Is Live Axle Really That Bad? 2012 Mustang Boss 302 - Hot Take

[@billmcmeekin7909]

Quad exhaust, tunable shocks stock, and 7500rpm redline engine with forged internals. Other than the mt82 shifter, this car is solid and a real drivers car. I have a Z06 and very much enjoy it, but the 302 gives me a complete different ride/excitement thrill, so much that I'm keeping mine. They are understated, and often unknown. But everyone, and I mean everyone that goes for a ride, smiles while doing so. I believe these cars will age well :⁠-⁠)

[@M-t3ch]

I agree! I may have undersold it a little bit in the video. Now having driven some more fast cars I will agree the thrill for dollar is good with this car. Modern equivalents are double and they don't offer the same level of feel.

[@deadshot4245]

the mt82 can be fixed with mods and installing a solid clutch kit though so its not a terrible ordeal compared to dropping a valve in a z06

[@billmcmeekin7909]

@@deadshot4245 You have that right! Upgraded to OEM worked Lingenfelter heads. Can breath easy now :⁠-⁠) MGW shift linkage next for the Boss. Cheers ehhh, Deadshot :⁠-⁠)

[@deadshot4245]

@@billmcmeekin7909 also owned a base c6 a set8 challenger 13 also a 13 zl1 then for a bit had a 1970 split bumper and a 93 z28 crazy days looking now at a 2011 to 2014 boss or a pp2 gt of newer generation to get the extra performance out of it but I love the boss killer Recaros make it worth it

[@jasonlommen4769]

I have a 13’ in race red. Love this car, I’ll never get rid of it!

[@SpaceTech54]

The Boss 302 'never' gets old.. after 10 years of ownership - every time.. Fun.

[@M-t3ch]

Love to hear it! They are a load of fun.

[@stlswagger]

"Gotta get into it" feel free to hit 7100 rpm. She's truly an American exotic. Can't ring it out without breaking laws. I have a 2013 GHIG #2337 😊

[@M-t3ch]

It was a blast haha. You also have a pretty rare car!

[@waynesanders8948]

We have #3057 also ghig. Awesome cars!

[@flat6fever680]

You do realize the Boss 302 is nothing like a regular Mustang GT right? It was built for the track. 3:73 rear end gears, Torsen LSD, 2 piece drive shaft, 5 way adjustable suspension, forged engine internals, milled heads, short shifter, etc, etc... Then, the Boss 302 Laguna Seca is another level above that with rear seat delete with frame / body stiffener cross bars in its place, Etc, etc. Then, the red track key which was optional and had to be purchased and programmed by dealer way back then unleashes a whole other level.

[@M-t3ch]

Thankyou! I was hoping for this comment. I did not know all of that. Super cool! After I made this, I realized I kind of undersold this car. At the end of the year, I am going to make some score changes. I'll be citing this comment 🙂

[@noldevin]

It's honestly not that much different. Anyone who seriously tracks one changes all those Ford upgrades to the same aftermarket stuff they'd put on a GT track car anyway.

[@M-t3ch]

​@noldevin It's cooler when the factory does it 😉. I'd love to drive a track modified one to make that comparison though!

[@JamesWilliams-dj2bp]

Judging from the read-out below the tach, you are not using the red trackey. If that is the case, borrow a Boss with the Tracey installed. You WILL notice quite a difference in performance. The Tracey changes over 200 engine parameters. Quite possibly this Boss has been tuned by someone to get the same results.

[@M-t3ch]

That is a large difference! I want to try a couple of regular Mustangs and then get back into one of these to get a better comparison. I think I have heard of the track key before. The owner left the traction control in some kind of sport setting, which I believe the track key also turns off if memory serves me.

