Test driveon Saturday...
Discussion
Good news and hope you enjoy. Has to be the V8 - V6 simply not the same experience.
Make sure if you get one that you check out labour rates though on servicing/repairs - £85/hr is what I currently have to pay, and at 90 mins to fix a bonnet catch = £130!! Almost matches my TVR for value for money repairs
Make sure if you get one that you check out labour rates though on servicing/repairs - £85/hr is what I currently have to pay, and at 90 mins to fix a bonnet catch = £130!! Almost matches my TVR for value for money repairs
Hope you enjoy it. Both are good cars but the Mustang has a much bigger aftermarket for modifications in the US. The Stang also has the better manual gearbox although it's a 5 speeder next to the Monaro's 6. Looks and interiors are a matter of taste so I won't even go there but I would say the Mustang interior upgrade is pretty much a must. You'll also have a bigger choice of colours on the Mustang if you're looking at a VXR although there's not much wrong with the standard Monaro. You would be wise to check ebay for Mustangs that have been lightly used as they are selling for bargain prices due to the market being flooded with them. It's not like the 2006 Mustang is any different to the 2005.
I'm looking forward to it. I've got to really think hard about what I want.
Definitely love the idea of a V8, not sure if the Monaro looks a little more dated and will depreciate quicker as a result of it's looks although I'd need to see it in the flesh to decide.
Mustang looks much more "individual" and as a result the retro styling helps it.
Interior - have already seen pics and mycolor dash is a must (the ally look).
I really love the look of the one for sale on here for 26k but it's far too expensive in my opinion - I know it's had a lot done but I could pick up a decent Saleen for that!
Definitely love the idea of a V8, not sure if the Monaro looks a little more dated and will depreciate quicker as a result of it's looks although I'd need to see it in the flesh to decide.
Mustang looks much more "individual" and as a result the retro styling helps it.
Interior - have already seen pics and mycolor dash is a must (the ally look).
I really love the look of the one for sale on here for 26k but it's far too expensive in my opinion - I know it's had a lot done but I could pick up a decent Saleen for that!
Ok,
more detailed run down.... couldn't test drive today due to the fact they wanted £100 for me to do so as they get lots of "test pilots", think I could sway them and they'd take dough off the deposit but I'm not paying that plus secondhand is much better value.
Blue one in the showroom was a GT premium auto in the metallic blue colour... was expecting it to be similar to imperial blue (typical bright blue ford colour) but it wasn't, it was much nicer and enough so that that's definitely a colour on the list.
Boot is HUGE, fantastic. Engine bay looked scary but then that's because it's an old school engine with everything on display so no probs there.
Interior, very comfy and I liked the dash layout VERY much. The practical rear seats I can see being complete bollox as I sat in and would need to have my head at an angle to sit comfortably (at 5'9" I'm no giant). Saying that the step-daughter is only 10 so she'd be fine which is my only concern.
Dash plastics aren't the ebst in the business but then I travelled up in my mate's signum and they were similar plastics - everyone's using them. The car had the mydash upgrade, or whatever it's called, and the ally is a must.
All in all it's even MORE of a yes now and I'm not even sure I want to bother looking at a Monaro now! Probably will just for the sake of it but the Mustang just looks SO good - far better than ANY image I've ever seen - none do the car justice and that includes press pics.
Cost? The one there at SMC ford in Gravesend was £27495, GT Premium in Vista Blue metallic on the road with the shaker 500, mydash/colour/whatever upgrade, 18" polished ally wheels and tyre upgrade, 5 speed auto and the charcoal aberdeen embossed leather sport bucket seats (apparently). That was unregistered with a full 2 year warranty.
more detailed run down.... couldn't test drive today due to the fact they wanted £100 for me to do so as they get lots of "test pilots", think I could sway them and they'd take dough off the deposit but I'm not paying that plus secondhand is much better value.
Blue one in the showroom was a GT premium auto in the metallic blue colour... was expecting it to be similar to imperial blue (typical bright blue ford colour) but it wasn't, it was much nicer and enough so that that's definitely a colour on the list.
Boot is HUGE, fantastic. Engine bay looked scary but then that's because it's an old school engine with everything on display so no probs there.
Interior, very comfy and I liked the dash layout VERY much. The practical rear seats I can see being complete bollox as I sat in and would need to have my head at an angle to sit comfortably (at 5'9" I'm no giant). Saying that the step-daughter is only 10 so she'd be fine which is my only concern.
Dash plastics aren't the ebst in the business but then I travelled up in my mate's signum and they were similar plastics - everyone's using them. The car had the mydash upgrade, or whatever it's called, and the ally is a must.
All in all it's even MORE of a yes now and I'm not even sure I want to bother looking at a Monaro now! Probably will just for the sake of it but the Mustang just looks SO good - far better than ANY image I've ever seen - none do the car justice and that includes press pics.
