Motor Heads, I need help/advice.

J

jeffrefrig

Silver Supporter
Joined
Jan 7, 2017
Messages
6,465
Reaction score
10,670
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
I'm trying to choose between two Mustangs. Pre-owned, one is a 2024, but only 4 cylinders putting out 315 HP, dual turbo, around 10,000 miles, with all the goods. They call it "carbonized gray metallic" with black innards.
The other, a 2018 GT Premium rag top, 55,000 miles, "Ingot Silver Metallic" with blue interior. 460 HP.
Both cars are automatic 10 speed, and priced the same at just under $30,000. I've driven both cars when my friend had one of each. He traded the 4 cylinder for the GT. It's baddass! The small engine one was faster than my SS Impala. I need an automatic because of my aged out knees. Most of you know what the GT can do, I'm sure. My down payment will be my '20 Malibu, which I know they won't give me Jack for. I doubt if I give them a couple thousand more it won't make much difference.
My common sense tells me to get the 2024, but my heart wants the GT.
The new ones are ridiculously high. Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance.
Jeff T.
 
Register to hide this ad
Exactly what I expected! Thank you guys. "No replacement for displacement!" I love that! Years ago I had a Harley Superglide. One of the most beautiful man made sounds on the planet. Straight drag pipes with no baffles, you can't make that sound up. Just like the dual exhaust on many pony cars. Now all I have to do is take that GT out for a little ride...and bring my checkbook! Of course I'll have them throw a set of rear tires in the trunk.
Again, I thank yinz guys!
 
Somebody is getting "twin turbo" confused with the "twin-scroll" turbo actually fitted to the 2024.

To be candid, neither press my buttons. I have no love for convertibles, and the standard Ford interior in black these days is cheap and nasty looking, a trend I see creeping into many vehicles. Sure, it's fine in a fairly basic work truck or low end SUV, but don't try and sell me anything so equipped for more than $40k new, because I'll just laugh at you.
 
Get the GT and garage it. In Oregon that would be a summer only car. Keep your impala for a daily driver when the weather is nasty.
 
I'm sure they've improved convertible/roadster tops since my '65 Spitfire, but like the gent above, I want a solid-no moon roof either-lid on my vehicles.

The other thing that car taught me is that highly tuned technical engines can be maintenance problems waiting to happen. That's pretty much unavoidable these days with all the electronics, but don't go looking for trouble. My late son was Ford trained and HE wouldn't buy a current Ford V8. He did buy an Explorer with the turbo 4 and it seems to run OK with impressive gas mileage........so far. But one of the reasons he bought it was the discount he got on Ford parts.
 
Nothing sounds better than the idle of an ecoboost four - no one ever said.
Agree on the V8 and drop top for a fun car with better value retention.
As a Chevy guy, couldn't disagree more with the suggestion that you sacrifice the Impala SS by driving it in the winter, depending on the model year. It will never keep up with cars weighing a thousand pound less, but In my experience with my 96 SS a cam swap with RRs, headers with 2.5 exhaust, and 3.73s will make it interesting.
 
I've had 4's, 6's and V8's; both turbocharged and naturally aspirated. Nothing supercharged, yet. But I gotta say nothing has been more fun than my GT350 with it's Voodoo flat-plane. The engine redlines at 8250 and screams to be driven hard. It comes alive at 4000 RPM. Your GT may be more docile, but you'll have a heckuva lotta fun with it. Forget the turbo-4. If you're like me, the grin a V8 puts on your face is priceless. On top of that, I think V8's are in their twilight years. Get one while you can.
 
The choice depends on how many tickets you can afford. Around here, I don't know what happens to everyone when they drive one, but all of them deserve tickets. They are almost worse than BMW drivers.

If you're looking for "cool" . . .
GTO.jpg
 
Those Coyote V8s have been around for a long time and have proven pretty dependable. As far as electronics go there's no avoiding them in any newer cars. When I got my Tacoma the guy told me there were more than 40 computers in it! Pretty crazy, but it tells my phone when I left the doors unlocked...plus I could start it from New York if I ever had the need!
 
I'm going to go against the current here!

I always said when I bought my Mustang I was going to buy an 8. When the time came I bought a 2017 2.3 ecoboost convertible. No regrets. I have put on Ford performance sport cat back exhaust, a Mishimoto intercooler and charge pipes, an oil separator and an Airaid intake pipe. It goes plenty fast for me and on a recent trip to Phoenix I averaged almost 37 mpg. Granted this dropped once I hit Phoenix traffic but on the trip up that was the average.
It may not sound like an 8 but when I fire it up in a parking lot heads do turn!

Jq0xMRDh.jpg
 
Last edited:
No question the modern cars are superior to classics in every category, except styling which is 100 percent subjective. I lean towards older cars, but that is probably just me chasing my misspent youth which was misspent in an MG as a teenager. But I would throw this out: keep the current car as a daily and get an already restored classic for a toy car. They are stone ax simple so any mechanic can keep them going if you don't want to get dirty. Pop the hood of the new car, then compare it to my Corvette. (the touring car since the Cobra lacks a roof or windows) Heck, there is a dealer in every small town and parts are just a phone call away...I get vintage Corvette parts faster than my 2013 Honda Civic Si! Just something else to think about.

IMG_0805.JPG
 
That GTO up there sure is nice!
I had a '66 389 Bonneville that was a beast. Just a single 4 barrel boat that was as smooth as it was fast. Of course I blew it up! Nothing is bulletproof in my hands!
 
10 speed transmission??
Wow ,, I had fun with 3

How about a 1957 ford F??? Heavy truck.
The hood has the 8 in the V emblem. Everything looks original But no pictures reveal the engine.

I think it HAS TO BE a flathead (?)
 
ALWAYS MORE HP!
I grew up around Muscle Cars. I even set a few free at the ripe age of 13. LOL Got caught every time.
A couple weeks of being grounded was worth it to me. YOU cannot replace HP with anything else. I lost my license at 17 was unable to get them back till I was 28 yrs old because of constant driving under suspension tickets 4 times if I can remember correctly. Dad new a lot of the right people in the courthouse and saved my rear. That's why I have driven Trucks ever since. No more fast cars for me.

For the price get the GT!

Cities
 
I still like driving, especially when I'm getting 65 MPG and 0-60 in 7.5 seconds ain't bad. In heavy traffic this one drives itself and it won't let me fall asleep at the wheel. $28k new. I know this will not be well received on this thread. That's OK, have you checked the cost of insurance lately. Medicare supplement just hit $215 a month, hers is close to $400. That's a car payment you can never get rid of unless you self insure. The bike was 3 k go anywhere at 85 MPG but 62 MPH is it's limit.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0601.jpg
    IMG_0601.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 0
  • IMG_0831.jpg
    IMG_0831.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 0
GT convertible all day every day. My 5.0 GT sounds great once I added a Rousch axle back exhaust. You just don't get that sound from a turbo four.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

chief38
Motor oil and filters for our cars - I have finally come to my senses and become practical in my old age
2
Replies
49
Views
2K
quikdraw67
quikdraw67
J
I switched to Ford today
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
Bald1
Bald1
D
Horrible service from S&W- Advice needed
2
Replies
57
Views
5K
Mike SC Hunter
M
J
Motor vehicle technology
2 3
Replies
67
Views
3K
walkinghorse
W
LVSteve
Some things I miss, and others I don't about the UK
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
oldbrownhat
oldbrownhat

Latest posts

Back
Top