out of curiousity '00 F-body or 06 Mustang....

[irocfan]

Now before you all start telling me that the cars are vastly differently priced etc etc - I know. That aside the issue is that as the Mrs has already nixed the idea of a C5 I'm now thinking that maybe a Mustang may well be nicer for her as a passenger than a WS6 Trans Am would be. Thing is I know next to nothing about the S197s and was wondering how they both compare... I'd imagine that performance-wise (straight-line) the WS6 would win but on the twisties the Stang would be slightly better. At the pumps I know that the WS6 can see up to mid 30s on a run - how does the Ford compare to this?

Price-wise they are obviously poles apart - the Ford being likely to run to mid-teens whereas (if I can find one!) the WS6 likely to be under 10k. I guess rarity is massively on the WS6's side and the extra £££ in my pocket would pay for a fair chunk of 'nicer seats' (for example) not to mention a holiday as well!! Is the Mustang 'worth' the premium over the older f-body?

I guess at this point I should say I used to own a '00 SS Camaro which I thought was fantastic but I've never driven a Mustang so there's no good point of comparison for me yet (off on holiday in 2 weeks so there could well be a Mustang in the hire-car plans lol).

Any opinions?

[LuS1fer]

irocfan said:

I'm now thinking that maybe a Mustang may well be nicer for her as a passenger than a WS6 Trans Am would be.

It depends. You sit "in" an F-body but "on" a Mustang. So there is the height issue to start with. Next, you have the narrow passenger well on the F-body and the bible under the carpet. Footwell is better in the Mustang. There is less support in the Mustang seat, especially if you're slim. the leather allows you to slide and the side bolsters are much shallower than the F-body (which also had adjustable side wings on my Z28).

irocfan said:

Thing is I know next to nothing about the S197s and was wondering how they both compare... I'd imagine that performance-wise (straight-line) the WS6 would win but on the twisties the Stang would be slightly better. At the pumps I know that the WS6 can see up to mid 30s on a run - how does the Ford compare to this?

The best 0-60 I ever saw for the WS6 was 5.0 and the Stang 4.6 is 5.2. The Autocar Z28 hit 100 in 13 dead and I think the Mustang is not much slower but you are always aware the Ford has a litre less and they weigh roughly the same. My manual supercharged Mustang returns an average of 24mpg round town (4 more than my auto Z28)and on a run up North at a sedate 60-80, I got 35mpg. however, those with more lead feet have got less and the Mustang is more sensitive to higher speeds, having a barn door grille.

When I went from Z28 to Mustang, the first obvious thing was sitting higher in the Mustang, "on" the seats and this affects your perception of roll because initially I thought the Mustang rolled too much. However, you have to bear in mind that my Z28 was both lowered and very rigid with welded on SFCs and I had modified it staright away as the rear end could wag a bit so I may not be comparing apples with apples. What i can say is that having modified and lowered my Z28, I did the same with the Mustang and it is probably the better car. It's hard for me to be prescriptive though, as I modified it and bolted a supercharger to it within weeks. the Mustang has better steering and (if manual) a much better gearshift.

irocfan said:

Price-wise they are obviously poles apart - the Ford being likely to run to mid-teens whereas (if I can find one!) the WS6 is likely to be under 10k. I guess rarity is massively on the WS6's side and the extra £££ in my pocket would pay for a fair chunk of 'nicer seats' (for example) not to mention a holiday as well!! Is the Mustang 'worth' the premium over the older F-body?

Good question. I know many who hate the looks of the WS6 but I love them. I know many who hate 4th gens but I love them. In modified form, mine was more like a 4 seater Corvette but I'm not sure I would have loved it so much had I not modified it (by which I mean I had Bilstein BTS suspension, LCAs, STB and the weld-on SFCs plus some 18" wheels to replace the rather silly standard 16s (17s on WS6). I'm not even sure that a WS6 setup would not require such mods - but both require mods that have to be budgeted for.
If I was offered a 2002 camaro SS Anniversary tomorrow and had a buyer for my Mustang, I would be sorely tempted, though after the Mustang interior, I think i would now have issues with the 4th gen interior being a bit basic and plasticky (yes, even nest to the Mustang). The seats I had in my Euro spec Z28 were Firebird leather items (fitted to UK cars as standard) and very comfortable.

irocfan said:

I guess at this point I should say I used to own a '00 SS Camaro which I thought was fantastic but I've never driven a Mustang so there's no good point of comparison for me yet (off on holiday in 2 weeks so there could well be a Mustang in the hire-car plans lol).

I think it doesn't come down to which is best but which of any two cars is best in terms of what price you're going to pay. I'd be happy with either, even now, though whether that is rose-tints kicking in is hard to say. The only downside of the WS6 is that it's now an old car and the aftermarket is geared to the Mustang and new Camaro these days. The Mustang is also coming down in price to £12-£16k but as time passes, they are falling to prices more people can afford so they are tending to get bought more quickly. Just watch out for the dodgy SVA conversions.

[irocfan]

cheers dude

[LuS1fer]

Just remembered that my Z28 ran 13.8 at 105 at Avon Park just trickling it off the line as traction is an issue. They can run faster. Not sure what Mustangs run.

[irocfan]

not too worried about outright performance, truth be told these days I'd be (in most situations) just as well served with a V6 - but I really would miss the 'thump in the chest when needed and above all the sound

[Z28DUNC]

Best advice, drive one first! I only have a CAI and a Corsa Catback system on my LT1 Camaro but it's a lot quicker after a ton than my mates standard 06' 4.6 GT Mustang.

The Mustangs definitely got a nicer interior but you do sit high up. When I drove it I was impressed by how smooth it felt (auto) and comfortable it was. However your comment of kick in the back, didn't get that feeling in the Mustang. Also I felt it was overly power assisted.

Go for a drive in one and make your mind up. Both great cars like LuS1fer has said.

[anonymous-user]

LuS1fer said:

Next, you have the narrow passenger well on the F-body and the bible under the carpet.

Excellent! I've not heard that one before. Perfect description!

[irocfan]

5 USA said:

Excellent! I've not heard that one before. Perfect description!

it is. Took SWMBO to see my mates (lowered) WS6 and..... drum roll.... she quite liked it, being as she's quite diddy the seat can be put a fair chunk forward to avoid this PitA. Still at least I know if the right car of either flavour comes up I'm covered as she's good with it lol