LOL. This whole topic has spawned off a totally new aspect. Not ricer bashing, but V6 Mustang bashing.
Here's something to make you open your eyes. I'd rather have a V6 than my GT. Truthfully. That way I can have a fox body for a fun car.
The idea there are no mods out there for the V-6 cars is asinine or that engine swaps don't take place is misinformed. I went to a little site called
www.v6power.net. I found that several members made were VERY well informed. Questions on that board are getting answered that I wonder if the technical knowledge exists on this board to answer for our cars. They know their stuff, and I learned a great deal about the performance potential of those little engines. Powerhouses they may not be in stock form, but the new V6's will give a Gen 1 4.6L a run for it's money.
As far as the 302 vs the 281 SOHC or DOHC, with what I've found, I'd rather have a 302 for high performance. I don't have to worry about whipping rods through a multi-thousand dollar aluminum block. Not to mention you can have a 302 that will rape a DOHC 281 for less money. 320hp is under $2500 brand new, fully assembled. 340 is just a little more. For what it costs to get a built 281 DOHC engine, you could have a 400rwhp blown 302, and the car would be lighter, and it would be easier to work on.
Bottom line is the V6 is inexpensive, looks cool, and is a very respectable sporty little car. Sorry if I fully disagree with all the BS hating on it. Maybe you'd prefer not to have a Mustang at all? That's what the scenerio would be if not for the V6, which makes the money and pays for all the R&D on the GT and Cobra. The inaccurate statements, failure to see the big picture, and ego's here are out of place.