What to do?

[ctrout71]

I'm not new to this forum but I got out of Mustangs for a while and it has taken me 5 or 6 years to realize the error of my ways. I sold my last Stang thinking that I only needed a truck because I go off road a lot. After about a year, I realized that I couldn't live without a fun car to drive around town and to work so I bought the first car that I ever fell in love with, a Porsche 914. I drove that car for about 4 years before I finally decided that I wanted something with more modern comforts and a LOT more power so I got a lightly modded Pontiac GTP. I got it under the premise that it was a "family car". Well, front wheel drive just isn't cutting it and there are never more than me and my wife or me and two of the four kids in it at a time. If there are more of us riding, we take the Yukon XL. So I am REALLY craving another Mustang but I don't want a run of the mill GT. I am excitedly in love with the 2003 Mach 1s. The problem is cash flow. I'm an active duty E-6 with 4 kids and my wife doesn't work. I will be retiring in 3 1/2 years and I really need to lower my monthly outflow of cash but I am dying to have a Mach. I might be able to get $5000 for the GTP but that still leaves a $13,000 balance with a $250+ per month car payment for the next 5 years. Would it be feasible to buy something like a 2003 GT and then build it when I have the cash and make it as fast as the Mach 1? Should I just give up on this mid life crisis dream and keep driving the Pontiac?

 

[Deleted member 38176]

I'm not new to this forum but I got out of Mustangs for a while and it has taken me 5 or 6 years to realize the error of my ways. I sold my last Stang thinking that I only needed a truck because I go off road a lot. After about a year, I realized that I couldn't live without a fun car to drive around town and to work so I bought the first car that I ever fell in love with, a Porsche 914. I drove that car for about 4 years before I finally decided that I wanted something with more modern comforts and a LOT more power so I got a lightly modded Pontiac GTP. I got it under the premise that it was a "family car". Well, front wheel drive just isn't cutting it and there are never more than me and my wife or me and two of the four kids in it at a time. If there are more of us riding, we take the Yukon XL. So I am REALLY craving another Mustang but I don't want a run of the mill GT. I am excitedly in love with the 2003 Mach 1s. The problem is cash flow. I'm an active duty E-6 with 4 kids and my wife doesn't work. I will be retiring in 3 1/2 years and I really need to lower my monthly outflow of cash but I am dying to have a Mach. I might be able to get $5000 for the GTP but that still leaves a $13,000 balance with a $250+ per month car payment for the next 5 years. Would it be feasible to buy something like a 2003 GT and then build it when I have the cash and make it as fast as the Mach 1? Should I just give up on this mid life crisis dream and keep driving the Pontiac?

For as much as the cheapest Machs are going for nowadays, you can buy a nice GT and mod it to be faster than a stock Mach. If you're dead set on a 4V, you could also drop in a 4V Mach motor or even a supercharged Termi motor with ease.

Stock Machs put down 270-280rwhp stock. Stock PI GT's put down 230-240rwhp stock. It isn't difficult (or expensive) at all to make up that 30-40rwhp difference.

 

[Sonic04GT]

An '03 GT is a good foundation for anything Cams and some bolt-ons and you'll be sittin' pretty good.

Or just get the Mach 1! I really wanted a Mach 1 but I couldn't find what I wanted with the right mileage and price so I ended up with a low-mileage '04 GT and I don't regret it one bit. Just don't settle for the Pontiac

Where are you stationed? I'm an Army E-4 at Fort Hood.

 

[deftsound]

Run of the mill gt huh

 

[Deleted member 38176]

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[04GTBLKVERT]

It really depends on what your going to do to the car. If you really are into race and want 500-600rwhp you are going to have to build both motors and you would be saving money if you bought the gt. If you just want to cruise and have a nice fast bolt on car I would get a mach 1.

 

[SteedaGT9150]

you can get a mach 1 now for pretty cheap.

 

[Mel96GT]

Sounds to me you got time on your side. Get the Mach 1 since you have your heart set on it but don't plan on doing any engine mods for a while since they will be EXPENSIVE and you will have car payments. The nice thing is you won't need to do any mods since the Mach 1 is a very cool "factory" street rod/cruiser. However, the "generic" GT's can be modded cheaper and faster.

 

[ctrout71]

I ended up rethinking my current situation and found a cherry 95 GT convertible with 74,000 miles for $4750. I'll have fun making it reasonably fast and fun for a daily driver (300ish WHP at the most). Once the two oldest kids move out over the next 6 years, I'll reassess the finances and see if this GT is still making me smile. This car WILL be my daily driver (except for bad weather days) for the next 6 years though.

 

[Moon]

I ended up rethinking my current situation and found a cherry 95 GT convertible with 74,000 miles for $4750. I'll have fun making it reasonably fast and fun for a daily driver (300ish WHP at the most). Once the two oldest kids move out over the next 6 years, I'll reassess the finances and see if this GT is still making me smile. This car WILL be my daily driver (except for bad weather days) for the next 6 years though.

Good choice. I used to own a 94 GT hardtop. First things I would get are springs, gears (4.10 for automatic, 3.73 for manual trans) probably a urethane kit since your bushings are most likely shot, lower control arms (Maximum Motorsport are the best), and subframe connectors.

Since it's a 5.0, save up for a Trickflow Top End kit- they cost around $2200 and will easily get you over 300 horsepower.

 

[Mel96GT]

Good choice of year since you now have a 5.0. What are your plans for the new stang?

 

[ctrout71]

Good choice of year since you now have a 5.0. What are your plans for the new stang?

Just some light mods to make it more fun and responsive on the street. Nothing crazy, just get me into the 250-275 RWHP range. GT40 heads from a 93 Cobra are already on the way to my house. Hopefully an intake will be soon to follow.