How do you not trade up?

[TexasBlownV8]

The answer: practicality and preferences.

It may be more practical to periodically "trade up" or buy something newer vs. dealing with an older vehicle. I know if I was younger and still commuting to work every day, I'd likely be driving a '15 by now. The money can also be a factor, but if you usually end up buying new anyway or trading up every few years, you're able to finance your purchase anyways and the price (although painful) is something you'd end up paying for a vehicle anyway, so might as well buy something you enjoy!
For some of us, the reasons for not trading up are many of those mentioned. Liking what we have better than what came later, better performance of what we have; or so similar that it does not justify getting new. Spending a lot of time customizing and making it what your own does build an emotional attachment (yes, to a piece of hardware).

Some people are also able to keep an older Mustang while using a newer one as well; thereby the "my toy" aspect would make it easy to have an older one, and a second vehicle as your daily driver.

So the reasons really do vary by individual and their situation and preferences.

Just keep driving some kind of Mustang!!!

 

[cavero]

The answer: practicality and preferences.

Some people are also able to keep an older Mustang while using a newer one as well; thereby the "my toy" aspect would make it easy to have an older one, and a second vehicle as your daily driver.

Yeah on that note, if it were down to needed a more reliable daily driver you could always go with something cheaper/more practical like a Fusion or Focus as your DD while keeping your mustang as a toy. You tend to appreciate the Mustang's HP more, and don't have to put up w/ some of the drawbacks (gas milage, visibility, ride comfort) on a daily basis.

A guy on another forum once said the best mod he ever did was getting an Accord as his DD. Made the toy feel like a race car again.

EDIT: That said -- there are some days in the Focus that I really wish it was a V8. Don't blame anyone for getting a newer Mustang as their DD.

 

[loots06]

It's easy, no payments!

 

[NUTCASE]

A guy on another forum once said the best mod he ever did was getting an Accord as his DD. Made the toy feel like a race car again.

This is exactly what I have had to explain to my wife and other people who have not owned performance cars before. When I had my $1800 cavalier for a DD the mustang felt special. It really felt like something the one day of the week I would drive it. Having to drive it 6 or 7 days per week actually kills how much I like the car.

For the past 2 years now I have occasionally modded the car just to make it feel special again.

 

[Wes06]

Same with my beater jeep.

Things a total pos but gets me through crappy weather.

After not driving mustang for a while it feels damn good to drive again

 

[05sonic4.6]

I just got my 05 and I could have gotten a newer one but I absolutely love the 05-09 body style and half the enjoyment of owning an older car I feel is the upkeep/modifying so once your all said and done you can stand back and say "I did that" as appose to just buying something new. I previously owned a 94 that I paid 1500 for and was completely neglected and needed serious love. By the time I sold it everyone of my friends thought it was an awesome car and wanted to buy it. The only reason I sold it is because ever since the s197 came out I wanted one, otherwise I would have never gotten rid of my 94, and I don't plan to get rid of my 05 ever.

 

[AR Stang]

No payment, and the body style are why I decided to keep mine. I keep getting the urge to get a new Gt, but I couldn't let my 07 go if I did now. It was the first car I ever purchased 100% on my own too so that holds a lot with me.

I will say using a mustang as a DD made the car feel not special to me anymore, even looking at it really. I would find myself debating all the time to get rid of it or not. Now that it is not on DD use and see's one day a week of driving, if any, that has all changed. I love driving the car again, and I catch myself looking at it more now too. Makes me even happier I never got rid of it during a new car urge.

 

[Jason09GT]

Little different here.

I had an '09, first modern Mustang, previously dabbled with foxbody cars, and a couple of ls1 cars, but always came back to Mustangs. My '09 was bought in 2011, had all the fancy shit you could put on a 09, and I loved the hell out of it..couple bolt ons, and a tune, and it was fun for a weekend vehicle.

