I bought mine because it was much cheaper than a GT and better gas mileage plus it left me all that extra money for modifications. After having a major wreck with it the insurance company bought me a complete GT 500 body kit and hood. Since them I've done a little more tweaking and added an X-Charger SuperCharger. There are 100 thousand GT Mustangs out there ... but only 60 or so Eaton SuperCharged V6 S197's ... and I like to be different ... and it's plenty fast for me. So now I have a sweet look car that didn't cost me much more than a plain jane GT ... and thanks to cheap take-off parts I also have the benefit of a 3.73 T-lok 8.8 rear, GT sway bars, GT wheels.

 

When I first drove a rental Mustang a couple of years ago, I was impressed with the V6. Decent power and it didn't sound terrible. But what I really liked about that car was the retro body style and the throwback interior. I also liked that it was roomier inside than the old Fox body Mustang. When it came time to shop for a Mustang, I considered the V6 but I was swayed by what comes with the GT: V8 power and sound, a better suspension and factory dual exhaust. Both models are beautiful cars and the V6 is arguably the more practical choice but if I was really that practical I'd get a Camry.

 

The grille fits really good! The slight variation in fit is not even noticeable.

 

I wanted an American Muscle Car before they got phased out by legislation from the idiots we send to Washington, D.C. Plus I wanted one with a stick and a lineage to the past. The '08 Bullitt is the car.

 

"I am averaging 21.3 MPG driving about 40 miles round trip to and from work every day... It's mostly interstate from Gastonia to Southwest Charlotte. "

No to bum anyone, but I average 21.2 mpg on my 50 mile/day commute into DC, my avg speed being only 34mph,......and that's with a 5 speed GT (3.55's) that I do NOT baby.

That's why I got a GT vs the 6. I looked at both, and felt the 6 should get much better gas milage, and in actuality....it doesn't. Don't get me wrong, they are very cool, but if you are looking for mileage, you won't gain much, if it all,.....but you will lose in performace, big time. I think pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the GT is a down-right bargain. I paid $21K last July for my Premium GT, with only 12K on the clock. The 6r's I was looking at were around $19K, and did not have the features......it was kind of a no-brainer. Believe it or not, the only thing I might have done different (hindsight...20/20) is gone with the auto. I dig shifting, always have, but it can be tedious at times, and I think the auto in these is ok.

 

I first purchased a V6 so that I could afford the insurance with a Teenage Driver. Once my son turned 18, I transferred the V6 into his name, and purchased a GT for myself. I love both cars, but the GT does have a much wider power band, which is nice.

 

I wish I grew up with a Dad like you!

 

That is a bummer and it's obvious there is no fuel mileage savings with a V6. Anyway, my mileage went up again to 24 after a trip today... I am suprised it got that high.

 

price, apparently supposed gas mileage were both factors, but I have to be honest- I liked the body style over the GT's. It looked more retro to me. I didn't like the painted rocker panels and the way there are lips above the GT's tailpipes.

 

The main reason is that I am not about to put My neice in a V8 when she turns 16. The car will be hers once it is paid for. On the gas milage, yea the 6 does't get the same as some of the others out there, but I don't understand how others are not getting any better than a GT. I average around 21-23 MPG per week in the 06 auto, where my 02 GT Vert 5 spd will average around 19-21. The best on the hwy for the GT was 27.5. I have only taken one road trip with the 6 and it got 27, but that was after I had just installed the JLT intake. I have goten as high as 34 on short romps on the interstate before it was installed.

 

I chose the 2005 V6 because of cost, insurance, and I already owned a car with a V8 and plenty of horsepower. My work car was dying of old age with 278,000 miles and a transmission about to go. A local dealer had a mineral grey metallic v6 with no rear wing and automatic. Living in Southern AZ, you drive for hours sometimes to get from point A to B. The base mustang was all I needed. I loved the look, the color, and the power was good enough for me. In 3 and 1/2 years of ownership, I never have regretted my decision. With gas close to $4 a gallon, mostly highway and cruise control help the car get 27-28 miles to a gallon. My other car might get 14! The V6 Mustang might not be as fast or handle like the V8 version, but that was not why I bought the car. The look sold me and it could have had a hamster on a treadmill as the power plant and I still would have bought this car!!! I purchased one of the first V6's down here and V8's were no where to be found. So we all have our reasons for what we bought. Like other posters have written, buy what makes you happy. I enjoy driving the Mustang as much today as that first day. Good luck.

