Okay, so I somehow recently managed to get my wife on board with the idea of me purchasing a brand new GT... if I sell my F150 (DD / tow rig) and Crown Vic (street/strip project) but I'd still keep my Explorer (trail rig) since I have so much time invested in it and it was her first car.

So... on went the immense efforts of getting the wagon ready for sale. I've only had the car for a few months, but it's been in the family (my dad's car) for about five years (not running for most of it.) When my dad first gave me the car it didn't run. I replaced the entire ignition system and fuel pump (pump and coil were the faulty parts, but I got a steal of a deal from a buddy on the rest) to get it running and have since put LOTS of work into it. I rebuilt the front door window motors, but still need to do the other three. I need to replace three door lock actuators. I have fought countless wasps and spiders out of door jambs and crevices. I updated the air box assembly to a newer style intake, which was a lot more work that just swapping the air box and tube. I disassembled and repaired the wiper sprayer assembly... brand new windshield... disassembled seat motor tracks to unseize everything... brand new performance coils and springs on all four corners... numerous trips to the car wash and high power vacuum (it sat for four years, so it's taken a lot of repeated scrubbing to get the funk out)... new take-off 2010 GT 18s... removed lots of chrome trim from wheel wells

So it's now in pretty good shape. A couple window motor rebuilds (no big deal), a couple door lock solenoids (also no big deal), and some minor A/C work and this thing will be 100%.

The more I've worked on it in the past two weeks to prepare it for sale, the more I've wanted to just keep the car. That said, it's going to take A LOT to get it where I want it to be... planning an EFI 408W, which is nothing extreme by current standards. Also thinking a Tremec 5spd (I've done a manual conversion on one of these before; it's not that hard) and 3.73 rear with a disc conversion. There's plenty of other stuff (tint, suspension updates, exhaust, etc) that will be associated with this build, but that's all minor.

...but I'm still ridiculously in love with the 2010+ Mustangs... to the point I've been considering a basic V6 2011 to still have the 300+hp and manual transmission and get better fuel mileage than a GT of either year. I think it would make an excellent, reasonable DD, but it still won't be 400+hp.

At the same time, I think it would be cool to have someone complement the Mustang and be able to say, "You think this is fast, you should see my station wagon."

So what would you do? I've got countless hours in my station wagon and that's literally just getting it in good shape- no point having a great drivetrain in a crappy car. I'm asking $2,500 for it; my opinion is that any car that runs incredibly well and has lots of new parts, including almost new tires, is worth at least $2,000 by today's standards. Apparently no one else agrees. I understand, at the same time, you have to really be into wagons to appreciate something like this... so I'm just stuck.

Nothing will happen until my wife and I close on our house on the 27th of this month, but I'm very anxious to have my decisions made by that point so I can go on the 28th and order my Mustang, be it a basic V6 or a loaded GT. If someone comes up with the cash for my wagon I'll very likely let it go before I can think any harder about it... but it's still a tough call to make on whether I wait out the sale of the wagon before ordering or if I just keep the wagon and trade my truck toward a V6.

Again, I ask... what would you do?

Here's my wagon both when I gained ownership... and a shot of it from just a couple weeks ago...





I can go on and on about this, but I leave you to your responses. I'm curious what you all think on this!

 

OK. I'll try to be nice here,but you did ask for opinions. I think you should listen to your wife. The best you're ever gonna hear is "It looks cool....FOR A STATIONWAGON!!!!" No matter how much money and time you dump into it, it's still a wagon and very few people are going to appreciate it like you do. The more you spend on it the less likely you will ever recover your investment

 

Well, here's a chance at a bit of both worlds, what if you dropped the 2011 5.0 motor into your wagon?

2nd option, how much do you like the 2010-11 styling, knowing we're not that far from a brand new 2014 model. Waiting would allow you to save some dough, finish your baby and get a GT
with a very cooool 50anniversary somehwere on it.

3rd option, if you got a gutter base model V6, could you keep the wagon?

 

BTW, Great job on the StationWagon looks pretty cool. Well really its a no win situation for you unless she gets the car of her choice as well JMO, But anyway just get the GT, after she rides in it she will want to drive it too, then she will be hooked and then get her one as well.

 

I like the wagon, but the more money you sink into it, the more you'll lose, so plan on keeping it for a long, long time. By the way, I love the idea of a sleeper wagon;just don't know how many others agree enough to pay.

What about getting a left over '10GT? Probably cost not much more than an '11 V6, and regardless of the power output being similar, years down the road the V8 is going to be a lot more desirable than a 6 (not to mention sweeter sounding and with better torque).

 

-your about to close on house
-buying a mustang comes down to selling that old wagon for 2000-2500?

i think i would hold off until you have all your ducks in a row....