[@SouthernCarGuru]

Sorry serious Ford guy here and I hate to tell that 5.0 in the boss is not called a coyote it's called a road runner it's got slightly beefed up internals a higher redline as you said you were correct on that. And if anyone thinks they need to argue with me google the boss 302 on Wikipedia if you want to and go see for anyone's selves it's free but if your a true car guy you want argue you will know what im talking about

[@M-t3ch]

Did I say Coyote in the video? You are correct. Thank you for the comment!

[@SouthernCarGuru]

Yeap you sure did to time stamp at 5:40 you did not call that engine in the boss a road runner cause it's not a coyote thanks for your feed back now go listen

[@M-t3ch]

​@@SouthernCarGuruI sure did! I fixed the description too.

[@kellymeade4587]

The original BOSS came to popularity in Trans Am racing, in ‘69 and ‘70 , with Parnelli Jones winning the championship in 1970. The ‘12 and ‘13 BOSS 302, is a factory Track car with the (Red track key)! It totally changes everything about the car. It will tell you on the center Instrument display for (Track Use Only) After you crank the car up, and it recognizes the parameter changes with the red key. My good friend has one. When he purchased the car, The previous owner never had the the quad exhaust, (block off plates) removed. It lets you hear the Exhaust, right below the opening of the doors . If you look underneath the car, you will see them. If you do not feel , or hear any exhaust coming out of those flat pipes….the block off plates, are still mounted at the main exhaust manifold ports, near the driveshaft. He took his to a muffler shop. They put the car on the lift… and Unbolted the quad manifold pipes from each main exhaust , and removed the plates. Billy Johnson , Professional race car driver that drove the Ford GT at Le Mans in 2016 … told me personally…The straight axle ‘12 and ‘13 BOSS, is the best handling solid axle sports car ever made. He helped FORD develop and test drove the IRS S550 Mustang GT500 and the new Ford GT. He has driven for Jack Roush , and drove a solid axel BOSS R ..road racing Years ago with Jack Roush Jr. He’s driven every kind of car, and helped his friend Vaughn Gittin, with RTR suspension development. The shifter is sometimes problematic on the MT82 transmissions, and can be replaced by Several good aftermarket companies, one being MGW…It’s really not the transmission. It’s the shifter that can give problems. Billy told me…to tell my friend, Asking me about Purchasing the ‘13 BOSS…not to worry about the transmission, that it was a wonderful car. I’ve known Billy for a good while. I met him years ago, driving for Jack Roush. I’m here in NC , that’s how I connected with him, with a good friend that worked with Roush! Get you a Red Track Key, If you haven’t already! Then let us all know what you think …With an updated video, part 2!

[@M-t3ch]

I'll see if the owner will go for it. This is really cool information! I thought the shifter in this car felt amazing, it was overall a fantastic experience.

[@kellymeade4587]

@@M-t3ch You’re welcome, my friend has no problems …with the shifter in his BOSS either. That would be great if he goes for it… that Will be a good video, with a Lot of new views!

[@Falcon-mc5fs]

Well solid axle Mustangs dominated in European racing back in 2005 or 2006 and it was so bad they gave the cars 200kg weight addition penalty to bring balance to the field.

[@M-t3ch]

Really? That's awesome! Any idea why? From my understanding, the live axle is a cost cutting measure and I'd think that IRS is better.

[@Falcon-mc5fs]

@@M-t3ch on good tracks that are smooth there is very little benefit to IRS. It's mostly rough or unsettling tracks where irs is useful. IRS keeps the wheels on the ground to a greater degree on unsettled tracks but can be at a disadvantage on very smooth tracks unless they are made so stiff that they act virtually like a solid axle.

[@M-t3ch]

@@Falcon-mc5fs That makes sense! I never knew that 🙂

[@Kamikazekims]

i daily drive a 2014 S197 and the solid rear axle isn't bad.

[@jaimeluevanocervantes2545]

you need to drive a boss 302 feels way better and lightyears different than the gt. you cant spin a boss out as easy as the gt. speaking from personal experience.

