Thinking about trading for a Mach1? Maybe?

[ThatSilverCar]

Currently have a 2020 GT PP1 Premium. I initially bought it to hit a specific price point to have a fun car around. I honestly never intended to fall in love with the car and figured I'd buy, play, sell. But I slipped and now I love the car, a little over a year later and I still have no intention of sending it down the road.

Now that I'm contemplating keeping it long term the blemishes of the car and the FOMO of not getting something more special like a Mach1 or even a manual is starting to haunt me. The auto is quicker in every way, but from someone who has driven manuals their entire life I feel a bit disconnected.

Thinking if I grab a Mach1 of similar year and mileage to my car I would be paying about 10-15k to upgrade. Is the difference in the cars worth the premium?

I also thought about a lateral side grade and just getting a manual GT just to get at least a manual, but the MT-82 makes me concerned, not sure if it's overblown or not. But the trouble of a trade for such a small side grade seem like a lot of effort for maybe a downgrade.

Anyone familiar with both vehicles or have made this move? Is it worth the differences?

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[Cornflake]

I think you kinda already know the answer. Beyond performance numbers etc the most important thing is do you enjoy driving the car. If that one doesn't make you smile then your princess is in another castle Mario. My MT-82 was annoying until I upgraded the shifter and the clutch. Honestly I think the factory clutch is the main pain point to the MT-82. I think if I was in your position I wouldn't necessarily fixate on a Mach 1 unless you find the right car or deal or unless the Mach 1 just floats your boat. I think it would be better to find a car that someone has already done some work. Charger, Suspension work etc (the money we spend and never see back..) If you can swap out and be ahead of the game not only will it save you money it might help bring you that smile you were looking for. In the end it really comes down to what you want to do with the car. Just cars and coffee? Collectable? Drag racing? Fun street car? Roll racing? Road course?. Once you answer that question then I think the next answer fills itself.

 

[Datalux]

I was in the same spot with my 2019 GT before I traded it for a Mach 1. I loved my GT, but I wanted the manual and the extra special touches of the Mach 1. Honestly, it was a bit of a splurge, and I miss my old GT sometimes.

If you’re happy with your GT and don’t mind the auto, I’d say keep it. The Mach 1 is awesome, but it’s a big investment for just a few extra features. The MT-82 does have issues, so you might not be gaining much if you’re just swapping for a manual GT.

 

[ThatSilverCar]

I think you kinda already know the answer. Beyond performance numbers etc the most important thing is do you enjoy driving the car. If that one doesn't make you smile then your princess is in another castle Mario. My MT-82 was annoying until I upgraded the shifter and the clutch. Honestly I think the factory clutch is the main pain point to the MT-82. I think if I was in your position I wouldn't necessarily fixate on a Mach 1 unless you find the right car or deal or unless the Mach 1 just floats your boat. I think it would be better to find a car that someone has already done some work. Charger, Suspension work etc (the money we spend and never see back..) If you can swap out and be ahead of the game not only will it save you money it might help bring you that smile you were looking for. In the end it really comes down to what you want to do with the car. Just cars and coffee? Collectable? Drag racing? Fun street car? Roll racing? Road course?. Once you answer that question then I think the next answer fills itself.

Yea ultimate use case is back road cruising or some spirited driving on some curvy backroads. Not into competitive anything now days. Doing some HPDE track days this year which has been fun. But don't know I want to buy a car for that purpose alone since that's such a small portion of what I do and my current car does track days well enough for my skill level .

Typically have avoided modded vehicles, since they tend to always seem to come with some sort of problems or shortcuts. But might just be my historical bad experiences.

 

[ThatSilverCar]

I was in the same spot with my 2019 GT before I traded it for a Mach 1. I loved my GT, but I wanted the manual and the extra special touches of the Mach 1. Honestly, it was a bit of a splurge, and I miss my old GT sometimes.

If you’re happy with your GT and don’t mind the auto, I’d say keep it. The Mach 1 is awesome, but it’s a big investment for just a few extra features. The MT-82 does have issues, so you might not be gaining much if you’re just swapping for a manual GT.

