Quote:
Originally Posted by 03-246
Saleen needs to get back to its road racing roots and substantially improve on track performance. ..........I have two Mustangs – a 2003 SC Saleen and 2002 SC Griggs -- and have track tested them both...there simply is no comparison in cornering, braking, over ride quality, road manners….and lap times! Maybe Saleen should take care of the styling and leave the chassis to the experts…Griggs Racing Products. I say, go Griggs...or go home!
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Well I own 2004 S81 SC Speedster and would agree that it is not a GR-40 or anything close. You are correct in your comparison, that the Griggs purpose built track car will easily out handle much of everything. They are great.
But what I think has to be pointed out in that comparison is what any given manufacturer has set as a goal for their product, and who they are aiming for as buyers. While Griggs does build one of the best track bound Mustang packages there is, that is a very small niche market.
The market for what Roush, Saleen and SMS Supercars tends to aim their product at is a broader more consumer oriented market. That means while all out purpose built track handling is groovy, that styling features and yes bling are a big part of the package. It is what sells. The reality is that 99% of the buyers who will take home one of these cars are not track hounds like you or I might be. Like Hummer H2 buyers, most of them will never leave public roads.
Having owned also a 2001 Roush Stage 3 which was a pretty decent track car I can attest to that. But many consumers felt that the Roush rode awfully stiff for every day driving, and the track optimized suspension settings carved up expensive BFG-KD front tires every 3000-5000 miles if driven daily. It was tight on the track though driving daily was a chore on public roads where the car dragged bottom because it was low and the brakes needed warm up. In 2005 Roush refined the suspension and brakes giving a more drivable package while retaining most of the bite and sold nearly 4 times as many going forward.
These cars have to pass muster for factory style warranties, that dealers can service. Something with Griggs style suspension for example would have some garden variety customers flooding dealers whining about bushing noise, clanks and clunks, and a rough ride on the 405 freeway. Consumers are consumers and sometimes you have to make sure even the least common denominators out there can accept your product without making your dealer's life miserable because "this is a $60,000 car and my Buick doesn't do that".
So for the mass market, a car has to be tailored to what enough people want to make the venture pencil out. I know, corporate speak mumbo jumbo. But there is a reason why everyone in the world does not have a GR-40. Not because it isn't good, but because its focus is very narrow.
Should Steve Saleen perhaps offer an all out purpose built track car to compete with the likes of a GR-40, without all the bling? Not a bad idea. Given his personal track experience, he is more than qualified to build a credible one (unlike ABC Motors Corporation Inc). I'd be the first guy ringing the phone at SMS and asking to test drive one.
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