Another newbie

Hello everyone. My name is James and I am from Broken Arrow. My current car is a 2008 e90 335i that I bought new in 11/2007. Since I have automotive ADD, it is time for me to swap it out. My leading candidates are a new GT500, new GT and add a blower, or a used CTS-V. I don't care for the looks of the Caddy, but with a 4 year old it is easier to work with than the Mustang. I just joined here to read up about the local Mustang scene and get some ideas as to where to get a supercharger installed if I do pick the GT. I am a wallet mechanic, so I wouldn't be doing the install myself. Thanks!

Welcome James. If the GT500 is on your list I'd vote that. Once you drive one you'll be hooked. But if you go with a GT there are a few places you can get a SC installed and tuned properly here locally. Once you decide which direction your going we have plenty of information on where to get anything you need. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. I'm sure we can help steer you in the right direction.

Hey thanks David. I used to work on cars, back when my dad and I drag raced a 65 Mustang out North. It was always hard to find a good shop to do the things we didn't have the tools to do.

The GT500 is on the list for sure, I'm just waffling at spending $50k+. I figure a GT will run low $30's, and a blower would put me around or slightly above $40k. If I did the GT, I could pay cash for the car and almost all of the blower, as my BMW was paid off last year. It's kind of nice not having a payment.

Is it hard to get a drive in a GT500? The dealer by my house has $10k in "dealer installed equipment" on the sticker, and the car is behind a rope. Another told me there wouldn't be a point, because Ford ships them with the supercharger "deactivated" and you have to drive 15,000 miles before getting it turned on.

Which ever dealer told you 15000 miles before the SC kicks in run from. Clearly they have no idea what they're talking about. When the car is brand new they must drive 10-15 miles (or something like that) or have a minimum number of key on switches before the bypass valve will close in the tune.

Have you considered a used GT500? I bought mine last year with only 1200 miles on it cheaper than you can get a new GT for? Then you could spend a little coin to mod the GT500 up to say a safe 600 rwhp and smile everytime you drive it? Lol

07Shelby500 wrote:Which ever dealer told you 15000 miles before the SC kicks in run from. Clearly they have no idea what they're talking about. When the car is brand new they must drive 10-15 miles (or something like that) or have a minimum number of key on switches before the bypass valve will close in the tune.

Have you considered a used GT500? I bought mine last year with only 1200 miles on it cheaper than you can get a new GT for? Then spent a little coin to mod the GT500 up to say a safe 600 rwhp and smile everytime you drive it? Lol

Yeah, I pretty much thanked him for his time and left it at that.

I have not considered a used GT500. The prices seem to vary wildly from realistic to stupid. Auto trader says there are only 4 within 300 miles for sale.

Thats funny, some salesman dont know a single thing about the cars they sell. But most of the time they dont need to, you would be surprised how many people make emotional buys and dont ever ask questions. Well, except for how much!

Welcome, i would take the slightly used route, if you look in the right Places and are patient, there seems to be some good buys out there. I am sure by tonight Jarrod (shelby10') will have you 4-5 posted on here! He finds some good ones

Chupacabra wrote:Thats funny, some salesman dont know a single thing about the cars they sell. But most of the time they dont need to, you would be surprised how many people make emotional buys and dont ever ask questions. Well, except for how much!

Welcome, i would take the slightly used route, if you look in the right Places and are patient, there seems to be some good buys out there. I am sure by tonight Jarrod (shelby10') will have you 4-5 posted on here! He finds some good ones

Yeah, the whole car buying thing would be great, if not for the sales people!

If I do go the used route, it would have to be via a dealer unfortunately. It seems like nobody wants a BMW. My wife's Accord sold in 1 day last year priced over KBB. I have listed my BMW twice, once back in October and right now. Both times under KBB, both times the only calls I get are spammers.

Welcome J. I own a 2011 GT500 and love it. One of the things i like most about is the drive-ability of it. It has dual personalities. Very easy and street-able for daily use. But stick your foot in it and wow! Completely different car. And mine is not stock.

If you're interested, stop by our sponsor, Bob Hurley Ford and tell them you've been talking the guys and BMMC and would like to drive one.

BTW... Send me some info on the BMW. I'm looking for a daily.

helloooo!!

BMMC1 wrote:Welcome J. I own a 2011 GT500 and love it. One of the things i like most about is the drive-ability of it. It has dual personalities. Very easy and street-able for daily use. But stick your foot in it and wow! Completely different car. And mine is not stock.

If you're interested, stop by our sponsor, Bob Hurley Ford and tell them you've been talking the guys and BMMC and would like to drive one.

BTW... Send me some info on the BMW. I'm looking for a daily.

Will do. I actually know some people at Bob Hurley, our kids go to the same preschool.

PM sent on the Bimmer.

Welcome. Your on the right track with the GT500. If you look at personal adds out on forums and the internet you can find clean stock, low mileage GT500 for a really fair price. SVT performance is a good place to look for ads. Not to run you off, but its a good source to look for cars nationally that individuals are trying to get rid of. I think you would be surprised at the value of savings on these with just a few thousand miles. Again, welcome aboard.

Thanks Jerry. I am not opposed to going used, I just seem to be having a bit of trouble moving the BMW. I know I can trade it in, even though I will get less than a private sale.

Welcome and Good Hunting!!

Welcome!

So the consensus seems to be GT500 over GT with a blower. I'm not going to ask about the CTS-V because this is a Mustang forum, obviously. I'm going to try and get to Hurley tomorrow and talk to John.

