Seriously Considering!

[Koz]

Uh oh, here comes a dose of my opinion. If anyone here is easily angered, don't read this or get off the discussion forum.

I'd take an IS300 over a Mustang any day. Humble roots, fantastic car. Then, build/twin turbo the hell out of it (much beyond 662hp for much less than 60k) and then laugh at pretty much all other cars on the road. All the while, you'd be in your well built Toyota sleeper. 2JZ is royalty.

A modded up Shelby would be cool, but let's be honest here... you can buy an already built vehicle and flaunt it, or you can build a much cooler car (which comes with free respect, experience, and knowledge packages). There's nothing more satisfying than building something yourself. Even building up a Shelby Mustang is less respectable in my eyes, because they already started as built up cars. To start with a clean slate is more respectable/fun/impressive.

Reminds me of Forum Wars, some arrogant jerk in a Ford GT barely won versus an early built MKIV Supra. Supra owner lost by a hair and was happy to have been part of the event. Apart from his humble character, he spent far less, has easily 10 times more talent than the other guy, and has a much cooler car. He wins in my book.

Building a Mustang/Camaro/M5/etc. killing beast out of your own IS300 is leagues more impressive than leaving the FORD dealership in a someone elses Mustang.

If you're not a builder, if you're just a guy who enjoys having cars and has the money, then by all means, buy that Mustang. It will make you happy. Working for a high class luxury car dealer, the people that usually come in and buy that sort of car can't even tell you where the oil goes, or what the oil even does. Not saying that's you at all, you sound very knowledgeable and capable of building anything you'd like. You'll definitely find yourself mixed in with that crowd of "Mines got this package, mine's got that option, I'm better than you." You'll be nothing but respected with a well built IS300, especially with your own hand-built ponies screaming ahead store bought... well, ponies.

Not meant to offend anyone, I have strong opinions. Let's be civil about it. Good luck with your choice.

I agree with you 100%, but!

I fully intended on building a Sunday driver from a cool sleeper car. My intension was to have a (somewhat reliable) street driven monster with approx 800hp. The base car would need to be pretty much completely re-engineered/designed to handle that power safely. I didn’t see any new stock vehicle that would be worth starting as my monster until the GT500 (for the money). The biggest problem when building a big power vehicle is getting everything to work together and still keep it fairly reliable. I know myself, anal about every detail. I would spend way too much time and money to get the vehicle up to that task (years). So with that said, I see the GT500 as the perfect base car with just about every component/system designed for mega power. This is no regular Mustang. It is completely different from even the Boss 302, everything from components to aerodynamics. The GT500 is not even speed limited/governed. They estimate a 202 mph top end (stock). What I really find amazing is it can get 24 mpg!

I see the GT500 as way to save much time and effort in getting my monster done in a fraction of the time it would have taken if I had to start from scratch! I'm doing this for personal gratification and could care less about trying to impress anyone. I'm not one for bragging or posing, I am about lining up and getting it done (also having fun doing it). I totally respect anyone who goes the real way (from scratch) in building a monster car. To be honest, I have come to a time in my life (near early retirement) where I find myself looking to do things much easier (in other words, getting lazy).

Koz

 

[Koz]

Eh, I'll never own an American piece of junk.

Here's the problem, there are NO Asian or German cars that offer this kind of power and components for this price. You are talking super car power and great components for less then an ISF or M3. With a little time and money this car could be a real 10 sec car!

I know fully well I would be giving up an amazing car for a less reliable one. I would not be buying it for the same intentions as I bought the IS. This is strictly a POWER thing!

Koz

 

[Koz]

I would buy a BMW instead. More luxurious, more practical, and fast enough

Mark,

You are right about two out of three, but fast enough, NOT!

If that were the case I would not be getting rid of the IS. It is all of the above PLUS!

Koz

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Good luck at actually finding a dealer that will sell one near the MSRP;I've heard dealer gouging is in the $80k range and you can save money at that point and buy a lightly used Nissan GT-R and compete with Lambos and Ferraris and in the gawk factor too.
Yes,it has 100 less ponies but AWD makes up for that and more and is still one of the top quickest cars on Top Gear and most car rags have it the top 5 quickest production cars thay ever tested.

 

[Koz]

Good luck at actually finding a dealer that will sell one near the MSRP;I've heard dealer gouging is in the $80k range and you can save money at that point and buy a lightly used Nissan GT-R and compete with Lambos and Ferraris and in the gawk factor too.
Yes,it has 100 less ponies but AWD makes up for that and more and is still one of the top quickest cars on Top Gear and most car rags have it the top 5 quickest production cars thay ever tested.

I have not done any pricing yet but I will not pay over MSRP (if that). If I have to I will wait for the second model year after all the competitors put their cards on the table and the initial demand frenzy is over (and the bugs are addressed). I'm not in a rush since I have a year or so to retire.

