best mustang (year) to buy for auto cross club

[DrSmith]

Here is the question: We are looking to start a church youth group autocross club. We need a mustang that will serve duty with multiple drivers. The car does not need to be a winner, just a survivor.
What would be the best bang for the buck on an older mustang. The money will come from my pocket, so of course I want a deal. What is a good year for few tranny problems and will take a beating being auto crossed by multiple young people? I can put money into the suspension, cooling system, but of course, don't want to put that much into it. We have this winter to find the car and get it ready.
What do you think? Oh, I'd rather it be stick, that will keep some kids out who just want to beat on it.
Thanks,
Doc
Doc

 

[mustangford289]

best

Doc, try to find a Fox body in good shape, with a 302 in it....they are cheap, fast and easy to mod....If u need help finding a rust free one Id be glad to find you one down here in Florida.

 

[AvalancheSVT]

awesome idea. if you find a 4 cylinder or V6 that might be cheaper and then you can do a swap project with the kids for a 5.0 (or something).

i'd get a 99-04 V6 5spd, put 3.73 gears or 4.10 gears in it, limited slip diff, basic mods, and strip that sucker out since its for auto-X

 

[arcwcb]

I like the 302 swap idea, their new to auto-x, a little torque to help them get going if they don't take a turn at full speed would be nice, rather than having to just mash the pedal on a v-6 to get going again if they make a mistake... A 302 would be a little more forgiving (and fun) than a 200 hp v-6 with no torque...

 

[AvalancheSVT]

I like the 302 swap idea, their new to auto-x, a little torque to help them get going if they don't take a turn at full speed would be nice, rather than having to just mash the pedal on a v-6 to get going again if they make a mistake... A 302 would be a little more forgiving (and fun) than a 200 hp v-6 with no torque...

tell that to a miata or S2000 owner.

if you put gears and a good diff in a V6 they wont need to wait for power at all.

thats why i said 5spd with 4.10s or 3.73's and a LSD. if you do that and strip the car it'll be cheap and fun for autox. plus the V6 is easy to work on and there are tons of them around.

 

[arcwcb]

And if you put gears in a v8, you REALLY won't have to wait around for power... There are enough good, cheap GT's out there, if he's gonna bother to strip it down and use it for auto-x, he might as well get the V8 and start off with a nice solid engine. Just my $.02, I had a 1998 V6 that had a 2001 V6 engine with some gears and some basic bolt ons and I hated driving the car, ZERO torque, my buddy had a GT that all he added were 3.73s (my v6 had 4.10s) and his was SO much easier (and more fun) to get around a track and to post a decent time, and he really didn't pay much for his at all... My advice, look for either a fox or an SN-95 GT, they can both be had for very little money, and parts are really cheap for both.

 

[mustangford289]

Here's one

1989 Ford Mustang GT hatchback - Cars For Sale Casselberry, FL

 

[arcwcb]

^Nice find!

 

[AvalancheSVT]

And if you put gears in a v8, you REALLY won't have to wait around for power... There are enough good, cheap GT's out there, if he's gonna bother to strip it down and use it for auto-x, he might as well get the V8 and start off with a nice solid engine. Just my $.02, I had a 1998 V6 that had a 2001 V6 engine with some gears and some basic bolt ons and I hated driving the car, ZERO torque, my buddy had a GT that all he added were 3.73s (my v6 had 4.10s) and his was SO much easier (and more fun) to get around a track and to post a decent time, and he really didn't pay much for his at all... My advice, look for either a fox or an SN-95 GT, they can both be had for very little money, and parts are really cheap for both.

and you auto-X'd it? did you also let a string of kids that potentially dont know how to drive operate it?

i'm thinking longterm durability and you're talkin "but the GT is faster!!!"

99-04 V6 5spd, basic mods, strip it out, and put some gears/diff in it and whatever suspension mods you want. the more power you make the more stuff you break and the less power you have the better you have to drive.

if you're using it as a teaching tool you dont get the thing that has a huge margin for error and is still quick, you get the thing that can do the job but requires more focus.

have you any experience autoX at all?

 

[arcwcb]

Nowhere did I say "The GT is faster!" I said it was easier to drive and was more fun. I've had experience with both, so I'm relaying what I've learned since I've actually owned a few Mustangs. Durability isn't a problem with the GT, i had more problems with my V6 than anybody with a 4.6 had, the rear end isn't as tough, and what he'd spend on gears and a limited slip and upgrading to GT brakes and to get to a GT level with a V6, he'd have more in the car than if he just went with a GT to start. Sorry, but I've had experience with both, and everybody knows you love a V6, but they are NOT a good motor for a car like that.

And, YES, I have PLENTY of experience with AutoX, I've tracked several cars and I'm a senior design engineer for Missouri S&T's Formula SAE car. So don't try to talk down to me like I know nothing about this topic. The OP asked for an opinion, you gave yours, I gave mine based on my experience with that exact car in an AutoX situation. You don't need to prove me wrong, you're entitled to your opinion, I'm just stating my experience with both of the cars that I tracked and which car I would go with based on having driven both a GT and a V6 with the mods you described.

