2005 Pontiac GTO vs. 2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

I admit, when the 2004 Pontiac GTO came out, I was very quick to bitch. I just could not mask my disappointment, I just expected more from Pontiac when it came to the GTO, and I believe many others felt the same. I guess Pontiac listened and for 2005, they have introduced a new re-vised GTO. I am very impressed with the newest version of the GTO with it's new exterior styling and more powerful LS2 engine. How does car compare to the 2004 Ford Mustang Cobra, can it hang, is this car now the fastest American Muscle for under $40,000?

2005 Pontiac GTO
6.0L 8-Cylinder
400HP@5200RPM
395TQ@4000RPM

vs.

2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
4.6L Supercharged 8-Cylinder
390HP@6000RPM
390TQ@3500RPM

Mabey the most powerful, but not the fastest I think it still weighs to much correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the GTO weigh about 300lbs more than the SVT Cobra. And being they both have close rario 6 speeds, and the GTO only has 10 more hp. I would say with two decent drivers the Cobra would still come out on top.:thumbsup:

Mabey the most powerful, but not the fastest I think it still weighs to much correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the GTO weigh about 300lbs more than the SVT Cobra. And being they both have close rario 6 speeds, and the GTO only has 10 more hp. I would say with two decent drivers the Cobra would still come out on top.

Wow, I didn't expect Fordboy to pick the Cobra...

Anyways, the GTO has more power, and at a lower rpm, but if it's anything like the '04, it may still be too heavy.

But, it all comes down to the driver, they're about even.

Isn't there a rule of thumb for every ten hp you take so much time off of the 1/4 mile time. So take what stock '04 GTO runs and use the rule add 50hp to the GTO to compare to the Cobras.

That rule is ridiculous, since 10 HP is gonna have a different effect on each car, depending on weight, aerodynamics, gearing, etc.

Gah, I hate this poll(not really) too hard, really love both cars. GTO I sat in(2004) was wonderfull awsome car, but I just love the sound of the supercharger on the Cobra.

That rule is ridiculous, since 10 HP is gonna have a different effect on each car, depending on weight, aerodynamics, gearing, etc.

It would give you a ballpark number like every 100lbs you take off thats 1 tenth of a second faster right.

I know a cobra can take an 04 GTO pretty handily but I'm not sure about the 05 GTO's.

It would give you a ballpark number like every 100lbs you take off thats 1 tenth of a second faster right.

So you're telling me that if I take 100 lbs. off of a Hummer H2 and a Mazda Miata, they're both gonna go down .1 seconds in the quarter mile?

We'll have to see until there are plenty of confirmed times out for the 05 GTO. But I doubt a 50HP injection is going to make up the time difference between the 03-04 Cobras and 04 GTO's. Also the LS2 is 6.0L?

So you're telling me that if I take 100 lbs. off of a Hummer H2 and a Mazda Miata, they're both gonna go down .1 seconds in the quarter mile?

Thats what i've heard if you take 100lbs off of a car it would make it about .1 faster in the 1/4 mile. And the '05 GTO does have a 6.0L

The Cobra's are still very much underrated so they still win pretty well...50hp in the GTO is not going to change much...just that it will lose a lil less badly

I think the Cobra is still the faster car but they're a whole lot closer now.













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I like both cars but for every day use I´ll take a Cobra

For every day use id take the gto, but for fun on weekens Ill take a cobra.

Well, I am biased towards the Ford and readily admit it. But, peak hp/tq numbers do not mean much as the torque curve tells a story of it's own. Not to mention, you have to take into account any under-rating done by the factory. Too many variables exist to simply say..."GTO makes 50 more hp, it must be just as fast".

The Cobra's torque production all over the power band is just sick, even bone stock. Peak power numbers are overly simplistic and do not account for this. 03/04 Cobra's can and do run mid 12's (think 12.6) bone stock......high 12's are all day every day for those who can drive. Cobnra's were also under-rated by Ford to the tune of about 30-35hp and tq. That's a big difference.

The 04 GTO was good for what, mid 13's with a really good driver bone stock on a good day. (think 13.5-13.6) And, hearing about GTO's running those kind of times is much rarer than hearing of Cobra's getting near mid 12's too. 50hp is going to make up nearly a second assuming two good drivers? No.

The 400hp LS2 may be rated nearly the same as the C5 Z06's 405hp LS6 mill was, but again this is not the whole story. When strapped to a dyno the LS6 virtually always showed that it was about 15-20hp under-rated. The LS2 is pretty much right on the money from dyno runs I've seen thus far. So in reality the LS2 is about 20-25hp down on the LS6.

Even with the "actual" hp disadvantage the C6 Vette got a bit lighter, so they run really close to Z06 times even though they tend to be a tenth or two off on average. And, even with the stronger LS6 the old Z06 only ran slightly faster than a well-driven Cobra (think 12.3-12.4). The magic number for the new 400hp C6 Vette seems to be right at 12.5-12.6, or right where the 03/04 Cobra tends to run stock. That alone tells you that the C6 is barely faster or no faster than an 03/04 Cobra, and numbers seen so far show this to be accurate.

I went through that lengthy explanation to make a point. The new C6 Vette with the 400hp mill seems to be good for about 03/04 Cobra 1/4 mile times asuming two very good drivers. (It is easier to get those kid of times from a Vette however) Wether or not you think each 100lbs tends to count for about a tenth through the 1/4mile (generally it does) the GTO weighs an enormous amount more than the C6 and that weight, along with smaller tires, poorer balance, and inferior gearing/tranny this car will be at least a half-second slower than the C6 Vette, and probably more than that.

As the above points to it seems to me that the new C6 Vette answers this argument. There is no evidence at all, and a lot to the contrary, to make pone believe the GTO will run with an 03/04 Cobra. Again, the C6 with the same mill as the 05 GTO, better balance, and a lighter chassis setup it is maybe a tick faster than the 03/04 Cobra, but most likely appears to be a dead heat right now. Somehow you shove the same motor into a heavier car with smaller tires and taller gears and it should run with a Cobra too? Physics say no. There is no way that a stock 05 GTO will run as fast as a stock 03/04 Cobra assuming two good drivers. The numbers just are not there.

^ I agree with you. As usuall you set it strait again:) Keep the good post coming.

GTO all the way... I find it whack to have to slap on a supercharger to have a car compete and have all this fame. Its like cheating but eh.. just my opinion :)

GTO all the way... I find it whack to have to slap on a supercharger to have a car compete and have all this fame. Its like cheating but eh.. just my opinion :)

Well then I find it whack that chevy has to keep up-ing the cubic inches to compete.



Not really cause I like my opinions mired in facts.

i picked the Cobra not just be cuase im a ford guy but i would also drive the GTO but i find the Cobra 2 be better 2 drive. Its also easier to get more hp with the cobra right???

i picked the Cobra not just be cuase im a ford guy but i would also drive the GTO but i find the Cobra 2 be better 2 drive. Its also easier to get more hp with the cobra right???

I've heard that 600 HP on stock internals is no problem, and you can get it with just a pulley swap and a couple really minor things. Never seen it done though.

I'd probably have a GTO if I was going to invest in a practical car. As well as being better built and more comfortable, Holdens are remarkably easy cars to skittle around town in.


Though I'd probably sooner have a Cobra as a weekend driver.