 

when i got my car back in feb of 05. gt's were hard to find and i wanted the car. i paid cash for her and drove her off the lot that night. i love the body style and at 45 living in LA CAL . with 2 teen age boys the looks way out wayed the need for power that would just get me or my sons in trouble.
then of course the mod bug hit and i did tons of apperance mods before finally becoming the test mule for the X-charger supercharger. at the track i have had my share of GT's but who's counting. the bottome line is if it is what you want it should be fine. we will always have the gt guys that want the v8 as a badge of honor. yea right as a trend setter i perfer to be the unique v6. after being featered in a couple of mustang mags wining a few car shows and i cant even count how many web sites she is on featureing the many items i have been lucky enought to prototype for companies( street scene, AFE, Grafics express and explorer express) its funny that the few GT guys that still feal they need to pipe in and try to be little us, does not really bother me any more. we have proven our worth and at 17 city and 24 hwy i can still afford to drive her as my daily driver.

 

Yes, the main reason I chose the V6 was that I just could not afford the V8.

But I have not regretted that choice for one minute since I got the car. Here's why:

I still think about possibly getting a used GT in the future, but will probably just upgrade my current car with dual exhaust, 18-inch wheels, etc. On the whole, I think that the V6 is a good buy.

 

Well, it looks like my avatar uploaded OK after all!

Windveil Blue (metallic light blue) is an excellent color. It's too bad they don't make it anymore.

 

I looked for a V6 for many of the same reasons that others have mentioned. The GT would have cost 4-5k more, slightly better mileage (I get 30 hwy with the cruise pegged at 65) slightly less to insure, and the 4.0 has decent power for a base engine. If I ever want to spend some $$ for more go, I'll add a centrifugal blower for 300hp. The V6 5M in a vert is a tough combination to find, as most V6 verts are autoboxes for rental companies.

 

Thats a sweet sleeper you got there.

 

Thanks! While not a 10-second ride like yours, it's still quite a surprise to most guys I run up against. It's funny how many people think it's a V6 car. Some have even stared at the engine with the hood up thinking they were looking at a supercharged V6, then they start counting intake runners or fuel injectors and realize there are 8, not 6, and the conversation gets very lively then.

 

I bought a V6 because, coming from a GM/Dodge background, I had the understanding that the Ford 4.6 modular V8 is laughable, especially compared to the the competing LSx series motors that my F-body and Corvette friends run, and the only way to get any respectable power out of a 4.6 is by boosting it.

So, I thought to myself, since I have to boost whichever model I buy anyway to get decent power, and can easily make my target power (~360whp) from the 4.0 with a turbo at around 9psi, why pay 7-10k more? Lower insurance was a benefit also. But simply: The GT is just not $10,000 faster than the V6, though the exhaust note is admittedly intensely sexier. And I wasn't going to drop that much money for an exhaust note.

I am really baffled by GT owners who think they've got God's ***** under the hood and sneer at the 6-cylinder untermensch. The 4.6 makes a devastating 300 hp. Camaros were making more than that 10 years ago. You have to throw boost at a 4.6 to make LS1 BOLT-ON power. Stick a cam in an LSx and it's over. Boosted LSx? Don't even ask.

The 4.0s are great motors -- miles beyond the old 3.8s in terms of grin factor and driveability. For once, a Mustang is a Mustang. They've all got that same soul and driving experience, especially with a tune, axleback, and CAI. Any time I'm having a bad day or in a bad mood, I go for a rip and come back grinning from ear to ear. That's what's important.

(admittedly, the V6s should come with a Trac-Lok from the factory. That mod made a huge difference.)

 

Indeed...the real question is....

Why did you buy a Mustang?

Answer: 45 years of American pride and history! The pony car that endured through the decades, where others have come and gone and attempt to come back again.

 

Might I be the first to suggest going back to GM as an immediate remedy?


And its funny how you mention S197 GT owners being cocky...As Just about every single LSx owner Ive met believes God has a mullet and his vehicle of choice is the LS-JUAN


Oh and I actually laughed out loud at your comment regarding the 4.6 making ONLY 300hp...Is it that much better that the LS1s which are advertised at a mere 10hp more with more than a Liter bigger engine--And don't give me the BS "they are underrated, I SWEAR IT!"


But hey what do I know right, I drive a Laughable Ford Mustang GT? I'll be back in a little bit, Im going to SNEER at some inferior cars showing them whose Boss...Troll On!