comparisons on 440+ HP cars [on going]

 
Car             Engine   HP   Trans   0-60     Top Speed  body 
==============  ======   ===  =====   =======   =========  ============
Ford GT         3.5L V6  647  7S-DCT  3.0 sec   216 MPH    carbon fiber
Mustang GT500   5.2L V8  760  7S-DCT  3.5 sec   180 MPH    Steel

Chevy Vette C8  6.2L V8  495  8S-DCT  2.9 sec   ??? MPH    fiber glass
Chevy Vette C7  6.2L V8  460  8S-Auto 3.7 sec   185 MPH    fiber glass

911 Carrera S   3.0L H6  443  8S-Auto 3.3 sec   191 MPH



Car               Length (in)   Width (in)   Height (in)   Weight (lbs)
==============    ==========    =========    ===========   ============ 
Ford GT           187.5         78.9          43.7         3,054
Mustang GT500                                              4,225

Chevy C8 vette    182.3         76.1          48.6         3,366
Chevy C7 vette    176.9         73.9          48.8         3,298

911 Carrera S     177.9         72.9          51.2         3,382

SUV mustang

This was just circulated and I'll leave this here. Not sure if this is a hate or love thing. Not sure if this is real or fake.  There have been rumors of this for a long while now.

Most reactions that I have seen have been mixed.  I think the problem is that the Mustang brand from over 50 years have had some very defined parameters.  Everyone is very uncomfortable about breaking outside of those.

Manual transmission is terminal

The manual transmission is terminal and will be dead in a matter of a few short years. This is an easy argument to make. First, car companies and customers have always valued manuals in performance cars. Now Chevy and Ford are now abandoning the manual even on their fastest most powerful cars. The 8th generation mid engine Chevy Corvette will be 10 speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The Ford's GT500 power house Mustang will only come in a 10 speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Chevy and Ford claim that no human with a manual transmission can match a dual clutch automatic transmission, and they are correct. Secondly, high performance automatic 10 speed transmissions is not the only reason manuals are dying. The general population no longer wants them. In 1992, 25% of cars sold were manual. In 2012, 6.8% of cars sold were manuals. And in 2018, 3.5% of cars sold were manuals
[Source Donut Media]
Some sources say lower for 2018. Edmunds says manual transmissions accounted for just 2 percent of all vehicles sold in 2018.
[Source Edmunds.com]
In 2006, 47% of car models we offered in either manual or automatic In 2018, only 27% of car models are now offered in either manual or automatic transmissions.
[Source Chicago Tribune]
Compared to traditional automatic transmissions, manual transmissions were considered more fuel efficient. But now with CVT transmissions being used in many cars that are fuel conscious, manual transmissions can't compare here anymore either. So the only purpose manual transmissions appear to have, is that to a few car enthusiast, where manuals are thought of as more fun. But fun does not equal profits for car companies. In the end, money is what drives car companies. If there is no longer performance, preference, or efficiency advantages, people will not be driving with manuals in the near future.

Cubs' half season report 2019

Every year I do a half season report, but this year is different. Different Stats:

Best Cubs stolen base leaders (>=3 SB)
Name      S%  SB  CS
Heyward  83%   5   1
Bote     80%   4   1
Rizzo    60%   3   2
Baez     50%   5   5

NL Central best stolen base leaders
Name    Team   SB    CS
Yelich  MIL    19     2
Wong    STL    14     0
Marte   PIT    13     2
Puig    CIN    13     3
Cain    MIL    10     4
Ozuna   STL     8     1
Senzel  CIN     8     3
 

That is a huge gap between the Cubs and other NLC teams.

Cubs Most Hits
Name       AB    H  XBH   AVG
Baez       356 103   48  .289
Bryant     317  94   46  .297
Rizzo      316  86   38  .272
Heyward    289  77   24  .266
Contreras  259  74   33  .286

Error Leaders:
Baez      10
Bote      10
Contreras 10
Bryant     9
Schwarber  5

Over all these Cubs are very weak in comparison to the leaders on other teams.

More thoughts on the 2020 GT500.

Most ridiculous issue in my mind is $10,000 option for stripes on the 2020 Ford Mustang GT500. There is NO OTHER manufacture that charges this price. Not even the exotic 500k cars manufactures...This is Ford saying we don't want to put factory stripes on this car. Have it done yourself for a faction of the price, but if you really want us to do it, hand over another 10k!

Most most overblown non-issue with this vehicle is the 10-speed duel clutch automatic transmission. My take on this is Ford promised their fastest production car ever. You can not achieve this with a manual transmission. No human can outperform this transmission. Yes, people like the control that you feel with a manual, but once again, Ford promised the *fastest* production ford car in their history. They have promised certain numbers that will not be achievable with the manual.

Ford is still getting beat at the line with all-wheel performance sports cars with less HP. I feel Ford still is missing this mark. 2020 could have been the year Ford makes a car that shoots off the line with near zero loss in torque.