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  Sept. 9, 2011 7:21 p.m. motomoron HalfDork

  Going racing has rendered my (streetable) track '98 M3 less necessary to my needs. The crazy spring rates, low ride height, lack of a back seat, roll bar, race seats and 6-point harnesses were tolerable for driving to events, and when the truck was full I'd drive it to work now and then. But it's noisy, uncomfortable and a pain to crawl in and out of.

  When I'm instructing at track days is the only time I'd go on track in a car w/ a license plate, so I'd like something for a DD that's easy to live with (bearing in mind I've got a Miata, a Sprite, a Tacoma, a KTM supermoto and a Yamaha RD400 - none of which are especially "luxurious" or maintenance free) reasonably comfortable, not a horrid bitch to work on or buy parts for, and is fun without being a "race car on the street".

  I'll have in the region of $25+k to spend (which is by far the most I've ever spent for a car. My short list prior to this was a very short one:

  • BMW e46 M3

  • BMW e39 M5

  • Audi S4 Avant

  But then a strange trend emerged of friends buying late model Mustangs, and I started looking. You can get a 2010 GT w/ the big brakes and sundry sporty stuff w/ sub 20k miles for $27k. '06-'07 GTs are 20-ish.

  They're big and comfy, the build quality seems OK, parts and such are cheap, and I've been in a few on the track and they seem to go OK. I've always wanted a V8 car, so this would get that off the list.

  What do I need to know?

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  Sept. 9, 2011 7:56 p.m. corytate Reader

  b6 or b7 s4 avant is my vote for the v8.
  but from what I've heard the newer mustangs are pretty damn sturdy. might be worth it to spring a liiiittle more and get a brand new v8 car, they are surprisingly affordable. not under your budget as outlined in your post, but barely out of it.

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  Sept. 9, 2011 9:01 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

  Forget the 10. Go 2011 5.0 if you are going that new. Otherwise, the 05-09's are 100% identical, so grab a $13K 05 and have fun.

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin 360 / GoKart / 86 944 Sport / 01 Grand Prix GT / 06 Mazda5 M5

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  Sept. 9, 2011 10:29 p.m. Joshua HalfDork

  Javelin wrote: Forget the 10. Go 2011 5.0 if you are going that new. Otherwise, the 05-09's are 100% identical, so grab a $13K 05 and have fun.

  My thoughts exactly if you really want a Mustang.

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  Sept. 9, 2011 11:00 p.m. mrhappy Reader

  I think you should adopt a few of us as your children.

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  Sept. 9, 2011 11:40 p.m. forzav12 Reader

  Can't go wrong with the Mustang. Just read about a new 5.0 absolutely destroying a new EVO, Miata, 370Z and GTI around a road course as part of a Car & Driver comparo.

  Some Ferraris,Musclecars and other junk.

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  Sept. 10, 2011 1:07 a.m. mtownneon New Reader

  I've owned an '05 GT for about 6 months now and it's been a fantastic car. Quick, comfortable, screwed together very well. 300 hp & 25 mpg on the highway. Combined mileage is averaging 19 mpg! The only complaint is cupholder location, that's it. Hard to go wrong with an S197 Mustang.

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  Sept. 10, 2011 5:46 a.m. darkbuddha Reader

  I bet you could get a new V6 Mustang (with some options) in your price range and it would fit most of your criteria, plus it would be NEW, with a warranty. Buy one of those warranty extensions and you'll have a fairly worry free, semi-cool, decent performing, reasonably economical Mustang.

  Wyatt

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  Sept. 10, 2011 6:33 a.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

  Just a side note: I think there are more Mustangs in the world than any other model. At the recent Woodward cruise every third car was a Mustang it seemed. This is not a negative but a tribute to Ford for keeping the Mustang such a great value for the money. Aside from the Mustang IIs of the 70s they have stayed true to their roots. The late model Mustangs are likely the best ever.

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  Sept. 10, 2011 6:38 a.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

  forzav12 wrote: Can't go wrong with the Mustang. Just read about a new 5.0 absolutely destroying a new EVO, Miata, 370Z and GTI around a road course as part of a Car & Driver comparo.

  True but they picked the EVO as the overall winner of the test and our old buddy the Miata as the runner up.

