Question for the Fam - Mustang Search Continues

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
Hi all - little update for you guys. I queried you all a few weeks ago about a 2005 Mustang, thank you so much for all your thoughts and help on what to expect. I went and saw the car - it was decent, about what you'd expect for a 130k mile 2005 Mustang that a dealership wanted too much money for.

So, I walked, and since then I've retooled my search for the better - 2011-2012 5.0 GTs in Kona Blue with a manual transmission. I've driven one so far (which was VERY fast but also in kind of rough shape) and have a lead on one more...but it's a four hour drive from Chicago.

Question for the fam - anyone here ever done a Pre-Purchase Inspection from a service like CarChex, Lemon Squad, or PomCar? I'm seeing prices of $150-200 for a PPI and am happy to spend the money to avoid a 9-hour ordeal to go check this thing out.

Thanks all!

2011_00061_09.jpg


-N8
 

Dasfinc

Ready for the EVlution
Sep 28, 2007
20,919
1,321
Wheaton, IL
Konas have a price premium on them big enough to get you into a more common colored 13/14 car.

Also; I feel like thereā€™s been a general consensus on that 2011ā€™s are more vulnerable to eating piston #7.

Lastly; no mention of Track Pack or not?

Iā€™m head over heels in love with my 2013 GT manual Vert still, Coyote Powered cars are nutty.

As for a PPI; I doubt any of them will catch the full throttle shifting trans/shift/clutch issues these cars are known for. Otherwise they are really robust cars.
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
Konas have a price premium on them big enough to get you into a more common colored 13/14 car.

Also; I feel like thereā€™s been a general consensus on that 2011ā€™s are more vulnerable to eating piston #7.

Lastly; no mention of Track Pack or not?

Iā€™m head over heels in love with my 2013 GT manual Vert still, Coyote Powered cars are nutty.

As for a PPI; I doubt any of them will catch the full throttle shifting trans/shift/clutch issues these cars are known for. Otherwise they are really robust cars.



Iā€™ve noticed the premiumsā€¦ This particular car is a non-track pack 2012 with about 65,000 miles on it, and, I canā€™t believe Iā€™m saying this, priced correctly at right around $16.5k Iā€™m totally fine with the lack of the Track Pack though - my intentions are to throw some Maximum Motorsports suspension goodies at it, after which point the only thing about the track pack that would be left are the Brembo brakes up front, which I can get on eBay for like 700 bucks.

Good to know about the full throttle issues - I donā€™t know what they are, so I am certainly prompted to do some research. Thank you!
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
Can't give my 2 cents on PPI - as I have no experience with that. I will however say that the Coyote motors are pretty plentiful and will take care of you equally. I think the choice you narrowed it down to is pretty awesome :bigthumb:



Thanks a lot man - I realized I was sort of ā€œshopping off the dollar menuā€œ with the 3v cars, especially when you consider how much more performance the Coyote-powered cars have for that differential in price.

I feel good about it, so I think Iā€™m going to order the inspection. Iā€™ll keep you guys posted.
 

ragingclue

What's a "Super Bowl"?
TCG Premium
Dec 19, 2013
2,476
1,208
Wasn't TP only '14+ and consisted of Recaros, Brembos and associated suspension upgrades, 3.73, and cooling upgrades? Before that, I think you could get all that minus the cooling stuff a la carte IIRC.

I loved my Recaros, best seats I've ever had in a car. Supportive and surprisingly comfortable. Last I checked, though, they were pretty expensive to add after the fact, so if it was me, I'd look for a car with them already (if you're a fan of them, as the base seats really aren't bad). The premium steering wheel was a great thing added to '13+ base interiors, the '11-'12 base wheel is pretty awful IMO. But that's another thing you could easily rectify anyway, and you may not even care to start with.

Stainless clutch lines are a good thing to have too, cheap and easy if not done already, and helps a lot with the clutch issues at full trot.
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
Wasn't TP only '14+ and consisted of Recaros, Brembos and associated suspension upgrades, 3.73, and cooling upgrades? Before that, I think you could get all that minus the cooling stuff a la carte IIRC.

