S197 GT owners: What’s it like as a daily? Coming from a New Edge GT

I’ve had my ‘99 GT as my daily since 2008, (stuck with it ever since it was the first I owned and bought in high school to having recently finished college with the same car) and it’s got around 214k miles on the odometer. The thing has been a tank and reliable as hell but I’m looking now to move on to an S197, specifically another GT. (S550 just doesn’t fit the budget since I’m looking to keep spending under 18-20k)

How’s the platform in terms of reliability (automatic or standard transmission doesn’t matter to me, the new edge was a manual), usage around town and highway, and fuel economy? Any advantages if I opt for the 5.0 Coyote in the 2011-14 models or should I stick with the 4.6 on an ‘05-‘10 model? What kind of fair/good pricing should I be looking at for a model under 100k miles?

The reliability of any S197 over 7 years old will be entirely based on how well the owner has treated it and maintained it. Knock on wood, mine has been near bulletproof with a failed alternator (in 2015) being the only real issue in nearly eight years of ownership.
With the '05-'09 you get the body style that's closest to the classic 60's design, the more reliable Tremec TR3650 manual transmission, plus a reliable and lovely sounding but not too powerful (by today's standards) 4.6 3V engine.
The '10 was a crossover year while the '11-'14 gives you the ~100rwhp more powerful 5.0 Coyote engine but with the less reliable Chinese-made Getrag MT82 manual transmission.
If your budget will stretch far enough, get the Coyote but that said, a 4.6 3V with a few choice bolt ons will still be a lot of fun and won't leave you feeling short-changed.

^^^Yep^^^

Dino's got you dialed in...I went w/ '09 as it's similar looking to previously owned '69 Mach-1 & '70 Boss we had as teens. Great look, reliable & fun as hell to drive. Good luck w/ search & let us know when you score.

Agree with Dino.
One add, the automatics in the later years compared to the MT82 manual might actually be more trouble free.

When I went from a New Edge (Cobra with IRS) to a S197 (GT), compared relatively apple to apples (both supercharged and heavily modded), the S197 does feel like a significant improvement. I'd still enjoy the New Edge for occasional fair weather romps, but would pick the S197 over it for a road trip hands down.

My ‘08 has actually been one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned now that I think about it. I replaced the alternator like a lot of others have had to but besides that it’s been nothing but maintenance. Even with intake, cams, tune, all the basic bolt-on stuff it still pulls 18-19mpg in mainly city driving with a somewhat heavy foot. I would be daily driving it if I didn’t have a work truck provided!

I traded my 00 gt for my 07 gt back in 2012, it was a huge difference. The s197 is way more refined in every way. The two things I don’t like though are the seats and remote shifter in the s197. Other than that it’s a superior car.


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I also made that same jump years ago when I got my 05. I will say initial notice was that the vehicle handles differently.

I had an 04 GT and went to an 07. The first thing that was most noticeable was how much more refined the S197 was than the 04 everything felt smoother and the interior was a big step up. It handled better and was faster than my 04 in just about every way.

That said, I enjoyed my 04 more. the main thing I loved about the 04 was that it still had a cable controlled throttle, vs the drive by wire in the 07. I could never get used to the throttle response in the 07 it always felt delayed to me, even when it was tuned out it still was never right to me. In my 04 I averaged R/T in the .100 - .175 range off the top of my head with a best of .009. In the 07 I was in the .250 to .325 range with a best of like .195 I just couldn't cut a light with that car despite way more seat time in it.

Personally I also loved the way my 2V sounded more than the 3V. My 04 had a MRT Catted H pipe and Borla Stingers and it sounded amazing. My 07 Had a magnaflow catted X and FRPP S type and it sounded really good, but not as good as my 04.

As far as reliability my 04 was rock solid from the time I owned it till the time I sold it. My 07 had a leaky pinion seal around 30K miles and had the entire transmission(5R55S) replaced at like 10K miles.

I went from a 92 GT to a 2008 GT, even with frame ties on the 92 the 08 is ten times stiffer chassis. This means a better ride and handling in fact almost everything about the car is lightyears ahead of the old Fox Chassis.
Only drawback it needing to rev it a bit more to make it move, the old 5.0 was just more fun putting around town in, my 4.6 is faster though.

My Twins. Both about the same weight. Both drive about the same except one has 150 or so more Horse Power.

ZhakirSetie said:

I’ve had my ‘99 GT as my daily since 2008, (stuck with it ever since it was the first I owned and bought in high school to having recently finished college with the same car) and it’s got around 214k miles on the odometer. The thing has been a tank and reliable as hell but I’m looking now to move on to an S197, specifically another GT. (S550 just doesn’t fit the budget since I’m looking to keep spending under 18-20k)

How’s the platform in terms of reliability (automatic or standard transmission doesn’t matter to me, the new edge was a manual), usage around town and highway, and fuel economy? Any advantages if I opt for the 5.0 Coyote in the 2011-14 models or should I stick with the 4.6 on an ‘05-‘10 model? What kind of fair/good pricing should I be looking at for a model under 100k miles?

