Prospective owner asks: V6 or V8?

[spooky]

Get the GT. If you get the V6, chances are you'll second guess it in the future and say "I wish I got the V8"

Either way, good luck!

i have a V6 and sometimes i do think about the V8, but it wouldn't make much sense to trade it now(unless for a Saleen ) cause mine is slightly modded. plus in a couple of years, the next Mustang will be out with a bigger V8 than the one that's out now. i'd just rather wait and see what that will be like.

 

[Marine One]

I commute 50 miles round trip every day, 80% open highway, so I've been trying to convince myself that I can pull off the Mustang EPA highway numbers, which aren't so far away from the 30-32mpg I'm getting with my Pontiac Vibe.

My commute is the same as yours and I'm logging 21-22 mpg in my 07 GT (it beats the the heck out of the 17 mpg that I get in my V-6 Blazer on the same commute). I'm also logging 25-26 on the open highway usually running at about 8 mph over the limit. In the limited amount of city driving that I have done in the GT, the MPG drops to around 17-19. The one thing that I have noticed is that it takes very little sitting still in traffic for the MPG to fall off.

I concur with the individual who said that you should drive both and then decide. You may want to consider insurance costs as well.
Good luck.

 

[Swordsman]

Thanks again for all the feedback, guys!

~SM

 

[anticubicle]

V8! No contest!

Agreed I purchased my 08 GT this past Sunday and after test driving GT's and V6's alike there is no comparison.

 

[stanmckinney]

As I said earlier, if you have a good, clean driving record and aren't young, I think you will find that the cost of insurance isn't that much higher for a GT.

 

[Scramblin_Jim]

Well I never drove a V8. I didn't want the temptation. Most of my cars in the past have been turbo 4-cylinders or 6's. I have been driving my V6 now for about 6 weeks and can say it get about 15 to 17 mpg in town. On a road trip of 100 miles I got 28 mpg.

Each of us has our reasons for a car purchase. For me I see the car going to my teenage daughter in about 4 years. I sure didn't want her to have a V8! I also wanted to keep the insurance costs down and figured the V6 would help a little. Before you purchase, call your insurance agent with the vin #'s for both a V6 and V8 and have him price your insurance costs.

Another reason I went with the V6 was purchase price. I was looking at resale 05 and 06 and found V6's of course cheaper. I still had a hard time telling myself to buy used for $19 to 22K and 25k miles. After figuring in the rebates and X-plan discount I got thru my work a new V6 with manual got me at about $24k. Of course I also got extras I wasn't looking for in the price.

Yes at times I want a V8 but then again I am the type of person who would rather not get the GT and instead get the Cobra or Shelby. What I find is other punk drivers who see you sitting in a Stang will want to prove they have the better car. It happens at least once a week. With a V8 you'll have the HP to shut them down instead of just letting them take you in the V6. Most don't know the difference in the cars, they just see a Mustang and want to test you. It takes real will power to tell yourself your above that!

BTW I did squak the tires in both 1st and 2nd the other day. WOW you can still have fun in a V6.

 

[welchy]

Anyone that cannot tell the difference between a V6 and a GT is an asshat.
Get a GT, V6's are for rental cars and chicks.
Flame suit on.


































To each his/her own.

 

[tr7driver]

Insurance

FWIW, I was surprised that the insurance on a 5 speed manual was quite a bit higher than on an auto.

 

[Swordsman]

What I find is other punk drivers who see you sitting in a Stang will want to prove they have the better car. It happens at least once a week. With a V8 you'll have the HP to shut them down instead of just letting them take you in the V6. Most don't know the difference in the cars, they just see a Mustang and want to test you. It takes real will power to tell yourself your above that!

The few times I've had someone do this at traffic lights (though I wasn't in a Stang), I've found it's very entertaining to actually wait a few ticks before even moving... basically ignoring them altogether. They really look goofy zooming off by themselves, and it's sure to disappoint when they realize you weren't even trying. They may brag about it later, but they know deep down there never was a real contest.


I was surprised that with my insurance company, there was only a $140 a year difference between the V6 and V8, and that the convertible V6 was actually cheaper than both of them! I would imagine sticks are more expensive than autos because a stick is the weapon of choice for racers. Don't see many auto Nascars out there.

~SM

 

[stanmckinney]

Are you talking about a convertible V6 for $24,000 after discounts, rebates and X plan? A loaded coupe should list at no more than that.
With discounts, rebates and X plan, you should be able to buy a loaded GT for $24,000.
Age is a big factor for insurance. My insurance company would not even quote insurance on my daughter for a Mustang until she was 21.
I'm 54 and, as I said before, insurance on a GT, is less than $100 more per year than for a V6. That is with a perfect driving record.
I do have to use my cruise control and exercise some restraint.
I also don't know how you are getting as much as 17 miles per gallon in town with a V6. I really tried and the absolute best I ever could get was 15.

