Hi! I looking to buy my first Mustang. As a first time Mustang owner, is it better to buy a stock Mustang GT and customize it over time or should I go with a Shelby? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Thats a loaded question as it all depends on what years your talking about and where you want to go with the car.

2005-2006: GT as thier was no alternative
2007-2009: GT500
2010: GT500
2011: GT (if you plan to go crazy on the mods) or GT500 (if you plan to lightly mod the car)
2012: GT (again plan to heavily modify) or Boss (lightly modded with an emphasis on handling) or GT500 (lightly modded with an emphasis on power).

The 5.0 is a spectacular engine in either GT or Boss trim although I am firmly against adding copius amounts of power to the Boss because it destroys whats so special about the car - namely that its a very balanced machine and adding extreme amounts of power to the car defeats its purpose.

 

Gt 500

 

How about Roush?

 

if you can afford the GT 500, then I would definitely go that route.

 

To Synyster_Vengeance's point, what should I consider when comparing a Roush Stage 3 to a GT500?

 

 

Kind of depends, but I think in general the GTs are better balance and perhaps more actual fun to drive than the early nose heavy GT500s. However, if simple straight line speed is your prime motivator, then clearly any GT500 is the obvious choice. For speed and driving enjoyment though, the Boss is clearly the way to go.

 

I'm going to completely disagree with all of this.

 

The Boss is fantastic but lacking the Shelby horsepower. Gt will lack the hp forever until and engine swap to a forged motor. Gt500 with a little suspension work would be my choice but I'm a horsepower junkie. A Boss with a Blower would be ideal once the stripe package is gone.

 

Thx for sharing the video!

 

Clarkson should have kept that to a simple review of the two cars, he showed alot of ignorance on the matter. I also wonder how this would have played had it been a GT500 coupe vs. Roush Coupe instead of a vert vs. coupe.

Only partially related, its interesting to note that Goodyear made two versions of the 1st gen supercar tire - the standard crappy model on the GT500 and a less crappy model for the GT500KR which amounted to pretty much a stickier version of the standard supercar tire (I think the wear rating is a little more than half of the standard 1st gen GYSC tire which acounts for good deal of the KRs improved handling over the standard GT500).

 

I disagree here since the Boss is grounded around balance and I think a big increase in power would render that moot.

 

GT500, nuff said.