Need opinions - blown GT or GT500?

[04YELLOWGT]

Blown GT!!! Gt500 is a complete waste of money. FOr that amount go buy a corvette. GT500 weighs too much, doesnt put out enough power, etc. The only difference is the rear end and transmission and for less money you can throw a supercharger, bore the engine, 6 speed tranny and rear end that will be able to put up with the power. But put it this way, a KB s/c alone will put out more than the gt500. IDK the only reason I woujld ever get a GT500 is to say hey look what I have when Im rich, it wouldnt be something to race and if you plan on blowing a GT I assume you plan to somewhat. I would say get a Shelby GT. It the best bang for your buck. And if you have the money for a GT500 get the Shelby GT S/C if you can find it. In the end its all up to you but I think Ford was stupid trying to charge that much for something that isnt worth it.

HAHA about everything you said there is wrong.

First there is much more difference in a GT500 than the rearend and transmission. Things like the forged supercharged DOHC 5.4L, interior, suspension, and way better looks make it more than a GT. A GT500 will far surpass a GT in performance with less money 700+rwhp on stock motor with a blower upgrade aint to bad.

If you honestly think you can build a GT for cheaper than a GT500 and make the same power numbers you are wrong. The only way you would be able to do this is with a high mileage 05 and even then it would be pushing it. Do you know how much you rack up in a built motor($4,000), heads($2,500+), cams($600-$1000), blower($5,000+), rearend($1,500), transmission($1,500-$2,000+), fuel upgrades($1,500+), ect plus labor if you can’t do it your self. I'll give you a hint it’s much more than a GT500 and at the end of the day its still a GT and worth what a GT is worth.

Also a Shelby GT is a HUGE waist of money when comparing it to a GT or GT500. You get exhaust, CAI, and tune for like $35-37k and a GT/SC is even a bigger joke with a $15k additional price tag. That means you pay 50k for a GT with a body kit and blower all while running on the weak internals and making 450hp (note that is NOT RWHP). Hmm yea that sounds much better than a GT500.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Blown GT!!! Gt500 is a complete waste of money. FOr that amount go buy a corvette. GT500 weighs too much, doesnt put out enough power, etc. The only difference is the rear end and transmission and for less money you can throw a supercharger, bore the engine, 6 speed tranny and rear end that will be able to put up with the power. But put it this way, a KB s/c alone will put out more than the gt500. IDK the only reason I woujld ever get a GT500 is to say hey look what I have when Im rich, it wouldnt be something to race and if you plan on blowing a GT I assume you plan to somewhat. I would say get a Shelby GT. It the best bang for your buck. And if you have the money for a GT500 get the Shelby GT S/C if you can find it. In the end its all up to you but I think Ford was stupid trying to charge that much for something that isnt worth it.

I would agree with 04YELLOWGT....you're way off base on this one. Even if you were able to duplicate the power output of the blown 5.4L, you've still got a whole other host of drivetrain, suspension, interior and exterior changes to factor into the cost in order to duplicate all that is the GT500. Not to mention that with a GT500 in the end, you walk away with 500hp and your 3-year factory warranty in tact. That's not even an option the moment you crack an intake bolt on a GT.

 

[klaw]

I would agree with 04YellowGt as well and I should know because I'm nearing the completion of a major build on my blown GT (Whipple HO, 10-rib drive, 15 psi boost, forged stroker s/b, cnc heads, oversize valves, cams, headers, x-pipe, suspension, brakes, 6-speed trans, 3.73 gears, t-loc clutch upgrade, throttle body). In the end I think I'll have a way nicer car than a GT500 and one that is customized to what I want it to be - but it's not cheap and/or easy. It also won't be worth anything near what I'll have into it (to anybody else at least). The biggest waste of money for sure would be the Shelby GT - you're paying alot for the dashplate.

 

[mjscott2]

Well, now that I have the blown GT (KB stage I w/ 463 rwhp ~530-540 at the crank) and the GT500 (stock except for short shifter), I can tell you:

- If the GT500 surges, the GT leaps. Acceleration is definitely faster and comes on quicker with the GT. No surprise w/ 40 extra HP and 3-400lbs less weight. I also think that the KB twin-screw blower makes more power at lower RPM.
- GT500 suspension is significantly stiffer, and the car corners better, although the ride is noticably choppier, and the extra 400lbs over the front wheels makes it understeer unless you get on the throttle to compensate
- The GT feels more agile - probably due to the amount and location of weight in the GT500
- The stock GT500 shifter is MUCH better than the GT, which is super-sloppy. Got a short shifter for the GT - will put it in in a week or two

Reality is, that without building the GT motor, it's maxed-out at ~540HP without running a major risk of blowing it up, and the clutch is about at its limit too.

The GT500 can make 640HP at the crank with a smaller pully, CAI and tune. Drop a Ford Racing blower and it can make 700 RWHP. Use a KB blower instead, upgrade the drive shaft and you can reliably put down almost 800RWHP - for about another $6k.

To get to >550 HP in the GT, I'd have to redo the entire drivetrain, which is quickly going to get into big $$$. Considering that a used '07 GT500 can be found for ~$32k, you're going to have trouble taking a 2010 GT and adding a blower for less.

That being said, the GT is way fun to drive. Neither one's a bad choice - just depends on what you're looking for.

 

[mjscott2]

Sorry, TheVat, I missed your questions.

My GT is a Roush Stage I w/ a KB blower. As soon as they told me it was a total (I previously told them not to value it as a stock GT) I forwarded them a packet itemizing everything on the car, along with KBB values, Autotrader comps, etc.

For the decision to TOTAL or not, they used the stock GT valuation.

Once totaled, they sent me a check for the replacement cost of a stock GT. This after I had told them what was on the car. Somebody had scribbled on the valuation summary "Roush conversion" to somehow indicate that they recognized that it wasn't stock. Apparently they missed the Roush authentication sticker on the door sill!

I challenged the valuation. The insurance company sent my packet to an independent appraiser. I got my own appraisal. My appraisal was $12k above the stock vehicle. The insurance company came back with $10k over and wrote me another check. Basically, the insurance company agreed to pay whatever amount their independent appraiser and my appraiser agreed on. They effectively paid full market value for a 2005 Roush Stage III in pristine condition.

All in all, I paid $2k to drive the car for 22 months!

At the end, I bought it back for under $3k with all mods intact.

Good choice with the GT500, I was gonna suggest that over a Gt. I'm curious, when they totaled out your GT, were you able to salvage any of your mods on the car? Was the value based upon KBB/GAP, or did they consider the cost of your mods in the payout?

 

[Stangninjak]

I think in the end it depends on what you want to do with the car. Where are you really going to use 600~800hp on the street at ??? Really......

If you want a drag car, then perhaps the GT500 will get you closer to one a little cheaper. If you want a fun street car, you can easily upgrade a GT to be just that.

As for me, I have never like the GT500 hood or rear lid. So meh..I'm happy with my GT.

 

[04YELLOWGT]

I think in the end it depends on what you want to do with the car. Where are you really going to use 600~800hp on the street at ??? Really......

The same can be said about a 450-500rwhp car. Really a stock GT is more than enough for the street.

The only people that really modify there cars are people that race them on the street or track and people that want to brag about them. With a GT500 your going to be ahead of the game no matter what you modify it for. If you go to the track or race on the street a 450rwhp Mustang is nothing. You better have a low 11 or 10sec car to even be considered quick let alone fast.