Cost? The one there at SMC ford in Gravesend was £27495, GT Premium in Vista Blue metallic on the road with the shaker 500, mydash/colour/whatever upgrade, 18" polished ally wheels and tyre upgrade, 5 speed auto and the charcoal aberdeen embossed leather sport bucket seats (apparently). That was unregistered with a full 2 year warranty.
Sounds good. I sat in a Mustang about 12 months ago at Litchfield imports. I really did want one, but the LHD put me off. Interestingly when I as looking at a new van last week in Gloucester there was a red one at the dealers bodyshop awaiting repair.
You must certainly go and look at the Monaro, you do at least have the benefit of RHD.
Good to here that SMC are bringing in them though, particularly with a 2 year warranty.
You must certainly go and look at the Monaro, you do at least have the benefit of RHD.
Good to here that SMC are bringing in them though, particularly with a 2 year warranty.
You know what puts me off about the Monaro?
I can't decide if the styling is dating.... fast. When I see what's coming out these days the whole curvy swoopy lines of the monaro don't seem to sit right. Now... I've not bothered actually going and seeing one in the flesh yet but the many many pics I've seen on websites and here all make me think the underlying bodyline is dated it's just a few add on bumpers and things sprucing it up which... in a year or two will not do the job as well.
The monaro has also been discontinued now hasn't it with a new one in the wings?
I'll definitely go look but just knowing I'm thinking the above probably means it'll be a no-go.
LHD isn't a problem and in real world I'd be suprised if 3 years of ownership would give me as many as half a dozen instances of it being a pain. Not much to suffer for all the pleasure ;-)
I can't decide if the styling is dating.... fast. When I see what's coming out these days the whole curvy swoopy lines of the monaro don't seem to sit right. Now... I've not bothered actually going and seeing one in the flesh yet but the many many pics I've seen on websites and here all make me think the underlying bodyline is dated it's just a few add on bumpers and things sprucing it up which... in a year or two will not do the job as well.
The monaro has also been discontinued now hasn't it with a new one in the wings?
I'll definitely go look but just knowing I'm thinking the above probably means it'll be a no-go.
LHD isn't a problem and in real world I'd be suprised if 3 years of ownership would give me as many as half a dozen instances of it being a pain. Not much to suffer for all the pleasure ;-)
Dubbs, I think you need to see on in the metal. They look superb in black and there is a blue one floating around here and the colour is stunning.
The standard 5.7 has been discontinued but VXR's are still available for most of this year. I think you would be quite surprised at the deal you could get on one.
The standard 5.7 has been discontinued but VXR's are still available for most of this year. I think you would be quite surprised at the deal you could get on one.
You should certainly look at the Monaro but I, like you, felt it was a 90's design however good it is as a car (and there's no doubt it is good). I did start looking at yellow as a colour which really brightened it up. However, having seen one in red at a show, it just didn't do it for me and at the end of the day, you've got to like the look of what you're driving. For many people it's the Monaro all the way but for me, the Mustang was always going to be the winner. If you're lucky enough to be able to find a cheap Saleen then it's the winner by a thousand miles, they really do look the business. For me, it was a Saleen or a supercharger and I chose the latter - you've got to compromise somewhere. LOL.
Having owned both a Z28 and a Z06, the larger capacity LS1 has a bit more character than the 4.6 Mustang but the Monaro is about 150-200kg heavier than the Mustang. Asd with all things, it's personal taste. I think anyone would be happy with either but then again, I still lust after Saleens.
Here's one on ebay for £18k.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-FORD-MUSTA
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Sunday 12th March 10:18
Having owned both a Z28 and a Z06, the larger capacity LS1 has a bit more character than the 4.6 Mustang but the Monaro is about 150-200kg heavier than the Mustang. Asd with all things, it's personal taste. I think anyone would be happy with either but then again, I still lust after Saleens.
Here's one on ebay for £18k.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-FORD-MUSTA
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Sunday 12th March 10:18
dubbs said:
LHD isn't a problem and in real world I'd be suprised if 3 years of ownership would give me as many as half a dozen instances of it being a pain. Not much to suffer for all the pleasure ;-)
Dubbs - great to hear you enjoyed the visit, if not (yet) the drive. Agree re LHD - I jump between RHD and LHD and it has not proved a problem in any respect. Only item of note - car park access where you have to lean over/jump out and run around although not really an issue!
One thing - you mention an auto. Have you considered Manual? My 2000 GT is a manual, and aside from being $1k cheaper at purchase, am much happier with a manual. Personal preference, but may be worth considering. Best of luck. Oh - and have flowmaster mufflers fitted to mine from the US, and they definitely make for a deeper bass note to the exhaust at higher rev range.
I'm definitely going for a manual not an auto - they only had autos there for test drive unfortunately.
I've noticed that, considering the 27.5k purchase price they are quoting a 2005 is a steal at somewhere around 17k.
There's even one here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-FORD-MUSTA
That's even cheaper!
I've noticed that, considering the 27.5k purchase price they are quoting a 2005 is a steal at somewhere around 17k.
There's even one here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-FORD-MUSTA
That's even cheaper!
Gassing Station | Mustangs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff