Am I Wasting My Time On This Dream/Mustang?

[CobaltFilly]

Sometimes I question: Am I wasting my time/money?

My V6 is pretty decently modified, has now 49k miles on the odometer, and is worth 14k to insurance and KBB. I bought it for 22.5k in cash during the goofy COVID times with only 16k miles on it, so about 3-4 years ago. I bought what I could afford to replace in the event of an accident/afford to pay insurance on in California.

I am currently saving for a house (I have no debt or credit, I pay cash for everything but am no means rich...young 20s) and potentially a marriage. I am going to keep my track built little V6 S550 monster until after the home is bought, then i am buying a manual daily for my business/daily driver, and the mustang is going to become full track monster...thinking somewhere between the mustang whisperer flyhalf and the literal god on a horse honeybadger , but supercharged V6 with cortex suspension, apex forged wheels, full stripped interior, welded spots, full race spec cage, custom lines and electrical, seats, harnesses....and a pro-charger supercharger with upgraded 1200hp intercooler so I can push 450-500rwhp (thats the max I want period in my track car). And it will stay a 6r80 as I want an automatic (or sequential) paddle shifting track car.

My question is...is this ridiculous to you? I have not seen a single S550 V6 active for track use on this forum...or on any forum that is anymore. In fact, the V6 section has been dead for years it seems...I know that I have the potential to create something different, something fun, something truly my own, a "V6R" if you will...does this sound foolhardy? Many of the worlds greatest beginner track monsters (ahem, Ford GT...Noble M400...another track car with its own series that starts with a G I forget the name...) are based off/use the 3.7L Cyclone Ford Duratec to this day. Should I just sell my V6, take the 10k loss, take my 14k and go put it towards a 50k mile GT or Mach 1 and eat some debt?

- An Overly-Worried, Over-Worked, Overly-Anxious, V6 Addicted, Track-Loving, Paint-Correcting Nutjob

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[Paddles]

Honestly your car is dope and already pretty famous. I vote keep the ol girl and run her until she blows. Then grab a junkyard 5.0 engine and drop it in.

I would never recommend trading a solid car you own for an unknown car you'll owe a debt on.

Also, if you're trying to buy a house soon I would consider waiting to finance anything else if possible.

 

[CobaltFilly]

Honestly your car is dope and already pretty famous. I vote keep the ol girl and run her until she blows. Then grab a junkyard 5.0 engine and drop it in.

I would never recommend trading a solid car you own for an unknown car you'll owe a debt on.

Also, if you're trying to buy a house soon I would consider waiting to finance anything else if possible.

Thank you for the encouragement and words of wisdom. This is what I need

 

[2morrow]

Hey bud, I know another person that was in your shoes a few years ago and he kept his S197 V6 and kept on building it. He’s @ligistix on IG and an engineer so I’m sure building it came natural to him.

Ultimately it’s your call.

However less weight is always better.

A similarly over-worked, track loving nut job.

Hit me up when you’re in the Sonoma raceway area. I live down the street.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Houses are expensive. House projects cost thousands so dont expect to have as much free cash after the home putchase (which should be the priority over any car mods).

Also supercharging the V6 (or any track car) is generally considered a bad idea. You’ll get 1 or 2 laps and then you’ll be watching your temps rising. If you double or triple the stock power you need to double or triple the cooling capacity of the car, which is very hard to do. It becomes a huge headache. While you’ll occasionally see a an aftermarket turbo or supercharger on track, nearly ALL the hardcore track people advise against building a blower build for a track car. Keep it naturally aspirated. I went down this road years ago and had to give up tracking that turbo car. Couldnt manage the heat well enough to enjoy my time on a road course. I was driving with my head in the gauges.

So yeah I think that part of the plan is naive but keeping the paid for V6 would be fun.

 

[horsepower addiction]

Once the car is stripped down and made into a full race car then it doesn’t matter what engine you have in it. If the v6 does everything you want then who cares if it’s an v6. If the v6 engine doesn’t work out you can swap in pretty much any engine you want at that point.

