I still say the SGT is more of a Shelby than the GT500 is. The SGT is created right there at Shelby Auto's- it's got a much more personal, hands on touch to it. If you want you can have them slap a SC into it and it will probably closely match the GT500 (performance wise). It's almost like having a custom made car from Shelby!

 

A few bolt ons from the ford catalog or anyone elses do not a custom car make..or almost make. At least not in my eyes.

 

It's not the parts that make the car- it's where those parts on put on. There is a story or history that can be retold years after the parts have been worn out and need to be replaced.
Some people don't think the Shelby name means anything special and that's fine. Those people can go buy the STi, or buy a Vette, etc.
Speaking for myself- I think owning an SGT is much more unique than going to the lot and buying an STi or a Vette, or whatever.

The reason there are thousands of different models of cars is because not everyone likes the same thing or wants the same thing.
We all have different wants and needs.

 

I'm not going to read it or contribute to their page views or click counts reading some article that makes no sense! These cars are created for different audiences with different goals in mind. I don't need an article written by Subaru Fanboys to tell me something I already knew. The issue is the same comparison can be had with any number of cars. Guess what? WHO CARES!?!?! Really I mean come on the entire discussion is silly! Again, it's flamebait meant to increase pager views not provide a meaningful comparison of two like cars that are going after the same customer! Come on!

 

Gawd, must we endure this discussion again? You missed out on this back more than a year ago..."go sell crazy someplace else, we're all full here".

 

While I understand your intent I disagree and I think it's as unfair as the SAAC snobs that look down on the 69-70 Shelby's for the same reason. Sure it's cool my car was modified at SAI but I think it's wrong to even make the comparison.

 

Exactly, aside from a few (and ill fitting apparently) trim and decorative items, the SGT is basically just a FRRP catalog bolt on compendium. What truly unique parts of substance is there.

SGT, a good car? Yes, generally looks great and sounds great and runs pretty well too. But a $10K better car than a Stang GT? Hardly.

Shelby's name, in and of itself, would be worth $100 dollars to me, and I really like and respect the guy and his heritage, he and many of his cars are legends.

But to shell out 10 grand for essentially a primped Mustang GT with Shelby's name stuck all over it?

The soul and essence of the Mustang and the Shelby heritage is as performance cars and if they don't succeed as performance cars, here and now, then all the heritage and chrome trunk letters will ring but as a hollow tribute to past glories than stand as indicators of current greatness and prowess.

I don't expect the SGT to be the fastest car in all the land, but I do expect it to be fully competitive on its own merits and stand its own ground, without recourse to sentimentalism, against any other contemporary performance car of similar coin.

To those who've bought an SGT and are happy as clams, my congratulations, I'm really not trying to rain on anyone's happiness and joy and certainly has much to make one a happy owner.

But to Ford and the Shelby Company, I will say I certainly expect more and better.

 

too bad the STI looks like crap.

 

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First off, it's NOT 10K though people like you love to round up thousands of dollars to make your argument. My car was $7300 more than a similar optioned GT, the $1K GGT is a gov thing so I don't count that bur even if you do, fine $8300. Second, you are also a year or so late with your comparison. I'm not going to bother looking but someone, in some thread, did a part for part comparison. They took all the parts that SAI installs and priced them out. They then took shop rate labor and the result was very favorable. Where I could have spent the same amount bolting this stuff on my 05 GT I would STILL have an 05 GT with parts I would get pennies on the dollar for were I to sell it.<O</O
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All I can say is, as you can see, I have owned my fair share of Mustangs. I also have my "adult" cars during these years, including Volvo, Lexus, Mercedes and Jaguar. Of all of them, most costing MCH more, this is the only car that 9 times out of 10 a valet will park it up front or next to the door, without being asked. My Lexus 430 they park in back with all the rest. When I go to a club they park it right out front.
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This car gets more attention, more thumbs up, girls slowing down to wave, people coming over to look at it, than ANY car I have ever owned.
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I think that says it all. My car was the best #@%! bunch of FRPP parts I ever bought!<O</O

 

You're still missing the point about the price of the SGT. The price is as high as it is because of the upfitting charges. If this car was built completely in house by Ford it's probably in the 31k range.
Why is it upfitted by Shelby Auto? Basically because that was the only way this car was going to be built. Doing it this way allowed them to cut through a lot of the red tape that a huge company like Ford creates.
A smaller company like SAI is able to react quicker and get the project moving quicker than Ford can.

Are you planning on buying an STi soon?

 

Oh man! Are you trying to **** George off or what?

Personal observation: The Shelby GT seems to **** alot of people off/gets under their skin. This thread is a case in point. Folks seem to be going out of their way to slam this particular car, when there are other aftermarket tuners that often cost more and perform similiarly (e.g. Roush Stage 2 adds $11635 to the price of mustang GT with no hp gains), (S281-$44K base price with 335hp).

I surmise that the intensity focused on this innocent little car is because it's called a "Shelby". And we all know what a polarizing individual he is.

If it was the exact same car, but assembled by FRPP rather than SAI employees, few would give it the time of day. It might be like one of the 80 something aftermarket tuner mustangs out there.

