Some honest opinoins please LS1 or S197

it depends on what you want out of the car. IMO the stang looks 100x better. the TA has more power potential. there are more bolt-ons available and they make mad power. for a stang to make the same power, they need a power adder. if you have deep pockets and money is no object, get the stang and add a power adder to get over 600 HP. if you want to go fast on a smaller budget, you can pick up a used TA and add the heads, cam, intake, exhaust and be going REAL fast for less than a new stang with some mods.....but that comes with the new car territorry. :SNSign:

I can only tell you my experiance test driving a 96 Z28 6spd was a very rough noisy ride. It darted all over the road probably due to the wide tires up front. I expected it to ride much better due to newer technology than a 77 TA I once owned. I will tell you it was a much better performance car than my 77 ever was. I may have bought one of the newer Z/TA's if it wasn't for their extreme high price, but I guess that's one reason they quit making them.

I like the body size, power, and mileage I get with my GT 5spd. The interior is reletively quiet, minus an annoying suspension noise over small rise bumps on our crappy roads here. I believe the suspension bushings must be too hard, maybe for better handling. I do notice some road wandering but it would probably be even worse if the front tires were wider.

The buying decession is ultimately yours. Test drive each and buy the one you want, after all you'll be the one driving it.

IMO the s197 was not made for big ppl and I found myself having to roll out when I get out. I need a handle!
Bumps are little hard too, the stangs were not built for luxury.

If it's JUST a weekend toy and not a daily driver, pick up a used LS1 Camaro or TA, 6-speed. With the pushrod engine and the cubes, it's simply a LOT cheaper to buy and modify for serious speed. If it breaks, well, it's a toy, right?

If you want a nice daily driver and aren't worried about cash, buy a new 5-speed GT and get a blower running 6 PSI or less. Helluva lot more money, though.

Either way, if you modify heavily, be ready for some problems and breaking. Part of the game!

Another comment on your size....The F-bodies are normally for tall guys. I hated that "sitting on the floor" feeling and not being able to know exactly where my front bumper was (I am 5'10). I imagine that would change if I drove the car everyday. Older Mustangs were generally better for short people (less than 6 feet tall). However, I have had two friends that are taller than 6' drive my '05 GT and neither one complained about headroom. I think Ford purposefully incorporated that into the design.
I agree with the above posts. If you want to build a street brawler, go get an LS1. If you just want a nice fun car the GT is the way to go.

Both cars have their good points. The LS1 fbody can be picked up for about 10-12k with very low miles, which is why I got one last year. With the fbody you will have a more "rare" car, especially if you get a SS or WS6. IMO the WS6(TA with the hood) is the meanest looking car, compared to just about anything, aside from a Viper.

WEll, both are good options. Just really depends on if you want a new car that you will know the complete history on.

LS1's are faster and Handle Better

S197 Ride is better, is the new hot car, plus I think mines more compfrotable. Im 6' 200lbs.

Though If your looking to Mod for power LS1 is your way to go, but if you want to do Body mods, Mustang is the way to go.

Basically the Mustang will have more show and enough go, and the TA is going to have more go than show.

That's true, the Mustang has more ways to customize the exterior....the TA is pretty much limited to wheels.

WS6 T/A is an animal..my friend had 3 different ones in a few years and they def. felt faster than my GT (I guess cuz they are lol, for now...)
Anyway...
T/A=Mean looking, fast, cheaper toy
GT=Awesome looking, quick, fun, great daily driver..more $$$ tho.

Can't really speak about anything but my GT.
I love it!
As for how roomy it is:
I'm 6'2", 290 lbs, and fit comfortably.
Just before buying it, test drove a 2004 (my wife wanted to prove I was too big for a stang). The 2004 for was a bit cramped for me.

I say, test drive them both, and pick the one that leaves the biggest smile on your face.

If you want a race car right out of the box, get a Trans Am. Trans Am also has more presence, especially with the Ram-Air hood.

GT is more of a daily driver, lots of power and quick.

I agree, the new Mustang is more for daily driving then anything serious. I sit fine in it, Im 6'2" and 200 pounds. But then again, i can adjust the height on my seat. But if I need to get serious I will just break out my 347 LX coupe, which I feel is still funner to drive then my 2006 GT.

