Built 13 gt or stock gt500

RED09GT

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I wanted a GT500 when I got my GT. The 2010 production had just started and the 09's were sold out by then. Only used ones were ones that people were trying to sell for 20K over sticker and it had been on the lot for almost 2 years.
I needed a car right away so I got my GT. If I was starting again now, it would be a GT500.
 

Christenn23

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I was wondering if it's a better deal to just buy a gt 500 any year between 11 - 14 or get a gt between 13 - 14.
I can get a 13 gt for around 17k to 24k with decent milage. I can get a gt500 with a similar milage for around 30k to 40k. There's also the boss 302 but idk what's the advantages of paying 25k+ for that trim.
A normal gt makes 420hp while a gt500 makes 670hp.
To build a gt to make that sort of power would come at a cost of both money and reliability.
I guess it also depends how much it would cost to build a gt to be gt500 fast while also being reliable.

So, with all of that being laid out, is it worth spending the money to make a gt push out gt500 power and run into the issues and headaches of boosting a car, or just buy a gt500.

My ultimate goal is to just have a fast, fun, and reliable mustang while being efficient with how I spend my money.
Go for the GT500. Its always going to be more reliable purchasing the boosted car that has millions of dollars worth of research and development and was designed from the factory to be boosted.
 

Sactown

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If you're willing to write a big enough check you can buy my car, it's just a touch quicker than a GT 500.
 

stevbd

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I’d say build versus buy depends on how you intend to use the car. If going for horsepower then GT500. But if going for road course or handling I’d get a boss or track pack gt and put the money in suspension brakes wheels and tires. By all accounts you’d have a way better track day car than with a gt500.
 

Wingrider

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I’d say build versus buy depends on how you intend to use the car. If going for horsepower then GT500. But if going for road course or handling I’d get a boss or track pack gt and put the money in suspension brakes wheels and tires. By all accounts you’d have a way better track day car than with a gt500.

I coach for folks and mostly HOD so I see quite a few cars configured all different ways. If this is an "apples to apples" of an 11-14 (S197) decision between GT, BOSS, and GT500, the GT500 can be a comparable road course track car to a non GT500. The key is the Aluminum motor GT500s are better weight biased than the pre 2011 cars. The parts are all the same across them to make them both track weapons. If you want a howler high rpm experience, then yeah maybe a BOSS. But if you're going to redo the suspension, it's all the same. My full Cortex 2011 GT500 w/ Whipple 2.9 and few other things gets it done within that S197 space.
 

Greg D

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I like what StevBD wrote about identifying your purpose. Open-track and race cars spend a lot higher percentage of their life at high RPMs and quick on-off-on throttle changes. Those things don't favor supercharged engines for longevity. To be fair, I've not driven a GT500 on the track.
 

MrAwesome987

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He may be interested in a track car, I don't know, but his initial post didn't say anything about tracking it.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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Shelby all day long. I'd even get an 07-09 over anything.

Agree. IMO the 07-09 has the best-looking body style and doesn't have the catfish face of the later S197 models. Technologically and dynamically, the '13 GT500 is actually the best of the S197 bunch.
 

Olerodder

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I had a 14 TrakPak and mod'd the suspension, 19/20 OE GT500 wheels and tires along with GT500 exhaust and loved the car. I'm in my mid 70's and started having some health issues, so got a 19 PP1 w/A10...and love it. If I were in your shoes I'd find a low mileage GT500, and I'd look for something with low miles, under 30,000. It's a great car!
 

stevbd

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He may be interested in a track car, I don't know, but his initial post didn't say anything about tracking it.

OP said he is looking for “fast fun and reliable while being efficient with money.” In a lot of situations a boss or gt with proper mods will check those boxes better than a stock g500.

I agree that whenever modding it’s not apples to apples oem, but that wasn’t his question.
 
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Well, I read a lot of posts, did a lot of research into prices for parts, what would need to be done, and considered a lot of things... I like the idea of buying a 13 GT500, but it still might be more efficient in buying an already built car (something I haven't considered) or just learning how to wrench on a 13 GT. I still find it fun and satisfying to build a car in ur own garage with ur friends and their parents, and honestly, that's an experience money can't get you. I always smile when remembering me and 3 of my friends listening to Metallica while hammering out my rusted af mufflers.
650whp isn't pushing the car that hard, many have done way more on basically stock internals. I will also get a manual (even though they are crap and need to be built) because I'll be driving the car un-boosted for at least a year or two while I upgrade everything else.
But this entire thread helped me make a more informed decision on what I want from my car and how I'll go about getting to those goals.

Also, track is fun, but leave that to the s550 with their fancy suspensions and Magna rides, s197 is closer to its muscle car roots and should shine in a straight line and shear street presence through looks and noises. That's why I love the 13-14 body and engine.
 

Olerodder

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Well, I read a lot of posts, did a lot of research into prices for parts, what would need to be done, and considered a lot of things... I like the idea of buying a 13 GT500, but it still might be more efficient in buying an already built car (something I haven't considered) or just learning how to wrench on a 13 GT. I still find it fun and satisfying to build a car in ur own garage with ur friends and their parents, and honestly, that's an experience money can't get you. I always smile when remembering me and 3 of my friends listening to Metallica while hammering out my rusted af mufflers.
650whp isn't pushing the car that hard, many have done way more on basically stock internals. I will also get a manual (even though they are crap and need to be built) because I'll be driving the car un-boosted for at least a year or two while I upgrade everything else.
But this entire thread helped me make a more informed decision on what I want from my car and how I'll go about getting to those goals.

Also, track is fun, but leave that to the s550 with their fancy suspensions and Magna rides, s197 is closer to its muscle car roots and should shine in a straight line and shear street presence through looks and noises. That's why I love the 13-14 body and engine.


I'm not disagreeing with you about a built car, although unless you know the person who built the car, or the shop, I'd run not walk away. You just don't know if the person is stretching the truth or how much they've abused the car, and really how much or how little they've done. As for a fast straight line car, my 19GT PP1/A10 does 11.90's at 117 in the quarter, and that's bone stock, just as it came off the showroom floor.
Building your own car the way you want and gaining the experience...along with maybe making a few mistakes along the way...is really the only way to learn. Go out and buy a solid 12/13/14 with decent miles, and have at it modifying it the way you want...IMHO
 

myystanng

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Gt500 will always have more resale value.

The built car will be worth 7k in 2 yrs if your lucky


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