FDL

I was just comparing the Merc. E55 AMG @220,000 and the BMW M5 @196,000.
1.Both these cars use wide rear tyres 265/35, 275/35 while the FPV uses narrower tyres. Could the FPV benefit from the wider tyres and wouldn't it also help high speed handling? Would the tyres fit in the guards? (Both use 245/40 upfront)
2.Also, both cars are heavy, as is the FPV, Merc 1835kg and BMW weighs 1795kg, yet both achieve excellent 1/4 times with "top end" diff ratio. Yes the Benz is supercharged 350kw, but the BMW has similar output figures to the FPV ie. 294kw and 500Nm. Bmw achieves 13.47 1/4mile with a final drive of 3.15. (6 speed probably helps though) The only time I've ever changed diff ratios was with an early escort and Mk II cortina, and a HK Monaro. All cars benefited from "pick up" diffs but the Monaro needed slicks due to wheelspin. My point, If the FPV, with 290kw, has wheelspin with its current diff, wouldn't a "pickup" diff just add to the traction problem? How does the BMW, with similar characteristics (weight, power) to the Ford achieve 13.47 with 3.15 final drive? Seems to me Ford could gain something from what BMW have achieved. I think great times are within the FPV's grasp if they could play with the final drive/gearbox combination and cams spec's. Ford, please perfect the current combination, before going blower.
3.The need to maintain diveability concern of FPV should be maintained if ford can learn from these two expensive brands. I am assuming the Merc, and M5 are very driveable and quick though.
4.I notice Ford have better drag coeffecients over these two aswell and the Brembo brake packages also offer Ford an advantage in Brake size/performance.

HO HO HO!

good points FDL. FPVs should certainly fit wider tyres: It'd improve looks and performance.

The BMW might escape traction problems due to two factors:
1 wider tyres
2 Makes the same power/torque from a smaller engine, therefore powwer and torque are proabbly devloped higher in the rev range, reducing the chance of torque destroying traction off the line

bossxr8

Seems the German cars are easier to get off the line, and the gearboxes are closer ratio because they have more gears. Took my XR8 to the Calder drags last night and had real trouble getting it off the line even after warming the tyres. Best I could manage was 14.49. Its an auto with 1700 k's on the clock and 18 inch wheels with 245's. A GT-P ran nearly identical times, don't know if it was auto or manual.

Noboss

I think the gt-gtp should have had 9s on the back that way you could fit 265-35s insted of having diffrent offset front to rear