We drove 500 miles to get ours too way back when, then drove 500 miles back home. Actually my wife drove the GT/CS home. She shifts well. I drove the T/A. New manual verts that you personally desire just aren't on every corner lot, that's for sure.

 

Having a manual Vert hurts resale values. I wonder when they will be worth more again?

 

A manual costs less, they should sell for less. I've owned and sold many Mustang and non-Mustang manuals. It is a little harder to find a buyer but in general they are happy to find one and pay pretty fairly.

The Soft Top...yes it is pricey new and the payback probably isn't very good on the extra $6000 or whatever it is they cost. That's one reason I typically look for 2-3 year old convertibles, plus as a bonus its pretty easy to find them with low miles. My 2013 GT/CS stickered about $19,000 more than I paid for it with just 24,000 miles. Somebody paid 80 cents a mile to drive it. I have $26,500 in it. I don't really think at this point it's depreciating any faster than a coupe.

 

Re-sale is probably the furthest thing from my mind when I buy any car. I buy a car for myself and if it is worth zero at the end of my ownership, I'm OK with that. When you spend $1,000 for a TV or $5,000 for furniture you don't expect to get money back one day. I don't anyway. I feel the same way with cars. Maybe I'm alone in that thought process. The good news is that you do get something back at selling time. I'll be darned though if I care what I get for a car after 10 years of use. Two of my cars cost $30k+ when new. I've already owned one for over 10 years and the GT is rapidly approaching that too. If I got $0 back when I sell, that's perfectly fine. Trust me, the way I take care of my rides, even after 20 years I will get back decent $$$ unless gas hits $10 a gallon. The yearly average of ownership will be minimal, a few grand per year. When you get zero return for all the miserable things you must pay for in life (taxes, bills, insurance) no way will I deprive myself of owning a car that is equipped the way I want it. A manual in a Mustang is a must for me personally, yet I have two other cars that have automatic trannys that I am completely comfortable with. Just personal choices with no thoughts about re-sale.

 

 

The MT-82 is a hunk of junk, not really missing much not having it IMHO. If you hardcore straight line your steed the 6R80 is the way to go anyway. I know that is sorta an oxymoron, a 'hard-core' straight line vert.... But I'm sick like that Lots of mild weather on the front range at lower elevations in CO. This year I probably logged a dozen or better top down days Jan-Feb.. no joke.

 

I guess I am one lucky SOB. I have a convertible with a six speed. Can't text or make phone call,s with it. That's for sure . But, you really aren't supposed to are you ?

 

No one seems to drive manual today. People find me as a freak when I tell them I drive a manual

 

I get the opposite. I get a lot of oh it's an automatic with a face that says loser. LOL.

 

Save the drop tops and sticks!!

 

Heh, every time someone wants to talk with me about Awesome, first question is : "Stick?"

"Of course!"