Ford Mustang GT no match for GSP Dodge Charger

[Retmilleo909]

This is an excerpt from what I read in todays local paper: Yesterday morning a GSP trooper driving eastbound on I-20 between Villa Rica and Douglasville GA was passed by a '99 Mustang GT with an AL tag at a high rate of speed. Witnesses said the trooper driving one of the new GSP's Dodge Chargers quickly over took the mustang passed it and blocked it as it was exiting state Hwy 92 in Douglasville. A good citizen pulled in behind the mustang blocking it from the rear. The driver of the mustang while attempting to escape rammed the rear of the patrol car damaging both vehicles. The patrol car's front windshield was also broken by flying debris during the chase.
The subject was quickly taken into custody by the trooper without further resistance.
Eyewitnesses visually and verbally applauded the troopers's actions.
The new high performance muscle cars have been added to the GSP's fleet as part of an effort to curb speeding and reckless driving.

[HudsonHawk]

Nice collar. That perp is a F'n MORON!

[CTR man]

+1 I agree.

Mustang GT was about 10 yrs old though, would have been interesting from a performance standpoint if the Mustang were much newer and a Roush or Shelby.

[MacLean]

+1 I agree.

Mustang GT was about 10 yrs old though, would have been interesting from a performance standpoint if the Mustang were much newer and a Roush or Shelby.

Outcome would have been the same - it's about the driver when the cars are even close to a match.

[Retmilleo909]

+1 I agree.

Mustang GT was about 10 yrs old though, would have been interesting from a performance standpoint if the Mustang were much newer and a Roush or Shelby.

Good point!!... excluding the Roush or Shelby, what would be the best vehicle from a performance standpoint? The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a 6.1 Liter SRT HEMI beast under its hood that can produce 425 hp and 420 lb.ft. of torque.
Or..Ford’s most powerful mustang the mustang GT. The vehicle has a 4.6L V8 engine which is capable of producing 300 hp and 320 lb.ft. of torque.

[CTR man]

Depends on what their power to weight ratio is. Take the same driver with both cars on a closed circuit race course would probably answer that question, too. The Charger just looks heavier to me. Therefore needing more power to move the car around. Although with that amount of horse power available on tap, it might be a moot point.

Outcome would have been the same - it's about the driver when the cars are even close to a match.

True here, too. IMO the only ones who have any business driving at high rates of speed are LE because they are professionally trained IIRC. All others, except for professional race car drivers (NASCAR, Indy, SCCA, etc.) need to take it to a track and get some lessons if they can afford it, otherwise they need to keep off the accelerator pedal and drive safely. I would think that the majority of the professionals have enough common sense not to do this stuff out on public streets.

[Five-0]

Local board self appointed domestic car expert going to chime in here. The 99 GTs were turds. The Hemis produce great HP and Torque. It is a good thing too. They weigh over 2 tons:

Base Curb Weight [lb] - with Automatic Transmission [lb]4160
That is the curb weight for an SRT-8 with the 6.1 Liter V-8 (the biggest one). I believe most agencies use the 5.7 Liter. It is no slouch but not as potent. If that Charger had been chasing an 03-04 Cobra it would have been ugly. However, as it has already been pointed out, the driver modification is the biggest difference. Especially when manual transmissions are in play. The thing about slightly older model muscle cars like this GT is that they are often times modded. Even worse is that people that are dumb enough to run from the cops generally over estimate their own driving ability. Even if they can drive, the moment can overwhelm their fine motor skills. Just like when cops are involved in high stress moments.

[Cool Breeze]

Even worse is that people that are dumb enough to run from the cops generally over estimate their own driving ability. Even if they can drive, the moment can overwhelm their fine motor skills. Just like when cops are involved in high stress moments.

That's a good point. You can be the greatest wheelman in the world, but all it takes is one person what veers into your lane or pulls out in front of you while you're doing 100+ and it's over.

[CTR man]

Even worse is that people that are dumb enough to run from the cops generally over estimate their own driving ability. Even if they can drive, the moment can overwhelm their fine motor skills. Just like when cops are involved in high stress moments.

They also forget that they may be able to out run the police car but they can't out run the radio communications.