Correct again - if I got the Brembo package for the 2012, it would be the springs, shocks, control arms, wheels, tires, Brembo front brakes, and an ESC/sport steering tune, all of which I can add. With that MM package and new wheels, the only thing left from the stock Brembo Package for 2012 would've been the brakes, which are like $600 on eBay. Not bad, and when you consider most Brembo package cars are going at a $2k premium to non-Brembos, it just makes sense to do if you're going to modify the rest of the suspension.

I loved my Recaros, best seats I've ever had in a car. Supportive and surprisingly comfortable. Last I checked, though, they were pretty expensive to add after the fact, so if it was me, I'd look for a car with them already (if you're a fan of them, as the base seats really aren't bad). The premium steering wheel was a great thing added to '13+ base interiors, the '11-'12 base wheel is pretty awful IMO. But that's another thing you could easily rectify anyway, and you may not even care to start with.

Good to know - I didn't even know there were different steering wheels! You learn something new every day. :bigthumb:

Stainless clutch lines are a good thing to have too, cheap and easy if not done already, and helps a lot with the clutch issues at full trot.

Adding that to my list...man, I haven't even bought the damn thing yet and it's getting pretty long already...LOL
 

Dasfinc

Ready for the EVlution
Sep 28, 2007
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Wheaton, IL
Stainless clutch lines are a good thing to have too, cheap and easy if not done already, and helps a lot with the clutch issues at full trot.

I have every single supporting shifter modification available; and the Clutch was the biggest difference Bar None for my car:

Barton shifter
Blowfish Racing Bracket
Stainless clutch line
Divorced fluid resivour
Stress clutch return spring
Exedy Mach 500 clutch/PP
 

ragingclue

What's a "Super Bowl"?
TCG Premium
Dec 19, 2013
2,476
1,208
I have every single supporting shifter modification available; and the Clutch was the biggest difference Bar None for my car:

Barton shifter
Blowfish Racing Bracket
Stainless clutch line
Divorced fluid resivour
Stress clutch return spring
Exedy Mach 500 clutch/PP

Yeah I believe the clutch is the right answer to the question (also the most resource intensive), but the lines did it for me 100%. Also installed an MGW and after that had zero complaints in 60k+ with anything related to shifting.
 

LikeABauce302

TCG Elite Member
Aug 27, 2013
5,873
16,314
South suburbs
Real Name
Matt
I have every single supporting shifter modification available; and the Clutch was the biggest difference Bar None for my car:

Barton shifter
Blowfish Racing Bracket
Stainless clutch line
Divorced fluid resivour
Stress clutch return spring
Exedy Mach 500 clutch/PP

I'm planning on buying an Exedy Mach 500 towards the end of this month. Hopefully will save a few dollars with a black Friday discount. It sounds like you're happy with it?

The clutch is the biggest problem. It doesn't like high RPM shifts. Most of the broken MT-82 s are because people are shifting at redline, with a stock clutch. At 7k RPM and beyond, the stock clutch doesn't fully disengage. It gets worse as you stay on the throttle and row through the gears. The clutch pedal will be stuck to the floor by the end of a 1/4 mile pass.
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
I have every single supporting shifter modification available; and the Clutch was the biggest difference Bar None for my car:

Barton shifter
Blowfish Racing Bracket
Stainless clutch line
Divorced fluid resivour
Stress clutch return spring
Exedy Mach 500 clutch/PP

I have heard great things about ALL of these mods...especially the Blowfish Racing Bracket. Is there anything else you'd recommend?
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
The clutch is the biggest problem. It doesn't like high RPM shifts. Most of the broken MT-82 s are because people are shifting at redline, with a stock clutch. At 7k RPM and beyond, the stock clutch doesn't fully disengage. It gets worse as you stay on the throttle and row through the gears. The clutch pedal will be stuck to the floor by the end of a 1/4 mile pass.

That's interesting - the more I read about the issue the more I think it has to do with user error...I mean, yes, there are some inherent issues with the remote shifter design, but still!

You have a BEAUTIFUL Boss, BTW - cars like yours are the reason I was so hell-bent on Kona Blue!

I will own a Boss someday. And it will be Yellow Blaze. And it'll be F**king awesome. :yumyum:
 

Dasfinc

Ready for the EVlution
Sep 28, 2007
20,919
1,321
Wheaton, IL
I'm planning on buying an Exedy Mach 500 towards the end of this month. Hopefully will save a few dollars with a black Friday discount. It sounds like you're happy with it?

