Really Down About My Car.

Even with the mods you listed you would be losing to a '11 gt, termi or Mach. The 100 shot would keep it close but I'd still take the other cars in a race.

What you should be asking is which body style do you like best and how much do you enjoy not having a payment? You can make any car fast but you can't change the overall looks of it easily. The paint issue is a concern a bit but some of the less expensive machs and termis will need some paint help I'd guess.

I just recently sold my 02 gt not necessarily because I wanted something faster but because I wanted something you don't see on the road everyday. Being that I don't have the budget for something crazy im opting for a 96 mystic cobra. Has the same power level I had with my bolt on gt and It meets the not something you see everyday category. Sold the gt for 8500 and gonna buy the cobra for 8k or less. Older technology but as fox body guys can attest to you can swap anything into them!

If you're attached to the car keep it and dump money into it.


If you're not attached go buy the fastest car you can afford.

I'm kinda down on modding my car, frankly cause I'm focused on paying for college right now. But I am glad that I drive a Mustang other than some boring Civic or Camry! Look into some suspension mods, that should help you plant the power at the 1/4.

Dont worry about whats cheap. The money you would have spent modding may be substantially less than the cost of the vehicles you listed. Depending on how far you want to go. If your car is the look you want and you have an attachment to it, then that is your canvas. However, which ever car you go with, be careful. The most expensive thing I (and probably most everyone on here) have done is modding cars. You'll always want more power and it's never cheap.

Oh, and I freaking hate car payments.

hey bud you can actually go to ford and buy the new coyote 5.0 and specify to them what wiring harness you need to make it run all of your gadgets for a little over $8000. Then all you need to do is find a wrecked 2011 and get the trany out of it and you have a 400HP N/A 5.0 in a 96. if you really want to get crazy you could even get a TorqueTech manifold and through a Whipple 2.3L super charger and be well with in range of your goals man.

Trust me, there is nothing cheap about a Mach 1, outside of CAI exhaust and gears your mods almost double in price compared to the 96 2v. If I'd have it to do over again I'd keep my 96 and build the motor. With that said, the Mach gets a lot of attention at car shows lol

I wouldn't get into another 4.6 car, but that's just my opinion. Also, termis are old hat and way overpriced. $20k+ for a 10 year old 4.6 with the same interior from 1994? Yeah the 4V ain't bad but it takes a blower to make less HP than an N/A Coyote. Both respond awesome to mods so that's moot. I just don't see any reason for a termi to hold such value anymore now that we have a real engine again. It does nothing better than a new Coyote.

FWIW I've seen brand new '13 base GTs going for as low as $27k. Base '11s should be getting down there by now if brand new '13s are $27k. I also remember seeing brand new '12 GTs going for $26k sitting on lots last fall.

Kornnut said:

If you're attached to the car keep it and dump money into it.


If you're not attached go buy the fastest car you can afford.

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puma1552 said:

I wouldn't get into another 4.6 car, but that's just my opinion. Also, termis are old hat and way overpriced. $20k+ for a 10 year old 4.6 with the same interior from 1994? Yeah the 4V ain't bad but it takes a blower to make less HP than an N/A Coyote. Both respond awesome to mods so that's moot. I just don't see any reason for a termi to hold such value anymore now that we have a real engine again. It does nothing better than a new Coyote.

FWIW I've seen brand new '13 base GTs going for as low as $27k. Base '11s should be getting down there by now if brand new '13s are $27k. I also remember seeing brand new '12 GTs going for $26k sitting on lots last fall.

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Since the Coyotes have come out, the 03/04 Cobras have come way down in price. Just within 250 miles of where I live, there are 4 for less than $18k. Sure, there's still people asking $20k+ for them, but there aren't nearly as many selling for that price anymore.

Where are you from? Around here, the sticker prices for new 5.0s are WAY more than $27k. I do a good bit of looking around, and the cheapest I've seen any new 5.0 was just under $31k. And it was a completely base model. Most people looking a new car want more than a base. Whether it's leather seats, nicer sound system, Sync, etc. (which means you need the Premium model, which is an additional $4,000), the 14" Brembos or 3.73s (Track Package which is another $2,500), or whatever else, the price adds up FAST. If you can get a new GT just like you want for under $35k, then mad props to you. But 95% of people out there can't do it.

