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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

2.3 vs 5.0?

  • Thread starter Thread starter VisChaos
  • Start date Start date Apr 4, 2006
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65ShelbyClone

Founding Member
Sep 9, 2000
4,675
38
119
Antelope Valley, SoCal
Apr 13, 2006
#21
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #21
You guys are wierd. I haven't had any Mustang driver wave/nod/rev/whatever to me that I remember. Bikers have waved at me when I was riding my XR600, but it wasn't consistent. Some biker bikers will do it, and some crotch rocketers, but not in any pattern(a dirt biker is a outcast to them anyway).

Red_LX said:
Escort LX's with the 1.9 were only rated at 90 hp if I recall correctly.
Click to expand...

If it makes you feel any better, the POS beater Civic I used to drive was rated at 92hp.....from a 1.5LSOHC with only dual point injection. It didnt feel like 92hp, but maybe it had that when it was new. I agree with BELL; no one knows what an SVO is. As a 175hp '84 model, it's not a drag racer, but its faster than the the average 16 second rice car and I think that catches a few people off guard who would dismiss it otherwise. If only I had a late-'80s Audi Quattro with the 2.1L and 300hp....
 

88stangmangt

Active Member
Nov 25, 2003
2,332
1
48
Stafford,VA
Apr 14, 2006
#22
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #22
I have a 2005 Jetta GLI for my DD and all the vw guys who are into them like me. Give me the peace (vw sign) when i get close. but i do get reved at all the time it's a sign IMO that they want to tease you. Some do it to coax you into a race.That reminds me of one of the last times i had my lx out. i was sitting at a light with my buddy in his F-150 infront of me. The red modular gt next to him was reving at him showing off...didnt even see me to the side of him so as i went by i held it to the mat got next to his window let 18psi out through my HKS SSQV to let him know i was there. I had to swerve his jaw.......-Priceless.
 

Fast_Mustang87

New Member
Aug 24, 2004
97
1
0
Illinois
Apr 18, 2006
#23
  • Apr 18, 2006
  • #23
Yeah I always wave at other mustangs around here but i can't stand the Z28's when they rev there engines at me.
 
K

kevinspann

Member
Feb 25, 2006
0
0
6
Richmond, VA
Apr 22, 2006
#24
  • Apr 22, 2006
  • #24
rd said:
I wave at most Mustang's I see, 5.0 or 2.3 or whatever.

Why not, we can't let the Jeep folks have all the fun. I've had bikes, 3 Jeeps, etc, and it's kind of fun.

Our 2.3 is by all means not a slow vehicle. With 3.73 gears, even the 88 hp monster motor moves it out quite respectably, I think. Not up there with either of my 5.0's but no prob for daily driving.
Click to expand...

Agreed! Now all I need is a stick to make it even more lively

All this talk makes me want to turbo it instead of a 5.0...What do you all suggest?
 

Shawneebear93

20+ Year Stangneter
May 4, 2004
518
17
49
Salisbury Twp, Allentown, PA
Apr 22, 2006
#25
  • Apr 22, 2006
  • #25
kevinspann said:
All this talk makes me want to turbo it instead of a 5.0...What do you all suggest?
Click to expand...
What do you think?
 

65ShelbyClone

Founding Member
Sep 9, 2000
4,675
38
119
Antelope Valley, SoCal
Apr 22, 2006
#26
  • Apr 22, 2006
  • #26
A turbo 2.3 Mustang is one big catch 22. The ricers think it's a V8, then think its automatically slow because they once beat a carbed 2.3 auto that wasn't racing. The Mustang crowd doesn't respect it simply because it's not a 5.0. The only way to "prove" anything is to race and racing for that purpose is lame. The SVO is the same way; everyone thinks it is a 5.0, then go "huh, too bad" when they find out it's a 2.3. I know someone at work that actually said "thats just wrong."

Its lonely cheering for the underdogs.
 
B

BELL

Founding Member
Feb 21, 2002
722
0
0
California
Apr 22, 2006
#27
  • Apr 22, 2006
  • #27
the reaction i get from people is way different. the 5.0's around here wave and race off ahead of me. i just ease into the turbo to let them now whats there. however the neck snapping i get from the ricers is probably the best feeling ever. i was leaving 7-11 the other day afterwork. this prelude was sitting there bumping rap and two g's smokin ciggs talkin. they looked at me when the svo started and i backed up an gave a little spool. then hit the road at 18psi. they ran out to the street watched as i tore off. great
 

Shawneebear93

20+ Year Stangneter
May 4, 2004
518
17
49
Salisbury Twp, Allentown, PA
Apr 22, 2006
#28
  • Apr 22, 2006
  • #28
... I want a turbo motor ...
 

25thmustang

Mustang Master
Sep 5, 2003
2,021
85
99
Montgomery, NY
Apr 24, 2006
#29
  • Apr 24, 2006
  • #29
I have a 5-speed 93, and can say, yes they are slow. Right now the only vehicle close to it, is my sisters 86 V6 vert, and I think with her car shifting at redline, it would beat mine. Only car I ever beat in that, was a kid with his 89 4-cyl auto. Beat him by like 5-6 cars easily to 75, and had 200 lbs in the trunk to boot!
 

65ShelbyClone

Founding Member
Sep 9, 2000
4,675
38
119
Antelope Valley, SoCal
Apr 24, 2006
#30
  • Apr 24, 2006
  • #30
BELL said:
however the neck snapping i get from the ricers is probably the best feeling ever. i was leaving 7-11 the other day afterwork. this prelude was sitting there bumping rap and two g's smokin ciggs talkin. they looked at me when the svo started and i backed up an gave a little spool. then hit the road at 18psi. they ran out to the street watched as i tore off. great
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's fun . You have the benefit of a bigger and louder T4 compressor on there, though. I don't think they can hear my T3 over their stereos, but they probably wonder why that 4-cylinder Mustang started moving so fast. A mass air conversion will make it even louder, too....
 

rd

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2000
3,316
63
109
Ocean Springs MS
May 5, 2006
#31
  • May 5, 2006
  • #31
I still don't feel slow in my 89 2.3 LX automatic notch.

Maybe I'm just old, but the notch is a lot quicker around town than, say, my 4.6 F150 4x4 truck, the six banger CJ 7 we had, and some other cars we've had. As noted in my sig, I do have a 12 sec 5.0 to compare it to. While it is no match for the 5.0, around here, there is almost no safe place to exercise a quick car, so I rarely do that. I really do like the 2.3 in first gear though, and you don't have to rev it too hard. This little monster even pulled all the way up the steepest bridge in the area without coming out of overdrive last Sunday, something the truck and the Explorer won't do. Only my Jeep GC will match it.

And I'd rather drive the 2.3 since it gets great mileage, it's quiet, and the cd player works!
 
4

4bangen

Member
Nov 3, 2004
143
0
16
May 5, 2006
#32
  • May 5, 2006
  • #32
my problem is no one around here drives a thunderbird, people think its a 5.0 or they just dont care enough to bother. I am thinking about putting a banner on the back window that says "who needs 8?" and getting some 2.3 emblems. maybe that will get me some races.
 
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