Dont know what Stang to buy?

[jbizel]

I am going to get a stang very soon and have been researching on the comp about performance and prices. I was just wondering what everyone thinks that the best mustang is for under $20K.

The 2 I am leaning torwards the most is the 03,04 Mach1 and the 01 Cobra. Too bad i cant afford the 03,04 cobra.

The reason I like those more is just simply because of the power output. the cobra says 320HP-317FtLB and the Mach's say 305HP-315FtLB.
Is the really much of a difference when we talk about a 60Hp difference cause I bleive the GT's are 260Hp-302FtLB and the Bullitt GT is 265HP-315Ftlb.

Should I be looking more towards the HP or the FT-LB output? Just wondering because The bullitt gt has 55 HP less than the cobra and only has 2 FT LB's less.

Any info is grealty appreciated.

[AltecZX2]

Originally Posted by jbizel

I am going to get a stang very soon and have been researching on the comp about performance and prices. I was just wondering what everyone thinks that the best mustang is for under $20K.

The 2 I am leaning torwards the most is the 03,04 Mach1 and the 01 Cobra. Too bad i cant afford the 03,04 cobra.

The reason I like those more is just simply because of the power output. the cobra says 320HP-317FtLB and the Mach's say 305HP-315FtLB.
Is the really much of a difference when we talk about a 60Hp difference cause I bleive the GT's are 260Hp-302FtLB and the Bullitt GT is 265HP-315Ftlb.

Should I be looking more towards the HP or the FT-LB output? Just wondering because The bullitt gt has 55 HP less than the cobra and only has 2 FT LB's less.

Any info is grealty appreciated.

the mach1 is really closer to 325/335 and is faster ni a staight line then teh Cobra, the cobra has it in turns though due to the IRS and a little heavier front end

I was in teh same place last week..Cobra or Mach1..I went mach1 after driving both...not AT ALL disapointed.

[giddyup50]

I like the look of the Mach alot better than the Cobra!! It just looks meaner. Plus, when you're spending that much money on a specialty Mustang, it should look like a specialty Mustang, the Mach does but, the Cobra does not. It doesn't really stand out over the regular GT. I love the scoop, spoiler, stripe on the bottom. I like the white, red, and grey Mach's. They just look mean.

If you plan on drag racing then you should go with the Mach because of it's solid rear axle. If you plan on doing more road course then go with the Cobra for it's independent rear suspension.

[jbizel]

Originally Posted by AltecZX2

the mach1 is really closer to 325/335.

I was just wondering how you know that? I have heard other people say that about the 03 cobra being closer to 420HP. just curious

Thanks for the info. After researching more thats what I am probably going to go with. I love the shaker hood. on the mach stangs. I would only race people on straight lines probably never on corners. I was thinking the same thing about the specialty mustang thing. It looks like the GT with a few differneces. Another thing that would get to me about the cobra is that I would know there is a better cobra out there, being the 03,04.

What do you guys think about a GT? I am just wondering because the Mach is going to be a little bit harder to find then the GT.

[giddyup50]

The GT is great. It's even less expensive than the Mach or Cobra and with the money you save you can use that for performance upgrades. Your insurance will probably be less also. You can always get the Mach hood and scoop and put it on the GT. There is a company that makes them for GT's just look in one of the Mustang magazines or online. Sure, it would be a clone but, you'd have the Mach look without the Mach price and you wouldn't worry about it as much in a parking lot or parked on the street as you would the Mach. I'd still get some kind of alarm though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jbizel]

Yeah thats true. Damn I was lookin at insurance quotes and for me a GT and A Mach would be $310 a month. Thats outrageous
I thought it was alot less than that. I checked My other options and a Lightning and a GTO is less than half of the GT so I am probably going to have to go that route.

