some opinions would be wonderful

If you really want a pre 99, you can always do the PI head swap to get you the extra horsepower. I believe that would cost around 1500 dollars. Insurance will also be cheaper that way. But the choice is yours.

Why not find a nice V6 stick Mustang to drive while in school (cheaper insurance, gas, etc.) while you research & plan for your ultimate Mustang? By the time you graduate, even the new 05/06 Stangs w/their 300HP will be plentiful & affordable, and there will be TONS of parts available to modify.

I agree with meatball. A newer V6 would be een less expensive and just as reliable as a GT and cheaper for gas and insurance. He makes a good point about the '05's being a lot cheaper and more available once you graduate. My first one was a 4 banger, I finally graduated to the 8's with my third one.

A 99+ V6 is as fast as a pre-99 GT, anyways.

Monkey Boy said:

A 99+ V6 is as fast as a pre-99 GT, anyways.

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VERY good point!
:eyepoppin

+1, those new v6s are quick... I kept up with an auto 99-04 with as little as a tune and a CAI.. Paul, when I was 18 (which was all about 3 years ago, haha), I was in the same boat you are, except I had a 88 Grand Prix, haha... I went from a V6, then got my GT, and hopefully a Cobra sooner then later... Take baby steps... not only for the gas and insurance.. you might not want to make that jump so fast. We don't want ya gettin into a fast car and killin yourself or nothin... I would get the v6 and gradually get faster... that was the advice good ol' Dad gave me, and that's the advice im giving you....

get what you want. if you want the 99+ then get it, i have a 02 and i love it. and i wouldnt trade it for any other pre 05 cars lol =)

99+ V6 is definitely an option to go with. I had one as a rental - you can still do nice burn outs...

For me it was important to have a 99+ because I like the body style way better than the pre 99's.

engineer76 said:

For me it was important to have a 99+ because I like the body style way better than the pre 99's.

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Same here, I personally like the look of the 99+ GT. Keep looking, you may come across the one you want at a great price.

hmm... do the 4.6's respond a little better to mods than the 3.8 does? i remember reading that v8's are just good engines to mod, not sure if this is as applicable to the 96-98 4.6's though

pauloh22 said:

hmm... do the 4.6's respond a little better to mods than the 3.8 does? i remember reading that v8's are just good engines to mod, not sure if this is as applicable to the 96-98 4.6's though

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The 96-98 GT's don't respond well to the cheap bolt-ons because the engine has so many restrictions.

pauloh22 said:

hmm... do the 4.6's respond a little better to mods than the 3.8 does? i remember reading that v8's are just good engines to mod, not sure if this is as applicable to the 96-98 4.6's though

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You don't want to mod a 3.8 V6. That would just be a waste of money.
Don't give me wrong, they can be made fast as hell, but they still lack some displacement. In addition, tere's less parts available, and if you sell a modded V6, you won't get any money back for your mods.

To make your decission, you have to find out one thing first:
No matter what car you buy, do you intend to keep it for a while, or is it just goning to be for a year or so?

If it is only a short term idea, don't spend a lot of money, get a V6 and don't mod it.

If you want to keep it for a while, and wait till the 2003 Cobras are cheaper than today, get a V8. You might be driving it for a couple of years. And for the 4.6, there is $hitloads of parts available.
Besides that, a 99+ 4.6 can easily pump out 400+ HP at the wheels. which is a lot faster than a stock 2003+ cobra.

yea, i plan on having the car for at least four years, to last me through college..
98' gt it is then. itll be enough for me, i can do a little bit to it, and of course ill jump on any great deals for the pi heads after i get the car
i want to work my way into it. yea, i'll be slower, but i will be paying less for insurance and such

pauloh22 said:

yea, i plan on having the car for at least four years, to last me through college..
98' gt it is then. itll be enough for me, i can do a little bit to it, and of course ill jump on any great deals for the pi heads after i get the car
i want to work my way into it. yea, i'll be slower, but i will be paying less for insurance and such

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Good choice.....lol.....I can mod you later when your ready.....

pauloh22 said:

yea, i plan on having the car for at least four years, to last me through college..
98' gt it is then. itll be enough for me, i can do a little bit to it, and of course ill jump on any great deals for the pi heads after i get the car
i want to work my way into it. yea, i'll be slower, but i will be paying less for insurance and such

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If you want a car to mod .... a 4.6 is definately the way to go.
I always recommend going after what you want, and if a GT is what you want now for you college years either 96-98s or 99-04 .... GO FOR IT!
Shouldn't worry about being as slow as a 3.8, unless you're going in reverse. :winks

Yeah i had to graduate to a 8 too. My first was an 83 lx 4 banger coupe, then a 95 v6 which was a huge jump for me back then, to the 98 GT i have now. I even considered going backwards sorta and getting an 05 v6 just cuz i like the body style and its as fast as mine was stock, and i could get a 5 speed but i think i am gonna hold off. Its still not a v8

Id stick with the cheapest option. If you decide to go to college, you will need every cent you can get. A 400/month car payment will hurt relly bad when your in school. And working and school dont go together well.

Stick with a V-6 while you're in school, and plan for the V-8.

Either way, you'll still be driving a Mustang. :thumbsup