Terminator and Coyote make almost identical power numbers stock (around 365 rwhp). While the Coyote is faster due to it's improved transmission gearing, rear gearing, and weight, the Terminator engine is nothing to look down on. Bolt on Coyotes make 400 rwhp; bolt on Terminators make 500 rwhp. The Terminators are proven to take 700 rwhp for years and years of abuse with no problems. That can't be said about the 5.0s (yet).


To the OP. Here's my advice.

First, as already mentioned, decide if you like your car. It sounds silly, but if you don't like it, there's no reason to spend money on it. If you do like it, continue reading.

You've already got a CAI, exhaust, and gears, which should probably be the first mods, and will serve you well for any future mods you do. I have a 98 GT, and if I could do it all over again (modding my car), and had a goal of a fast car that could hold it's own against newer cars, here's what I'd do.

1. Grab an entire PI motor out of a junkyard car. www.car-part.com is your friend. Look specifically for Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars. I got my motor for $600; it only had 30k miles on it. Just a quick search in my area netted almost 10 of these motors with <75k miles for less than $800. Assuming you have the tools/time to do it, this really is easier than a PI heads/cams/intake swap, and will net practically the same power.

2. Piece together a Tork Tech Terminator kit. I haven't looked recently, but several times in the past I have pieced together an entire kit for <$3500. That's an intercooled, positive displacement blower setup, good to around 400 rwhp, for $3500. That absolutely cannot be beat. You can get used Vortech setups even cheaper.

3. Voila. You have a car that will beat/keep up with pretty much any car on the road. You can still spend some money on the suspension if you desire (and I'd recommend doing that).

Granted, this route requires you to have some know-how, tools (engine hoist, various generic tools like wrenches, sockets, etc., jack/jack stands), and most importantly, some patience. However, once upon a time, I didn't know how to do any of this, but through hours of reading and subsequently working on my car, I now think that it isn't much to do any of this. If you think you can, this is absolutely the best route to a 400 rwhp 96-98 car. All said and done, it should be able to be done for <$5,000, and should EASILY result in a mid-12 second car. My car runs high 11s with a less efficient blower setup, stock auto-tragic transmission, and stock gears. I haven't lost to a new 5.0 or 03/04 Cobra in years.

sneaky98gt said:

Around here, the sticker prices for new 5.0s are WAY more than $27k. I do a good bit of looking around, and the cheapest I've seen any new 5.0 was just under $31k.

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I never said sticker price. Sure, sticker price for the base of the base is $30k and change. Anyone who pays sticker for a GT is just a sucker--hardly any dealerships online even try to get sticker from the get-go because they know they won't get it. There's no reason you can't get $5k off a new GT. I've even seen as high as $6800 off a new GT, advertised online price (including rebates etc), no need to negotiate.

Take a look, $5k off:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...8000&minPrice=26000&listingId=328631525&Log=0

This one's got a $1200 Automatic in it and even this one is $27.5k:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...8000&minPrice=26000&listingId=327491975&Log=0

$27.2k, also an auto...this would be $26k flat with a 6 speed:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...8000&minPrice=26000&listingId=327944516&Log=0

$6800 of this premium:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...0000&minPrice=29500&listingId=321590830&Log=0

Mind you the cars above (except the last one) are doing $5k off and those are no option base GTs which don't have nearly the margins on them that a heavily optioned car has. The more options, the more you can get off sticker price since that's where the dealer makes their money.

I don't know, I have a hard time justifying even $18k for a 10 year old New Edge that you know has been thrashed to hell and back for the last decade...then again I never was a fan of New Edge cars, so I may be biased.

puma1552 I didn't realize they were going for less than sticker. Good to know. The Boss 302s and GT500s around here are certainly not going for under sticker.

tjmaxx said:

Ive been eyeing up a 2003 mach1 I found with 7k miles but its at a dealer and they want $18,888 for it. Still seems high?

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Plenty high, even for the miles. Machs in good shape can be had for $12-14k.

Honestly with 7k on the clock 18 sounds about right.