[neatofrito1618]

Originally Posted by giddyup50

The GT is great. It's even less expensive than the Mach or Cobra and with the money you save you can use that for performance upgrades. Your insurance will probably be less also. You can always get the Mach hood and scoop and put it on the GT. There is a company that makes them for GT's just look in one of the Mustang magazines or online. Sure, it would be a clone but, you'd have the Mach look without the Mach price and you wouldn't worry about it as much in a parking lot or parked on the street as you would the Mach. I'd still get some kind of alarm though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you look at it that way a V6 would also being somthing to consider, especially if you're worried about insurance. You can throw a turbo on a stock motor and be a hell of a lot faster than stock Mach's and '99/'01 Cobra's. And V6's are a dime a dozen, I got mine when it was 2 years old with 30k miles while it was still under warrenty for a little over 8k.

[rjstang]

If you are gonna go the V6 route find yourself one of those V6 roush editions with the cool side exhaust!

[giddyup50]

Originally Posted by neatofrito1618

If you look at it that way a V6 would also being somthing to consider, especially if you're worried about insurance. You can throw a turbo on a stock motor and be a hell of a lot faster than stock Mach's and '99/'01 Cobra's. And V6's are a dime a dozen, I got mine when it was 2 years old with 30k miles while it was still under warrenty for a little over 8k.

Hey Neato, you know I'm not doggin the V6.....no, no but's....however, when I think of hopping up a V6 I start to think about the other parts around it. For instance the cooling system, trans., rearend, things like that. There is no doubt that you can do that with good results and there are plenty of company's out there to get products from. But, how much can a stock V6 handle WITHOUT taking the engine apart? I know the 6 can take SOME abuse but, how much can it take? If you're going to be racing at every stoplight, I think the V8 would last alot longer than the V6. Especially considering how manufacturer's usually build the base models (V6) not as strong as the V8 because they figure MOST owners of a 6 will not be abusing them as a owner of an 8 would be.

[neatofrito1618]

Originally Posted by giddyup50

Hey Neato, you know I'm not doggin the V6.....no, no but's....however, when I think of hopping up a V6 I start to think about the other parts around it. For instance the cooling system, trans., rearend, things like that. There is no doubt that you can do that with good results and there are plenty of company's out there to get products from. But, how much can a stock V6 handle WITHOUT taking the engine apart? I know the 6 can take SOME abuse but, how much can it take? If you're going to be racing at every stoplight, I think the V8 would last alot longer than the V6. Especially considering how manufacturer's usually build the base models (V6) not as strong as the V8 because they figure MOST owners of a 6 will not be abusing them as a owner of an 8 would be.

The stock internals can safely handle around 350-375rwhp, maybe a little more with a good tune. And at around 11 PSI you'll only make around 340rwhp with a stock motor and at that level a Detroit locker on a 7.5 should be more than enough to run DR's on. A 4R70W will take the power and so will a T-5 as long as it's not powershifted everyday. As for GT's being build so much better that really isen't the case, they can only handle about 400-425rwhp with the stock internals.

[jbizel]

I can still get a fast car/truck without paying an arm and a leg. I dont understand insurance companies though. I have a 02 grand prix gt with 200 horsepower. Costs me $190 a month. Then I checked a 05 GTO with 400 horsepower and it would cost me $148 a month. Something with twice as much horsepower is $50 cheaper. Doesnt make sense to me.

Personally I dont think that FORD should have ever put a 6 cylinder in the mustang, or any other muscle car for that matter. Also I dont think any V6 can compare to the sound a V8 makes with the right exhaust. One of the main reasons I like the mustang so much is because of the sound they make. I Its music to my ears. Just my 2 cents though.

[neatofrito1618]

Originally Posted by jbizel

I can still get a fast car/truck without paying an arm and a leg. I dont understand insurance companies though. I have a 02 grand prix gt with 200 horsepower. Costs me $190 a month. Then I checked a 05 GTO with 400 horsepower and it would cost me $148 a month. Something with twice as much horsepower is $50 cheaper. Doesnt make sense to me.

