OnceYouGoBlack

Shelby GT500 or Roush Stage 3

I have the ability to purchase either of these mustangs. The cost is nearly the same for used vehicles with low mileage. Whichever car it is, it will be a 2011+

I know that the RS3 has less HP/torque but I've been lead to believe it's more track worthy and a better drive.
I won't be spending much time at all on the track but I'd like to have that option and I know both of these cars fulfill that desire.

Can you guys weigh in? If this has been discussed at length... Please include a link!

Blown CS

One thing to think about is that you can push the GT500 motor a lot more than the 5.0.
If I was to do it over again it would be the GT500.

Way2QWK

Shelby will hold value a lot better than a roush, plus it has more mod potential. Shelby all the way! 2011+ Shelby gets you the aluminum block also.

ace72ace

Shelby gets my vote.

xtc.inc

As stated, Shelby will hold better value but saying you have a stage 3 roush mustang is just so bad ***. Plus the roush drives better and looks mean as hell. Id go for the Roush.

shaneyusa

I love my Stage 2, and the Roush mods do look awesome. The Stage 3 is a beast and very quick. The looks are hard to beat, but if the cost is the same I would have a hard time passing up on a good clean Shelby GT500. Those should hold their value better, everyone knows what a Shelby is. Most non-car people ask what is a Roush? The Shelby is also a 200 mph car, I would never take it that fast, but it is very cool to say. 662hp is hard to pass on.

Go with the Shelby!

TommyV

Another vote for the Shelby.

David Young

Roush stage 3 is nice but if i had the money i would go with the GT500

OnceYouGoBlack

I guess I really need to get out and test drive both vehicles.
How bad is the clutch in the Shelby? I've heard it described as a "calf killer."

I don't buy cars to park and drool over them so I will be driving it a bit.

jsimmons

The 2011/12 aren't 662hp. You're thinking of the 13/14s.

To the OP - Shelby over Roush for retaining value (if that's the most important aspect to you).

OnceYouGoBlack

Like I said, I do plan to drive the car so retaining value isn't that important to me. It very well may be the last car I buy for quite some time considering the direction Ford is going with the Mustang.

So it looks like a 2014 RS3 is actually quicker than a 2012 GT500?

Blown CS

This was my deciding factor, I was tired of a clutch and I wanted an auto and GT was my only option. Of course I miss my manual now and I want to go back. Lol

OnceYouGoBlack

Well I definitely want a 6speed. I'm just a little worried about the feel of the drive with the extremely stiff clutch in the Shelby.

I found a 2014 with only 300 miles on it just down the road from me so I'm gonna drop by and give it a shot after work.

CiniZter

good. buy it and put a supercharger on it. if you get a good deal on the 14s

OnceYouGoBlack

Umm - they come supercharged from the factory. Or do you mean a bigger/better one?

Johnny Bravo

Rs3 in black! Thing is so badass.

OnceYouGoBlack

Well right now I'm looking at:
2014 GHIG RS3
2014 Solid White GT500 (cheapest in this list)
2014 Black GT500 with Red striping

I'm kind of hoping the white grows on me. I can always add some flat black striping...

Stage_3

I am the proud owner of a 2013 GHIG Roush Stage 3. LOVE the car. Very drive-able and very fast. Car is tuned just right. A guy, my boss at work, happened to be on the highway one day while I was out cruising, he was with the windows up and he heard me pull away from him and I wasn't even getting on it. He said it sounded great and could tell that it was running like a top. Mind you, this guy is like a research and development type guy. lol I had the Advance Trac on as well. I usually don't take it off for some reason. I just take off the TC usually when going out with the car.
I was originally going for a 2013/2014 Shelby, but I figured with the insurance payments, I would be tight on cash, so I got a KILLER deal on the GHIG RS3. Well hindsight, I could have afforded the 2013/2014 Shelby and insurance no problem. Again,...hindsight.
I have actually thought about selling my Roush at times. It's super clean and garaged all the time and has only 1,600 miles on the clock.
I say either way, it's a win-win. Both are great cars. But,...if you are goin to track it,.....Roush all the way.
Good luck man.

***EDIT****
Depends what you mean by tracking the car. Track like drag race or track like auto-x??
If auto-x,....Roush all the way. If you're dragging, I'm going to say GT500. Just because you can really build up a GT500 with those forged internals and have some piece of mind.

SteelTownStang

S H E L B Y... which is the pretty much the consensus in this thread; and for good reason. The clutch was improved on the '11-'12... and perfected on the '13-'14, so no worries there... Time to stop drooling over them and start driving...

MJJ

If you are going Roush get the 2010 with the 540H all forged motor.

They changed in the 2011+.

If you want to track the car get a Boss 302 no question. Hell slap a blower on a Boss and you have both ends covered.

Personally I would would buy a 2012 Boss Laguna Seca if I had it to do over again.