 

[Kilmar]

I'm lucky to get 14 MPG on my GT with the mods I have in my sig. And this is with a 93 octane tune! I wouldn't change a thing. V8 alllllllllllllll the way, baby!

 

[GOLDENPONY]

Choice?

V8! No contest!

+1

 

[05xgt]

do you want to walk/ or would you rather "Be Able To RUN"?

 

[Scramblin_Jim]

Are you talking about a convertible V6 for $24,000 after discounts, rebates and X plan? A loaded coupe should list at no more than that.
With discounts, rebates and X plan, you should be able to buy a loaded GT for $24,000.
Age is a big factor for insurance. My insurance company would not even quote insurance on my daughter for a Mustang until she was 21.
I'm 54 and, as I said before, insurance on a GT, is less than $100 more per year than for a V6. That is with a perfect driving record.
I do have to use my cruise control and exercise some restraint.
I also don't know how you are getting as much as 17 miles per gallon in town with a V6. I really tried and the absolute best I ever could get was 15.

Like I said we each have our own reasons for buying. Price, style, insurance are all part of the equation. I could have purchased the fastback styled car and got the alsolute cheapest Mustang (V6 Deluxe $19,300) but I don't like that style, never have, never will - it's butt ugly to me - my personal taste!!! Cost of a V6 Premium Conv $25,100. Out the door price (including tags, tax, etc.) I paid for the V6 Premium Conv was $24,000; I did very well thank you! A V6 GT Deluxe conv is $30,500. That's $5,400 difference. Too much extra car pmt over 36 months (another $150/month). Then add the extra insurance per month, $50. So to feed my ego I was not willing to pay $200 per month more.

Yes I have gotten 17 mpg in town as I have probably a bigger percentage of freeway to stop and go driving than others - but it still is going across town and not on the open road. This past week I am getting 12 mpg as all my driving has been within 4 miles from home, average speed of 16 mph - terrible for a V6 - did not expect that at all. If all your driving is in town, stop and go, why the heck would anyone buy a V6 with 5-spd manual?

When I get into the position I can afford a Shelby convertible (in about 4-years), then that will be the car and I won't care about mpg or insurance costs. Until then, THE OLD MAN (I'm 56) is driving his red convt with a 6 and 5-speed and have a blast!

 

[kooldawg6]

Like I said we each have our own reasons for buying. Price, style, insurance are all part of the equation.

...THE OLD MAN (I'm 56) is driving his red convt with a 6 and 5-speed and have a blast!

The last sentence is probably THE most important one...have fun and love the one YOU WANT!!!!!!

 

[Scramblin_Jim]

The last sentence is probably THE most important one...have fun and love the one YOU WANT!!!!!!

Amen!

 

[scottfree]

I think there is more to consider than just the engine. I might be mistaken but I think the brakes and suspension or upgraded on the GT as well. When I got mine I had to take it in for warranty work because my paint was chipping off on one of the fenders. They gave me a v6 car to drive for a few days and I couldnt stand it. I would take the yaris over the v6 mustang. Handling is not good on the GT. It is like a buick on the v6 car. Besides the yaris makes no excuses. It is what it is. A Mustang is a muscle car and demands a v8. A Mustang with no v8 is not really a mustang at all. (my opinion) I have an automatic and set cruise at 65 and get about 23-26 mpg. Get the GT!!!

 

[anticubicle]

All this talk about fuel economy. Really, if you want to save $$$ @ the pump buy a Hybrid Camry (Very good cars).

If you wan't a sports car, toss out the ENTIRE fuel enconomy debate and go from there. Let's face it, neither the V8 nor V6 are anywhere near fuel efficient.

(Then again, this is coming from someone who's never owned a car with good gas mileage. Bronco, 2 Camaros, Mark VIII, Envoy and now the GT.)

 

[Tupperware]

A Mustang with no v8 is not really a mustang at all. (my opinion)

A bold statement considering the first Mustangs were available primarily in 6 cylinder coupes...

 

[Francis]

I think there is more to consider than just the engine. I might be mistaken but I think the brakes and suspension or upgraded on the GT as well.

The base V6 (for unknown reasons) lacks a rear sway bar. You can add it back if you opt for the Pony package.

As for MPG (no mods)...
I just did a test, over the last 180 miles, I averaged 26.5 mpg. No trip over 15 miles, and includes a drive through the mountains and a couple burnouts. That's with me being pretty conscious about mileage the whole time though. Naturally, the way I drive my car nets me about 17 mpg overall.

That's better than EPA estimates on a V6. It's all in how you drive.

If you're concerned about spending the money on gas, get the V6 - the difference in price will pay for gas for a few years. If you want to save whales, get a Yaris.

Myself, I actually decided on the V8 because it was significantly more reliable according to Consumers Report (at least that's what I tell myself ).

But basically it boils down to this - if you just want to be seen in a Mustang when you're cruising, get the V6. If you prefer to drive like nobody's looking, get a V8