The clutch is the biggest problem. It doesn't like high RPM shifts. Most of the broken MT-82 s are because people are shifting at redline, with a stock clutch. At 7k RPM and beyond, the stock clutch doesn't fully disengage. It gets worse as you stay on the throttle and row through the gears. The clutch pedal will be stuck to the floor by the end of a 1/4 mile pass.

I have heard great things about ALL of these mods...especially the Blowfish Racing Bracket. Is there anything else you'd recommend?

Seriously, the clutch. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, start with the clutch. Night and day.

The Blowfish and the Barton have it rifle-bolt tight shifting, I have never missed a gear since switching to that combo, and the positive engagement is amazing.

The braided line and divorced fluid helped when hotlapping at the drag strip noticeably, otherwise I canā€™t say it offers any other benefit outside of making the fluid hold up better.

Side note since I donā€™t know if youā€™ve ever driven a coyote powered car; The throttle response with the OEM tune is really lazy, even fords ProCal Tube makes a big difference in that.

Also; keep a chambered muffler, donā€™t buy anything stupid exhaust wise or youā€™ll regret it.

I also have a weighted/lower sitting shift knob and a White Line transmission bushing insert to install over winter, forgot about that mod.
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
UPDATE

Well, THAT was underwhelming.

I took the 2012 for a ride. It was a long trip to get there, and the car had the classic '5th gear grind' that's so common with the MT82s. I was assured by the dealer that this would be rectified before completing the sale, and that the car would go to a transmission shop on Monday to have the problem fixed.

But...as I left the dealership, I had this overwhelming feeling of, "Is that IT? That's ALL? THAT'S what a 5.0 feels like?" And it had nothing to do with the power, the cleanliness of the car, the feel of the drivetrain. It had everything to do with the softness of the suspension, but moreover, the lack of 'specialness' I felt when I drove it...and that's tough to quantify.

Later that day, I found myself at a dealer in the suburbs and I drove this:

a2y6tz.jpg


WOW is that a different experience, and that's when I realized what I had been missing. Because if I'm honest with myself, one of these babies in Kona Blue with the SVT Performance Package would be all I could ever want and more.

So I'm calling the dealership Monday to tell him the deal's off, and I'll be saving for the winter to pick one up in the spring. Delayed gratification? Sure. But I get what I really want, and that's what's important to me.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the PPI and the deliberation, you guys have been awesome - I'll restart this thread come springtime when I get out and get to test-driving.
 

Dasfinc

Ready for the EVlution
Sep 28, 2007
20,919
1,321
Wheaton, IL
But...as I left the dealership, I had this overwhelming feeling of, "Is that IT? That's ALL? THAT'S what a 5.0 feels like?" And it had nothing to do with the power, the cleanliness of the car, the feel of the drivetrain. It had everything to do with the softness of the suspension, but moreover, the lack of 'specialness' I felt when I drove it...and that's tough to quantify.

When I owned an 03 BMW M3 back to back with my Mustang, I had a similar feeling.

The M3 was A scalpel, the Mustang was a sledge hammer. The M3 was built to a purpose with no expense spared, the Mustang was built to a cost using parts from a pickup truck. The M3 FELT special, but the Mustang made ME feel special.

I like the white knuckle ā€œit could kill me if Iā€™m stupid with itā€ sensation it gives me, and I like doing little modification here and there to continue to make it my own, and make it a little more special.
 

willdrumforfood92

Three Pedals, Two Feet, One Crazy Idea
Sep 8, 2017
59
0
Uptown
When I owned an 03 BMW M3 back to back with my Mustang, I had a similar feeling.

The M3 was A scalpel, the Mustang was a sledge hammer. The M3 was built to a purpose with no expense spared, the Mustang was built to a cost using parts from a pickup truck. The M3 FELT special, but the Mustang made ME feel special.

I like the white knuckle ā€œit could kill me if Iā€™m stupid with itā€ sensation it gives me, and I like doing little modification here and there to continue to make it my own, and make it a little more special.

That makes perfect sense to me - in a similar way, I LIKED the GT. But I LOVED the GT500. And that says it all right there - if you love it, you should buy it, and it's worth waiting for.

Something tells me the GT would've been a car I had for a couple years. The GT500 though, that's one I can keep for a long time and be very happy with.

Plus, they look FIRE in Kona Blue with white stripes. :fy:
 
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