Overrated fox upgrades and trims

[90mustangGT]

I would have to say that Coupe/Notchback, 5 lug conversions, and the all black interior are overrated.

I like Coupes. I like the all black interior. I like the 5 lug thing, but it isn't the cat's meow. I've known guys that didn't care much one way or the other, then they started hanging out on internet forums and some of these stang meets, then suddenly a coupe with all black interior and a 5 lug wheel is all that and a bag of chips, and everything else is a joke. I knew a guy that traded his clean hatch for a dirty coupe, I asked him why, he said "because it's a coupe, I want a coupe" I asked why and he said he just liked coupes. I remember before he didn't care either way. I asked why the coupe was so great, he said because it was lighter and the chassis is firmer. The all black interior, I perfer the breakup of the grey/black. I had the red/black interior, and it grew on me. Too much red, change some of that red out and it's actually nice. Red is a power color. I'd rather have all black than the tan or blue, I will say that.

What say you?

 

[GroverDill]

I like coupes, but do think they are overpriced and I wont pay the premium for one.
I also like to two tone interior better.
5 lug is a MUST to me.

 

[Cobra912]

yeah 5 lug but then again I also like draglites.....I'm behind the times

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Personal preference, but I like a coupe. But I wouldn't trade a nice hatch for a ratty coupe. I don't care about interior color w/ the exception of white or that damn baby blue. neither to both.

As for the 4 lug, I plan on keping and putting big brakes and still use the 4 lug pattern in the future, so that also doesn't make a difference to me either

 

[slow90coupe]

not a big fan of black interiors. I love a clean gray/black or red/black interior. Black never seems to match up and look right. Every piece looks to be a different shade of black. I hate to see guys ruin a clean red or gray interior for a ratty black interior.

5 lug, I have to say, HAS to be on every fox I will ever own. I have an obsession with wheels and like to change them around a lot, so every car I have will have to be the same lug pattern.

coupe or hatch doesn't really matter to me. I like them both. I agree that coupes are outrageously high. A clean hatch can be had for 5k, while a similar coupe will run 6-8k around here.

 

[2000xp8]

5 lug is far from overrated, i'd almost call it a necessity. Better, easier, cheaper big brakes. Almost all 5 lug wheels look better visually, 4 lugs with 5 spokes just looks wrong.
IMO, it's one of the first things you should do to the car.

Black interiors, i like, but i don't think i'd go through the effort to convert.

Coupes, well i don't own one, but i see the allure. They are definitely the most adult looking fox.

Most over rated mod? Electric fan. As someone who has seen it tested, the dollar per hp ratio is horrible. I see it as a last resort for people who have everything. The best are the guys that buy cheap heads, then spend hundreds to get an E fan up and running.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Coupe...eh don't care I have a hatch.

5-lug...necessity. Its not the 5th lug...but the better brakes/wheels that become available.

Black interior, eh I have a black interior and agree they aren't all that they are cracked up to be. I like the grey/black or even a clean beige. I just hate when someone takes a spotless clean red interior (or other color) and srpray bombs it or puts in this ratty ass black interior from a car left in a boneyard for 2 months with no window glass.

 

[Mintsick]

I think the interior conversions are a bit overrated, I get it if you started with nothing or a rats nest but tearing out a clean interior I don't get.

5 lug I would agree is nearly a necessity for the cheap brake options and the plethora of wheels available.

I started out looking for a coupe primarily then saw the premiums they were fetching...the hatch looks nearly as good to me. I wouldn't say a coupe itself is overrated but I do agree dumping a nice hatch for a junkbox coupe "just cause" is definitely overrated.

Kinda feel like 1 piece headlights/clear markers are an overrated "upgrade". Also buying a GT and then turning it into an LX.

 

[BlackGT89]

As mentioned earlier, not so much 5-lug for 5-lug's sake, but the better brakes (preferably Cobra brakes) are money well spent. Heat the stock rotors up 2 or 3 times and they are warped or will be soon, and they could put you into the ditch. You can beat on the Cobra brakes all day and they beg for more. And or course the wheel selection is tremedous with 5-lugs and the look and feel is one of a more serious nature.

 

[90mustangGT]

Ok, let me rephrase that. 5 lug with stock brake system.

I do think that a 5 lug with some modern brakes is something worthwhile, considering how bad fox brakes are from the factory.

 

[5LiterCOOP]

Overrated trim: no option cars. Is it cool? Sure, is it worth paying a premium? Nope.
Worst "upgrade" converting an efi car to carb.

 

[2000xp8]

Ok, let me rephrase that. 5 lug with stock brake system.

I do think that a 5 lug with some modern brakes is something worthwhile, considering how bad fox brakes are from the factory.

It's still worth it visually, i can't think of a single set of 4 lug wheels i would use. And i'd say we can all agree that we care what our cars look like.

