What is the best value? I have been reading all the comments and am more confused than ever. I am looking to get an 08 500, or an 09 GT. From what I'm reading, it will take about 5K to get the GT close to a 500.
What is the difference in price between the 2? Pimpin out a GT with a supercharger? Might want to see what that will do to the warranty. If you can afford it I would go with the 500
They are two totaly different animals a Mustang GT will take a bit more then $5000. to get it up to 500hp the Supercharger and tune would eat that up quick.
The GT500 if you have the money would be a much better buy if you can get it for a good price because by the time you get a GT close to a GT500 in performance and interior/exterior upgrades the cost would be about the same
But tricking out a GT would allow you to build it to your own specifications - pick out the mufflers and rims you like best, skip out on some of the factory Shelby trim/accessories you might not like, install a turbo instead of supercharger if you so desire, choose a cam grind that better fits your purpose, etc.
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UofASouthpaw
'06 Vista Blue GT - 18" Chrome Bullitts (255/45's front, 285/40's rear). More mods down the road.
I had a similar debate when i had a V6 if i wanted to do work/have work done to is. After a fairly close estimate in parts and a pretty rough estimate in labor on what needed it i was looking @ 10grand. (i forget to what extent this money went into) i got my GT for 8 grand after trade in. (I hunted it thankfully it wasn't more then a 45 minute drive and got exactly what i wanted)
the money i saved to trade in is also 1. less of a headache after swapping parts and worrying if it was installed properly and 2. is a higherbaseline so if i do add parts its THAT much higher.
I'm not sure if you already have 2 specific cars in mind that your trying to compare or not but i would see what the difference in price is. Then decide if you want all out power then i'd say go with the Shelby its a much higher baseline for when you start adding more parts.
Also yea, 5 grand is for the supercharger and i'm not 100% sure on what comes with it. I've read(glanced) that some people have torubles with them and change out other parts (Fuel pump) and things you wouldn't normally think of. But there are also plenty of other parts to consider that could easily get you to the 10 grand mark i'm sure. (Gears, Tuner, depends which SC you go with they can go up to 6k?, exhaust system from headers to mufflers, Tires so you can use this power, Cams and so forth) Then with all those parts you more then likly going to run into a problem if it be engine or getting it to pass inspection.
The shelby will come with a warranty (hopefully) and should have been taken care of that nothing should break down randomly on highway be that a louver flies off into someones windshield or your hood pops off and you suddenly have a convertible.
Short version: get the shelby.
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07 Mustang GT Metallic Alloy. + other spiffy stuff.
of the two, i would say shelby, as it seems the rest of the members are. it is a much higher baseline to start from, and between tunes, F/I supporting mods, your GT will have about 10k into it. and there is still a chance of headaches.
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2006 Mustang GT- Tungsten with Black vinyl stripes
JLT CAI - SCT Xcal3 - Steeda UDP - Borla Axle Back exhaust
Next: interior dress up, short shifter
on hold indefinitely: (accidents FTL)
Forged internals, Powerhouse Turbo
Remove Vinyl and put some paint on it
Suspension, 18x9 and 18x10 fr500 anthracite wheels
I'm looking at a 2008 GT 500 for 35K, or a 09 GT for 27K. From what you guys are saying, it sounds like I will buy the 500. Thanks.
a new 09 for 27k? Is it a basic GT or a premium GT? Leather seats(heated) upgraded stereo, and some smaller things might be missing on the basic GT (options do vary) The shelby should have most all of those upgrade features if thats something you look into when buying a car. (More of a reason to go with a shelby)
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07 Mustang GT Metallic Alloy. + other spiffy stuff.
They are two totaly different animals a Mustang GT will take a bit more then $5000. to get it up to 500hp the Supercharger and tune would eat that up quick.
The GT500 if you have the money would be a much better buy if you can get it for a good price because by the time you get a GT close to a GT500 in performance and interior/exterior upgrades the cost would be about the same
Maybe if you had alot of exterior addons. I like my car plain. Im removing the wing and have only a few appearance mods.
But to get GT500 performance it can be done for less money.
