Of course you should race him. No one said the most important fact here. Mustangs have 0 Traction, especially off the line.
You will eat um up from a stop. I know this from personal experience. I've had 2 Mustang GT 5.0 HO, the first Prototype 5.0 official Indy Pace Car, and the Cobra I sold to buy the Lightning.
RACE HIM, YOU WILL HAVE A SMILE A MILE LONG

 

**** is ill-informed. a S-351 Speedster does not cost anywhere near 90k. I also assume you meant the S-351R since there is no S-351S. The R code package included the blower. That is unless of course you were referring the the SR, which was a race ready package...but that was not available as a vert..and still did not cost 90k.

My stock S-351 (naturally aspirated) vs. my stock Lightning - The Saleen is faster...despite SERIOUS traction problems. From a roll the Saleen pulls much harder than the Lightning (obviously) and has a much higher terminal velocity at the end of the 1/4 mile.

Stock Cobra's (Pre-03) and stock Lightnings are not really a problem, cept for those times I spin through the first 4 gears.

With the mods you have, there is a good chance you can run with or beat the Saleen...but a lot of it depends on driver as well.

The problem with the Saleen, and powerful rustangs in general, is harnessing all that torque.

 

These are easily identifiable by the huge role bar just behind the front seats. Everyone I've seen is a roadster, and has a big *** role bar behind the front seats. Come to think about it, all 4 that I've seen were white also... that's strange...

One had a license plate of CHXDGIT

He had a hot a$$ blond in the passenger seat, so I couldn't argue...

 

Actually that is not true Mr. Beef.

First off, the "roll -bar" is not actually a roll bar. I believe they call it a light hoop or something cause it has an extra 3rd brake light in it (or should I say 4th?). That hoop does nothing in the event of a crash and was part of the Speedster package that was offered. It is in no way related to the supercharger (R code) package. The roll bar is FUGLY IMO and ruins the cars nice lines. The speedster cover is nice looking...but a huge PIA when you want to put up the top or put people in the back seat.

The supercharged S-351R's came in both coupe and convertible.

 

Umm i think your assuming i dont have a clue about Saleens. I did work for Steve Saleen in 89/90 Assembling the SSC's. At any rate, yes, certain speedsters were priced pretty damn high depending on WHICH vortech unit was installed. She said she paid $90K.

But just like ANY Saleen, they are extremely overated. What makes it worse is Saleen Zealots try to be rational about their purchase. I mean, i guess i would be blue in the face defending Saleen if i was actually dumb enough to purchase one of his OVERPRICED, Underperforming, glorified mustang with the worst suspension known to man.

For what a person pays for a Saleen, you could do it right for HALF. Ive eaten MANY Saleens with my Cobra... Even the beloved S-351.. I just find the zealotory a little old nowadays i guess and can never meet in the middle ground.


No need to fear a Saleen.

 

Anyone tried racing a Roush? Just curious ...

 

rawwrrrr...someone seems a bit bitter.


Anyway..I did not say you don't know anything about Saleen's, just that you were mis-informed(which you were...like referring to the S-351S package) Don't take it so personally. Congratulations on working for Saleen for a year back in the 80's, however the S-351 was not around back then.

The speedsters do not cost 90k. I was just trying to let people here know that. I guess it would be possible to get close to that if you got every option...custom work...custom mystic paint job...and god...all new composite body panels all the way around....but this was not the norm my friend. In general they cost closer to 50k and I felt that your statement was misleading to those not in the know.

I am HARDLY a Saleen Zealot...anyone that knows me would know that. I had many a disagreement with Saleen when I first got my car. Heck..I don't even like mustangs in general...I'm a corvette guy. However, it is a beautiful car...sounds awesome...goes pretty fast...and rumbles like a muscle car! It definitely is a ton of fun.

Congrats on beating Saleens with your cobra. I am pretty sure there are some Z28's out there that are faster than your cobra for a lot less money than what SVT rips you off for. That's just the way it is. I have had modded lightnings beat my Saleen...big whoop..that's just the way it is.

I'm not sure what you have against the suspension. As far as being the worst in the world..I suggest a ride in a Town Car. The Saleen handles quite well...although the car is faaaaaar too low to the ground.

However I do agree that they are overpriced..and I myself would never pay what Saleen wants for one..but they are different and definitely get a lot of loving looks and attention. For the money, I'd buy that afforementioned Vette(although it has been fun owning something so rare).