I daily drove my powerstroke, and the '09 was used here and there, sat mostly..last year I had it, only had 1200 miles put on it. I didn't care much for the 5.0's, they were heavier, and seemed much larger...not what a mustang was all about. I slowly lost that flair for my '09, and in a last ditch effort to re-ignite that flame, I bought a full bmr suspension, 18x9&18x10 chrome bullits from Latemodel Restoration, and I was a happy man again. Wife decided she wanted a new ride again last December, and we went looking at new Tahoes..woubd up leaving in a loaded 2015 model, and I figured something that gets so little use, was wasting money, and the smart move was letting it go. So, I got rid of my '09, and said if I ever bought another Mustang, it would be an auto 5.0. ....I made it til April of this year, when I stumbled upon my current '14 sitting on the dealers lot, Race red with the appearance package, base model, mt82, 3.31 rears, very low miles, hardly drove at all, and I just had to have it..

That being said, I daily drive this car, and have since I bought it..I just like it THAT much. That said also...I have only put 7k miles on it since I bought it lol. Call me crazy, I didn't want all the fancy gadgets, leather, apps, etc..I wanted a car that reminded me of my past foxes, but was very modern. The car feels very light, raw, yet extremely comfortable day in and day out. I don't see how I loved my 3v as much as I did lol. Interior is night and day better, even being a base model, doors still sound like hell when you shut them, just like my '09, because of the window popping down to clear the trim, and a few other nuances I can deal with, I will hold on to this car. My plans for it over this next year include bmr suspension, with their watts link, a d1 procharger, wheels, etc. Don't have a goal with it, just a fast driveable street car. The s550 chassis does NOTHING for me...my in laws have one, I have drove it, and I simply didn't like anything about it, just never had a car that turns me on like my 5.0 does.

 

[swflastang05]

For me it's the 05-09 body style, I've had several Fox bodies over the years and enjoyed the shit out of them, sold my 91' to buy my first house and regretted it for several years. Got my 05 about 3 years ago and absolutely love it, I managed to "behave" for about a year then the modding bug bit me hard again and I haven't been able to stop! I do like the coyote motors but I don't like the bodies they come in quite as much, I will likely go Coyote some day but if and when that happens it will be via dropping one into my 05 rather than buying a new mustang. I too respect the "built not bought" position and attitude. Not to mention I still haven't gotten used to the s550 body styles..

 

[weather man]

I'm to busy leaking money on my 08 like the goddamn titanic, no time for new.

 

[BruceH]

I'm to busy leaking money on my 08 like the goddamn titanic, no time for new.

A little off topic here but what are you going for, something like 1000rwhp? The coyote block would never be able to take it. In fact I think the 4.6 and 5.4 blocks are the only factory blocks of any manufacturer that will handle that level of power and not self destruct.

 

[weather man]

A little off topic here but what are you going for, something like 1000rwhp? The coyote block would never be able to take it. In fact I think the 4.6 and 5.4 blocks are the only factory blocks of any manufacturer that will handle that level of power and not self destruct.

Trying to be in the 1,000 HP neighborhood without blowing up. Be next winter at earliest, before it goes to the shop.

 

[UltraKla$$ic]

dem SEXY lines doe....

 

[GallopingFord]

That picture makes the wheel arches of a s550 look really unattractive.... Horseshoe like

Totalled

 

[BruceH]

dem SEXY lines doe....

Why aren't the front wheels centered in the wheel well? Looks odd. It's trying pretty hard to be cool. Like the guy who wears sunglasses all the time.

 

[KatoS197]

This is the last guy to be commenting on "how do you not trade up".

 

[skwerl]

Why aren't the front wheels centered in the wheel well? Looks odd. It's trying pretty hard to be cool. Like the guy who wears sunglasses all the time.

If you look, the rear wheels aren't centered in the wheel wells either. Looks really odd. The car simply does not look symmetrical or balanced with that much of a suspension drop. Looks like they welded in fenders off an F150.

 

[johnnyhumble]

Went to Autorama this weekend d and SAW the new GT 350. Holy he'll, now I not only want to trade up, but I want the Shelby. Can I afford it, well yes I have to finance it, but very manageable.

Still trying to love my car.

 

[johnnyhumble]

 

[BruceH]

If you look, the rear wheels aren't centered in the wheel wells either. Looks really odd. The car simply does not look symmetrical or balanced with that much of a suspension drop. Looks like they welded in fenders off an F150.

I get it now. It doesn't look that odd stock then, just with a lowered suspension?

Good, I was thinking Ford really screwed the pooch to put something out for sale that was that unsymmetrical and looked like they ran out of engineering budget before the correct tooling could be made.