The new mustang is very roomy inside compared to the F-body. If that matters.
When I ride in my buddies 05 I think, " damn this thing is comfy" and I'm 6'1 260, and he's bigger boned than me and he is very comfy.

Both are very nice cars. Tough choice in my book.

I had a 02 Z-28 vert with all the SLP enhancements, Loud Mouth, heads, intake, etc. It would go fast enought to scare the hell out of me, and the noise would wake the dead. If you want to go fast for low bucks you can't beat Chevy.

My 05 Mustang vert on the other hand is real nice transportation. Very pleasant with the wife on a sunny day in the summer. I'f you have never had a car that would slam your ass back into the seat, I'd get the LS1 and tune it up a bit.

There is no substitute for thrust.

i love the way a black ws6 looks. MEAN!! i was kind of in the same boat as u, that was my other choice, or a c5. but i live in manhattan and didnt think the vette would be a good choice. i went with the stang, cuz its a brand new car with a warranty, and should have any problems. well i was wrong, i have had it in for service a bunch of times, seems pretty much fixed now, except the clunky noise in the front end, i think its a bad strut. the t/a was out for a while, so if u get a late model one, it should probably have all the bugs worked out of it. either way, they are both great cars though.

Hmmmm... I say they're both fun.

The LS1 cars are probably cheaper... but not as reliable.

Ls1 get WAY BETTER mileage, especially on the highway. 2 reasons for that: 6th gear for F-body is very tall and mustangs aerodynamics is like SUV's. Plus, mustang's suspension is like SUV- stands way too high.

LS1 > 4.6
F-body < S197

Is money an issue ?

iowabowhunter said:

Hi guys,
I'm looking at buying a new toy. I can't decided between the new Mustang and a T/A. I used to be Ford loyal but I have owned a couple Firebirds in the past so this no longer holds true. I posted a thread similar to this one over on F-body.com but all I got was a bunch of bs and Ford bashing. I'm wanting to know how the cars compare in ride quality and workmanship and if you had to do it all over again what would yo do? I would like to know from some of you that have actuall owned an LS1 car and now own a Mustang or maybe own both.
Thanks
Bob

Click to expand...

If so, then a used whatever would probbaly be the easier way to go.

Can't speak for the '05 Stangs other to say that they are nice looking rides - I'd take one in Mineral Gray if that name is still used for the color.

LS1's are generally reliable - no opti spark to worry about. Same dinky azz 7.5" rear as in other F's . I do not honestly believe the F's are any better or any worse quality wise than a Stang ( from what i have read - never owned a Stang ) , and mine has been reliable for the most part.

Worst problem I have now is 2 blown door speakers - cheap so & so's as I did not "rock out" - the car is 6 years old and little things are showing up.

The time in the sig was w/ a 2800 stall that is no longer in the car , launched at 1500 RPM on Kumho 712's .

Mines' an SS , and shares the 17" wheels w/ a WS.6 . They do tend to road walk some - worse w/ worn tires. My understanding is that GT's do the same thing.

Best mileage on the hwy w/ the A4 has been 25 - a buddy was driving , and I used Red Line F.I. cleaner.

Real world ( 40 miles a day bothe ways to & from work ) is in the 17.5 - 19.5 range.

The car is suppsed to run super, but I mix on occasion when gas gets high.

Rotors warp - that's almost a given on these cars unless you have aftermarkets , and there is a lack of headroom, IMHO. I am 5' 11" , but like to sit close to the wheel - I have about 2 fingerwidths between the t-tops & my head.

If I lean up, I can see the right side fender - it was a little better in the '99 T/A I had previosuly as the fenders have more of an arch to them.

T/A headlightmotors are known for going out w/ age, and so are the power window motors.

Plugs are a big enough pain that I paid to have my done - $ 100.00 labor.

Seats are confortable, and supportive - and the T/A's actually get better ones complete w/ an optional power bolster adjustment. The much maligned hump never botehred me while in the pasenger seat, but I did not think that seat moved back as far as the driver's could.

No idea why - ?



What else ya want to know ?

Britt