[woodga16]

Wife needed a new car so I decided to give her my 335i and get back into an American car. Narrowed down my choices to 01/02 ZO6, 03/04 cobra, or a new 5.0 mustang. My goal is to have around a 550-600 whp DD car. Which platform would you guys prefer. I've been working on American "muscle" cars for years so labor isn't an issue.

[woodga16]

Or if you have another suggestion that meets my criteria, feel free.

[Fred_Boosted]

Originally Posted by woodga16

Wife needed a new car so I decided to give her my 335i and get back into an American car. Narrowed down my choices to 01/02 ZO6, 03/04 cobra, or a new 5.0 mustang. My goal is to have around a 550-600 whp DD car. Which platform would you guys prefer. I've been working on American "muscle" cars for years so labor isn't an issue.

Rich jerk!

Just joking... New 5.0 mustang would be great. I love it, even I'm not a muscle car fan.

Here is the long term test from edmunds:
http://www.insideline.com/ford/musta...ang-gt-50.html

Here is the road test:
http://www.insideline.com/ford/musta...and-video.html

[Markyd83]

For that kind of daily horsepower I would personally would not want the terminator. I had one and with a stage 3 clutch I did not like driving it in stop and go traffic. Weekends or nights sure but not as a dd. 550-600 can be done for not as expensive as other cars. Headers, exhaust, intake, tune, whipple supercharger and New pulley and you should be there. Just beware of the head tick issue.

The new 5.0s from what I've seen can put some good power down. Not sure if you'll put down 550whp without a supercharger but I could be wrong. I'm sure 425-450whp with cams,full boltons, and a tune could achieve that, or maybe a little more.

I'm not really a fan of those z06 so I've never looked at their capabilities.

I would go with a new 5.0 personally

[Tiago@VRSF]

I'd definitely go with the 5.0. I've been looking at one for a while now. It's definitely one of the only domestics I'd jump ship for

[zeenon53]

Of the 3 you listed I would go with the 5.0 mustang. It's always nice to get a brand new car, you can't compare them to cars that are almost 10 years old. Have you thought about the challengers? Personally they are my favorite.

[jkrig]

+1 on the Challenger

While I like the stangs new powertrain........I'd go with something little less common, so in the muscle car segment I'd go 392, possibly slap on a supercharger on it at some point......or save some cash on the purchase and get a late model SRT8 then swap out for a 426

[richpike]

IMHO: New Boss 302. If we didn't need four doors that is what would be in my garage right now. If the Boss 302 is beyond what you want to spend, I'd recommend the new 5.0. Best bang for the buck out right now and I'm sure you can easily get them to 550whp without much effort (the tuning community for Mustangs is strong).

Great setup BTW - you can still drive the BMW when you want to, but get to have a beast for a DD as well. My wife won't drive anything other than SUVs :-)

-Rich

[woodga16]

Great info...If I got the 5.0, I'd get a basic package with leather...add boss fascia, supercharger, l/t headers,o/r x pipe. That'd theoretically would be around 550-575 whp. Ive always loved the terminator cobras, but the DD worries with the clutch needed for that power I want. I like corvettes; father has always had one. Still trying to narrow down what I want. At this point, with how much I drive..I think a new 5.0 is it.

As far as the challenger, Love the style and look! BUt, I can't bring myself to buy a dodge. Love the cars though. Looked at the new camaro because I owned an '02 SLP SS. When I test drove it, felt heavy/bulky. The mustang was nimble and was impressive through hard conering.

Rich: yessir, thats why when she said she wanted a new car...sure take my car. It looks like a new '10 msport 335i now so she loves the look. Ideally, I'll have one class sports car and one mean sports car. I love the sound of a fine tuned V8.

[Lulz_M3]

Is a Nissan GTR out of the question?

[woodga16]

Yes, can't afford a GTR

[E90SoFlo]

I would get the Z06 because I wouldn't be caught dead in a damn ford. Every three car's is a mustang.

[rader1]

You're not going to be anywhere near 550-600whp in a new 5.0 unless you want to spend ~$40K.

You can buy a terminator or Z06 with LOW miles for about $20K. whipple+ intake and tune on the terminator will get you to those power levels, my buddy has those mods on his and made 570rwhp@19psi on 93. However, I'm a BIG corvette fan so the Z06 would get my vote. Maggie+HCI will put you at about those power levels and the car is lighter with a lower drag CO.

[vwong]

CTS-V

[Q4P]

An '06-'07 Z06 for 45K or so...

Good luck making 600 WHP in a 5.0 Rustang... and even then it won't perform like a Z06 with a few bolt ons and a tune.

[woodga16]

New 5.0 auto with Paxton, long tubes, boss intake manifold, cai intake, and off road x pipe tuned made 598 whp. But yes, that would put be close to 40k with labor that I can't do. I love corvettes, and LS motors are very capable motors. I love the cobra as well...just torn between what offers the most capabilities with best chassis. Cobra has IRS just like the vette. My buddy has a terminator and he said his handles real well.

[woodga16]

06' ZO6 I could do. My dad has a new grand sport and love those cars.

[Wedge1967]

Just watched a clip on the new 302 Boss. The Mustang has come a long way, but depending on what you want to do with the car at the end of the day should point in the direction. If you want something you can drive to work and hit the track with on the weekend to go fast, by the Vett. All in all the Vett will be the most fun to modify in the long run and if you really get tired of looking at it you can always drop a kit car body on it.

[rader1]

Originally Posted by woodga16

06' ZO6 I could do. My dad has a new grand sport and love those cars.

Then that's your answer yes, the LS engines are ridiculously well designed.
Im at about 400whp at 18psi in my stage 2+ 135. My buddy's terminator is 570rwhp at 19psi. My OTHER buddy has an 02 camaro SS: texas speed LS6 block, AFR heads, custom ground cam, forged rotating assembly and PT76 made 830rwhp@19psi. It's in the process of an iron block build now. 1000whp or bust lol

[BlackBB6]

Z06 over any stang.

[woodga16]

How does your 135i compare to the cobra? When I sold my SLP SS camaro I made 549 whp. Great motor...shitty cosmetics. Small interior pieces were always breaking.

[kmoto]

03/04 Cobra, the TERMINATOR or 5.0