2011 Mustang GT vs. 2001 Pontiac Trans Am: street race deathmatch!

The long lived battle between GM and Ford continues to live on in today's modern world. Street racing the Mustang against the Camaro and/or Trans Am is as old as time itself. In the following video, the latest Ford technology is put up against GM's ten year old technology of comparable rating. The 2011 Ford Mustang GT is by far no slug, but I'm sure we all agree that a ten year span should make drastic changes in performance. Surprisingly enough, the Mustang GT can only beat the Trans Am when race variables play in it's favor. First it wins because of a late launch on behalf of the TA, then it wins again because the TA driver screws up shifting. All the time, the TA has an extra passenger. Before we get too deep, let's check out the specifications of each vehicle.
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2011 Ford Mustang GT specifications:
  • 5.0L DOHC 4V Ti-VCT V8 engine
  • 412 hp @ 6500 RPM
  • 390 lb.-ft @ 4250 RPM
  • 3,653 lb. curb weight (automatic)

2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 specifications:
  • 5.7L OHV 2V V8 engine
  • 305 hp @ 5200 RPM
  • 335 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM
  • 3,498 lb. curb weight
When inspecting the specifications, we can see that the Mustang is at a clear advantage based on horsepower, torque, and updated engine technology. Remember, that in this video the Mustang GT is an automatic, and the Trans Am is a manual. That plays a big role in both launch and racing from a roll, and in the end is the overall determining factor of who wins. In my personal opinion, the difference in technology between 2001 and 2011 should put the Mustang way ahead of the Trans Am no matter what variable arises. That's a ten year difference, and ten pivotal years of automotive technology at that.



When they both launch from a dig, the automatic Mustang is at a clear advantage because no matter how much of a newb the driver may be, it will launch perfectly every time. The Trans Am however, is at a distinct disadvantage if driven by a newb. If the driver knew what he was doing he would have the advantage if he dumped the clutch properly and feathered the throttle to gain traction. When launching from a roll, the Trans Am is at a clear advantage because he can hold the gear perfect for optimal launch. The automatic Mustang must change gears before sending power to the wheels; thus the loss and difference seen below. All in all, this is a pretty unfair race to claim which vehicle is better. Interesting enough, it's worth comparing and fun to watch. Overall, the Mustang is the clear winner; but the ten year gap in technology speaks quite highly of General Motors.

Video content: 2011 Mustang GT street races 2001 Trans Am WS6

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Source: Tampa Sports Car Examiner

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