Greetings all,
Forgive me for the length of this post but rather than just give the typical introduction of "Hi Y'all from Georgia! Ain't Mustangs teh bomb?" I want to get my reason for being here right up front. I'm looking at buying a 2011- GT, and I want to know everything I can prior to the purchase.
I'm about to become a former GTO owner, hence my screen name. Great motor and a rigid shell, but horrible interior quality, the worst suspension I've ever seen, awful paint, the list goes on. If I had done a bit of research on the two main forums for that car I probably would have seen the light before I took the plunge and saved myself the headaches.
On one of the times my car was down for "maintenance" (read: replacing the bloody motor with something that didn't crap bearings), I rented a V6 Mustang and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the year prior to the new 300hp V6, and it was a vert, but it was still a rigid car with good handling and I looked forward to driving it. I figured if that run of the mill commuter was that good to drive, a new GT would be a lot better.
Then the Coyote came out, and I read a statement from one of the Ford Racing guys in Hot Rod, that even though the GM LS-series motor was the "go to" plant for swaps, that would change once the new Coyote was in wide release. He said it was a smaller package, less displacement, more power. Seeing the specs that they're getting 412hp out of 5 liters, whereas I get 430 out of my 6.2 LS3, I'd have to agree. Not sure if he was serious about the exterior dimensions though... I've seen 4.6 mod motors and thought they were excessively large and top heavy looking - did that change with the Coyote?
So my point of being here is that I am seriously considering the new GT, and I'm doing my research first. Had I done this with the GTO I would have known about the mysterious suspension vibration from 50-80mph that affects 9 out of 10 cars and yet has no obvious cause or cure. I would have learned about the horrible radius rod design of the lower control area. I would have found out about the front engine/suspension cradle design that requires a special tool to align, a tool that isn't even acknowledged by GM in the USA. I would have known about the difficulty in putting wider rear wheels on, the cheap interior stitching, the fragile electrics, the crappy version of the T56, the stupid radio, etc.
Plus the car looks like a Cavalier. I was in denial about that for a long time.
Looking at the Mustang, so far the only thing I can't deal with are those ridiculous headrests. What about the suspensions? Are they compliant or do they fight back? Are there decent and moderately priced suspension upgrades? What are the common exhaust mods, from the block back to the bumper? What are the upkeep costs? Do you guys have any serious bitches about your Mustangs? Are there any nagging things that a majority are experiencing?
An enquiring mind - and wallet - needs to know.
Forgive me for the length of this post but rather than just give the typical introduction of "Hi Y'all from Georgia! Ain't Mustangs teh bomb?" I want to get my reason for being here right up front. I'm looking at buying a 2011- GT, and I want to know everything I can prior to the purchase.
I'm about to become a former GTO owner, hence my screen name. Great motor and a rigid shell, but horrible interior quality, the worst suspension I've ever seen, awful paint, the list goes on. If I had done a bit of research on the two main forums for that car I probably would have seen the light before I took the plunge and saved myself the headaches.
On one of the times my car was down for "maintenance" (read: replacing the bloody motor with something that didn't crap bearings), I rented a V6 Mustang and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the year prior to the new 300hp V6, and it was a vert, but it was still a rigid car with good handling and I looked forward to driving it. I figured if that run of the mill commuter was that good to drive, a new GT would be a lot better.
Then the Coyote came out, and I read a statement from one of the Ford Racing guys in Hot Rod, that even though the GM LS-series motor was the "go to" plant for swaps, that would change once the new Coyote was in wide release. He said it was a smaller package, less displacement, more power. Seeing the specs that they're getting 412hp out of 5 liters, whereas I get 430 out of my 6.2 LS3, I'd have to agree. Not sure if he was serious about the exterior dimensions though... I've seen 4.6 mod motors and thought they were excessively large and top heavy looking - did that change with the Coyote?
So my point of being here is that I am seriously considering the new GT, and I'm doing my research first. Had I done this with the GTO I would have known about the mysterious suspension vibration from 50-80mph that affects 9 out of 10 cars and yet has no obvious cause or cure. I would have learned about the horrible radius rod design of the lower control area. I would have found out about the front engine/suspension cradle design that requires a special tool to align, a tool that isn't even acknowledged by GM in the USA. I would have known about the difficulty in putting wider rear wheels on, the cheap interior stitching, the fragile electrics, the crappy version of the T56, the stupid radio, etc.
Plus the car looks like a Cavalier. I was in denial about that for a long time.
Looking at the Mustang, so far the only thing I can't deal with are those ridiculous headrests. What about the suspensions? Are they compliant or do they fight back? Are there decent and moderately priced suspension upgrades? What are the common exhaust mods, from the block back to the bumper? What are the upkeep costs? Do you guys have any serious bitches about your Mustangs? Are there any nagging things that a majority are experiencing?
An enquiring mind - and wallet - needs to know.
