came with a stock Goodyear at 220 and compared to the R888 and NT01 at 100 there is a night and day difference. Now go to a 60 tw and you're in Hoosier territory where the difference is even greater.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

I beg to differ. LS is far far tighter and “smaller” than VIR and Big Willow (not “Streets”). VIR and Willow are very, very fast with a lot more sweepers. I rarely use 2nd gear at Willow and VIR but I use it all over the place (and 1st once) as LS. And the straight(s) at VIR and Willow are a solid 20mph faster (on a 1000cc “Superbike”) than LS.

I'm aware of this. Wasn't the Motor Trend M3 vs. Mustang GT 5.0 comparison on the Streets track?

 

[PJWANNABE]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

LS is in between Willow Springs an VIR as far as top speed and tight corners.

I beg to differ. LS is far far tighter and “smaller” than VIR and Big Willow (not “Streets”). VIR and Willow are very, very fast with a lot more sweepers. I rarely use 2nd gear at Willow and VIR but I use it all over the place (and 1st once) as LS. And the straight(s) at VIR and Willow are a solid 20mph faster (on a 1000cc “Superbike”) than LS.

That makes the lap time difference even "smaller". Both cars will run the same in the straightaways. Does anyone know the treadwear rating on the regular Boss stock tires compared to the Corsas? If I have it right, it looks like it's 220 vs 60 which is a HUGE difference. The GT500s came with a stock Goodyear at 220 and compared to the R888 and NT01 at 100 there is a night and day difference. Now go to a 60 tw and you're in Hoosier territory where the difference is even greater.

Whoa, I wonder how many $2300 sets of tires I would go through in a year with treadwear of 60.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Any more reviews out there?

 

[Mark]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

That makes the lap time difference even "smaller".

The article mentioned a Ford Racing driver being about a second faster with the others being about two seconds faster in the LS. I doubt definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the performance differences from a short blurb like this.

Looking at all of the articles together there are alot of mentions of the LS package making a discernible difference in the driving experience. The question then becomes is a little faster on track, a little better feel and the look/exclusivity of the vehicle to my liking and worth the bump in price. For those opting for the racaros and torsen the bump is rather small.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

The article mentioned a Ford Racing driver being about a second faster with the others being about two seconds faster in the LS. I doubt definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the performance differences from a short blurb like this.

Looking at all of the articles together there are alot of mentions of the LS package making a discernible difference in the driving experience. The question then becomes is a little faster on track, a little better feel and the look/exclusivity of the vehicle to my liking and worth the bump in price. For those opting for the racaros and torsen the bump is rather small.

They are both awesome cars any way you shake it. I still think the LS's biggest advantage on the track is the tires. The true test would be to compare the cars with the same tires on both.

 

[VoodooBoss]

More TracKey info.

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2011/02/24/jeff-seaman-mustang-powertrain-engineer-tells-us-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-trackey/

 

[Mark]

Re: Boss 302 Debut at Laguna Seca

I still think the LS's biggest advantage on the track is the tires. The true test would be to compare the cars with the same tires on both.

You are correct (although the diff is a big part as well) and at the end of the day they are the same car...one comes with all the track stuff (seats, diff, brake ducts, tranny scoop, splitter etc) straight from the factory and on the other these things are optional or available to purchase after the fact and you get more color choices plus seating for four.

 

[Mark]

More TracKey info.

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2011/02/24/jeff-seaman-mustang-powertrain-engineer-tells-us-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-trackey/

"About how many parameters have been changed?

When we originally started off and wrote the first press release we had a great calibration setup. We had about 200 parameters, and we ran with that number. Well, like any skunkworks operation, we never stopped thinking, we never stopped developing. When we got to the actual first evaluation of it, it was close to 300. Now it’s close to 400. What we’ve fundamentally changed are the launch control RPM limiting, which was quite significant, and a significant amount of refinement to the lopey idle to make it a robust calibration."


"Are there any changes to the power delivery, such as the torque curve?

Absolutely. From an advertisement standpoint, we are not going to say that the TracKey gets you anything more than the base key. You’re welcome to go find out for yourself – it’s just the flip of a key. The low end torque is improved substantially, again making tradeoffs for basic drivability in order to deliver performance at all cost."

 

[Mark]

Any more reviews out there?

this one is short and is the only one so far to say the Boss has a harsh ride

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110224/CARREVIEWS/110229961

 

[VoodooBoss]

Any more reviews out there?

this one is short and is the only one so far to say the Boss has a harsh ride

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110224/CARREVIEWS/110229961

I added it to my earlier post.

Do we know if the cars at LS this week were using TracKey?

 

[VoodooBoss]

Hot off the internet...I'll add it to my other post.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/2012-ford-mustang-boss-302-laguna-seca-first-drive-review/

Edit: so far this looks to be the best written, in-depth, accurate, article I've read. It also has some of the best photos and the second coolest video of the event.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Do we know if the cars at LS this week were using TracKey?

I just had it confirmed from the Autoblog driver that all of the cars driven on the track had TracKey enabled.