Build up Mach 1 or buy 2011+ GT?

[Fosters]

Originally Posted by chronomitch

Everything I have heard about Coyote swaps makes them sound like a money pit. First, you've got to pay about $7k upfront for the motor. Then you have to get a new K-member, headers, electronics, and various odds-and-ends which can easily total over $3k. There's also a good chance that something won't fit right and you'll have to get something fabbed up. And of course, that assumes you're doing all the labor yourself. Worse, it seems that many Coyote swaps end up having tuning issues, though those may have been resolved by now.

Given all that time and money, you're still left with a high-compression NA engine. For that kind of time and money, I would much rather get a forged bottom end with low-compression pistons for a regular mod motor along with a decent supercharger kit and call it a day. The latter path will end up giving much more power and be much less of a headache. The only way I would ever consider a Coyote swap is if I found a completely intact motor for free in a junkyard.

Having looked at that option long and hard, I can tell you the ups and downs of it:

no new k member, electronics all come as a package from ford racing, and there is literally no fabrication going on as there are power steering brackets/kits/etc available. Headers/exhaust will be a mod for whatever engine you decide to swap in.

The problems come in the form of electronics and transmissions. It takes a bit of wiring to get the gauges, security, etc all working with the extra computer. You can't get the new 6 speed auto unless you get into even more wiring and nightmares by swapping a factory ecu from a 2011+ mustang. Then you're stuck with a 4r70w with a standalone or a manual. Out of the manuals, you have the 3650 and the 2000/2003/2004 cobra t56s, none of which like to shift past 7000 rpm where the coyote shines (with a boss intake and the rest of the bolt-ons). Also, you're looking at a nasty strong clutch at that point, unless you spend another 700 bucks on a hydraulic setup.

At the end of the day you'll be left with a lighter, faster car, that will likely run below an 11.5 n/a and need a cage at the track. The whole swap will likely run you in the 10-12k range. If your mach has low enough miles, it'll bring 10k at trade in, add another 10-12k you'll have a much nicer car with a lot less work, albeit a bit slower in a straight line, but much better transmission, that doesn't squeak/groan/etc, and doesn't handle like a 1979 station wagon.

[smith30]

Originally Posted by mr-proper

a new gt is 32k
your mach 1 is paid for.
so why spend 32k for 400hp
if you can have over 500hp with your mach 1 for 7k?
the 5.ooohhhh hype getting to you??

It's not JUST about hitting over 400hp...

Newer car with newer/better electronics, better ride, better build quality.

But to answer my own statement, like someone said, swap an IRS, add a supercharger, add sound deadening and a touch screen double DIN radio and VOIAL! ahah

Think of it this way...IF you are willing to drop the coin on a new GT, think of how bad you could make the Mach 1 be.

No it's not "instant" modding etc. and that it will take you a while to pay off the new GT. But in the end if you keep it long enough you have a car payment.

Here is an idea...act as if you bought the GT and create a savings account you can dump a theoretical new GT monthly car payment into. Then at the end of the year look at said account and see how much $$ you get to blow on stuff. You're looking at at least a $350+ monthly payment? (wild guess) so $350 x 12mo. = $4200.

[try846]

500 HP for 7k, good luck with that!!!

[mr-proper]

Originally Posted by try846

500 HP for 7k, good luck with that!!!

iam talking about flywheel hp
buy a used pro charger, installed it yourself and you will be at 450rwhp.
for less then 3k or buy a new kit for 6k and installed it yourself.
still cheaper then buying a new 5.ooh for 32k + bolt ons.

[WalkrTexasRngr]

Originally Posted by smith30

LOL at all you guys that are commenting that DON'T DD your cars... Anyone can put up with the monas/goans/squeaks of a weekend warrior.

LOL at the Kentucky guy wanting me to drive my mustang in the winter here Id have at least a mustang GT of the same era to drive every day instead of my 13 focus if it wasn't for where I lived. My focus with 4 winter tires on it hardly cuts the mustard some days here in the winter. If I DD'd my Mach 1 here it would be destroyed with corrosion in 3-4 years. I drive it to work a decent amount throughout the summer although the deer are bad at night. Creaks and groans don't bother me. Hell Ive driven and 200K mile 86 bronco 2 and an 100K mile 84 chevy citation as former daily drivers. Funny thing about the citation. I had to mount the CD player vertically because that's how the factory AM radio was laid out

[Larry Warcup]

I love my '03 mach1 with it's KB and 440RWHP! A weekend warrior for sure. But my DD didn't need to be a 'hot rod,' just a car to get back & forth to work
...so I just purchased a '14 Mustang V6'er w/Performance Pkg in Deep Impact Blue...6 SPD...what a nice car to drive and she looks good too! 1 'hot rod' is enough...