[@darrellp2501]

2013 boss 302 owner here. The only issue I have is the gearing with 3 73 is to short on the mt82

[@M-t3ch]

Is that what this has? The owner didn't mention anything about a diff swap so I'd assume it is stock.

[@darrellp2501]

I do have a Barton shifter on mine and it is flawless

[@jaimeluevanocervantes2545]

that was granny shifting too. I always shift my car up to at least 7000k rpm sometimes 7500 lol. the boss loves that shit.

[@M-t3ch]

@jaimeluevanocervantes2545 Haha love it! I wasn't used to a car that fast back then. I'd do better given the opportunity again.

[@BigMan-xl3rl]

need a z3 review in my life

[@M-t3ch]

I do too 👀

[@scottthompson5855]

Or a Z4 M Coupe ;)

[@M-t3ch]

​@@scottthompson5855Yes!

[@SouthernCarGuru]

Well i daily drive a 3v with the live axle its not bad at all honestly and i wasnt here to gove you hate i jsit called out your mistake and you didnt like it my bad ill unsubscribe if you like it dont matter to me at the end of the day im a car guy yoyr a car guy it what it is man just was trying to point out the mistake and the other oart of my comment was cause i habe a hard time with folks on here

[@M-t3ch]

I always appreciate constructive feedback 🙂

[@shanec8224]

Damn.. you seemed to be giddy the whole drive then judged it pretty harsh

[@M-t3ch]

That is specifically why I have to score it later, haha. I did raise the score later, I underapreciated how special it is. But it is still a 2 door sports car with limited practicality ultimately hurting it.

[@shanec8224]

@@M-t3ch yeah makes sense on the limited practicality, but as a driving experience what would you put above it? I’m typically more into Japanese cars but lately I’ve actually been researching boss 302’s and I’m intrigued by them, but i’ve never driven one. I’ve driven a GT back in the day but didn’t think much of it.

[@M-t3ch]

@@shanec8224 It is hard to declare a specific car that I think drives better. The Boss 302 is sort of it's own thing and feels much different than a GT. In a good way. A good comparison to the Boss 302 might be the Camaro SS 1LE but this car feels much more raw and connected than that does. My only gripe with it overall was that it felt a little large for back roads but frankly on track that would not be an issue. It does lack some of the driver's feedback of a 90s or 2000s sports car like an S2000 but that is expected for something that is still relatively modern. Ultimately the only thing that prevented this from scoring higher was value. They are pretty expensive for what you are getting, but that is the case with a lot of these niche factory modified sports cars.

[@scottthompson5855]

I agree. Boss is special. I just replaced tires and changed oil and filter today. Looking forward to summer in the Boss. I have a 2012 Porsche Carrera GTS too. BOTH are super fun drivers cars. If I had to say which I prefer to drive (Boss). If I had to say which car is "better" in every way BUT ONE it's the GTS. The sound of the Boss with Track key and side pipe baffles removed is just pure magic. No six cylinder Porsche...even with sport exhaust can match a 5.0 litre Boss at 6-7.5 RPM...

[@M-t3ch]

@@scottthompson5855 That is awesome to hear! The Boss does sound amazing.

[@hothatchpa]

The axle is terrible. The worst. No one should ever buy a 13/14. They are the worst. ;-) Shh I am trying to keep the demand and price down while I search for mine.

[@M-t3ch]

@@hothatchpa Absolutely terrible, worst thing I have ever driven. I'll preach that out to the world. Psst, let me know when you buy one.

[@pantheranegra2261]

Poor engine bouncing off rev

[@M-t3ch]

The owner told me to haha. The tach shot up faster than I had anticipated.

[@pantheranegra2261]

👍

[@tylerk8133]

It can handle it

[@ElfCrotchPuncher]

The boss 302 is the perfect balance. Most mustangs to me are kinda lame. But the Boss seems like a 1960s style racer. Except with ac

[@M-t3ch]

I agree, most people that I have asked about the GT500 if the same year or newer GT350 say they are completely different experiences.