Roush 2005 Saleen Daily Driver. Opinions Please? Input

[skratpiece9450]

I cream my jeans when I see a 2005 Saleen SC281 Convertible first off! And thats not gay. Here is the issue. As an educated and reasonable individual I am faced with the decision of whether or not to buy the car as a daily driver. Here is a list of reasons to buy or not to buy. Tis the question.

Why I should
1. It is how I would spend my 60k instead of a mercedes or etc...
2. It is cheaper to insure than a Cobra and cheaper than a 2004 and older GT
3. Safety features that other cars can't offer, (performance=safety to me).
4. You only live once.

Why I should not
1. Sacrificing the integrity of a collectible car.
2. Driving a chunk of my net worth down the road.
3. Maintenance, supercharger, 20in tires,
4. I live in R.I. and it would be a seasonal car.
5. Vandalism to the vehicle, I have seen it happen on a friends Saleen. Haters
6. Potential speeding tickets due to the vehicles nature

 

[Henceforward]

20inch wheels will be expensive and harsh as hell on anything other than Autobahn grade highway surfaces.

And I will guess that repairing a bent authentic Saleen rim won't be any cheaper than buybin a new one...

 

[marcus95]

I cream my jeans when I see a 2005 Saleen SC281 Convertible first off! And thats not gay. Here is the issue. As an educated and reasonable individual I am faced with the decision of whether or not to buy the car as a daily driver. Here is a list of reasons to buy or not to buy. Tis the question.

Why I should
1. It is how I would spend my 60k instead of a mercedes or etc...
2. It is cheaper to insure than a Cobra and cheaper than a 2004 and older GT
3. Safety features that other cars can't offer, (performance=safety to me).
4. You only live once.

Why I should not
1. Sacrificing the integrity of a collectible car.
2. Driving a chunk of my net worth down the road.
3. Maintenance, supercharger, 20in tires,
4. I live in R.I. and it would be a seasonal car.
5. Vandalism to the vehicle, I have seen it happen on a friends Saleen. Haters
6. Potential speeding tickets due to the vehicles nature

Well,

Here is my input. An S197 ( 2005 and up ) Saleen Mustang is noy in anyway a problem being a daily driver. It is the most comfortable, solid, and "together" Mustang built yet. I have and have owned them all. If you have not driven a new one yet just go drive one. The car is finally engineered and the covertible is the first mustang that is made a vert and not a hardtop with the roof cut off. It drives more like a 5 series BMW than anything else. Not boring though.

If you want your 60K to feel like BMW or Mercedes money then you might have some issues with Saleen, fitment of the panels and so on. Not that Mercedes has been great recently but if you have never owned a Saleen Mustang before then you have a lot to learn about warranty issues and dealer problems getting replacement parts. It's a limited edition car built in small numbers and they have the usual issues.
If you want a ton of attention and want similar performance as a new stock Shelby GT500 then go for the Saleen. You can't pull up to a light or fill up the tank without getting a ton of attention and at least a half dozen thumbs ups everytime you drive it.
I don't know if it's cheaper to insure than an 04 but just don't be the guy who insures it as a GT with your insurance guy not telling him it's a 60k mustang.
I don't know exaclty what performance=safety means but to me the car has two airbags for the first time. As an owner of foxbody and sn95's ( I love my real mustangs ) I will tell you that driving this new car does not feel like a mustang. I don't know if thats good or bad but what I will tell you it's light years more comfortable and features as little as autoclick windows up and down, having window control and the stereo work after turning off the car, a gas guage that actually goes red when near empty, an on board computer and the list goes on is really like finally being in the 21st century. I will be honest. I need to get in my foxbody Saleen as often as possible to feel like I'm driving the real thing, a Mustang.
You only live once. That's for sure. You most likey won't be sorry you bought a Saleen but go drive one and drive the piss out of it before you write the check. The seats are a little hard but you will get used to it.

Don't worry about the damaging the "collectibility" of the 2005 and up cars. These cars will drop in price just as fast as that CLK you have your eyes on and won't give you the same satisfaction. Saleen since 2005 has been building tooooo many of these cars and true collectors of these cars like myself don't see the collectibility in these new cars unlike the foxbody and sn95's (94-98 ). It will also be another 25 years before the 99-04 cars are worth more than they sold for. Drive it and enjoy the ride!
Driving a chunk of your money down the road. Yes this is true. Your money is much better spent on Real Estate even in this market. I will tell you though that Saleen Mustang will hold it's value a bit better than the rest.

