Every year the Ford media train rolls around to our neck of the woods and affords us and other members of the motoring media the opportunity to test drive some awesome cars. This year Saleen also joined in on the PR opportunity and brought along a pair of S281 Mustang coupes. The yellow one is naturally aspirated, rated at 330 horse (5200 rpm), while the red car pushes out 435 horsepower at 5800 rpm with the aid of a blower. Not brought to the shindig, understandably, is the Saleen S281 Extreme which lays down an asphalt melting 550 horsepower from the Mustang 3V mill.

Before we get into our test drives, we have to share with you a bit about the ambience of an event like this. Of the thirty or so media persons in attendance the majority are driving-glove wearing, “cultured”, automotive journalists representing distinguished publications like the Napa Valley Register. We’re not judging, but these guys should not get in the way of FordMuscle when it comes to the opportunity for the keys to a V8 beast like one of the aforementioned Saleens. They ought to be forming a gentlemanly cue next to the Land Rover while we get first dibs on anything with a V8 and a stick. Of course it wasn’t like that. Over twenty new Ford and Ford-brand cars were available to be test driven, and EVERYONE was scrumming for the Saleens. Some of those old bastards can run pretty fast. We felt so disrespected.
Whatever, we waited our turn while these guys made one full lap of the South San Francisco test route in the 18 minutes each driver is allotted per car. We’re sure the throttle blades never cracked beyond half open. By the time we got in the car the seats were just warm and so was the motor. Once around the corner and out of sight from the event organizers we let these car rip. Take a look at the video.

Impressions… I wouldn’t turn down either car, but, at the risk of sounding like a wimp, I connected with the naturally aspirated S281 more so than I did with the blower car. The 330 horsepower/340 lb-ft. torque was the perfect setup for buzzing on and off the freeway and getting jiggy through the side streets. Sure there isn’t much done to it beyond the stock Mustang GT power level. Saleen just adds pullies and an exhaust system to get the 30 HP bump over stock. However, unlike the blower car, you could actually get the pedal to the floor without the rear breaking free and putting the car uncontrollably sideways. The standard S281 is also much better balanced in terms of braking and handling. This is where it really shines as a better performing car compared to the stock GT. Perhaps with more than 18 minutes behind the big horsepower of the blower we’d be more comfortable with it. It is certainly going to put down faster ET’s at the track and make for better bragging rights, but it may not be as fun in day to day driving. Well, that is unless you deliberately take the long way to work.

Also worth a mention was the once in a lifetime privilege of driving the 2006 Jaguar Super V8. It has an all aluminum DOHC supercharged V8. It produced 400 HP/413 lb.ft. at just 3500 rpm! That explains why this car put you back in your seat harder than the Saleen or anything else we’ve ever driven in the category of “bone stock”. Sure Ford owns Jaguar, but at $95,000 it just doesn’t fall into the typical FordMuscle category – though I’d change my mind if someone produced a pic of a Super V8 with ET Streets under the rear fenders and about to roll into the water box. Here’s to hoping Ford uses this powerplant in some more affordable vehicles someday.