 

[Riverart]

I'm in the hatch group. I don't care much for the coupes and but then I don't race and don't care too much about weight and such. When I purchased my 89 earlier this year I swore on the 5 lug conversion because I had to have the FR500 wheel. But there was something about being able to slap on the old turbines I can't let go of. So, at this time I'm going to stick with my 4 lug, get a second set of daily wheels and when I feel like it, imma rock the stockers. BTW, while I was looking for my car it was very hard finding a stock car. So I appreciate them quite a bit.

 

[mob]

Getting ideas from other people is ok, but doing anything just because someone else does it is silly. If someone genuinely wants to do a 5-lug conversion, cool, I can see a few reasons why, larger selection of wheels being the biggest. If someone wants to do a black interior conversion, cool, I personally love my factory black interior and would chose it over grey.

 

[NIKwoaC]

Unless you only ever plan on running Draglites or replica Saleen wheels, 5 lug conversion is a "gotta have" item on my list. There are so many better looking and better performing options out there that only come in 5 lug, and I'm talking both wheels AND brakes.

I agree with the black interior thing. The only benefit I see for a black interior is to hide grease stains from me climbing into the car after an oil change. Other than that, I always kind of wanted the 85-86 TAN interior, which seems to be even more rare.

As far as coupes go, if I could wiggle my nose and my car would magically become a coupe, but retain all the other modifications and features of my current car, I'd do it. I just like the looks of the coupe better. That said though, I'd never trade my car for another Fox, just because it's a coupe. I'm not that desperate for a coupe.

Most over rated mod? Electric fan. As someone who has seen it tested, the dollar per hp ratio is horrible. I see it as a last resort for people who have everything. The best are the guys that buy cheap heads, then spend hundreds to get an E fan up and running.

Meh, there are more benefits to an e-fan than what show up on the dyno. Working on the car is waaaaaaaaay easier when you don't have that big clumsy clutch, axle and fan assembly in the way. I can remove/replace my serpentine belt in about the amount of time it takes me to figure out what size socket I need to release the tensioner. Try doing that on a clutch fan car. It's also one less dangerous moving object when I have the hood open and the engine running, I just flip the power switch and the fan is off. I also have to believe the cooling is more consistent, since the e-fan is 100% controlled by engine temperature, where the clutch fan is not. I can also kill the engine and leave the e-fan on, and it will cool whatever fluid is in the radiator, which is a nice feature for a drag car or an autocross car.

 

[90lxcoupe]

4-lugs are for honda's, and red interiors are ugly.

I have a coupe, thats 5-lug, and has a black interior. I didnt buy a coupe cause the internet told me to, i bought it cause they look way more badass than a hatchback. Not that theres anything wrong with a hatchback, ive had two of them. Coupes make better looking drag or street/strip cars. and that is a scientific fact.

Personally i thing 4-lugs look like crap, no matter what wheel(especailly cobra r's). The brake selection sucks with them also.

 

[Stever89]

I've got a 4 lug coupe, red interior. I'll eventually covert to 5 lug, but only after I settle on and have the $ on hand to buy a set of wheels I like. Going 4 to 5 is easy. Springing for the wheels is what's holding me back. I've got two sets of chrome ponies. I think I'll stick with them for a while.

As far as red interiors, sure I'd like it all gray inside, but finding nice red interior pieces is so much easier and cheaper too. I'd rather have a nice red interior than a not-so-nice gray or black.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I agree with the black interior thing. The only benefit I see for a black interior is to hide grease stains from me climbing into the car after an oil change. .

Other than that though, it shows every spec of dirt or lint. Unless you vacuum your car out and keep the plastic wiped down...it shows all the dirt in the bright sun.

Grey/Black does a much better job of hiding that all and looks more open/clean.

 

[Franks]

i have a coupe with five lug bullet rims and black and grey interior and it is just the way i want it. i like the black but as others have said all black shows dirt and lint bad. and i think coupes are a better looking car than the hatch. i have owned hatchs in the past and may soon buy another but i prefer the coupe.

 

[Noobz347]

5 lug is far from overrated, i'd almost call it a necessity. Better, easier, cheaper big brakes. Almost all 5 lug wheels look better visually, 4 lugs with 5 spokes just looks wrong.
IMO, it's one of the first things you should do to the car.

Black interiors, i like, but i don't think i'd go through the effort to convert.

Coupes, well i don't own one, but i see the allure. They are definitely the most adult looking fox.

Most over rated mod? Electric fan. As someone who has seen it tested, the dollar per hp ratio is horrible. I see it as a last resort for people who have everything. The best are the guys that buy cheap heads, then spend hundreds to get an E fan up and running.

+1

It's still worth it visually, i can't think of a single set of 4 lug wheels i would use. And i'd say we can all agree that we care what our cars look like.

-1


I'm more a function over form type. I totally agree that the braking thing is {"THE"} reason to go 5 lug with rim selection just being an added benefit. However (comma), a set of powerstop rotors, and a QUALITY pad even on our crappy braking system is ample for all but road course type conditions.

On the topic of looks.... Call me ancient but I still really like the looks of 10-holes. Turbines and Pony rims...

Before the flaming begins, I know there's lots of folks that love Pony wheels... just not me.