....of course I still love my black beauty! These mach1's get way more 'looks' and attention than most S197's...

My advice, for what it's worth - KEEP YOUR MACH'S!

[Evan_Murphy]

I put myself in the same dilemma not even a week ago. I looked at used GT's...I looked at buying a brand new 2013 GT and the facts came down to it's gonna be my mach traded in and a new 20k debt to deal with. I still get compliments often in my mach and it has been the most reliable car I've owned. Its paid for and while the 2013 GT's are incredible instead of getting bored I'm just gonna start modding it alittle to keep my happy with it and keep it feeling like a newer car.

[4valve 4tw?]

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1

Dat cheap, blank canvass....

[og2stang]

They only built about 16k Machs, how many are left?, then new ones are like butts, everywhere, reality is , where can you drive and enjoy a 500hp car anyway? Payments/insurance/etc.... a decent new one is 40k, whew... and the thing is , somebody will always have more $$$ or parts, and every year they build a faster one.... so why not keep that cool classic Mach with the neat DOHC, 32 valve motor and get a DD that is more appropriate/less than 40k, and spend a bit tweaking it to your liking.
I drive a CC pick up as a DD, I have trouble finding anywhere to stretch my stock Mach occasionally, and I live in a fairly rural area. So for my 2 cents, keep your Mach and spend all that $$ on a diff DD and play w/Mach as you can afford to....

[ab_mach1]

Originally Posted by og2stang

They only built about 16k Machs, how many are left?, then new ones are like butts, everywhere, reality is , where can you drive and enjoy a 500hp car anyway? Payments/insurance/etc.... a decent new one is 40k, whew... and the thing is , somebody will always have more $$$ or parts, and every year they build a faster one.... so why not keep that cool classic Mach with the neat DOHC, 32 valve motor and get a DD that is more appropriate/less than 40k, and spend a bit tweaking it to your liking.
I drive a CC pick up as a DD, I have trouble finding anywhere to stretch my stock Mach occasionally, and I live in a fairly rural area. So for my 2 cents, keep your Mach and spend all that $$ on a diff DD and play w/Mach as you can afford to....

I like ^this idea.

[4valve 4tw?]

Originally Posted by og2stang

They only built about 16k Machs, how many are left?, then new ones are like butts, everywhere,

Agreed, although does rarity make your car any more or less faster/better handling?

reality is , where can you drive and enjoy a 500hp car anyway?
Anywhere you can enjoy a 250hp one. If anyone disagrees, you're doing it wrong.

Payments/insurance/etc.... a decent new one is 40k, whew...
I dunno what you consider "decent" but I found the first 11/12 GT for $20,xxxx couple months ago, and another one this weekend. Stripper model? Absolutely, but I also found a 2012 premium/brembo package GT for $23,xxx. There are Boss 302 in the mid 30's now too.

and the thing is , somebody will always have more $$$ or parts, and every year they build a faster one....
Very, very, true. Generally speaking though, the pretty fast ones now, can at least be made competitive for years to come.

so why not keep that cool classic Mach with the neat DOHC, 32 valve motor
DOHC's aren't special, just different then OHV, and have been produced in road cars since the 20's. Sorry, pet peeve of mine.

and get a DD that is more appropriate/less than 40k, and spend a bit tweaking it to your liking.
Agreed on customizing to your liking, but if the new car already has it, it's kinda a moot point. And any car can be a DD. My 94 vette was my ride day in day out for almost 4 years, sunshine, snow, or rain.

I drive a CC pick up as a DD, I have trouble finding anywhere to stretch my stock Mach occasionally, and I live in a fairly rural area. So for my 2 cents, keep your Mach and spend all that $$ on a diff DD and play w/Mach as you can afford to....
Different strokes for different folks man, but I do agree the Mach still looks great and pretty unique. The 11/12 Mach 1 clones look just as cool though...

That being said

[04 Orange Crate]

Buy a '13 Boss and don't look back...

[ab_mach1]

I was at my local dealership today. I must say, I never want $70,000 more than I did today.



Well that's an unreasonable purchase for most of us. lol I think I'd look into a used Boss now that I've sat in a new Mustang. That's what I'm hoping to do in the next 5 years or so.

[mr-proper]

i will never sell my mach 1.
i just cant..

[SuperMach1]

^^^^ I'm with you man. I don't think I'll ever get rid of my Mach. It's the only thing that keeps me young...lol