Historical perspective: Why 2018-2019 GT is a screaming bargain

[judg]

In 1990 I sold my MR2 and bought a used 1987 911 Targa black/tan interior 37K miles for about $30K. It was a beautiful car and fun but it had numerous problems and the handling was iffy. Most disappointing sports car I ever purchased. About a 14 sec car. I sold it and in 1992 I bought new 1991 Supra Turbo for about $30k, I think the sticker was $31k. Exceptional car, not great acceleration or handling but fun and rock solid. Drove it 4 years without a problem. Again about a 14 sec car. My next sports car was a new 2001 S2K purchased in Feb 2001 when I finally found one at sticker which was $32k. That car was so good and so much fun that I drove it for 19 years, 67k miles. It is hard to describe how exceptional that car was but still about a 14 sec car.
I sold the S2K in Jan of 2020 and purchased a 2019 GT 6M, mostly a base car, 6k mi, for under $29k. WOW!!!! I cannot believe I paid more for that 911 which was such an inferior car. You younger guys and gals just cannot appreciate what an affordable performance bargain GT is. 460HP and 12 sec 1/4 mile. Four sports cars over a span of 30 years and the GT is the cheapest and quickest by far!

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[Zinc03svt]

Cheers! Yes, it is one of the best value propositions going in muscle coupes.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

In 1990 I sold my MR2 and bought a used 1987 911 Targa black/tan interior 37K miles for about $30K. It was a beautiful car and fun but it had numerous problems and the handling was iffy. Most disappointing sports car I ever purchased. About a 14 sec car. I sold it and in 1992 I bought new 1991 Supra Turbo for about $30k, I think the sticker was $31k. Exceptional car, not great acceleration or handling but fun and rock solid. Drove it 4 years without a problem. Again about a 14 sec car. My next sports car was a new 2001 S2K purchased in Feb 2001 when I finally found one at sticker which was $32k. That car was so good and so much fun that I drove it for 19 years, 67k miles. It is hard to describe how exceptional that car was but still about a 14 sec car.
I sold the S2K in Jan of 2020 and purchased a 2019 GT 6M, mostly a base car, 6k mi, for under $29k. WOW!!!! I cannot believe I paid more for that 911 which was such an inferior car. You younger guys and gals just cannot appreciate what an affordable performance bargain GT is. 460HP and 12 sec 1/4 mile. Four sports cars over a span of 30 years and the GT is the cheapest and quickest by far!

It is awesome, esp. the A10 PP1 variant. And it sounds like your prices didn't even factor inflation into the equation. 25 years ago $30k was about $18k at the time.

 

[ManyfordsnoMustang]

That is also because you held onto your last car so long. I was in the same boat, replaced a 17 year old car with a '19 GT convertible. What a difference. Maybe next time I won't wait so long to replace this one.

 

[judg]

Yes Idaho2018GT, to keep it simple I didn't discuss inflation or interests rates. Those two items make my early cars thousands more!

 

[Balr14]

By a strange coincidence, I have owned all 3 of the vehicles you mentioned, but later year models, except the S2000. The S2000 was the one I liked the least, due to a lack on low end power and tendency to swap ends. The Mustang GT was definitely a big upgrade in modern features and electronics. But, a downgrade in performance and handling over the Supra and Porsche. I think that is mostly a matter of size and weight. Cars have gotten a lot heavier.

 

[vanquishvzla]

check a 991 targa or even a base model, and you tell me if 20 something years of evolution from PORSCHE compare to a current mustang... it's like comparing the 1999 miata i had with a 2019 anything sporty... performance, comfort, technology... everything is gonna be awesome now...

 

[Balr14]

Too bad you didn't keep the Targa. It would pay for 2 Mustangs now. They go for $80k and more. But, I agree with your assessment of it.

 

[GMONSTAH]

We are in a new golden age of HP!

 

[gregsdart]

When i bought my first car, a 53 Ford Victoria with a 95 hp flathead v8 55 years ago, the transition from that car to my 19 GT is mind bending. Then compare it to my third car, a 1969 Dodge Charger RT with 375 hp. In its day that was a hell of a ride. But today it can't even compete with a base ecoboost mustang! If someone told me fifty years ago someday I would own a car that would run 11s and get 25mpg I would have told them they were crazy!

 

[Brazos609]

I just want to know if you want to sell the S2K?

 

[Joe B.]

Sorry, but I'll take the '53 Crestline Victoria no matter how it handles or accelerates. Those 8BA flatheads put out 110 Hp didn't they? Had one in my '50 woodie.

 

[Sivi70980]

My brother had a S2K, awesome car for sure! I went from a 2009 mini cooper JCW to my 19 GTPP1. Even 10 years made a HUGE difference! Sold the mini to a friend. With all the mods I did to the mini, when we raced, they were even to about 80mph when the stang started pulling away. Both stick cars. In the twisties, the mini pulled away as I knew it would. Still, can't be happier with my purchase, amazing car!

When I was looking at purchasing a new car, I looked at all 4 V8's (Mustang, Camaro, Charger/Challenger) and the Mustang was the most hp per dollar by a long shot. The dodges both look great but they're very proud of their hp. The Camaro....well, I like to see out of the car I'm driving. Mustang fir me like a glove AND was the best bang for the buck.

 

[frank s]

There's no doubt the current Mustang is a marvel of performance v. cost. With creativity and dollars, can be made into any kind of vehicle you'd like, and run near or at the point of any field. That S2K car was similar, but when it got to the cutting edge of handling, became way too much of a challenge. My daughter and son-in-law were very successful in autocross with theirs, but even as excellent, experienced drivers, had trouble keeping it pointed the right way all the time. The kind of thing that helps us understand the difference between excellent and top-of-the-heap skills.

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