J,

The CTS-V is a great car. Balances performance and confortabilty very well. Very good all around family car with loads of power. I dont think you would be dissapointed going that route....just comes down to preference. You're just not going to get many looks....to most people it just looks like another Caddy.

Now to address the decision between the GT vs GT500. I too went back and forth with this dillemma. The GT 5.0 is an amazing ride...best GT to date and is on par with the M3 performance wise factory stock. You can find them for high 20's to mid 30s depending on options and location. Adding a supercharger will cost you another $5k-$7k after its all said and done, but it puts you up there in overall cost (that much closer to a GT500). Think of the GT like a blank canvas, you can customize it the way you want...different wheels, exterior modifications, supercharger, exterior bling, etc You can make it your own. Now remember...the GT does not have a forged bottom end, so you do run the risk of losing the motor if you push it.

As for the GT500 you can find them used (2010-2011) with just a couple thousand miles on them for the price of your modded GT. Motor is fully forged, comes with a blower, and is an all around joy to drive. With just a pulley change and tune ($650) investment you are around 540rwhp (635 flywheel HP). 2011 GT500s come with the aluminum block, electric steering, and the performance suspension pkg (option only)...so be aware of the differences between the years.

Bottom line is all cars mentioned are great rides. All can make serious power and probably get the job done in the all around performance department.

My suggestion is to go test drive each and sit in the drivers seat.... a car has to move you emotionally, after each drive pick the one that makes you smile the biggest.

Good luck sir.

great advice!

Ok, so I went and drove one last night. The SVT suspension definitely made for a stiff ride. I think without it would be better for a DD. The speed was perplexing. It honestly didn't feel like 550hp. It barely felt faster than my 335i, to be honest. Is there some sort of computer-controlled boost controller on the car that doesn't push full boost until after a break-in period? The car had about 40 miles on it, if that matters. Google searches have shown older posts talking about anywhere between 5 and 100 miles before full boost, or 50 starts of the car. Seems kind of weird to me, but that would lend itself to what I experienced last night.

I'm not going to disclose the terms of the offer they made, but I will say that it is a smoking deal that would be almost impossible to beat.

Ya... there are a lot different posts on it. The consensus seems to be Fifty miles. before the boost kicks in. Then it's a different ride FOR SHO!

In any case you have known it....

Shouldve gone for a 10 mile test drive...

amentowasso wrote:Shouldve gone for a 10 mile test drive...

Had I known about the 50 mile thing before, I would have! When we got back, it had 47 miles on it. D'oh!

Full boost kicks in after 5 "Continuous" miles or 50 starts. Its likely the car has only been driven a couple of miles at a time and full boost has not been achieved. BUT also remember, the car is a bit larger and has a very stiff suspension. Stock it is very decievingly fast (low 12s @ 118 in the 1/4) (Evan smith clocked an 11.9 @ 118 on factory rubber stock everything). Fastest stock 2011 GT500 with slicks only has run 11.16 @ 124 mph at Englishtown raceway...trust me on this...its fast :)

The speed is definitely decieving, you have to look at the speedometer to really see how fast your going...because it doesnt "feel" fast. Heck my 2007 GT felt just as fast as my 2010 GT500 when I first got it, but trust me....it would have embarrased me. The linear power is sooo smooth and just keeps pulling through the RPMs

Also remember, dont worry about stock power or feel. The beauty of the GT500 really shows through after you start modding. :)

A pulley change and tune, you will not be able to keep the tires stuck to the pavement or wipe the grin off your face... you will forget about the 335i

Well I went from a Mustang to a BMW lol I'm backwards, but my BMW is a 850i with a manual. Back on Topic take your BMW to Car Mart and ask for a buy bid also to BMW of Tulsa and ask for the same thing. Ask to speak to the Used car manager you will get a buy offer see if it's enough for you.

or car max, they are complete idiots, but they will buy your car and generally more than any local dealer

Chupacabra wrote:or car max, they are complete idiots, but they will buy your car and generally more than any local dealer

x2

Hello 46and2...is that a TOOL reference?

Yeah there is no way you had full boost. I've given rides to a lot of people and the reactions range from "AHH SLOW DOWN!" to "WOW DO IT AGAIN" to "I was not expecting that" to "This isn't a car it's a rocket!". All real quotes by the way! Also had a "Just looking at the steering wheel turns me on". :-)

Corepuncher wrote:Hello 46and2...is that a TOOL reference?

Yeah there is no way you had full boost. I've given rides to a lot of people and the reactions range from "AHH SLOW DOWN!" to "WOW DO IT AGAIN" to "I was not expecting that" to "This isn't a car it's a rocket!". All real quotes by the way! Also had a "Just looking at the steering wheel turns me on". :-)

It is indeed a Tool reference, they are one of my favorite bands.

I've been giving a bunch of thought to the car thing, and I keep leaning away from the Mustang for one reason. Having a 4 year old and putting her in the backseat just isn't very appealing. My wife has a Honda Pilot for hauling around the Bullmastiff and the kiddo, but I would at least like to be able to fit our (human) family in the car. With the Mustang, whether GT500 or GT, that is going to be a tight squeeze.

It's really not that bad. I'd still vote GT500

Yea a 4-year-old is nothing. Been hauling my nephew around since he was 4, and he loves riding in the car.

Atleast you don't have a car seat...

amentowasso wrote:Yea a 4-year-old is nothing. Been hauling my nephew around since he was 4, and he loves riding in the car.

Atleast you don't have a car seat...

She is still in a booster seat, that's the issue. 40" tall and 31 lbs is not enough to sit alone, IMO.