2005 Mustang GT 10,000 miles $20,000
Saleen blower and gauges installed $7100
Other parts(clutch, shifter, louvers etc) $3000
Total $30,000
I have only saw one GT500 for near that money and it had 70,000 miles on it.
But the GT500 is the better potential deal since my engine is at its limits with 400+rwhp and the GT500 can make 700rwhp with ease on its internals.
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2005 Ford Mustang GT Torch Red Manual
Saleen Supercharger 3.4 pulley/Brenspeed Tune
FRPP Stingers Axleback Muffler System
CHE Lower Control Arms
Pro-5.0 Super Shifter
CDC Sequential Tail Lights
Best ET NA: 13.408 @ 105.31
Best SC: 12.6 @ 114 on Pirellis
Maybe if you had alot of exterior addons. I like my car plain. Im removing the wing and have only a few appearance mods.
But to get GT500 performance it can be done for less money.
2005 Mustang GT 10,000 miles $20,000
Saleen blower and gauges installed $7100
Other parts(clutch, shifter, louvers etc) $3000
Total $30,000
I have only saw one GT500 for near that money and it had 70,000 miles on it.
But the GT500 is the better potential deal since my engine is at its limits with 400+rwhp and the GT500 can make 700rwhp with ease on its internals.
Very good point that was slightly overlooked. If you do but a GT and doing work to it skip the warranty if your getting from dealership as it will be QUICKLY voided.
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07 Mustang GT Metallic Alloy. + other spiffy stuff.
Well the most unique, and best thing about the GT500, over all other mustangs is the engine swap. It carries the 5.4L monster that can handle 1000hp on the stock parts. I got the GT500 because all the other mustang packs out there use the 4.6L. Go for the GT500.
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2008 Shelby GT500 "Nichole" - Alloy w/Silver Stripes #3264/6513 Coupes, #145/314 Alloy Born on Dec 14, 2007
-SLP LoudMouth Axlebacks
-C&L Cold Air Intake
-NGK TR6 Spark Plugs
i dont know about you but i got my GT for 18k , but if u cant find anything cheaper then 27k id just get the gt500 for 35. make it easy on yourself. get the power now. its easy to finance.
A supercharged GT with a stock block is at the end of its capability. You need to build a forged short block to get a safe long lasting high HP motor. The GT will never have the capability of the 5.4 and you get the 6 speed also. If you have the money I would go with the 500.
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05 GT Techco 7psi, 428hp/395tq, Tillman tune, 18x9.5 GT500 wheels, 14" Brembos, Steeda Front strut pads and front relo kit, BMR lowering springs, Tokicko D-Specs, GT500 Front lower control arms, BMR adj upper third link, BMR adj PHB, BMR rear relo brackets, boxed stock phb brace, Hooker super comp LT with Pypes HF cats, Stillen adj front & rear sway bars, Steeda sport shifter.
any 4.6 engine cant get 500 HP.. well u can if you want to blow your engine... 500 hp is really pushing the envelope with those engines. I had a shelby GT b4 I got my GT500 and I wanted it to be in the 500 600 hp range.. well I had to spend alot more than 5k try close to 20k... 1st a good s/c cost 5-7k then if your satisfied with 450HP then you can stop there but to match up with the gt500 then your gonna have to either change the stock block or/and forge the internals/buy a short block. short block is about 4k not including work.. then after that your looking at a whole new overhaul.. the tranny cant hold the hp so ull have to change that out.. then the clutch, driveshaft, fuel pump, flywheel, ect.. theres alot that youll have to do to make sure the car can hold the hp. Now if you want to go that route let me know bcuz I totalled the shelby gt a week b4 I was supose to put all of that in there so im stuck with the parts untill sum1 buys em from me or i save up for another 4.6
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R.I.P. Baby Shelby GT '07 9/8/09
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
Abraham Linclon
It seems the sky is the limit with the GT500. With mostly bolt on parts you can get close to 700 hp to the ground, unbelieveable amount of torque and still have a very streetable ride. I've done alot of mods to mine, suspension, wheels, tires, supercharger and the list goes on. No matter what you do you will always be looking to make more power, its the nature of the beast. Why settle when you have the option to buy a GT500.
GT 500 or tricked-out GT?? 