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I have a '14 GT Premium, purchased new late in '14 just before the '15's were hitting the dealers. It was steeply discounted, which is why I could justify stepping up to the Premium package. I'm 61. I owned a 10-year-old '69 Mach 1 when I was a kid. I hated to sell it when I sold it, but I was broke (Thank you Jimmy Carter). As far as styling, I disagree that the pre-'11 models pay more homage to the originals. Yes, they're more boxy like the originals, but the styling cues from the 11-14 are a nice blend between old and new. The pre-11 models are straight at the top of the rear quarter. The old Mustangs all had the bump there like the 11-14's have. The grille in my '14 pays homage to both the 69 and 70 grille -- The fog lights are 69; the turn signals with the two horizontal bars are '70. The seats in the Premium are very reminiscent of the seats in my Mach 1. The side "scoop" (I don't know what to call that L indentation in the side just back of the door) is reminiscent of the earlier Mustangs. The styling is more rounded and "swoopy" overall, making it look more modern, while it still looks like a classic Mustang. The tail lights remind me more of my '69 as well, looking more deeply sculpted than some of the earlier 197's.

But OP didn't ask about styling. My 14 has been dead-on reliable at just over 42K miles on the odometer. Granted, the MT-82 is the most difficult-to-shift manual I've owned, and I've owned manuals since I started driving. I'm saving my pennies to replace it. I wouldn't even consider a 6-banger. Even when I was a kid, a 6-banger in a Mustang was a travesty. The Coyote is one amazing engine. The stock 351 Windsor back in the day was about done by 4500 rpm - making a "stunning" 290 gross HP. The Coyote happily makes tons of power right up until you bounce off the limiter -- something you'll do until you get used to it. It's piles and piles of fun. Why would you give up HP for the older 3V engine? It's only money, after all .

I daily drove my GT for about 3 years -- 35 miles one-way on the freeway. It's an easy thing to get over 24 mpg at 80 mph on the freeway (3.31 gears) if you drive sanely -- which you won't do. My trip computer regularly showed 21 mpg overall in mixed highway/city driving, though the city driving rapidly drops off if you're not gentle on the throttle.

Now my Mustang has a Gen5, Stage 2 Whipple on it. It's piles and piles of fun. ...don't have such an option with the 6-banger. My trip computer now shows 18 mpg, mostly city, mostly spirited. The blower doesn't affect mileage until you actually use it, but why wouldn't I use it after spending all that money and all that time to install it? My only regret with the blower was losing my fog lights. The heat exchanger was just too big, so the fog lights had to go. Now my Mustang looks more like a '70 than a '69, but it's so fast, I can live with it not looking like my '69.

I've had a 67, an 86, a 93, and my current 08. The 08 is a vastly superior car. The frame, the brakes, and the handling is far better than earlier years.

I lust for and covet a coyote, but the 3V is great. It has decent low end torque - I can cruise at 25 in 5th gear w/o lugging - and it pulls hard to the rev limiter. The mileage is bad - about 20 around town, maybe a little more if I'm on the interstate more.

I like the traction control. I hit an oil slick in my 93LX on an I-95 entrance ramp, and the car swapped ends before I could let off the gas. Hence the 08. Even with traction control engaged, the 3V makes it possible to get a little rubber here and there on clean, dry asphalt. TC kicked in a couple times on Monday when we had some rain and I had to accelerate in a hurry. Nice safety feature.

The reliability has been a pleasant surprise. (Everyone knock on wood for me.) I have 118k miles, and I've had to replace an idler pulley, lower control arms, the battery, tires, and a gasket for the oil filter adapter. I changed the plugs around 100k. I changed the ATF to a synthetic fairly soon after I bought the car, and I just changed it again the other day. I've upgraded the brakes. They weren't bad in the first place, but sooner or later you have to maintain them, and why not upgrade?

Agree with others here, an S197 is a great daily driver, do everything car.

I bought an '11 GT glass roof MT 5 years ago with 25K on it and now I'm at 140k. Year round daily driver in New England, ski car with snow tires, commute to work, sees 5-10 track days a year. I see about 20-22 mpg in daily driving, maybe 26 or so on highway (3.31 gears). It's comfy, the glass roof is nice, premium stereo is pretty good, syncs easily with my phone, all that stuff is fine. Only part failures have been an AC compressor seized and corrosion on the front of the aluminum hood. Drivetrain is totally stock and untouched, original clutch, etc., I guess I got lucky and got one of the decent MT82 but it shifts fine except it doesn't like to go 1-2 on really cold winter mornings until it warms up.

This was my first Mustang coming from mostly Euro cars and I've been super impressed, love it.

I do love the Coyote but the 05-10 seem like plenty of power too and I have to admit they are the best sounding. My neighbor has a gorgeous one and it just flat out sounds better than my Coyote. By quite a bit! Good luck.

