I am new to the realm of mustangs, quite honestly I was always a GM fan and still am, but something about the mustang calls to me. I have this problem, me and all of my old high school friends have always had semi comparable cars and then it is a never ending competion to have the best and more importantly the fastest car(1/4 mile). Well it finally happened that one of us took the leap to a far supirior car, a 99 LS1 Trans Am, gourgous car with very low miles. Thinking conservativly I have at least 8K to drop and need to find a car that will at least be close to competing with his. I am just curious how far behind I would be starting if I got a 99+ GT mustang 5 speed. Will i be spending a fortune to match his stock? Cause he is already ordering parts, he is fresh back from iraq and full of combat pay. Oh yeah, and i have to be able to blow away an LT1 Camaro, I won't loose to daddys car.