The blower is bullitproof just as long as you don't bolt on a 10psi pulley. If you want to get technical the stock tune on the 435 hp cars is lousy but if you are in the market for a new 07 with 465 hp you will be just fine. That tune is safe. Guys are driving the piss out of these cars stock and have not had serious issues yet. Don't worry about the 20's either. I have not seen a bent wheel yet and even if you did, the replica wheels are better quality and ony $250.
Living in Road Island is not the end of the world. O don't know if I would drop 60k on a seasonal car but that's up to you.
Vandalism. Watch where you park or move. j/k.
You can get the same speeding ticket in a new Honda, just not as often.


Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[skratpiece9450]

Good advice. Positive feedback

You must own a saleen yourself because you appearantly care. Thanks for the feedback, I'll go out and drive one first chance!

 

[2000xp8]

Here's my opinion.

Buy a used 05-06, so the original owner takes the big hit.
Then use the money you save on some type of awd or 4wd vehicle.

In RI, no way it should be a DD.
If it were a southern state it would be ok.

Tires and supercharger really aren't issues.

 

[wsbrigham]

20inch wheels will be expensive and harsh as hell on anything other than Autobahn grade highway surfaces.

And I will guess that repairing a bent authentic Saleen rim won't be any cheaper than buybin a new one...

I respectably disagree with the ride 20's give. The larger the diameter the wheel, the less you feel bumps. A smaller diameter wheel will dig further (drop) into a bump than a 20 or any larger dia. wheel. Today, I drove the same route with my '05 (20's) and with my Cobra (18's) and there is a substantial difference to me; the railraod tracks & breaking bumps bump and kick me all over the place in the Cobra and in the '05, I barely feel them. Pricewise, there are high performance tires for the 20's that start at around $178 and go as high as $500.

 

[sy1172]

I've got to say, for $60K, it would not be on my list of cars as a daily drive. I love Saleens, don't get me wrong (I have one after all) but that's a lot of $ and there are so many options plus you'll save a boatload. Look at a used Saleen first-off, a used pre 04 Z06, a CTS-V and the list goes on. Ford/Saleen fitment stinks. My car new listed for $54k+ and that's a huge insult. I bought the car new for $39K, that's more in line with what the car is. Again, not to be a dick here but it's a $60K Mustang and the value will tank. How about a new M3 vert? Now you've got refinement too. The Audi S4 vert is nice too.

 

[281S/C]

I've got to say, for $60K, it would not be on my list of cars as a daily drive. I love Saleens, don't get me wrong (I have one after all) but that's a lot of $ and there are so many options plus you'll save a boatload. Look at a used Saleen first-off, a used pre 04 Z06, a CTS-V and the list goes on. Ford/Saleen fitment stinks. My car new listed for $54k+ and that's a huge insult. I bought the car new for $39K, that's more in line with what the car is. Again, not to be a dick here but it's a $60K Mustang and the value will tank. How about a new M3 vert? Now you've got refinement too. The Audi S4 vert is nice too.

I agree. I got my car with 3k miles for $39,000.00 (05 s/c) the original sticker included with a tag of $54,000.00 I was told the original owner paid 10k over. I can't be that guy, Nore can I afford it.
I've owned a couple of the cars listed above and agree that they are all great cars. The fitment and refinment in the Saleen (all though much better than an aftermarket kit) won't compair to a Audi or BMW. Its still a Mustang.
I sold the Audi for the Saleen an a 96 Explorer 4x4 and don't regret it. $43,000.00 for both, you still got some $$ left for the mods. good luck!

 

[SVT Saleen]

I couldn't have said it any better than Marcus, especially after driving my friend's 2006 GT coupe w/FRPP suspension over the recent Thanksgiving weekend. This was my first drive of a new Mustang & despite it being rather impressive in regards to comfort & refinement, it simply didn't feel like a Mustang to me.

Having owned a '65 2+2 with the Cobra kit, (2) '82 GT's, an '89 Saleen & now a '98 Saleen Cobra, the new Mustangs are completely different animals (no pun intended) from any of their predecessors, particularly the Fox bodies & their derivatives. The only thing that seemed the same was the characteristic rumble of the exhaust. The new cars are physically larger & heavier than the previous versions; a size & heft that is readily apparent from behind the wheel. Yet despite the refinement, the gear noise from the transmission was surprisingly obtrusive.

As a daily driver the new Mustangs would certainly be more livable compared to the Fox body versions if that is the sole criteria. I would assume the Saleen version would be similar in character, just with more panache.

