2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT Barrett-Jackson from North America - Comments

"Why do V-8 Mustang owners get so touchy and hostile when someone exercises their right to buy what they want??"

Believe me, I don't really care that you want an underpowered shell of a sports car. Good for you. Just stating that there are better choices out there is all. Even everyone's coveted MT and C&D hate the V-6 in the Mustang. You're only getting half the package and half the fun. I think it is the V-6 drivers that are touchy about the subject with all the complaining about higher costs and lower mpg... (and a few mpg isn't really that much) and "I just want it for the looks".

"The point is this: A car that has as rich a heritage as the Mustang GT, Camaro Z28 (SS), Firebird Trans Am, requires the performance that only a V8 could could provide. Any base pony car is for people who are wannabe's. The V8 engine made these cars what they are today. Not the V6. Don't get me wrong, a V6 in any other car is fine, just not in a car that is supposed to be high performance. A word to all V6 pony car owners, don't compare your car to my Mustang GT or any other legitimately equipped V8 performance car. You are comparing red apples to green apples. They are both apples, but the similarities end there. The same can be said about the Mustang GT vs Mustang V6, Camaro SS vs base Camaro, and Firebird Trans Am vs Firebird V6!"

Well said!!

"Even everyone's coveted MT and C&D hate the V-6 in the Mustang"

Yes, and the editors of both mags aren't going to pay for your gas and insurance.

If everyone drove what the editors liked, we'd all being driving cars that cost as much as a house.

In the real world people drive what is practical for them.

I waited to get mine. Another 2 years for a nice Camaro SS rather than base, and it was worth saving and waiting. I also despised column shifts and bench seat muscle cars; even a AAR Cuda automatic on column 340 with a lift off hood. A very strange car great except the column shift saving a buck when ordered.

In other words Ford should build only V-8 Mustangs and lose 66% of their customers??

It's up to you to decide if having better resale is worth it to you when you sell.

"Yes, and the editors of both mags aren't going to pay for your gas and insurance.

If everyone drove what the editors liked, we'd all being driving cars that cost as much as a house.

In the real world people drive what is practical for them."

In the real world it is practical for me to drive a GT. My insurance is marginally higher, but not crazy and the gas mileage is only a few mpg less. Again, I say if cost is a factor then why are you even looking at sports cars? We're not talking a lot of difference here either... maybe $5K or so overall depending on options.

And no, the editors won't pay for your gas and insurance, but they test a lot of cars out there in extreme conditions, which you or I can't do, and give an honest review of what the car would be like in these conditions which translates down to real world driving. Let's face it, on a test drive the salesman is talking your ear off and you are playing with the stereo and looking at everything else on the car. It is tough to get an honest look at the car that way and you only really learn about the car after you own it for awhile and the euphoria wears off. That is when your Explorer based V-6 becomes downright grating to listen to every time you hit the gas.

"In other words Ford should build only V-8 Mustangs and lose 66% of their customers??"

Now that you've been proven wrong time and time again about the fuel mileage on the Mustang GT, you've switched to attacking the drivers themselves.

And this 66% you speak of, how many of these end up being rent-a-cars? If Ford got rid of that useless 4.0 V6 and built a modern, refined V6 to put in the Mustang, I might have a little more respect for a V6 Mustang.

A V6 Mustang is a nice looking car for people who are only concerned with looks and not performance.

A V8 Mustang is for people who appreciate the heritage of the Muscle Car, and want a car's bite to be able to back up its bark.

And contrary to what you've been telling people, the V6 Camaro will be slower than the V8 Mustang, as always. The 2010 Mustang puts out 315 HP and about 330 LB/FT of torque. The V6 Camaro is heavier and is rated at less HP and less torque than the V8 Mustang. Now why do you think the V8 Mustang will be slower than the new V6 Camaro again?

As far as V8 Owners driving like maniacs, I see people in all types of cars doing this. I usually set my cruise at about 75 MPH on the interstate, achieving well over 23 MPG, and have countless Full size pickups trucks, minivans and SUVs fly by me like I'm up on jacks. Yesterday I had a couple of kids in an Cutlass Ciera cut me off, and they continued to weave in and out of traffic (at well over 90 MPH by my guess). Thankfully there was a state trooper hiding in the bushes just up the road, and justice was served.

I have more people trying to mess with me at stoplights and on the highway though, young kids mostly. I have nothing to prove to you or anyone. I know what my car will do and what it won't. I paid good money for my car, and don't need to pound on it at every stoplight trying to prove my manhood.

"In other words Ford should build only V-8 Mustangs and lose 66% of their customers??"

Absolutely not. I never said the V-6 wasn't a good seller. I just said it isn't what I would choose. It is good for any line of car to have a base drivetrain that more people can afford to boost sales. Mustangs are a car for the masses so they do need to have a base product. I still think the true strength over the years has been the high performance models associated with the line. Who doesn't think "Boss", "Mach 1", "Shelby" when talking about Mustangs. Even if you like the V-6 model and bought one just to have the cool retro looks you are buying the Mustang because of it's history as a high performance muscle car that has transcended 5 decades.

I do not own a Mustang, but from an impartial observer's point of view -it appears that a V8 is for those who have a need to prove something, and are not very concerned about the environment.

When did this site cease to be about reviewing one's vehicle anyway?

"it appears that in the case a V8 is for those who have a need to prove something, and are not very concerned about the environment."

Truthfully, the V-6 Mustang isn't really an environmentalist car either. Everyone should drive a Prius if they are concerned soley with the environment. Unfortunately, that probably won't ever be the case. I drive the GT over the base Mustang for the driving experience, not to prove something. I don't race on the streets or beat on my cars so what am I proving? I just like the feel and the sound of a true muscle car and the V-6 falls short. I'd rather drive a V-6 Fusion then a V-6 Mustang as it is more powerful and available with AWD for year round use and it isn't pretending to be something it isn't. The mileage difference is pretty minuscule between the V-6 and V-8 as well and I won't be driving it in the winter so I would be using less gas anyhow. I use the Prius in the snow ;)

Well I take that back about you not being concerned about the environment - unless of course you trade in the Prius for a Hummer.

My son took a 6 and heavily modified his to a V8 with 100 shot nitrous. He wanted a sleeper without the GT trim. Many did the same years ago with the Cougar instead of the big block high insurance with Mustangs.

"My son took a 6 and heavily modified his to a V8 with 100 shot nitrous. He wanted a sleeper without the GT trim. Many did the same years ago with the Cougar instead of the big block high insurance with Mustangs."

Trouble is you'll waste the engine a lot faster, as no way is that V-6 equipped to handle that kind of boost, so the cost of replacement will be probably more than the difference in insurance over the years you have the car. Also, you are putting a lot of hp into a car that handles like an everyday sedan which isn't real safe. You're better off buying a car that is meant to be driven like a sports car, if that is your intention, rather than taking the cheap way out, cutting corners and doing it in an unsafe and unreliable way.

"When did this site cease to be about reviewing one's vehicle anyway?"

I think it primarily started with people who reviewed their cars or commented going BEYOND comments to insulting other owners and their vehicles. A few V-8 Mustang owners seem to have taken it upon themselves to attack and insult anyone who exercises their free choice to own anything else. The natural reaction to an attack is to respond in defense.