cmm101

Does any one have any information comparing these 2 cars. Im just kinda curious seeeing as they both have ~500hp. Also which one would you guys buy if money was no object?

FiaCobra

Don't know which is the faster car but the GT-500 would be the car for me !!

cntchds

I'd go the Saleen route, the GT500 just keeps getting worse and worse as it gets closer to production.

Fazm

what he said (take the saleen)

KGSGT350

Sorry, but you have to consider price because it is such a big difference. If it was a matter of a few Thousand then ok. But, the extreme is going to be 55 to 60K? I'll take the Shelby

cmm101

the reason i say if money was no object is becasue i just wanted to know which is techinically better. I know you can do better DIY on the car for the cash but i just wanted to compare the 2 fastest factory(warrenty at least) mustangs on their performance merits alone, such as speed and handling, not their price.

Hollywood_North GT

The Saleen looks great, no doubt. But - and isn't here always a "but," I had a look at an S281sc in the showroom yesterday...a close look...and I saw several things that had me worried.

First, the edge finishing on some of the polypropolyfiberplasticthingy body kit is rough with blemishes. I was really surprised at that on a $70K (CDN) car.

Also, consistency seems to be a problem. The Saleen's here in Canada don't use Saleen gauges for the instrument panel. They use the standard GT gauges. When I asked a salesperson - two of them, in fact - what was up with that, they just shrugged their shoulders and said "That's how it comes."

Some of the design integration elements are a litte off, too. More example, the Saleen seats have heavier side bolstering, but because of that, the center console lid rubs hard against the outside of the bolsters when raised and lowered. After a few years, that leather will be mired by wear spots.

On the other hand, the Saleen seats do offer much better support...better quality leather, and the short shift kit felt great.

But $70K for an S281sc vs. $55K for a new Shelby with more horsepower, forged internals and ground-up integration of all components - seems like a no-brainer.

stecz20

to be honest with you guys, i think the shlebys will be priced with the saleens. the dealers are not getting very many cars and will get way over the msrp just like the are getting on the saleens.. this car will have the shelby name, when each dealer gets only one or two, it will not be a car that you will see all over. i have a few buddies that own dealers and they also agree with me... i guess time will tell.. im looking to order a saleen in the fall. silver s281 with some goodies... stecz

MustangFanatic

Price aside, I'm going with the Shelby. I'm not a big fan of the '05+ Saleen's styling. After examining several S281's at a local dealer, I'm also concerned with the fit and finish of a $70K plus car.

I'm sure however the Saleen Extreme will be one wild ride, 500 hp is always sure to entertain.

AbusiveWombat

You might as well pick up the new C6 Z06. A far better machine in every way to the Saleen.

Lalo

I'd go with the GT500, hands down.
More prestigue, more looks, and years down the road the GT500 is going to retain it's value a lot better than the Saleen.

The numbers arent out yet for the GT500 production car, but I'll bet that they will be superior to those of the Saleen

Fazm

better than saleen? i can get an 03 cobra for 24 g's. i cant get a 99 s351 for under 35.
the 351s new were 55k yes, but its also much older than a cobra, not to mention i didnt see any cobras go new for under 37k.
that means the saleen is goin for 64%+ of its original msrp after almost 7 years. and the cobra is goin for 65% after only 2½ years.

Lalo

This is the GT500 for the new S197 Mustang that has everyone in an uproar. I'm pretty sure it will retain it's value pretty good.

Fazm

i know what the gt500 is for, and im comparing both s95 platform cars.

Lalo

I just think it will retain it's value better. Seeing that it's already a car being fought over, a car straight from ford, and a GT500.
And when I mean down the road, I mean dooowwn the road lol. I think the styling on the Saleen won't float as many boats as it does now.

I guess we'll see in about 20 years, huh?

Fazm

im sure the s281E will pull just as high if not higher of a price than the shelby. If money werent an object id get the saleen. If it were an object id get the shelby, just love the name of it. They are just cuttin corners left and right lately, hate to see what it finally comes out lookin like.

Hollywood_North GT

Well, obviously style is a highly subjective thing - everyone's personal tastes are different - but personally I think the new Saleen is far and away the best looking Mustang out there right now. I think they did an amazing job coming up with a tasteful, organic look that compliments the car. In particular, the Windveil blue with the chrome wheels is a stunning combination.

Some don't like the rear-end treatment, and I agree, it's not too Mustang-like, but if you forget about those preconceptions, it actually works very organically. And remember, the late-'60s Shelbys had rear ends very different from standard Mustangs.

My only problem with the Saleen is the price vs. value equation, the integrity of the body kits, and the warranty and after-sales service if there's ever a problem (although authorized Ford dealers claim they take care of ALL of that).

But again, on price vs. value, the Shelby wins hands down...unless Ford keeps dropping features. Still, I think the Saleen wins over the Shelby on looks alone.

Just my 2 cents.

Rampant

^ What does "organic" mean when talking about a car design? I can understand when talking about art, but body kits?

Assuming that the Shelby will have forged internals like the Saleen, and ignoring the appearance, this becomes a torque v. weight discussion.

Shelby = 5.4 + iron block = massive toruqe and better potential for power -- great for drag strips, but also nose heavy which typically means slow turn-in, slow transitions and understeer (or compromised suspension tuning).

Saleen = 4.6 + aluminum block = less torque but a little better suited for twisty stuff (comparatively). The lower overall weight may also help make up for the reduced torque. It will also most likely have a more efficient blower (twin screw v. roots).

In either case, traction will most likely determine the "winner." And in both cases, the cars are WAY overpriced for what you get (unless the Shelby actually makes it out the door for MSRP).

So, if money were no object, I would get....
something else (M3, Z06, Porsche, used Viper....)
Ultimately it is a $19k car with a $25k-$40k engine. I would rather get a better overall car for that kind of money (unless it is for drag racing).

S197Cobra

That's actually pretty sad if you ask me. They made 19 S351 coupes in 1999, so the fact that it is at 64% right now if the original price is pretty funny. With a production run of 19, I'd have thought it would have held its value much better. The Cobra, on the other hand, they made almost 14 thousand of. Three orders of magnitude different.

What you really want to ask yourself is -- how many Saleens in 2007, versus how many Cobras. How much extra are you willing to pay for bigger ground effects? And why the heck would you spend $70K on a Mustang when you could get a Z06 for that? I like Mustangs, but if you're concerned about the technically superior choice, the Z06 is the answer to that.

AbusiveWombat

I've heard of many people picking up '03/'04 cobras for a tick under 30k.

Here's a nice thread of what people paid for their '03/'04 Cobra:
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showt...highlight=price



So with a $29k new price the Cobra is going for 82% after 1-2 years. The Saleens also have production numbers in the favor to help retain value. There were probably more Cobra's produced in 2003 than all the S351s ever made.