That name "Shelby" just causes a viseral reaction in a lot folks. Some positive, some negative. I just don't think there would be so much criticism if it was called something else: Like the "Limbaugh GT" or the Hillary Clinton GT.

I would just throw this out for those that don't particularly care for Mr. Shelby. Maybe try to divorce your feelings of the man from the car. Yeah he makes some dough off the car, but he probably makes some dough off the GT 500 too. I've never met Mr Shelby, but I have met and spoken with many SAI employees. I have nothing but praise for their dedication and efforts. They've made some mistakes along the way, but they've corrected them too (including the hood scoop, grill, hood pins). Doing the SAI tour and watching new owners take delivery of their cars is a great mustang experience.

I love this site because I love being part of the mustang community. But when part of the community constantly attacks your car, only because they don't like person who's name is on it; it becomes much less enjoyable.

Obviously you all are free to express your opinions, but I just ask you to maybe use some tact with your fellow Mustang loving brethren.

Yeah, on the $10K over GT thing. I guess there are some out there that paid that much, but I paid nowhere near that.

 

That was me. You end up paying about $3223 over parts and labor i.e. $3223 for the name. As George points out in post 3 of this link, there's also the issue of depreciation. I would think the Shelby would depreciate less than a Mustang GT, just like an 01 Bullitt or 03/04 Mach 1.
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...nefit+analysis

 

Nope didn't miss out on it..I started it a year ago

 

What would you suggest is a fair comparison for the SGT then?
If not a similarly priced car in the performance catagory then what?

 

Nothing! I don't care! What, am I supposed to read some comparison and run out and sell my car? And buy what? Do I then keep that car until someone does another comparison? Sorry, not playing this game, cash me in please!

 

No, no STI for me in the near future, excellent performance car but just can't find a brown paper bag big enough to cover its face. If Subaru could ever hire a decent designer/stylist, they'd rule the world as they're wonderfully engineered cars.

Ironically, I think you sort of made my point, i.e., essentially paying nearly $40K for what ought to be a $31K car (now that would be quite reasonable and an excellent value). And then the SGT would be comparable to a standard WRX or something, which it would pretty much vaporize.

And your point about having to farm it out to Shelby to do it at all is a very telling indication about Ford itself and its Byzantine processes and procedures stifling rapid and efficient product develpment. I know Ford's been playing a lot of lip service, akin to their "Bold Moves" blather, about reforming and improving their product design and development processes and to increase their corporate adroitness and flexibility. However, that initiative seems to have beocme mired in the coorporate morass.

Perhaps some if this is about Ford's inability to produce objectively competitive cars in their price classes, as clearly evidenced by Ford's woes of late. The Stang itself is basically a very good car, but really is competing directly in a class of one. And even given that cushy competitive environment, sales have been slipping significantly.

So to hold Ford's feet to the fire is entirely appropriate, especially with the Camaro and Challenger clouds soon to blot out the Stang's sunshine. Those pony cars have a rich heritage in their portfolios too, for whom such things matter so much, and it is likely that they will both be extremely formidable in terms of actual performance and design. When these two pony cars hit the streets, then what excuses will be made if the Stang doesn't fully measure up?

 

One thing I didn't calculate was all of the logistics involved. Saw it in person when I went out there last month.

The moving the cars from the train station to the parking lot, to the strip facility, to the parking lot, to the conversion facility (FRPP and other parts), back to the parking lot, back to the conversion facility (hood scoop installation), and finally back to the parking lot for uploading onto car carriers (process done for each of the 8000 cas built this year).
The whole logistics side (primarily employee salaries), and fixed costs e.g. electricity and building cost), will take a good chunk out of that $3223.

 

You say you don't but you keep posting here.
Obviously you have some interest in it.

And i'm not asking you to sell you car..I've said all along if you are happy with it then fine. The point and TOPIC of this thread was the STI vs the SGT in an article.
You can say what's the point of this all you like but the fact of the matter is if you are comparison shopping then these are facts you7 might want to know. For you maybe not but for other yes. So here we have you making a "stop the madness plea" when there is no madness to stop, it's comparing two like vehicles. See it for what it is.

I'm sorry but i don't see how this is such an outlandish thing to do.

 

You make the assumtion that the Camaro and the Challenger are going to be near wonder cars of performance and handling.
The Challenger is built on the same platform as the Charger/300/Magnum- they are big, heavy cars. Even with the powerful Hemi they are not exactly quick.
The Challenger that will soon be making it's debut will cost 40k and you can likely tack another 20k on for ADM.
The Camaro will likely be close to that price as well.
So are these cars even in the same class as the Mustang?
You seem to be so deterimined to compare cars in the same class- you'll be paying 20k over the SGT and 30k over the GT.

Clearly you're a mustang hater, Ford hater and Shelby hater. I guess it must be a slow week and you're here just to stir up a little fun.
Anyway, I love Mustangs and nothing you say or post will change my opinion and within a few short weeks my new Bullitt will be happily parked in my garage!

 

And so just who is comparision shopping? Did someone ask you for this info?
What about other cars? Why don't you go out and search out a few other models that someone might be interested in? I don't think you should limit the comparision to just 2 models, that's not really smart shopping.
How does the SGT compare to a hemi powered Charger?
What about the Mitsubishi EVO?