Ditch '93 Cobra For New 5.0?

I see the older Mustangs quite differently. As much as I love and respect the '64s-'73s, I wouldn't own one. In my view, they're now [the classics] nothing much more than museum pieces, and I'm not a curator type. I want something I can jump in and drive, everyday, rain or shine. Yea, I know about stuff like the Pure Stock Drags where owners often hammer them to an inch of their life. And I love that! (Must be nice to have the extra cash to replace something like a blown Boss 302/429 engine.) But at the end, they're still "fair weather" cars -- you don't see them slogging through rush-hour traffic, making the DAILY commute or being parked in the front rows at Walmart/banging it out with shopping carts. The '74-'78 Mustangs, IMO, are pretty much, with few exceptions, non-Mustangs. The '79-pre-2004s are still great cars, but with the march of technology, they're the automotive equivalent of an old[er] iPOD or hard drive -- still very "useable", but their performance is increasingly becoming (with each new model year) less and less "capable". Though I do see them (the pure/near-stockers) soon enjoying their "day in the sun" at the auto shows.

If I was going "old" Mustang shopping, here is my order of picks (excluding R-models, Shelbys and specialties):

1) '09 Bullitt Mustang 2) '05-'10 GT 3) '87-'93, 5-speed 5.0 LX 4) '03-'04 Mach 1 5) '01 Bullitt 6) '85, 5-speed 5.0 LX

That's about it. Nothing newer than an '85. (As for any "fair- weather" vehicle it would be either a motorcycle or a "real hot rod" like a T-bucket.)

Yes, I do. In fact, I was part of the letter-writing campaign to save the RWD V8 Mustang.

Thanks, Andrew!

Patrick

Ditch it, go for it. My '07 GT man w/3.73 gear with the traction control off hole shots like a 70 Boss. Nothing like the classic squirrlly assend action IMO, and it's switchible too. TC on, hole shots galore on previous gen stangs. I will test drive a new 5.0 when I can to measure it's fun factor which should be the same plus.

Oh crap! Forgot about the '03 & '04 Terminators. Make these my second pick. .

Patrick

I drive my '65 coupe to work every day from mid-April [she's in having some tweaks as we speak] until end of October, and she's just a

6-banger.

Nothing like breezing by a bunch of cars in a pack and moving out ahead in the clear. I don't drive it like an old lady that's for sure.

Funny recollections in my '65...

I saw a teenage kid standing at a light up ahead and he locked in on the car, hunching his shoulders to stare into the grille and as I drove by with the windows down he shouted "Mussssssssstang...." oh so cool.

Pulled up beside a car with an east Indian family in it and a young boy sticks his head out and asks "What are you driving?" I tell him it's a '65 Mustang and he turns to his dad who is driving and says "That's my new favourite car!" I'm hoping, years later, he has in fact got the Mustang bug.

OK... all-time funniest thing, ever...

I was driving home one day in heavy traffic, amazingly hot sunny day... and I become aware of a car slightly behind and to my left with the stereo blaring, and they're trying to roll up to get a look. Finally, a few lights later they're beside me and a young black dude leans out and says "Hey, are those spinners illegal?!" and without flinching I slowly turn my head to the side and mutter "Yeah, probably." and the whole car erupts in cheers and laughter.

Unless you're driving a new Shelby, you just don't get the same reaction. I loved my '96 GT but no one ever stopped at the end of my drive to talk about it... I get at least 1 or 2 a week during the summer always wanting to talk about the '65.

Sorry

AC

I commend you! However, you're driving a 6-cylinder coupe. Would you still do the same -- a daily commute -- with a Boss 302, 428 Mach 1 or even a '65 289 hi-po car?

A '96 GT, at this point in time, is far from a standout Mustang. (And arguably is one of the weakest late-model GT Mustangs.) A comparison: Imagine driving your '65 6-cylinder (or a plain-Jane 289 model) coupe in the very early 1970s and getting oohs and ahs.

Understandable. But take a '96 GT, that's in prime shape, for a drive

30 years from now and I'm quite sure it'll turn heads too.

Patrick

My 6 clyinder maverick gets a good amount of attention and it's not even pretty. The last time was when I was finishing up replacing the front brakes on my little mazda and someone saw it in the garage while walking by.

