Advice on a getting a new mustang

[PaulL]

Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a used mustang ... I like the body style of the new ones (99+), and I want a fast, powerful one with stick shift.
I was thinking of a used Cobra or maybe Roush, but had these questions;

I heard the Cobras under-performed in '99, and they didn't even make them in 2000. Does that mean I should only look at 2001 or newer?
How much did they under perform in 99? Maybe it's no big deal.
Can a GT be made as fast as a Cobra pretty cheaply?
The Cobras had special interiors, didn't they?
The Roush packages seem pricey ... I bet I could 'make my own Roush' for less money.

I'm hopin' to find something for under $20k. I know that'll be hard to do if I need to stay with 2001 or newer. But if a 99 Cobra is still similar to the 2001, then maybe that's the way I'll go.

Advice please?
Anything special to look for?

[stangt00]

What you heard about the 99 Cobra, in stock trim is true. They under-performed. But with a few quick addons, you can get it running pretty damn good. The roush is more of an overall package. A little better performance than the GT with much better handiling, and a different appearance package (un-supercharged of coarse).

If I was in your shoes, I would go with the 99 Cobra and work on it. A cold air kit and open up the exhaust will cost less than $500 and create a good difference.

As for making a GT as fast as a Cobra pretty cheaply, there is no such animal. Take whatever you would do to the GT and do half of that to the Cobra, and it will smoke the more heavily modified GT. Trust me, I wish I would have bought a Cobra instead of a GT. Too late now, I got too much $ in the GT to get out of it without losing my azz. Hey, wanna buy a low 13 second GT for under 20K? Only 25k miles on it and the motor only has 3K.

SERIOUSLY! If you are interested, I will email you a list of the things done to it, and send a pic.

[Hammer]

Hey, wanna buy a low 13 second GT

You couldn't tear me away from my GT...

I've got a lot of blood, sweat and tears in her.... and she runs like the wind!

[stangt00]

I've got a lot of blood, sweat and tears in her.... and she runs like the wind!

Me too brother, me too. But I would if I could buy a 03 Cobra. To me thats worth the trade off, and I would buy one if I sold this one.

[The Deuce]

The '99 Cobra's had a problem, and didn't make the quoted hp. That's why there was no 2000, they were fixing it. The 2001 numbers are right, and Ford issued a bulletin on the '99's. You can buy one and get an SVT dealer to fix the problem. I believe it was with the oil pan or something fairly simple in the end.

[Dark_5.0]

The 99's had a deffective intake manifold.....

[Dark_5.0]

There is no contest stock vs. stock 99-01cobra vs 99+gt.

The 01' cobra has awesome interior. Anf looks better than the 99'cobra. The 99 cobra rear bumper says mustang and the interior isnt as nice.

The 01' cobra says Cobra on the rear bumper. With the 99's everyone always ask is that a real cobra.

Later,

[stangt00]

Funny thing cause thats what I always thought to myself. I must agree that the 01 Cobra is much nicer than the 99. But if I was ever gonna buy a new one it would be the 03 Cobra or Steeda Q400. Good luck!

[blue00gt]

If you look in Mustang and Ford Trader there are alot of fairly new GTs in there with blowers and tons of other mods in the $20-30K range. I bought my GT new and have about $40K invested if you include the purchase price and I stilll have about $10K more in mods planned to complete my world domination plan, so you can see it could be alot better deal to buy an almost new car with the mods for 40-60% the price.

If you don't want to buy an already modded car and are buying used I would get a Cobra. The only reason I didn't get one when I bought the new GT was because they had a nasty markup on Cobras that put it out of my reach.

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of test driving a Roush 360R Mustang and have to say I am still smiling. The supercharged engine is a blister, with good low end torque. It was hard to say NO to buying that for myself with cash! I just couldn't justify the price for me driving a whole 10 minute commute to work daily. The salesguy and I couldn't get it to run smooth above 3rd gear unless you were above 90Mph! The clutch had a throw in the last inch that I considered almost violent. It felt like a bucking bronco...LOL GET ONE OF THESE! It's a very nice "manly" muscle car! Has the body style you like with a "Carroll Shelby" look, available in Red and White or Blue and White....

In all seriousness, IMO....As for form and function....power and looks...01/03 Cobra....I woosed out, saved a little cash and bought the AOD 2003 GT. "Ladies" sports car! Good luck to you and shoot for the Cobra! It is a well engineered vehicle.

~Jenn~

[Dark_5.0]

Originally posted by stangt00
Funny thing cause thats what I always thought to myself. I must agree that the 01 Cobra is much nicer than the 99. But if I was ever gonna buy a new one it would be the 03 Cobra or Steeda Q400. Good luck!

Yeah those fall right in his price range of $20,000.00.

If you find one for 20K lemme know

Dark_5.0 wrote "Yeah those fall right in his price range of $20,000.00. If you find one for 20K lemme know..."

TELL ME TOO! ....LOL... Point made Dark...We can get carried away with our toys, it's kinda like the $48,000 Roush360R... Not for the light walleted....

~Jenn~