IrishStallion
Well-Known Member
In the end it is soley up to individual. Do you really think anyone on here gives two Llama farts on what model mustang you should drive...?? Lol...
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That's a very good point. The S197 to me the the final evolution of the original Mustang lineage in body and ethos, and there's something charming and endearing about those cars that I can't turn my eye away from. It might even be "Mustang character" that the S550 is lacking because of how dramatic of a departure it is.To give you some perspective, I have a 79 Firebird 400 that I can't seem to want to let go of. That said, I'd take a nice 12-14 GT any day. It's not an S550, but they have the Mustang character in spades and may be preferential in some aspects of driving.
I wouldn't say the S550 lacks Mustang character....just look down the side of the car. It exudes a modern interpretation of a '69 fastback. :-)That's a very good point. The S197 to me the the final evolution of the original Mustang lineage in body and ethos, and there's something charming and endearing about those cars that I can't turn my eye away from. It might even be "Mustang character" that the S550 is lacking because of how dramatic of a departure it is.
I've only driven a Supercharged '90 LX Hatch and a Procharged '13 V6 besides my own and the other two definitely have a character about them. I really need to find one close enough to test drive.
I don't mean to say that it lacks character either. I was sold on S550 by the fastback profile alone. It's very much a Mustang. That's why I bought one, and it's the best car I've ever had. There's just a aspect of character that the S197 has that the S550 hasn't, for better or worse. I think that's what I was trying to say.I wouldn't say the S550 lacks Mustang character....just look down the side of the car. It exudes a modern interpretation of a '69 fastback. :-)
I as person who JUST upgrade from a 12 GT to a 18 GT, I'd say wait. The S650 is coming out in two years, the price of 15 GTs will plummet. People have this performance nostalgia about the S197, that is just unfounded, imho. Amazing cars? Yes. But if we're talking which one is objectively better, it's no contest. A 15GT PP1 out tracked a 13 BOSS 302 when they first reviewed the platform. Don't get me wrong, like any car, you can spend a bunch of money to make it more than it is from factory. However, if that were you, I don't think you'd be on these forums asking us our opinions about it.I'm trying to answer this question for myself. My S550 is my first Mustang and I've had it four years now. Mine is no slouch, but I finally want a V8 in my life. Unfortunately, Covid seems to have screwed up the used car market and the only GT's in my price range within relative driving distance are S197s (11-14).
I've no idea if it's worth "reverting" to a live axle, an objectively worse interior (but not that bad tbh), and less tech (even though I have a base model now) just to have a V8...Or whether or not it's worth trading one corroding hood for another.
I don't think feelings for the S197 are about "performance nostalgia" and objective measurements at all. It's more about the subjectives, where less refinement can be a good thing and too much refinement starts taking away from the overall experience on the one hand in exchange for a bit more performance or luxury on the other. This isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of concept.People have this performance nostalgia about the S197, that is just unfounded, imho. Amazing cars? Yes. But if we're talking which one is objectively better, it's no contest.
I remember that being the case, and it certainly would have been Ford's intent to at least match the performance of the Boss 302.A 15GT PP1 out tracked a 13 BOSS 302 when they first reviewed the platform. Don't get me wrong, like any car, you can spend a bunch of money to make it more than it is from factory, if that were you, I don't think you'd be on these forums asking about it though.
Part of the appeal in owning something that is less refined - maybe it has a few flaws or technical shortcomings, or has features that reach back to times past instead of coming from the digital present - is specifically because of those things. It's where you simply enjoy a thing for what it is and don't worry about what it isn't. It's not like going to an S197 puts you all the way back to drum brakes, leaf springs, a flexi-flyer chassis, and an AM-only radio, either.Now if you're in the market for a special version of a S197 like a GT500 or a BOSS, then it's a different conversation. But going to an inferior platform for the sake of a V8 in a daily driver is a bad move, bud.
My '79 Firebird formula does pretty well with leaf springs...In fact, at the time, the WS6 package wasn't bad at all and was somewhat responsible for introducing the American car makers to the importance of handling.I don't think feelings for the S197 are about "performance nostalgia" and objective measurements at all. It's more about the subjectives, where less refinement can be a good thing and too much refinement starts taking away from the overall experience on the one hand in exchange for a bit more performance or luxury on the other. This isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of concept.
I remember that being the case, and it certainly would have been Ford's intent to at least match the performance of the Boss 302.
As far as the Boss 302/Laguna Seca is concerned, perhaps not matched at S550 introduction but then again the Boss/LS wasn't available right away either.
Part of the appeal in owning something that is less refined - maybe it has a few flaws or technical shortcomings, or has features that reach back to times past instead of coming from the digital present - is specifically because of those things. It's where you simply enjoy a thing for what it is and don't worry about what it isn't. It's not like going to an S197 puts you all the way back to drum brakes, leaf springs, a flexi-flyer chassis, and an AM-only radio, either.
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You can make leaf springs work, though by the time you've added devices to eliminate spring windup and done anything to improve lateral location of the axle for really hard running you've basically turned the suspension into some sort of link type.My '79 Firebird formula does pretty well with leaf springs...In fact, at the time, the WS6 package wasn't bad at all and was somewhat responsible for introducing the American car makers to the importance of handling.
Plus, 700+ horses is too much to partially daily in my area (DMV) with all the stop lights so I save my current Shelby for road trips with the wife and the road course. I'm looking at picking up a Boss 302 for myself.
Will I regret it?