2.3 vs 5.0?

[65ShelbyClone]

You guys are wierd. I haven't had any Mustang driver wave/nod/rev/whatever to me that I remember. Bikers have waved at me when I was riding my XR600, but it wasn't consistent. Some biker bikers will do it, and some crotch rocketers, but not in any pattern(a dirt biker is a outcast to them anyway).

Escort LX's with the 1.9 were only rated at 90 hp if I recall correctly.

If it makes you feel any better, the POS beater Civic I used to drive was rated at 92hp.....from a 1.5LSOHC with only dual point injection. It didnt feel like 92hp, but maybe it had that when it was new. I agree with BELL; no one knows what an SVO is. As a 175hp '84 model, it's not a drag racer, but its faster than the the average 16 second rice car and I think that catches a few people off guard who would dismiss it otherwise. If only I had a late-'80s Audi Quattro with the 2.1L and 300hp....

 

[88stangmangt]

I have a 2005 Jetta GLI for my DD and all the vw guys who are into them like me. Give me the peace (vw sign) when i get close. but i do get reved at all the time it's a sign IMO that they want to tease you. Some do it to coax you into a race.That reminds me of one of the last times i had my lx out. i was sitting at a light with my buddy in his F-150 infront of me. The red modular gt next to him was reving at him showing off...didnt even see me to the side of him so as i went by i held it to the mat got next to his window let 18psi out through my HKS SSQV to let him know i was there. I had to swerve his jaw.......-Priceless.

 

[Fast_Mustang87]

Yeah I always wave at other mustangs around here but i can't stand the Z28's when they rev there engines at me.

 

[kevinspann]

I wave at most Mustang's I see, 5.0 or 2.3 or whatever.

Why not, we can't let the Jeep folks have all the fun. I've had bikes, 3 Jeeps, etc, and it's kind of fun.

Our 2.3 is by all means not a slow vehicle. With 3.73 gears, even the 88 hp monster motor moves it out quite respectably, I think. Not up there with either of my 5.0's but no prob for daily driving.

Agreed! Now all I need is a stick to make it even more lively

All this talk makes me want to turbo it instead of a 5.0...What do you all suggest?

 

[Shawneebear93]

All this talk makes me want to turbo it instead of a 5.0...What do you all suggest?

What do you think?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

A turbo 2.3 Mustang is one big catch 22. The ricers think it's a V8, then think its automatically slow because they once beat a carbed 2.3 auto that wasn't racing. The Mustang crowd doesn't respect it simply because it's not a 5.0. The only way to "prove" anything is to race and racing for that purpose is lame. The SVO is the same way; everyone thinks it is a 5.0, then go "huh, too bad" when they find out it's a 2.3. I know someone at work that actually said "thats just wrong."

Its lonely cheering for the underdogs.

 

[BELL]

the reaction i get from people is way different. the 5.0's around here wave and race off ahead of me. i just ease into the turbo to let them now whats there. however the neck snapping i get from the ricers is probably the best feeling ever. i was leaving 7-11 the other day afterwork. this prelude was sitting there bumping rap and two g's smokin ciggs talkin. they looked at me when the svo started and i backed up an gave a little spool. then hit the road at 18psi. they ran out to the street watched as i tore off. great

 

[Shawneebear93]

... I want a turbo motor ...

 

[25thmustang]

I have a 5-speed 93, and can say, yes they are slow. Right now the only vehicle close to it, is my sisters 86 V6 vert, and I think with her car shifting at redline, it would beat mine. Only car I ever beat in that, was a kid with his 89 4-cyl auto. Beat him by like 5-6 cars easily to 75, and had 200 lbs in the trunk to boot!

 

[65ShelbyClone]

however the neck snapping i get from the ricers is probably the best feeling ever. i was leaving 7-11 the other day afterwork. this prelude was sitting there bumping rap and two g's smokin ciggs talkin. they looked at me when the svo started and i backed up an gave a little spool. then hit the road at 18psi. they ran out to the street watched as i tore off. great

Yeah, that's fun . You have the benefit of a bigger and louder T4 compressor on there, though. I don't think they can hear my T3 over their stereos, but they probably wonder why that 4-cylinder Mustang started moving so fast. A mass air conversion will make it even louder, too....

 

[rd]

I still don't feel slow in my 89 2.3 LX automatic notch.

Maybe I'm just old, but the notch is a lot quicker around town than, say, my 4.6 F150 4x4 truck, the six banger CJ 7 we had, and some other cars we've had. As noted in my sig, I do have a 12 sec 5.0 to compare it to. While it is no match for the 5.0, around here, there is almost no safe place to exercise a quick car, so I rarely do that. I really do like the 2.3 in first gear though, and you don't have to rev it too hard. This little monster even pulled all the way up the steepest bridge in the area without coming out of overdrive last Sunday, something the truck and the Explorer won't do. Only my Jeep GC will match it.

And I'd rather drive the 2.3 since it gets great mileage, it's quiet, and the cd player works!

 

[4bangen]

my problem is no one around here drives a thunderbird, people think its a 5.0 or they just dont care enough to bother. I am thinking about putting a banner on the back window that says "who needs 8?" and getting some 2.3 emblems. maybe that will get me some races.