Your Advice for Old Newb?

[Indeterminate]

Now that I’m retired (age ~68), I thought it would be fun to pick up a “cheap“ Mustang and do some track days. Car would be primarily a street car, I do not want to get so serious as to trailer it to a track. Seems like the closest HPDE with regular dates is at CMP (Carolina Motorsports Park) with Turn One Performance Driving.

For various reasons, I have decided to focus on 2015–2017 GT performance package. This one seems like a pretty good candidate?

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/716543322

It has been ~34 years since I bought or sold a vehicle privately. I have the following list of questions for the seller, but surely some of you have great advice/ideas/gotchas/etc. I’m thinking maybe the tranny is about shot, I wonder what it would cost to upgrade that as well as the shifter?

- What kind of track use?
- Written service records?
- Liens?
- Oil change interval?
- Who did the A/C work? (I’m not a fan of rattles & creaks.)
- How’s the tranny?

25-27 years ago, I did about 11 track days on two wheels in Utah, Nevada and Colorado, but have been consumed by my career since then. Worse, I never really paid a lot of attention to cars cause I was into bikes. Ran 12.20 at 108 mph on my 1976 KZ900LTD circa 1977. But at this age, I don’t really want to be hitting the pavement in my leathers! Track days were some of the best fun I’ve ever had and now I have a little time to do more of that.

I’m not real interested in horsepower upgrades. I think I’ll get the most seconds per dollar from upgrading my wetware. And at this age, you can be sure I am only competing with myself/the clock!

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[GTP]

I would get a 2018+ Performance Package car, because of the many improvements for that refresh. You will still (eventually) have to add engine oil and differential coolers. Maybe an extra cooler for the A10 trans.

A Mach 1 is the most track-ready Coyote engine Mustang because it starts with the 3 extra coolers, but more $$. This car won't need so much wrenching/modifying for the track.

 

[HKusp]

You can beef that car up for the type of track use you are describing for well under $10k and you could do it in intervals over time and see your track times drop as your skill level and upgrades allow. I think that car would be a really nice starting point if it is as described. Or you could basically double the amount of money and grab a Mach1 or GT350, used, and have a better starting point.

 

[Indeterminate]

You can beef that car up for the type of track use you are describing for well under $10k and you could do it in intervals over time and see your track times drop as your skill level and upgrades allow. I think that car would be a really nice starting point if it is as described. Or you could basically double the amount of money and grab a Mach1 or GT350, used, and have a better starting point.

Thanks for your comments. No Mach1 or GT350 for this old kid, this is a low budget effort strictly for fun, not competition. Budget Is part of why I’m focused on 2015–2017. And it seems the seller has already installed the upgrades I would install first.

What do you think about the fact that he has already replaced the clutch at 59K? Sounds like maybe drag racing? In which case, yeah the clutch may be OK but I wonder about the tranny? Seems like the MT-82 is sufficient for my casual use and maybe I’ll look around to see what it might cost to rebuild it.

 

[gvn49]

might want to invest in a car fax report just to be safe. You have the vin number went with a friend to look at a muscle car years ago garafe kept it said problem is no roof on garage!

 

[HKusp]

The MT82 is funny. There are people that hate it, there are people who don't. I am in the "don't" camp, but I realize it is a potential weak spot. There are shops that beef them up. I wouldn't be too concerned with the previous owner having replaced the clutch. It's a wear item and the stock clutch isn't great. It's not terrible, but for spirited driving, it will only stand up so long. I would actually be happy that it's got one that's not long in the tooth.

 

[paulm1]

You can track on a budget with a base car and have a lot of fun. However you should not track the car on the base brakes, ask me how i know. Upgrade calipers, rotors, and fluid. As far as extra coolers go not really needed. You can wrap the exhaust pipes close to the diff and run a good gear oil like redline. Never needed to cut short track time because of the mt82 heating up. You will probably run into shift lockout though which can be reduced with some cheap upgrades.

 

[luc]

Thanks for your comments. No Mach1 or GT350 for this old kid, this is a low budget effort strictly for fun, not competition. Budget Is part of why I’m focused on 2015–2017. And it seems the seller has already installed the upgrades I would install first.

What do you think about the fact that he has already replaced the clutch at 59K? Sounds like maybe drag racing? In which case, yeah the clutch may be OK but I wonder about the tranny? Seems like the MT-82 is sufficient for my casual use and maybe I’ll look around to see what it might cost to rebuild it.

Blew 2 factory clutch in my 17 track car
They can’t handle high rpm’s shifting and explode
So aftermarket is good

 

[Indeterminate]

Blew 2 factory clutch in my 17 track car
They can’t handle high rpm’s shifting and explode
So aftermarket is good

OH! Wow, good to know, thanks!

Reminds me of my older brother’s ~67 Fairlane with a 427 wedge stuffed in it. Circa 1972, the flywheel exploded and ~1/3 of it exited a neatly shaped slot at the back edge of the hood. Lucky him, the firewall deflected it rather than being punctured. After that, he always made sure to use bellhousings that could contain stuff!

 

[SHOdaddy68]

You're off to a good start with that car. CMP is a great place to run a track day and the people there are awesome. Best to get used to the car as it is and choose future upgrades based on reliability and your skill level.

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