Help choosing a Mustang
Discussion
I've owned the prvious generation Mustang coupe (SN95) and now own a current shape convertible.
The new car is a lot nicer to drive but both of mine have been autos. The only reason for going for auto is that the wife droves it as much as me and it was bought as a cruiser. If I was buying one for fun I would go down the same route as you and look for a manual but stick to a coupe so you don't suffer from scuttle shake.
This one used to belong to vpr on here before he upgraded.
http://www.atlanticsportscars.com/vehicles/07_Must...
He's a bit fussy so it has been well looked after.
The new car is a lot nicer to drive but both of mine have been autos. The only reason for going for auto is that the wife droves it as much as me and it was bought as a cruiser. If I was buying one for fun I would go down the same route as you and look for a manual but stick to a coupe so you don't suffer from scuttle shake.
This one used to belong to vpr on here before he upgraded.
http://www.atlanticsportscars.com/vehicles/07_Must...
He's a bit fussy so it has been well looked after.
Can't help you on the verts but here's a few pointers.
The 4.6L V8 is called the GT which isn't supercharged from the factory and kicks out 300bhp. Then you have the 5.4L GT500 at 500bhp which will cost you about £35K for a second hand one. The GT is about 400lbs lighter than the GT500 so is more than a match when supercharged.
£30K will get you a supercharged GT with around 450-500 bhp depending on the blower. Roush and Saleen are the most blower. Or you could get a standard GT for £18-20K and have it supercharged for about £5,500.
The Roush and Saleen cars generally come with uprated brakes, suspension etc but check the model as there are a few stages of tune. Both manufactures are well respected so it comes down to the looks. Again you can take a standard GT and add suspension etc. £1K will get you a good suspension set up (Roush springs and Tokico or Roush shocks) and £1.5K ish will get you a Brembo or Roush brake upgrade.
Cervini just make body kits really so aren't in the same league as Saleen and Roush but you can obviously put a Cervini kit on anything you find if you like the looks. They're a bit OTT for me but are pretty popular.
Check who did the SVA lighting conversion. Although you can do it yourself it's got to be done right or there's a £1K bill waiting for you when the SJB (smart junction box) blows up. Companies like Atlantic will be fine but check if buying private or from a dealer who doesn't specialise in Mustangs.
You could get a new, facelift 2010 model for less then £30K but so far the reception in the UK has been not too great - most of us don't like the looks, especially the rear end.
Get over to www.s197.co.uk for all current model advice
The car Roo linked to is nice BTW - supercharged ("only" 420bhp though) with the GT500 body kit (hard to get hold of here unless you want to spend £££££)
The 4.6L V8 is called the GT which isn't supercharged from the factory and kicks out 300bhp. Then you have the 5.4L GT500 at 500bhp which will cost you about £35K for a second hand one. The GT is about 400lbs lighter than the GT500 so is more than a match when supercharged.
£30K will get you a supercharged GT with around 450-500 bhp depending on the blower. Roush and Saleen are the most blower. Or you could get a standard GT for £18-20K and have it supercharged for about £5,500.
The Roush and Saleen cars generally come with uprated brakes, suspension etc but check the model as there are a few stages of tune. Both manufactures are well respected so it comes down to the looks. Again you can take a standard GT and add suspension etc. £1K will get you a good suspension set up (Roush springs and Tokico or Roush shocks) and £1.5K ish will get you a Brembo or Roush brake upgrade.
Cervini just make body kits really so aren't in the same league as Saleen and Roush but you can obviously put a Cervini kit on anything you find if you like the looks. They're a bit OTT for me but are pretty popular.
Check who did the SVA lighting conversion. Although you can do it yourself it's got to be done right or there's a £1K bill waiting for you when the SJB (smart junction box) blows up. Companies like Atlantic will be fine but check if buying private or from a dealer who doesn't specialise in Mustangs.
You could get a new, facelift 2010 model for less then £30K but so far the reception in the UK has been not too great - most of us don't like the looks, especially the rear end.
Get over to www.s197.co.uk for all current model advice
The car Roo linked to is nice BTW - supercharged ("only" 420bhp though) with the GT500 body kit (hard to get hold of here unless you want to spend £££££)
Edited by benny.c on Monday 10th August 14:47
euroboy said:
Hi folks,
In the next 3 months I am planning on taking a complete different direction with my cars (after always having Italian motors) but after years of secret hankering for a yank motor a ride in my friends C6 Z06 has cemented my desire for some yank iron.