Koz

 

[jrm]

650hp

Call me old skool but wouldnt be cool if they fitted it with a 428 Cleveland. So it would be more like the original "K" or "KP" versions?

 

[Koz]

Call me old skool but wouldnt be cool if they fitted it with a 428 Cleveland. So it would be more like the original "K" or "KP" versions?

Talk about old school, my first car (17 years old) was a 1967 Ford Mercury Cyclone GT with the infamous 427 side oiler (dual quads and 3 mpg), making over 500 hp (with minor mods).

Koz

 

[Koz]

Ford lied, 650hp!

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 to pump out 662 hp | Fox News

Koz

 

[the_josh]

For me, I would get a one year old Lexus LS460 or Hyundai Equus...!

You also own a Prius and a sienna minivan, so that comment is par for the course



In regards to The mustang, get it then hoon the hell outta it!

 

[Thai]

You also own a Prius and a sienna minivan, so that comment is par for the course

And a wagon!

 

[the_josh]

But what kind of wagon, or do you mean Wagen?

 

[kkz]

But what kind of wagon, or do you mean Wagen?

Its a 2012 Outback

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/all-other-vehicles/110785-my-new-car-2-2012-subaru-outback-2-5i-limited.html

 

[shadow247]

I say GO FOR IT! You only live once! One thing though, if you buy this car, you must immediatly sign up for a track day and post some pictures of you ripping it up!

 

[Thai]

But what kind of wagon, or do you mean Wagen?

WagEn ship has sailed...no use for it after having a ton of kids! Like what I wrote above, I will only own a car that I can maximize it's potential...the Wagen was fun when I was single and could play on the rocks with it. But dang it, having 2 toddlers and one incoming and gas prices zooming up, my off-roading days are over. I live vicariously thru the forum members!

 

[034RUNNER]

Test drive one before you jump the gun. I grew to hate my Cobra and haven't heard much better things about the GT500's. They are great to look at and have that exciting raw power, but that's really it. If you like a car that's very out of control all the time, go ahead. It may sound fun but it really starts to get on your nerves when the car is just un-driveable.

 

[Koz]

Talk about a smoking car. The 2013 GT500 can run 3.6 to 60 (first gear only), 11.5s@129 mph (using only three gears) with a good driver. Can't wait to see some direct comparisons with the ZL1 (even road racing). The Chevy guys are going to be PISSED!

Koz

 

[Thai]

Have you bought one yet?! Pull the trigger damn it! . And yeah those are impressive numbers!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I hear the Boss 302s are much more liveable than the GT500 and more track oriented than just a straight line which is what the Shelby is best at. I was at the dealer when I guy brought in last year's Shelby and traded it in on a new Boss and was telling me his reasoning. He said the GT500 was simply too much in traffic and normal around town driving but it does work for bragging but he wanted a more fun car to drive that wasn't always trying to overpower the rear tires.

Now that said here's a new Shelby at the dealer yesterday.

And here's the Boss that guy just bought.

 

[Koz]

I hear the Boss 302s are much more liveable than the GT500 and more track oriented than just a straight line which is what the Shelby is best at. I was at the dealer when I guy brought in last year's Shelby and traded it in on a new Boss and was telling me his reasoning. He said the GT500 was simply too much in traffic and normal around town driving but it does work for bragging but he wanted a more fun car to drive that wasn't always trying to overpower the rear tires.

Now that said here's a new Shelby at the dealer yesterday.

And here's the Boss that guy just bought.

The GT500 is not just a strait line vehicle. It's using a unique suspension tune with a modified Bilstein dampening system that is used in the GTR. You have a switch to select a street or sport mode. The street mode is pleasant for street conditions and the sport mode is so tight you would not want to use it on the street. The sport mode pretty much eliminates any lean. There is a big difference between street and sport mode. The drive-train is also exclusive to the GT500 with a re-engineered stronger dual clutch, trans with stronger gears and output shaft. Through testing they found the drive shaft would resonate at speeds above 150 and just did not work well with the power, so they replaced it with a one piece carbon fiber shaft. The rear was also redesigned with all the components changed, bearings, axles and a much needed Torsen LSD, that works very well. Even the forged wheels were changed to handle the power and help this monster. The mark that will tell how well the GT500 handles is the Nurburgring time. Chevy is gloating over the recent ZL1 time (7.41), with GMs 2nd gen magnetic ride suspension. No one knows what the GT500's time is but I'll bet it will beat the ZL1's time. BTW - The ZL1 is faster on a track then the 302. The 2013 Shelby is just beginning to be delivered, so performance info and comparisons will soon hit the industry. I personally think the GT500 will be the measuring stick.

I refuse to pay over retail, I will wait till the excitement dies down a little. It is my understanding Ford will make as many as ordered, so it will not be a limited model. I'm sure I will find one at retail.

Koz

 

[Koz]

Someone claimed to get 609 RWHP (Dynojet) out of a 2013 Shelby. If that is true the engine should be making over 700 hp. Talk about sand bagging!

Koz