 

[ricksstang]

Auto X Mustang

Before you buy anything that you want to seriously want to Auto X. You might want to reat this: http://www.scca.org/documents/Solo_Rules/2010_scca_solo_rules.pdf

Because it will be very helpfull to first, know what mods are allowed in the class you want to run. Second to know what you can be running against in your class. Just so you can plan your build accordingly.

For instance, a friend of mine built a Chevette for Autocrossing, that no one could touch in his class. When he took it to Nationals, he finnished fourth, in a field of 32. Then the SCCA reclassed the car. This was some time ago, but it goes to show how proper planning, research, and a good build can pay off.

I just don't like to see guys show up with a car that is not compettive, or is in a class way over what its capable of.

However if you are just in it for fun, get what you want.
I would sugest an SN-95, because it can be built within the rules, still be competitive in a stock or Street Prepaired Class. Without spending a boatload of cash.
Just my 2 cents.

Rick

 

[AvalancheSVT]

Nowhere did I say "The GT is faster!" I said it was easier to drive and was more fun. I've had experience with both, so I'm relaying what I've learned since I've actually owned a few Mustangs. Durability isn't a problem with the GT, i had more problems with my V6 than anybody with a 4.6 had, the rear end isn't as tough, and what he'd spend on gears and a limited slip and upgrading to GT brakes and to get to a GT level with a V6, he'd have more in the car than if he just went with a GT to start. Sorry, but I've had experience with both, and everybody knows you love a V6, but they are NOT a good motor for a car like that.

And, YES, I have PLENTY of experience with AutoX, I've tracked several cars and I'm a senior design engineer for Missouri S&T's Formula SAE car. So don't try to talk down to me like I know nothing about this topic. The OP asked for an opinion, you gave yours, I gave mine based on my experience with that exact car in an AutoX situation. You don't need to prove me wrong, you're entitled to your opinion, I'm just stating my experience with both of the cars that I tracked and which car I would go with based on having driven both a GT and a V6 with the mods you described.

i think ya might've missed my point. a car that will make the kids work harder for good times will make them better drivers.

more margin for error = people learning to drive with more margin of error = crappier drivers.

 

[arcwcb]

I agree with ricksstang, SN-95 all the way, cheap and good solid cars. And I'm glad he brought up classing, I should have done that. Good post.

 

[Autos]

and you auto-X'd it? did you also let a string of kids that potentially dont know how to drive operate it?

i'm thinking longterm durability and you're talkin "but the GT is faster!!!"

99-04 V6 5spd, basic mods, strip it out, and put some gears/diff in it and whatever suspension mods you want. the more power you make the more stuff you break and the less power you have the better you have to drive.

if you're using it as a teaching tool you dont get the thing that has a huge margin for error and is still quick, you get the thing that can do the job but requires more focus.

have you any experience autoX at all?

You are a v6 fan boy in every thread just stfu already

 

[AvalancheSVT]

You are a v6 fan boy in every thread just stfu already

OR the guy was asking for a cheap autoX platform and it seems like a good idea.

guess that makes me a miata fanboy too.

or maybe you're just an idiot.

 

[arcwcb]

OR the guy was asking for a cheap autoX platform and it seems like a good idea.

guess that makes me a miata fanboy too.

or maybe you're just an idiot.

Yeah, I see where you were going on cheap, but an SN-95 GT usually isn't too much more than an SN-95 V6, plus the 4.6 is way more durable than the 3.8... Although, I have to agree with him, even though he was kind of a douche about saying it, you DO tend to always recommend a V6 for everything lol

 

[AvalancheSVT]

Yeah, I see where you were going on cheap, but an SN-95 GT usually isn't too much more than an SN-95 V6, plus the 4.6 is way more durable than the 3.8... Although, I have to agree with him, even though he was kind of a douche about saying it, you DO tend to always recommend a V6 for everything lol

i guess when i think durable, not a rust bucket, looks kinda cool, and is cheap i think 99-04 v6 mustang lol

 

[arcwcb]

I agree with everything on that list except durable since it's going to be a performance application lol

 

[3-0-II]

chalk up another vote for a stripped out 5 speed SN95 with gears. V8 or V6 would be a good choice for kids learning to autox. the 94-98s didnt have alot of stock horsepower but if you do get a 5.0 or 4.6 GT, there would always be room for improvement in the cars performance down the line, without having a car thats too difficult to drive right off the bat. the V6 has its plusses too. its a cheaper car initially with a set of 4.10s or something it'd be fine for newer drivers right out of the box

good luck finding something, and props to you for doing this in the first place and for planning to buy the car yourself, getting youngsters into motorsports is a great thing theres alot they can learn and they''re going to have a blast to; its awfully charitable of you

 

[DrSmith]

Thanks for all your input. First off, I'm not that chariable, (sp), this isn't all that much....well yet. And I have not found the car yet. I am not finging many v-6's in my area, but I have all winter to look. I will get th kids to pitch in, and this will be more of a church outreach type deal. No tax write off, that is for sure.
Second, I have a 9 year old daughter and 8 year old son. I want to get them into motor sports, so I am hoping that this is a good intro for them. So far they have not been all that thrilled watching me auto cross, I am hoping as they get older they will
I will keep you posted on my finds. I hope to look at a 90 lx this weekend, as well as a 94 v-8.
Thanks,
Doc