5.0 Vs 4.6

Hey guys I've been going back and forth between the 2 engines so thought I'd ask this in both forums. I had a pretty nice black 95 GTS a few years ago that felt nice but lately I've been looking for a newer 96-04 just because of the OBD2 computer, distributorless ignition and a few other nice reliability perks of the newer Mustangs. Performance isn't a huge deal, my mostly stock 95 felt plenty fast for me even though most people consider them dogs around here.

Anyway my question is, I've driven a few with the 4.6 and they just feel odd to me and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same or if I'm just finding ones that have been beat on maybe. Compared to what I remember in my 5.0 the 4.6 feels like it has plenty of power but they feel kind of like a boat is the only way I can describe it. My 5.0 didn't feel super fast but it rev'd very smooth and just felt good. I've only driven 99-04 Mustangs with the PI 4.6 but none of them have felt that smooth, which is contrary to what most say about the 4.6. Has anyone noticed something similar when looking for a 4.6 or should I just keep looking until I find one in better shape?

squeak93 said:

4.6 usually are smoother and make torque much higher in the power band. If you are not used to them they do feel "doggy" in lower rpms. Usually gears and exhaust wake them up and they perform nicely while still getting reasonable mpg.

5.0 makes torque down low and will have a must better sotp feel. Same boat here, gears and exhaust wake them up. Stock for stock (or mild bolt ons etc,) all my mod motor cars have out paced the foxes considerably. My stock 04 gt, gears, o/r h only went 13.70@101 while my best stock fox times are 14.15@98 (intake, exhaust, gears).

The new edge cars are faster stock than the npi cars. They also tend to ride better and "age" a bit better overall. However a PI swapped 96-98 usually runs better than a new edge. Oh and they love nitrous.

Best of both worlds, buy a mod swap fox.

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I'm aware of the differences between where each make their power but the 4.6 doesn't feel like a dog at all off idle, but then again my daily driver is a 4 cyl Colorado so they both feel fast to me. What I'm talking about is more of the feel of both motors, I'm gonna check out a 5.0 today though so I'll see if I still feel that way, it's been 4 years since I owned my 95.