I would drive a hi-po coupe, convertible or fastback to work, yes, likely not a Boss 302 or anything rarer and certainly not a concourse condition any style or year. My ideal Mustang would be a '65 Caspian blue GT fastback with modern drivetrain. Would like an EFi engine and do away with the older mechanics and the headaches they can bring.

I would dare say a nice '96 GT, design-wise, is far more interesting to most than any 1979-1993 Mustang but any design up to 2003 is now very old and dated especially in contrast to the current body design.

I doubt it will. But a '65 coupe will continue to turn heads for centuries. The 1964-1973 Mustangs are very unique and stand out everywhere they go and are still very desirable cars.

Got get yourself a new one already! :-)

Andrew

Everyday, really... rain or shine?

The early -- '65-'66 -- fastbacks are my favorite too. I also agree a modern EFI motor -- how about a new 5.0 w/6-speed and a 9'' out back?

-- under the hood of one of these would be a wonderful combination.

I never cared for the '96 -- '98 cars. Too bloated looking to my eyes. The flatter sided '99-'04 were an improvement, except they boogered-them-up with too many, and too large of, scoops. Too me the '79-'93 cars were clean and purposeful -- a modern version of the original cars. The only downfall to their design was the hatchback instead of a true fastback, but at least it [the hatchback] made the car more functional. (Note: The hatchback design helped me "sell" a '87 5-liter, 5-speed to my wife as a "family car". :-)

Don't doubt it. A few years ago my daughter's 4-door '83 LTD "turned heads". The car was SUPER clean and I had installed Mustang 10-hole wheels on it. I often had people follow me to look at it and was given thumbs up. I think if it's old and really clean people will get nostalgic about it.

Truth be told I thought the early Camaros looked better than the early Mustangs.

The "boss" (wife) has already signed off on the idea. Next comes a test drive. If it gives me the warm fuzzys, they it'll be heavy research time on available options, or for me, lack of.

My preliminary reseach has a: 5-liter w/6-speed, rear spoiler DELETE (I hate spoilers!), Brembo brake package (comes w/special 19" wheels), black interior, manually-operated cloth seats, and a black exterior (though Grabber Blue really grabs me).

My heavy research will consist of: trying to find a way to get crank- windows, the power locks/mirrors & A/C deleted and the rear seat and carpeting left at the factory.

Patrick

Hell, go for it! I'd like to trade in my '04 Mach1, 25,000miler on a new GT convt., but who needs the damn payments? Ah, nuts!!

All this talk of '96 GTs, and here I just got one! I remember when you got that Cobra, Patrick...and how torn you felt that it had "Op"s. :) I'm glad to see it's still pounding the pavement. I don't have any advice one way or another, though you do make a compelling argument for getting a new "birth certificate." I'm just enjoying going through all these messages again. Much luck in the decision. Sam

Sam,

It's hard to believe the Cobra entered my stable 12 years ago.

My new GT is going to be a return to my automotive roots -- all business, no frills.

Patrick

I spec'd one out on the web site for grins, I think it was over $34K

I come up with $30,890. The only option being 3.73 rear axle ratio. A true NoOp version, but in black, please.

dwight

Oh, mine was definitely NOT a NoOp, the one I spec'ed would be more comparable to a bathroom that has the fuzzy carpet on and around the toilet....

Add a security package, Brembo brake package and [rear] spoiler delete and then you have the new "No-Option" Mustang. Oh, and of course it's black. :-)

Note: I did ask about crank windows, manual lock/mirrors and no A/C, but, sadly, that isn't an "option" anymore. :-(

Patrick

Are they going to come out with an "R" model?

Steve

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I only know of a new Boss 302. For me, forget the "R". That designation has, IMO, been WAYYYY over used by the industry. Truthfully, I don't think a "LX theme" can be done anymore. Power windows/locks/mirrors are standard fare now days. And, I even have to concede A/C is [finally] a good thing. Back when the speed limit was

55-65 cruising with the windows down was comfortable. But with highway speeds of 65+, and traffic routinely flowing at 75-80, going "windows down" doesn't work too well, and really hampers performance. So what I have coming -- cloth seats/rear spoiler delete -- is about as "stripped" as you /need in this day and age.

Patrick

You must be waay more tolerant for lack of A/C than I am, and you could always just do a swap of the new 5.0 engine into the Cobra. :oP

:

I grew up without A/C, so it still seems a luxury to me.

Patrick