Civic Type R vs. Ford GT

[m3bs]

I recently had the opportunity to see several pristine 2005/6 Ford GTs in a private collection. That got me thinking about the performance capabilities of those cars vs our CTR, so I pulled up the C&D Lightning Lap results. Not in the same league, right? Think again…

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[ctechauto]

Tire tech has come a long way in the last 20 years. Throw some equivalent PS4S (since they came on the CTR) on the GT and watch that time drop 5 seconds easily

 

[AZCWTypeR]

I crossed shopped a new 5.0 Mustang vs. the CTR. Yes the 480hp V8 is awesome, but the Mustang needed another $15k+ in options to get better tires, wheels, brakes, suspension, and seats. That put it above $60k, even with an my "friends and family" discount code.

Also, the Mustang back seats are near useless if you get Recaro type front seats, and I occassionally pickup family at the airport (over an hour away).

 

[Clark_Kent]

The comparison is a myopic view of performance. Technology has come a long way in the nearly 20 years between the models. And performance is more than lap times, 0-60, and 1/4 miles times. The fastest cars are rarely the "best" cars. I think many here can agree what's more important than the times is the psychological piece. How does the car make you feel? What are you experiencing when you drive the car, or hear it, or look at it? Transmission, arrangement of the pedal box, throttle tip-in, seat position, seats, power delivery, powerband, steering, visibility out of the car, engine sound, exhaust sound, and the list goes on.

 

[MooMoo]

what track is this on cuz there are so many cars on there that should be faster than the type R on really every single track (m2 comp, supra, gt500, m4, ect...).


edit- oh its a VIR, yeah no way a m2 comp, m4, ect are gonna be slower than a type R

 

[m3bs]

The test results are what they are, and reflect the as-delivered configuration of the cars at the time. As mentioned, tires have improved, along with suspension tech, etc. That was my point in posting the comparison, to show how far performance cars have come in what seems like just a few years. In 2005, who would have believed a supercharged V8 Supercar would ever be outrun on a race track by a 4-cylinder Honda, let alone a 3-cylinder Corolla?

The C&D testing is subject to many variables, like weather, track condition, multiple drivers, etc. which can affect the results, but it makes for an interesting comparison tool. I don’t care for the Grand course, personally, but it does tend to be an equalizer that gives the high HP cars less of an advantage.

To me, lap times are the ultimate measure of performance. There are plenty of cars that are faster in a straight line, but can’t put together a fast lap.

 

[MooMoo]

yeah driver/weather makes a huge difference for sure, tire too and I know the M2 came on super sports vs ps4s which are much superior tires but I still find it hard to believe with the same driver that the type R woulda been that much faster... then again who knows what driver drove both or conditions.

As far as grand course, it looks awesome to me, I would love to try it sometime and I think I would enjoy it more. Definitely equals things more on less hp cars without the back straight.

 

[CR-X]

On modern tires a 22 year old Carrera GT lapped the Ring 16 seconds faster. Id imagine a Ford GT on the same tire would be much faster than a CTR.

 

[Fanatic]

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