  The Mustang is an awesome car.

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  Sept. 10, 2011 10:08 a.m. motomoron HalfDork

  Much like it being a bad idea to google medical stuff before you see a doctor, I spent a little time on the Ford "build your Mustang" website. D'oh.

  Assuming I sell the M3 in the neighborhood of $20k - in the ballpark for a completely done dedicated track car w/ low miles and new everything - there's .9% financing @ 48 months.

  I can get a GT Premium package w/ the Brembo/handling pack, 3.73 gears and not much else for $377/month/48 months.

  Buying it with their money at 1% so my money stays off making hopefully better than 1% is an inducement.

  I'm imagining a comfortable, good handling car with as much HP+torque as the rest of my cars added together, with a warranty and which I wouldn't have to continually have to buy parts for and work on.

  I'm a goner.

  "All my tools are hammers except screwdrivers which are chisels and punches"

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  Sept. 10, 2011 10:27 a.m. Javelin SuperDork

  Skip the Premium setting. Do you really want leather, steering wheel audio controls, and a bitchy talking nav system yelling at you on track? GT Base has cloth seats, no nonsense, and is cheaper. Another bonus? When they're used they're worth exactly the same, so less deprecation.

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin 360 / GoKart / 86 944 Sport / 01 Grand Prix GT / 06 Mazda5 M5

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  Sept. 10, 2011 11:30 p.m. oldeskewltoy HalfDork

  Feedyurhed wrote: Just a side note: I think there are more Mustangs in the world than any other model.

  25+ million Corollas.....

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  Sept. 10, 2011 11:33 p.m. N Sperlo Dork

  oldeskewltoy wrote:

  Feedyurhed wrote: Just a side note: I think there are more Mustangs in the world than any other model.

  25+ million Corollas.....

  Best-selling single model - Volkswagen Beetle (21,529,464 of the same basic design sold worldwide between 1938 and 2003) .....

  - N. Sperlo -:-:- "Never take life seriously. No one ever gets out alive anyway." ~ ~ A strong tail wind can't hurt either...~~ K0HOF

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  Sept. 11, 2011 12:20 a.m. forzav12 Reader

  oldeskewltoy wrote:

  Feedyurhed wrote: Just a side note: I think there are more Mustangs in the world than any other model.

  25+ million Corollas.....

  we were discussing cars, not appliances.

  Some Ferraris,Musclecars and other junk.

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  Sept. 11, 2011 8:40 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  Javelin wrote: Skip the Premium setting. Do you really want leather, steering wheel audio controls, and a bitchy talking nav system yelling at you on track? GT Base has cloth seats, no nonsense, and is cheaper. Another bonus? When they're used they're worth exactly the same, so less deprecation.

  He's looking for a daily.. not a track car.. so leather might be on the "list"

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Sept. 11, 2011 9:28 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

  Why am I the only one thinking Terminator Cobra? They're getting cheap, make stupid power stock, make WAY stupid power just by opening the hood and looking at the engine for a few minutes (seriously, they make power almost as easy as DSM's and small block Chevys.). Plus they look cool and make supercharger noises.

  Go fast or go broke.

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  Sept. 11, 2011 10:13 a.m. just_james New Reader

  '10 Mustang GT's are an awkward combo of the older 3valve motor with the new body style and so most of the older 05-09 parts won't just bolt up. Also, I'd put money on the '10 GT's following the path of the '99/'01 Cobras. Not bad cars for their time, but soon as word got out that Ford was making a newer/better Cobra for '03, the aftermarket for the 99/01's all but stopped. I'd think that there would be very little aftermarket support for the '10 GT's simply because the '11 GT's are that much better of a car.
  

  I'd also second the 03/04 Cobra's. Great cars and clean examples are available for high teens/low 20's depending on the mods. Plus, there are tons of aftermarket support available for them.

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  Sept. 12, 2011 8:35 p.m. corytate Reader

  so its settled for you: terminator or '11 gt
  each are spectacular for different reasons

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  Sept. 12, 2011 9:00 p.m. Raze Dork

  motomoron wrote: I've always wanted a V8 car, so this would get that off the list. What do I need to know?

  Uh, you've never owned a V8? It's kind of like that saying "Once you go black..."

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