back on the Pony, again!

silver-gt-vert said:

I used to own two Mustangs including 2000 GT Convertible . Bought a new F150 and now driving a Maxima since.

I am looking to buy and get back to modding an 05+ Mustang. My question is can the new S197's be modded like a Shelby GT without spending the big $$$ for the power pack and suspension pack?

I'd like the Shelby GT, but am looking to do some of the work myself and just get the parts. Is it worth it? How much can I look at saving with getting just the...

Power pack
Handling pack
Hurst shifter
Apperance pack

...on my own? I don't really care about the serialization that comes with the Shelby ;-)

Click to expand...

I would say go for it. Just keep the stock GT badges on the car. My local dealer has a Shelby GT and they are nice looking cars. You will save a lot of money.

Hell yea! The FRPP suspension kit that comes on the Shelby GT cost me $1,289 shipped from Summit. I have the Demolet cold air intake with SCT tuner, $499 shipped, Bassani mid pipe with higher flowing catalytics and a shifter and there is your Shelby GT+, because of better CAI-tune combo and mid pipe.

I'll give you my experience and take...

March 2007 I purchased the GT - vert. Legend Lime Green, which was my third option, or should I say cheaper option. I flew from NH to Fla. and drove it home. I bought this specific car for two reasons, #1) my son was born in 2006, so my plan is to hand him the keys when he turns 25. Hence the 2006 model. #2) It had 1,900 miles and was $25,900 and they stopped making Legend Lime Green. As a note this convertible replaced the Road King, once I had my boy, hoping that this will be a "safer and family fun" vehicle!

My second option was to buy a vintage 1967-1970. Unfortunatley everything I could find was marginal for $30k or over priced for the highly sought after models $50-75K. Also I do not have time to "fix" older cars in my spare time, as I don't have much spare time - if you know what I mean. So option #3 seemed to fit better.

My first option was to try and buy a Shelby for under $57k and could not find one. Why $57k you ask? I refuse to buy a whored out conv. Shelby for more than $10k over MSRP. I did write and express my hatred toward Ford Motor Co. to allow this to happen. Oh well, I can see Ford's stock is soring (ha-ha), moral of that sentence is don't screw the public, as they are the hands that feed you! As a note as most everyone knows, they did do the same thing with the GT when they came out and this is one of the reasons I didn't by an overpriced 2005 off of the lot. Basically the Shelby for the low number of builds and hoping it would be an investment in 20-30 years. Not to mention the WOW factor and horeses under the hood! In this same option I came across a 2006 Roush Stage 3 convertible for $42k and almost jumped on that for the same basic reasons.

Now to my take... Having my '06 for 6 months I can honestly say that I am very pleased with this affordable little rocket ship. However, you could always use a little more power or a lotta more power! I am now looking at spending $1-3k for simple mods to get 30-60 more hp. I am also considering sending it too a Roush dealer or Breenspeed for a Super Charger $7-9k. This leads to more moneys by wanting better rims/tires and suspension, not to mention upgrading the power train to withstand more horeses. Where does it stop? Your imagination and lack of the life of your vehicle can lead you down a winding / costly road.

Remember that when / if you sell your mustang, that a bastardized mustang probably won't bring you as much as a factory "race" car (option#3). Of course unless you find a customer who respects what you've created. But in my case I would have done #3 if I could have afforded it, as this is a whole system but together by Shelby or Roush or Saleen, etc... They are experts we are just weekend wizards! I'll dream a bit here, but maybe when the 2006 if paid for I'll store it until my boy turns 25 and just buy a Shelby in 5 years???!!

silver-gt-vert said:

I used to own two Mustangs including 2000 GT Convertible . Bought a new F150 and now driving a Maxima since.

I am looking to buy and get back to modding an 05+ Mustang. My question is can the new S197's be modded like a Shelby GT without spending the big $$$ for the power pack and suspension pack?

I'd like the Shelby GT, but am looking to do some of the work myself and just get the parts. Is it worth it? How much can I look at saving with getting just the...

Power pack
Handling pack
Hurst shifter
Apperance pack

...on my own? I don't really care about the serialization that comes with the Shelby ;-)

Click to expand...

Unless things have changed, I think installing the FRPP packages voids your warranty, unless they are installed by the dealership...

I could be completely wrong.. just something to check into..

Oh, word of advice... on a daily basis, the Hurst shifter gets old...