That's good feedback, really the experiences I was hoping to find.

What makes you miss your old GT? Just attachment?

 

[MAGS1]

Mach 1 gets the better manual gearbox (Tremec vs MT82 in the GT), built more for the track if you so desire and is also quite the looker. First MY of the Mach is 2021

The other option, which would be harder to find, is a GT PP2. Bigger wheels/tires for the track (I believe a better suspension setup as well) than an PP1 although you don’t get the extra coolers that the Mach gets.

Option 3 if you want to keep your PP1 is to throw some $$ into the suspension, lots of good threads here to give you some ideas if you want to go that route.

If it were me and I was dead set on a manual, it would be the Mach. The Tremec is a really good trans. Plus you have all the extra coolers if you want to do some HPDE (not necessarily required but it helps). No wrong answer here IMO

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

The Tremec alone is worth it imo. Coming from a MT82 on 14GT this tremec is something else. GT are awesome, you can make the GT just as good or better but depends on your goals.

If you want an awesome looking car(HP package really stands out) out of the box with excellent factory suspension with a tremec then the Mach 1 is for you. I daily drive mine and I can flip it to quiet and comfort and its smooth. Or flip it to Sport + and track exhaust and it transforms the car into a beast, really neat package. When I had the GT (Although it was a S197 but same principle applies) I did major suspension work but its difficult to get performance/comfort balance right, this factory setup gives you the balance for max performance but still comfortable.

 

[ZeroTX]

I can't imagine spending 15k more to get a Mach over a GT. You can do a full Whipple install for that, and then some.

 

[raptor17GT]

I can't imagine spending 15k more to get a Mach over a GT. You can do a full Whipple install for that, and then some.

yeah i thought about trading up, slightly more than 15k but then I've a MY17 so bigger jump for me. Logic is the same

 

[Tang]

Im waiting for a M1/350 $35kish ~30k miles. I dont want to whipple my car. My DD, use it for autox, and its always at least warm here in south FL we only get a few days in the 50s per year

 

[RiotfunK]

I’m kinda tossing this around too and I just got mine about 6 weeks ago. I have kind of a unicorn PP1 GT premium 401a with mag ride, recaros and active exhaust, 6 speed. It’d be about 15k for me to get a comparable spec’d Mach 1 with similar miles. I’m not a fan of the MT-82 when in a straight line, but through turns at high revs in gear it’s really good. But for the difference I could do a calimer trans and boost it. And i’ve already done wheels, tires and exhaust and have other stuff to go on. Now that I type it. I’ll keep mine lol

 

[MAGS1]

I can't imagine spending 15k more to get a Mach over a GT. You can do a full Whipple install for that, and then some.

To each their own. Whipple does not always equal better. All depends on one’s goals. A Whipple won’t necessarily make a GT better for HPDE than a Mach. Drag strip, sure. Use case is key IMO.

 

[raptor17GT]

@ThatSilverCar the MACH 1 does have great looks and of course many upgraded parts from the GT but is it worth the cash to trade up, if you have the cash and like std cars then i'd say go for it. I would if i could

 

[Hack]

There's nothing wrong with deciding to change cars. None of us are buying Mustangs to be sensible with money. Of course, keeping what you have is the best financially, but you want to be happy with what you're driving.

I don't think anyone can tell you whether it's a good move or not for you specifically. I say go out and test drive some Mach 1s. Get a really good feel for them. Decide which options you want.

If it were me, I'd also be looking at everything on the market at the same time that's in the price range I want. I would consider an S650, used Camaros and Challengers, Corvettes, GR86, used Caymans, etc. etc.

Good luck!

 

[shogun32]

Thinking if I grab a Mach1 of similar year and mileage to my car I would be paying about 10-15k to upgrade. Is the difference in the cars worth the premium?

no.

Unless you go to the track, the upgrades are not in any way useful. If you have a Magride car currently, you can swap out the dampers for the M1/GT500/350R ones and benefit significantly.

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