 

[LCK22GT]

Congratulations on being debt free and owning a slick ride. You're also showing good wisdom in not making a snap decision and seeking advice. Considering your aspirations of getting into your first home, and a potential marriage, going into debt on a used car should be low on your list IMO. You have an awesome ride for being a young 20's, and it's YOUR's not the bank's.

 

[S550HPP]

Whatever you think the mustang upgrades and opcosts or house project is going to cost add 50-100% to be safe.

Note that any money you put in the markets now will yield great returns within 1-3 year. I would allocate all available resources immediately to several ETFs in the DOW and NASDAQ.

 

[GJarrett]

...Also, if you're trying to buy a house soon I would consider waiting to finance anything else if possible.

This. If you take on any debt it will kill the approval for a home mortgage.

 

[KGbyrd1966]

Life is short. Sell the V6. Get a 21-23 GT and live a little. The house and kids will come in due time.

 

[CobaltFilly]

Hey bud, I know another person that was in your shoes a few years ago and he kept his S197 V6 and kept on building it. He’s @ligistix on IG and an engineer so I’m sure building it came natural to him.

Ultimately it’s your call.

However less weight is always better.

A similarly over-worked, track loving nut job.

Hit me up when you’re in the Sonoma raceway area. I live down the street.

Perhaps keeping this is the best. Less weight truly is better...and I could just keep learning, then give the V6 to the Mrs. who wants to get into the sport and buy myself an already built GT or maybe build up a wrecked GT350.

Houses are expensive. House projects cost thousands so dont expect to have as much free cash after the home putchase (which should be the priority over any car mods).

Also supercharging the V6 (or any track car) is generally considered a bad idea. You’ll get 1 or 2 laps and then you’ll be watching your temps rising. If you double or triple the stock power you need to double or triple the cooling capacity of the car, which is very hard to do. It becomes a huge headache. While you’ll occasionally see a an aftermarket turbo or supercharger on track, nearly ALL the hardcore track people advise against building a blower build for a track car. Keep it naturally aspirated. I went down this road years ago and had to give up tracking that turbo car. Couldnt manage the heat well enough to enjoy my time on a road course. I was driving with my head in the gauges.

So yeah I think that part of the plan is naive but keeping the paid for V6 would be fun.

I like paid for V6. It still goes vroom on track and I can keep up with porsche boxsters and BMWs and outlap supercharged Roush mustangs due to their heatsoak
Those corvettes, N/A GT Mustangs, and little mitsubishis though sure give me a time...

Once the car is stripped down and made into a full race car then it doesn’t matter what engine you have in it. If the v6 does everything you want then who cares if it’s an v6. If the v6 engine doesn’t work out you can swap in pretty much any engine you want at that point.

Understood, this is pretty much what I was thinking.

 

[CobaltFilly]

Congratulations on being debt free and owning a slick ride. You're also showing good wisdom in not making a snap decision and seeking advice. Considering your aspirations of getting into your first home, and a potential marriage, going into debt on a used car should be low on your list IMO. You have an awesome ride for being a young 20's, and it's YOUR's not the bank's.

I appreciate your time, and thank you for the encouragement. I love not giving things to banks (and governments), so perhaps building what I want, own, and can afford to replace truly is priority.

Whatever you think the mustang upgrades and opcosts or house project is going to cost add 50-100% to be safe.

Note that any money you put in the markets now will yield great returns within 1-3 year. I would allocate all available resources immediately to several ETFs in the DOW and NASDAQ.

Speaking with financial advisors next week.

Life is short. Sell the V6. Get a 21-23 GT and live a little. The house and kids will come in due time.

No kids. Ever. Thanks. Pass.
But yes to GT and house. Decisions decisions.

 

[tosha]

Yeah, just don't supercharge it.

 

[MyStang]

just a thought,

 

[S550HPP]

It's possible HPP coupes have taken a massive depreciation hit.

If this is the case and you can live with instant off the line torque with 4 cyl sound tracks getting a fully loaded one with magna ride may be worth it, plus the 200 lb front end weight loss makes it a far more agile car in feel and in Twisties.

I have seen 3000 mile HPP.verts selling for same as base model EB verts.

Invest in getting snipped to ensure the no kids is guaranteed and avoid honey alimony traps. No kids is a wise choice.

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