Best way to spend $$$$?

[twotone7777]

OK, got your attention.

Just hit the old midlife crisis, and am looking to buy another mustang. I used to(13 years ago) have a 89 mustang LX, 4 cylinder. I always wanted a 5.0, just because I could make it go faster. I am planning on spending 4000 to 6000$ on a mustang. I would like for it to be a daily driver in the summer, park it in the winter. My plan would be to do mods to it as I can afford them. I would like the newer body style, but a fox like my old one would be cool too.

Here is the question, given my initial budget, what era mustang would you purchase? Do I buy the "newest" I can afford? Is a 4.6 as "easy" to mod as a 5.0? By that I mean that I have heard in the past the you can get more out of a 5.0 than out of one of the earlier 4.6. I am assuming all here are obviosly partial to the 5.0, that is why I am asking here. Plus, I did not know where other to post this.

Looking for suggestions.

Thanks

 

[HISSIN50]

you could also ask in the mod sub forums - some of those folks have had 5.0's and might have some insight (just as some of the folks here have both, a la Mike).

the 5.0's have more parts available and for cheaper. right, from what i gather, the early mod motors/management did not like mods too much.

if you want the later body style but a pushrod 5.0 motor, a 94-95 is what you want.

i did just ride in a bud's 98 GT and that thing had some nice sing at 5-6K rpm. i like the low end grunt of the pushrod motor myself.

good luck with the journey.

 

[Saleen8786]

Dude get a fox body mustang you can make them go fast so easily, ok you have 4 to 6 thou to spend with that said you can pick yourself up a nice 13sec or high 12sec fox. Trust me once you drive a foxbody 5.O you'll be hooked, just go out find a couple contender fox's that you want drive them around alittle and you'll be hooked. If i was you i'd look to buy a a notchback mustang(Lx coupe) their getting pretty rare and you dont really see nice ones on the road. Besides us stangers that is and another thing is the market is endless for fox bodied mustangs you can find everything for them. Trust me just go out and find a couple you like. Please report back stauts when you find some. Goodluck



jim

 

[manpowermustang]

If your having a hard time spendinG $$$$$$$$$$ YOU CAN SEND IT TOO ME. LOL

 

[sn9550]

For that kind of money I think you'll be looking at 87-93's. I would look for one with the best body/interior that I could find. To me the mechanical stuff is cheaper and easier to fix.
94-95 are nice and may be in your price range. The chasis is slighty stiffer and the interior is a little quieter. The computer may be finnicky about cams choice.
96-98 have the same body just different tail lights and the 4.6L. Do the PI head/intake swap and with the right boltons you'll be looking at 300hp
FWIW I've had two 95's, one 99, and my 88. If I subtract the paint and body work it was cheapest.

 

[Michael Yount]

Here's a stealth mid-life crisis solution --- the 'Swedish' 4-eyed 'notch'....

http://www.stangcity.com/showphoto....00924d8b66ac33273fab9fed3e4a33/sort/1/cat/500

http://www.stangcity.com/showphoto....00924d8b66ac33273fab9fed3e4a33/sort/1/cat/500

 

[Michael Yount]

But seriously - the clean fox bodies are pretty plentiful; parts are available. The downsides are 1) most 'flexible' unibody - which can lead to poor panel fit, squeaks/rattles; 2) marginal stock suspension and brakes; 3) worst interior ergonomics. All of these are solvable although it's tough to do much with (3, and it costs to fix 1) and 2). The upsides are 1) least first cost; 2) lightest weight; 3) although it's subjective, most feel the fox bodies look the best; 4) most mod friendly ecu.

The SN94/95's - downsides - 1) higher first cost because they're newer (exceptions to every rule of course); 2) heavier (almost any ongoing make keeps getting heavier as it gets newer as they stiffen the unibody and make them bigger); 3) the computers are not as mod-friendly as the fox bodies. Upsides are 1) better stock suspension, brakes; 2) stiffer unibody - although it too needs reinforcement.

The mod motors are loved - by those that love them. Smooth revvers, they can make great power. And, they'll make more power than the 5.0L will before the block pulls a Paris Hilton on you and splits open right down the middle while being pounded on. But that's a non-issue for mildly modded 4.6's and 5.0's - you've got to add boost and/or nitrous in fairly large amounts before you have to worry about that with either.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[tmoss]

The 4.6 motors are not a easy engine to take apart like a pushrod. For your money, I agree - find a nice Fox car.

 

[Michael Yount]

Cam timing is a bit more complex, but I'd say whether they're 'easier' to work on or not is largely a matter of familiarity; nothing fundamentally more complex about an OHC engine vs. a pushrod engine.

 

[NKau]

For that kind of money I think you'll be looking at 87-93's. I would look for one with the best body/interior that I could find. To me the mechanical stuff is cheaper and easier to fix.

Couldn't have put it better myself. You should be able to score a fairly low mileage, really nice stock or lightly modified car for 4-6K. I'd look for something like that as opposed to a car that has already been heavily modified and has higher mileage and probably seen more abuse. It's easier to modify a car yourself than fix other peoples mistakes (as I've found out time and time again). Good luck.

 

[crunchie12268]

i'll sell mine for 6K

 

[5.0 Nostalgia]

I have owned both cars. As Michael said, the 4.6 runs smoother than the 5.0. No comparison there. Therefore, I think it pulled much better daily driver duty than the 5.0. However, I sold that car because I couldn't keep away from the fox. I just love the looks and familiarity. Underneath, both cars are almost the same. So there was little difference doing anything under the car. If I was doing daily driver with no mods, I would get a mod motor. You will have to be lucky though to get a nice one for what you are willing to spend. But a second car for hobby, the 5.0 is a great selection. In my experiences, it is tough to mod a car you have to rely on. If you want to play with it, have another car that you can drive. And nothing makes a better toy than a fox.

 

[BaXTeR3221]

But a second car for hobby, the 5.0 is a great selection. In my experiences, it is tough to mod a car you have to rely on. If you want to play with it, have another car that you can drive. And nothing makes a better toy than a fox.

Couldn't have said it better. They make great hobby cars, but if you are going to mod it and keep it as a daily driver, that can cause problems. Most jobs will take longer than you think if its your first time. But the parts are cheap and nothing is really that complex. You can get a really nice one for 4-6k so go for it