It's always the way. Soon all cars will become boring to you.In the next 3 months I am planning on taking a complete different direction with my cars (after always having Italian motors) but after years of secret hankering for a yank motor a ride in my friends C6 Z06 has cemented my desire for some yank iron.
euroboy said:
I have basically narrowed my choices to a C6 Vette or an 05 onwards Stang.
Do not, under any circumstances rule out the C5 Z06. 2002-2004 with 405hp standard and a six speed shifter. However, it's a hardtop only. In that event, i also wouldn't rule out the C5 convertible which looks so much better than the stumpy C6.euroboy said:
Looking through the classifieds and previous threads on here there seems to be a massive choice when it comes to the Mustang and I'm just looking for a bit of guidance if you can offer it?
Budget is flexible for the right car but ideally I'd like to keep it at around 30k GBP. I have had convertibles in the past (and loved them) but how does the canvas Mustang compare to its tin-top counterpart?
It has to be a V8, has to be manual and ideally I think it should have a supercharger attached
Are there any elementary differences between, say, a Roush/Saleen/Cervini etc.
The coupe is very rigid in terms of body strength and you'll lose a lot of that in convertible form plus you lose the purity of line - I'm not a fan of convertible saloons. It does have strengthening bars underneath but all that does is add a lot of weight.Budget is flexible for the right car but ideally I'd like to keep it at around 30k GBP. I have had convertibles in the past (and loved them) but how does the canvas Mustang compare to its tin-top counterpart?
It has to be a V8, has to be manual and ideally I think it should have a supercharger attached
Are there any elementary differences between, say, a Roush/Saleen/Cervini etc.
Essentially the 4.6GT makes 300hp. The suspension is on the soft side of American and the tyres are too high in profile on cars wearing 17" wheels so budget for new wheels and low profile tyres, a suspension upgrade and you're good to go. From 2006 or 7, they got irritating tyre pressure sensors which are fitted on bands and you have to either buy new bands or put the sensors in the spare tyre.
The Bullitt was a deglitzed version that came in black or metallic green. It has slightly better suspension, seats and 315hp.
Either car can be easily supercharged from 415-550hp using any one of the aftermarket supercharger kits which come with everything you need from around £6000 fitted.
Although the GT500 has 500hp, it also has a big iron block and a whole asteroid's worth of extra weight so the 6 speed box and bigger brakes only partly offset the big weight disadvantage. Again, the suspension is no different.
Even with 460-470hp, my car only has the same power/weight ratio as the C5 Z06 which I had before it but I pay nmore insurance because it's modified rather than standard.
In short and I'll keep this simple, if you don't need the extra seats, buy the Corvette. it's fast, looks like a supercar, has a lower Cof G so you feel like you're driving a sports car rather than a coupe. Having had both, I like to think I'm unbiased.
euroboy said:
Thanks for the honest opinion of it.
My friends Z06 is quite simply mind blowing, but at this point out of my budget.
I have a ZHZ for two weeks at the end of August in California, so that should be a nice long test drive
Im not sure about the C5 - some of the modified ones look very nice, but theres too many 'tacky' ones around and I particularly hate the 'bodged' on rear fog lights that sit in the rear bumper on the euro models.
There are plenty of US imports about without the rear fogs and you could even do it yourself. This is mine and it recently sold here on PH for less than £20k. Luckily, I have only ever seen one or two chavved C5s - in general they tend to be owned by enthusiasts, not essex boys. My friends Z06 is quite simply mind blowing, but at this point out of my budget.
I have a ZHZ for two weeks at the end of August in California, so that should be a nice long test drive
Im not sure about the C5 - some of the modified ones look very nice, but theres too many 'tacky' ones around and I particularly hate the 'bodged' on rear fog lights that sit in the rear bumper on the euro models.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/627465
THere seems to be a big difference between the early C6 and the later cars. EVO didn't rate the early one in the PCOTY in 2005 (10th and last, beaten hollow by the 3rd placed Roush Mustang)but rated it quite highly in 2008.
There are, of course, plenty of Mustangs in questionable taste.
Beware some of those hire cars, they seem to be doctored to prevent full heat being deployed. On the Mustangs, they use a clip behind the TCS switch to stop you turning it off, for example.
As I've noted, the main problem with a Mustang GT is you only get 300hp and you need mods to get the bext from them. On a limited budget, even the base C5 makes 350hp and weighs at least 100kg less than the Mustang. The C5 Z06 has it all out of the box - less weight, short ratio box, better suspension but no convertible option. The 2004 C5 Z06 came with a carbon fibre bonnet too. My mate still has his C5 Z06 which he's had since 2004 as a daily driver and he's spent hardly anthing on it bar servicing which amounts to an oil change every year basically.
Roush and Saleen Mustangs are a better bet but tend to be more expensive.
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