 

Tom- the $2000-2500 isn't going to make or break me for buying a new car. Her agreement was IF I sell both my truck and the wagon, but I'm not going to just give the thing away. My thinking is that if the wagon doesn't sell I could get a V6 to have some solid performance and the new styling while still only financing for 3-4 years. My ducks are in a row- I'm just trying to determine which one to shoot.

I understand that I'm on the verge of not getting back what I have in it if I go much farther with any of it. I'm way past that with my Explorer that gets to strap out Rubicons almost every trail ride. My project cars are typically long term deals, but I have to admit to being floored by the power numbers on these '11s enough to throw caution to the wind and jump.

I love my wagons- I was disappointed when Ford's new wagon (don't remember the name) was built as more of a SUV than a car, with no ***** to boot. That said, I've been anxiously waiting for a Mustang to come along that would sweep me off my feet and this is definitely it.

Of course, numerous illegals have stopped to offer me $500 for it, but like I said, I won't just give it away. Bottom line, it's a solid-running car with new tires. They can either spend $2k up front and get cheap reliability or they can spend less and put it in the shop twice a week.

 

Thanks!

We just paid off her '07 Altima, which is 100% everything she wanted in a car plus some, so she's happy. It's my turn to spoil myself with something.

When I last presented her with the idea of going V6 and keeping the wagon she fussed at me and told me I have to get the GT with Brembos and HIDs because that's what I really want. What a disappointment, right? Hehe

I've thought about a '10 GT, but I'd rather the '11 V6. Not really sure why. Just seems better to have Ford's first 300+hp V6 Mustang rather than Fords last <400hp V8 Mustang.

 

Does she have a sister?

My vote is for the V6. But I have a 400 HP car now and I just can't really use that power on the street except for things that will likely just get me into trouble.

Your upgrades to the wagon are nice but it's still a) a wagon and b) old but not collectible. You'll enjoy the improvements to the Mustang far more than anything you can add to the wagon and probably ultimately for less money.

Just one question though. . . did you have to take a Coast Guard certification course when you got the wagon?

 

First of all, congratulations. It sounds like you got yourself a keeper. Second of all, does she have a cute sister, 25 or so years old, lives in PA? Dang.

My opinion: do whatever it takes to get the '11 GT. For me, it'd be a no-brainer, but then I've never invested that much time into a car so

 

Well, yesterday I rebuilt two more of the window motors, replaced a door lock solenoid, and removed the basic framework of the luggage rack... the more I work on this car the more I don't want to let it go. It's been a semi father/son project and I just hate to throw it away after we've put all our time into it.

...so I laid it on thick with my wife... and this morning she agreed to me getting the '11 GT (with Brembo and 3.73s, but not premium because I hate leather) while keeping the wagon. I have a witness, as well, who is willing to testify in court should this lead to a divorce. Haha!

Looks like I'm back on the '11 GT train and as soon as we're settled into the new house I'm going to the nearest dealer to work up a trade on my truck and order my GT!

 

Congrats.

 

What a saga this is turning out to be. Here is my honest opinion. You have too many things going all at once. Sell the other two cars, keep the girl, keep the Explorer, get the GT , get married and live a happy life with your 10 children. Their 'ya go.

 

How in the world is it a saga?

We're already married.
I'm keeping the wagon.
I'm keeping the Explorer.
We close on the 27th- Mustang won't even be ordered until we're moved in and settled.
Someone is coming to (hopefully) buy the truck tomorrow.

I'll be all set by the end of the month to order the new GT, but will wait until some time next month just to make sure there are no late expenses that pop up in the move.

 

Cars and women don't usually get along fine together, especially when the MAN want to acquire a new toy ! Ask me how i know. But if everything is all and well for you , great . All the best .
Hurry up on ordering that 2011GT before she changes her mind.

 

The only issue she has with it is that I keep making it out like I'm such a smooth talker that I convinced her to let me do this... when in all actually, I said, "Can I...?" to which she replied, "Hell, no."

Then laughed and said she's okay with it as long as I can keep the note the same as I'm paying on my truck. She's surprisingly cool about my cars (hence the marriage)... I'm "allowed" three without complaint:
1.) Off-road toy (Explorer on 34s)
1.) Drag strip toy (Station wagon)
1.) Daily Driver (F150, now GT)

The next slot (and this one WILL take some talking) will be to get her to allow me to have a classic restoration project, too.

(By the way... while I was typing this, she said I'm allowed a motorcycle slot, too, should I so desire.) Sorry, guys... no sisters... and her mom is crazy.

 

Keep the wagon while waiting for the 2014. You never know just how much additional cash that new house will take, so wait a few years before getting the Mustang (it will only be better anyhow).