I've been very happy with mine for the most part. I bought my car in 2011 with 53K miles on it and now it has 105K. Maintenance repairs outside of regular wear items have really just been front LCA's (ball joints), and spark plugs. I honestly can't remember what else I replaced because it needed replaced, most other stuff was done during the course of upgrades, like the strut mounts. I replaced the cam phasers when I did my cams because I was having an issue that turned out to be a defect with the cams, the rest of the timing set looked great but I replaced the tensioners while I was in there as well. Did the clutch last year at 105K but I honestly don't even think it needed it. Car drives well and does decent gas, it's too hilly here to get good mileage but on long flat roads it gets 25-26 mpg.

Be aware there are a couple design flaws on S197's. 05-07 had the spark plugs that tend to seize in the head. There's also water leakage issues- both from clogged cowl drains and, as I found out this year, if the cowl cover grommets leak they leak water directly into the passenger compartment and onto the floor. I had to put a patch panel in my driver's side floorpan because it was rusted through, and had surface rust on the rest of the floor on both sides. Definintely something to check for.

Looking for a Track Apps Cluster I saw lots and lots of 80,000 to 120,000 mile front end damaged and junked 2013 and 14 Coyotes. Most with blown seats. Track Apps Clusters only come with leather seats. All of the leather seats looked well worn. Then junkyards still wanted $5000+ for the engines. Very few had Brembo brakes. Even low miles Coyotes have well worn leather seats.

I’ve had several fox bodies one new edge and now an s197 which is an 08 gt premium 5 speed manual and it’s by far a lot better handling and more comfortable than the foxes and new edge I had even with a bunch of suspension upgrades. I’ve only had the 08 now for 4 months and love it. I’ve put 4.10 gears, jlt cai, sr underdrive pulleys, Ford racing manifold, 60mm gt500 tb w/bbr adapter/spacer, zex single nozzle wet kit,sve bump steer kit, adjustable upper rear control arm, poly axle bushing, double adjustable rear lowers, relocation brackets for the rear lowers, adjustable panhard bar and a Lito custom n/a and n2o tune. Most of the suspension was needed since the previous owner lowered the car 1.5” it actually had a really bad bump steer problem when I first got it but was fixed quickly with an sve bump steer kit. That and my battery light would come on sometimes when idling. I put a 2010 alternator on and so far so good even with the under drive pulleys. If you get an 05-09 I’d def recommend going with a 10 alternator and if the car has been lowered it needs the bump steer kit and relocation brackets for the rear lowers. All fairly cheap mods. I personally love the 05-09 body style and is one reason I went with that year. Had I had the money I definitely woulda went with an 11-14 but I’m very happy with the 08 and love the way it sounds with the 3” exhaust h-pipe no cats or mufflers. I have a set of pace setter longtubes in the garage just haven’t been too enthused at the idea of putting them on lol that’s going to be a job. Either way if you go 3v or coyote both will be an upgrade over your new edge with 200k miles. Btw I paid 6500$ for mine with 103k miles car is in perfect condition other than wear on the leather seats and a small crease between the driver door and driver fender.

My '13 GT was a daily driver (until I retired). I actually used to look forward to my daily 46 mile each way commute. Even in traffic the manual was not very annoying to use, but the automatic would be a breeze. On a recent trip I got better than 25 MPG, though around town driving is more likely to return 17-18 MPG.

Reliability, now at 75,000 miles, has been pretty good. Early on I had the front lower control arms replaced under warranty due to squeaking and the Sync system occasionally needs a re-boot when it gets tangled up. This is probably the worst sorted out part of the car actually. Recently I replaced the rear sway bar bushings due to squeaking. Cheap job at about $40 doing the work myself.

I have had my car, 2007 GT/CS, from the dealer since 2007 and it has been extremely reliable. Car has 103,000 miles and is bullet proof. I would highly recommend the 5 speed manual for this car if you're looking for something fun to drive around and beat on a bit. Fuel economy isn't the greatest but 100% worth it. I may be biased, but I would veer away from the earlier coyotes, especially when looking for a manual transmission. The 4.6 has a pleasurable aftermarket, has an amazing transmission, is cheap to repair, are a bit lighter, and super simple. Depending where you are, a sub 100k mile 4.6 s197 should run you around 8-10k. I heavily recommend making sure the vehicle was serviced frequently and well taken care of. Best of luck and keep us updated!

have a '12 GT manual I bought brand new. Car is my DD and I put about 70-ish miles round trip for work daily, I've got almost 169k on it now. I've heavily modified my car, but it's still fun to drive, not very harsh, even with as low as it is. It's been a solid, super reliable car. I've had to change out front wheel bearing, and a battery, but that's it. The MT82 is a bit noisy, but I've never had any issues with it, still on stock clutch. Aftermarket shifter makes is 1000x better, it's a must have mod IMO.

I had a new edge Mustang that had an automatic with a shift kit added (among other things), the 2014 model drives like it has a shift kit almost and that was stock with no extra tune. I looked for a manual everywhere a few years ago and they seemed to all be snatched up as soon as I got to dealer/seller. Im glad I did because the Chinese manuals in these cars car be iffy. Only a Tremec 6 speed would be better in these cars in my opinion.