And as Marcus stated, the new Saleens are being cranked out @ land office rates so they have pretty much lost their exclusivity.

Personally now that I've driven a 05/06/07 Mustang I'm glad I abandoned my original plan to replace my '89 with a new S281 & instead chose a low mileage SN95 version, especially considering the 50% cost savings.

 

[FASN8N]

I love Saleen's, but for $60k you could buy low mile 05 E55 Mercedes that will equal or beat the Saleen's performance, give you some refinement, and a back seat to carry clients and family too.

 

[rc10t]

Why not take a look at a cadillac CTS-V if for a daily driver...

 

[chuckdoc]

Scrat,

I say Go For It. I've seen more enthusiasm for the S197 on other boards, you might check some other forums for some feedback. It looks like the debate is turning into a referendum on the 05+ platform, which by all accounts, has been a true success. Anyone who thinks this isn't a 'real' or 'true' mustang are mostly acting out of 'model envy'. You can see it on any car enthusiast board around. The pre-S197 crowd define themselves by griping that the current car has 'lost its soul', much like the Dodge Viper RT-10 crowd thought the newer SRT-10 model was a 'glorified S2000'. etc...

Back to the topic:

The increased build numbers are a response to increased interest in this Saleen platform. It won't be an 'instant collector' (not many cars are). Use a 401-k for retirement, use the car for driving. You'll be happy and (here's a bonus) the Saleen will hold its value well over time because it's a specialty vehicle and not a run-of-the-mill Mustang.

Anyway - this is a grand touring style car, not a true sports car in every sense of the word. Don't compare it to a Z06, a CTS-V, or a much cheaper Saturn Sky, for that matter!

If you're looking for exclusive American modern muscle, you've got it with this car. That's something an Audi or BMW won't get you. If someone has to ask, they just don't get it.


Chuck

 

[elburrito99]

I have an '06 SC Vert and have a number of thoughts on this, though marcus95 and chuckdoc have already articulated most of them.

Here are some additional thoughts:

1. '05-'07 Saleens vs. Prior Mustangs --
This is my first Saleen. However, I drove 5.0 Mustangs for 15 straight years as daily drivers (a '90 LX for 6 years and a '95 GT for 9 years). The new Mustangs (Saleens or not) are entirely different animals. They are larger (and thus, heavier), but also have an exceptionally more rigid chasis, which I think offers a good foundation for a more livable daily driver.

2. Saleen vs. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Etc. --
Buy the Saleen for the rawness of an American muscle car, with handling unlike any stock Mustang ever built, and for the fun of having a car that looks like the Saleen and that nobody else in your neighborhood or office owns.

3. Insurance Costs, Fuel Costs, Maintenance, Etc. --
If insurance costs (likely an extra $500 a year vs. a stock Mustang GT) or fuel costs are a dealbreaker, then DO NOT BUY A SALEEN because other costs down the road will almost assuredly do you in. As for depreciation, you might consider a used Saleen to diminish your hit substantially.

4. Collectability --
You'll get 100 different opinions on this from 100 different enthusiasts. I firmly believe the Saleens are produced in low enough numbers to have some potential for collectability 20+ years down the road. Compare the following (approximate) Shelby production numbers from the '60s, when our nation's population was 2/3 of what it is now, to those of the current Saleens (only 79 SC Verts produced for '05):
1966 ~ 2,400 GT 350s
1967 ~ 1,200 GT 350s and 2,000 GT 500s
1968 ~ 1,600 GT 350s, 400 GT 500s, and 1,200 GT 500KRs
1969-1970 ~ 1,100 GT 350s and 1,800 GT 500s
Does this mean Saleens should be considered a good investment? Probably not. You have better odds of making money in the stock market over a 20-year period. Buy the car to drive and enjoy, rather than based upon hopes that you'll get a decent rate of return after you take into account inflation, maintenance, storage, etc.

5. Daily Driver/Reliability Issues --
My only warning about using a Saleen as one's only car for a daily driver is that warranty repairs can take days (or even weeks) to complete by some dealerships. With such low production numbers, dealers simply don't/can't stock all needed Saleen parts since any given dealership might only service a handful of Saleens over the course of a year. I've yet to hear of dealerships giving loaner cars, so if you have no other ride, you'll be spending some time/money on rental cars or bus tokens.

All of the above aside, and assuming the cost of a Saleen will not bankrupt you, can you think of another car for the same price that would passionately stir you as would a Saleen? After 3 months of ownership, I still pinch myself every time I get behind the wheel because I can't believe that someone has made what I feel is the perfect American muscle car.

My $.02.