Ford GT

http://www.usatoday.com/money/galler...gt/control.htm

A car that's crazy beautiful

GT blasts off like a rocket, but boy is it impractical

James R. Healey USA Today 1/21/05

There's a God of Disappointment who makes sure the part you need is not in stock; the TV show you crave isn't on tonight; the next book in the series just sold out.

2005 Ford GTs line up to duplicate the 1966 1-2-3 finish of Ford GT40 racers at major endurance races.


And the superfast Ford GT supercar is available for test-driving during an extended rainy period.

The 550-horsepower, wide-tired, low-slung, $143,000 rocket is not much good, or much fun, on slick roads. Able to spin its back tires on dry roads at the mere suggestion of more throttle, it needs careful attention when traction's low.

But even on high-traction surfaces, it would be tough to exercise the mighty car sufficiently to judge its claimed prowess - a top speed in excess of 200 mph, for example, or cornering that'll drain the blood from your brain.



Interior of the Ford GT.


So we'll concentrate on its behavior in routine driving. The folks who can afford such a machine no doubt keep it as a toy, but even so, it'll wind up in traffic, or at the coffee shop en route to that back road.

And the surprise is, unlike some exotics, the GT drives pretty well in routine service. That doesn't mean it's practical, though, even by exotic-car standards. Issues:

.. Doors. They curve at the top to become a significant portion of the roof. When open, that horizontal part of the door is hard to get around and under, and you often slam your head. In a tight parking spot where the GT's doors won't open wide, you're helpless.

.. Vision. It's hard to tell just where the front end is. And you can't see much out the back. The steeply angled rear glass is more mirror than window, reflecting the engine that sits behind the driver. If you're uncomfortable not knowing where every corner of the car is, GT'll make you nervous as a cat in a firecracker factory.

Recall puts production on hold until parts available

Ford has recalled the GT because of a potential flaw that could cause the suspension control arms to fall apart and the car to crash.

Production was halted because replacement parts are not yet available. When Ford notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall Dec. 22, it anticipated having parts as soon as Jan. 15, according to NHTSA files. It didn't, and now Ford doesn't expect replacements before Feb. 1.

Ford began calling GT owners Dec. 15 telling them not to drive their cars because of the potential flaw.

"Everybody's been pretty understanding about it. They all pretty much have another car to drive, so that wasn't a concern," Ford spokesman Alan Hall reports. When replacement control arms are available, "We'll pick up their cars in an enclosed transport and give them the white-glove treatment."

Production won't resume until control arms have been replaced in the 448 GTs Ford built before the halt. Of those, Ford says, 289 were shipped to dealers. Sales tracker Autodata shows the first GT sales were reported last October, and 144 sold last year.





.. Space. Two people fit, but their stuff stays behind. A carry-on travel bag has more storage than the GT does. The trunk of the tiny Mazda Miata sports car has more than three times the stowage. GT's cargo nook is up front under what's usually the hood. The midmounted engine takes up the space in what would normally be the trunk.

Exotic cars are supposed to be perfect playthings for weekend road trips. In the GT, those need to be summer getaways so all you need is beachwear that takes up little space.

But quick and fast, no question. A recent test by Automobile magazine showed the GT hitting 60 mph from a standstill in a mere 3.8 seconds, quicker than a Lamborghini Murcielago and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren also tested, and just a fraction of a blink behind the 3.6-second blast of the Porsche Carrera GT. The Ford hit 205 mph in the test. The Lambo managed 203. The Benz and Porsche touched 206. The other cars are two to three times the price of the Ford GT.

"Not bad for a bunch of dumb Americans," grins O.J. "John" Coletti, leader of Ford GT development. He retired from Ford Jan. 1.

The powerplant that gives the GT such brass is a supercharged 5.4-liter, overhead-camshaft V-8 rated not only a healthy 550 horsepower but also a robust 500 pounds-feet of torque. The generous low-speed torque means little risk of stalling while creeping, or of killing the engine in stop-and-go.

Ferrari 360 Modena owner Gordon Wangers, whose AMCI tests vehicles to give automakers verifiable results they can use in ads (but which didn't test the GT), says, "It's kind of humbling to know that if I pull up to a stoplight next to a GT, I could get smoked." His Ferrari is rated 400 hp.

"If I were shopping today, I'd seriously consider the GT. I consider it a serious rival. In the end, I'd probably go for the Ferrari, because you can actually use it; there's room to put stuff for a weekend," he says.

The GT's steering, brakes and gearshift all are easy enough that you needn't be an experienced enthusiast to drive the GT with grace.

And if you do drive with élan, the direct, responsive controls burnish your skill, and the GT becomes more like something you're wearing than something you're driving.

The car looks as it does because Ford wanted it to resemble the Ford GT40 race cars that finished a remarkable first, second and third in 1966 at three top endurance races: Daytona and Sebring, Fla., and Le Mans, France.

If the performance per dollar and the unbeatable heritage make the 2005 Ford GT seem a no-brainer, the safety recall for a potentially faulty suspension should cool your ardor. Even when production and sales resume, the trickle of cars will make it hard to find one.

But the GT is a drop-dead delight to see and drive, and perhaps that's transcendent.

2005 Ford GT

.. What is it? High-power, high-price, aluminum-body, two-seat, midengine sports car made to resemble Ford race cars of the 1960s. Manufactured at Wixom, Mich.

.. What's the point? Prove that a Ford can run with the big dogs.

.. What's the problem? Potential suspension failure has halted production and forced a recall.

.. How soon? On sale since October.

.. How much? $143,345, including $1,200 destination charge and $2,100 gas-guzzler tax. With typical options, about $153,000. Online car-pricing services say real-world prices are running around $200,000.

.. How many? Ford built 448 before halting production late last year to fix the potential suspension defect. Sales reporter Autodata says 144 were sold last year.

.. What's the drivetrain? Supercharged 5.4-liter aluminum V-8 rated 550 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 500 pounds-feet of torque at 3,750 rpm; six-speed manual transmission; limited-slip differential.

.. What's standard? Anti-lock brakes; front air bags; leather upholstery; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD stereo; power steering, brakes, mirrors, locks, windows; remote-control locks; tilt steering column; fog lights; 235/35ZR-18 front tires, 315/40ZR-19 rears.

.. How big? A few inches longer and wider than a Chevrolet Corvette. GT is 182.8 inches long, 76.9 inches wide, 44.3 inches tall on a 106.7-inch wheelbase. Weight is listed as 3,485 pounds. Passenger space is listed as 52.8 cubic feet; cargo space as 1.6 cubic feet.

.. How thirsty? Rated 13 miles per gallon in town, 21 on the highway, 16 in combined driving. Premium fuel is specified.

.. Overall: Surprisingly easy to drive, abominably impractical, heartbreakingly flawed, judging by the recall.