Personally I dont think that FORD should have ever put a 6 cylinder in the mustang, or any other muscle car for that matter. Also I dont think any V6 can compare to the sound a V8 makes with the right exhaust. One of the main reasons I like the mustang so much is because of the sound they make. I Its music to my ears. Just my 2 cents though.

Whatever floats your boat. With the right exhaust set-up they can sound good, but no they will never sound like a V8.

[giddyup50]

Originally Posted by neatofrito1618

The stock internals can safely handle around 350-375rwhp, maybe a little more with a good tune. And at around 11 PSI you'll only make around 340rwhp with a stock motor and at that level a Detroit locker on a 7.5 should be more than enough to run DR's on. A 4R70W will take the power and so will a T-5 as long as it's not powershifted everyday. As for GT's being build so much better that really isen't the case, they can only handle about 400-425rwhp with the stock internals.

Impressive #'s for the engine. And the T-5 can handle powershifting everyday (I did in my 92 5.0). But then there's the weak link...the 7.5 rearend. Yeah, you can upgrade it but, that's one of the things I was talking about. The other parts around the V6 that are not really "high performance" items, not that they're being built "better", it's just that they have better parts to handle the abuse in stock form. Parts like the radiator, waterpump, ignition, fuelsystem, suspension, brakes. I'm not downgrading the V6 at all. All I'm saying is that the V6 in stock trim has a purpose from Ford, and that is to satisfy the buyer who doesn't want the higher purchase price, gas, insurance, maintenance cost. Ford also does not expect that buyer to be out everynight racing but, they know that many of the GT owners would be. So because of that they use parts/systems that can handle the abuse.

[AltecZX2]

Originally Posted by jbizel

I was just wondering how you know that? I have heard other people say that about the 03 cobra being closer to 420HP. just curious

the dyno numbers and you assume 15-17% lose so when you factor that back in you get approx crank numbers.

the only don side is that it has a forged crank BUT the pistons and rods are the same as a GT, soit will only take about 8psi from a SC safely...but its 4v vs the GT's 2v so it will makes more power mod for mod and have a better power range.

[neatofrito1618]

Originally Posted by giddyup50

Impressive #'s for the engine. And the T-5 can handle powershifting everyday (I did in my 92 5.0). But then there's the weak link...the 7.5 rearend. Yeah, you can upgrade it but, that's one of the things I was talking about. The other parts around the V6 that are not really "high performance" items, not that they're being built "better", it's just that they have better parts to handle the abuse in stock form. Parts like the radiator, waterpump, ignition, fuelsystem, suspension, brakes. I'm not downgrading the V6 at all. All I'm saying is that the V6 in stock trim has a purpose from Ford, and that is to satisfy the buyer who doesn't want the higher purchase price, gas, insurance, maintenance cost. Ford also does not expect that buyer to be out everynight racing but, they know that many of the GT owners would be. So because of that they use parts/systems that can handle the abuse.

The rear end is a small thing, it only cost a few hundred to upgrade. And 8.8's aren't anything in stock form, sure they have a better aftermarket than 7.5's but I've seen bolt-on GT's break an 8.8. You seem like a decent guy so don't take it personal, but it's obvious that you haven't done any research about the difference between V6's and GT's. You just assume that since the GT is the "upgraded" model that Ford would put much better parts in it and "build it for racing" which isen't the case, they both have the exact same suspension, same auto's from '94-'04, same 5- speeds from '94-'95 and GT's had 3650's(which started in '01) and T-45's past that, which really isen't an upgrade from the T-5 V6's have.

Originally Posted by AltecZX2

the dyno numbers and you assume 15-17% lose so when you factor that back in you get approx crank numbers.

the only don side is that it has a forged crank BUT the pistons and rods are the same as a GT, soit will only take about 8psi from a SC safely...but its 4v vs the GT's 2v so it will makes more power mod for mod and have a better power range.

Not all Mach's have forged cranks, only 5-speed's, auto's don't. Why Ford did that is beyond me, you think they would of forged the pistons or connecting rods before the crank.