I gave some simple facts from someone that owns both a Saleen Rustang and a Lightning...stock for stock, my N/A S-351 is faster than my stock L. Fact Vs. Emotion. Nuf said.

 

Umm, i placed the S after the 351. I didnt create an entirely new Saleen package. It was a simple mispell. And believe me, Saleen of the 80s at least used quality parts and cared about their customers. 2 Of those facts do not exist today. Compare the craftsman ship from an 89 SSC ( you do know what that is dont you ? ) To that of Saleens latest and greatest.

How so? SS's and Cobras are priced the same... Mods will cost equal in both camps.. Built lower end + supercharger vs LS1 383 Stroker + Heads, Cams, Etc and Labor.. Add all the bolt ons and the cobra just may come out ahead if you opt for the Novi2000 setup.

Theres always going to be someone faster then you. However, i didnt run into any Z28's that could give me a half decent race or Fbody's in that matter.

With this statement, i guess you havent heard about about Griggs or Maximum Motorsport? Saleens suspension is no better then BBK's.. Its low quality junk. Do some research on the suspension your car has and maybe you will see what im talking about. Believe me, its nothing to be bragging about. Head on over to CornerCarvers.com

Well Vettes are very nice cars. Im quite fond of the Z06 myself and for the price of a Saleen, i would be drivin around in a Z06. I came about an inch from buying one actually before the truck.

So your telling me a N/A 351 powered Saleen beat your lightning?

Ive run across 2 N/A 351's in the first 2 years of owning my cobra with absolutely no mods and guess what? I had them by several cars. N/A 351's are dogs and if you like, ill post a pic of one currently at XMP that is N/A that gets its butt kicked by 99+ GT's on a daily basis. Again, S-351's are over-rated. Even with a blower, they arent all that. What makes them valuable is their low production #'s due to their high price.

 

So I says to the guy, "Rectum? Damn near killed em!"

oops.. wrong thread... What I meant to say was:

"FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT"... cuz arguing on a message board really accomplishes so much...


BTW, I think Cobra's and Saleens are dumb... (joking! Relax!)

 

Race him. Like many others have said car owners really get pissed when a ol' Ford pick up truck beats em. My boss just bought a new Vette (not Z06) and I handed him his lunch 2 times in a row. He said he had his top down and that probably cost him and I told him I was in a rolling brick. Even though I had him by 2 car lengths he tells everybody it was a dead heat....what do I do? he is my boss.

 

Fair enough on the mispelling. Yes I am familiar with the SSC...quite ugly in my opinion..but I am familiar. Saleen definitely does not..or did not care about their customers back when I got mine. Their customer service is terrible. It has gotten a little better lately, and the quality is a little better with the 281's but that is to be expected considering they are working off a stock motor as opposed to replacing the whole block.

As far as the Z28 Cobra thing...the Z28 (even without that extra SS package) has been as fast if not faster than the cobra for less money for a looooong time. It was definitely a better performance bargain. It all comes down to personal taste.

I never said there wasn't anything better out there..I just said that it wasn't the worst in the world..and that it actually handles quite nicely, which I think it does. I have never had a problem with the quality of any of the suspension components either.

As would I...well I might go for the convertible instead...but I would rather spend the 50 grand on a vette than a mustang...but again..I don't really like mustangs, in general, and I love Vette's.

Abso-freakin-lutely. My car....vs...my truck. I therefore have no stronger emotional attachent to one over the other. If anything I was kinds hoping the truck would be the quicker one...but oh well.

Again...I am not a big Saleen fan..and you obviously have something HUGE against them...for whatever reason..but I am just stating the facts. Maybe the Saleen's you saw were fake...had teribble drivers...or maybe they forgot to mount their tires...but a stock GT could not take my car. Maybe mine is unusually strong..but I don't think so.

S-351's are not the greatest cars ever...and Saleen fudged the power numbers..but they are not the slower than a GT, worse handling than a Town Car, and pricier than a Viper cars that you are making them sound like they are.



Sorry man...just trying to relay the facts...no offense.


beefcake- I think lightning pickemup trux are stupid.

 

hahahahaha I'm rolling over that 1 Scottsbeater. That is just so funny. "Even though I had him by 2 car lengths he tells everybody it was a dead heat....what do I do? he is my boss."

Just tell him that he is correct, next time let him win. hehehehe

 

Yeah scotts...prolly better off letting him tell people that he beat you..than correct him in front of others.

He he he.