Traded my FR-S for a Mustang GT: A cautionary tale

[Twin4Life]

Thats exactly why Ill never buy a Mustang. Yea, they are blistering fast, for the money and even handle very well, its that hood line and the feeling you really are boat captain, Camaro is even worse.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Twin4Life

Thats exactly why Ill never buy a Mustang. Yea, they are blistering fast, for the money and even handle very well, its that hood line and the feeling you really are boat captain, Camaro is even worse.

Yes! The Camaro was on my short list based upon the paper numbers and reviews I had read.
Then I test drove one!

[GotMunchies?]

Originally Posted by Reason

So an update as far as my personal mentality towards the Mustang vs 86 dilemma ....

So, i'm going to stick with the Mustang. I'll continue to modify it, but i'm also going to stop trying to make it something it is not and play to its strengths of that amazing engine and quite capable, if chaotic, cornering limits. I'd like to remove some of the vagueness. I'm going to keep it to a budget, because of the other factor I decided on; to buy a cheap old lightweight sports car. Miata (I'll modify it to fit around me...) or maybe the right e30. Maybe an old Fiat 2000 or MG.

That is a very reasonable and adult decision. I came from a pre-coyote S197 to my BRZ and still have a lot of love for that platform.

If I were you, I'd start using and abusing. The great thing about the S197's is their absolute love for abuse. It may not be the most poised or provide the most driver feedback, but when you grab it by the scruff and shuffle it through a sea of cones or wind the V8 out of a sweeper it is a HELLUVA lot of fun. Just make sure you give the brakes a decent upgrade. I found that when pushed hard, the Mustang wasn't precise but it was VERY consistent and once you learn its limits, they're very approachable.

Sam Strano has a lot of experience turning Mustangs into competitive auto-crossers and corner carvers. Look him up and really embrace the mod-bug. Those cars are meant to be tinkered with and respond really well to even basic mods. The other great thing about that platform, is just how damn easy it is to turn wrenches on. While the engineer in me loathes the up-and-out engine position from a performance stand point, my knuckles sure did appreciate it.

[tennisfreak]

Originally Posted by Twin4Life

Thats exactly why Ill never buy a Mustang. Yea, they are blistering fast, for the money and even handle very well, its that hood line and the feeling you really are boat captain, Camaro is even worse.

Having driven both a 2013 Mustang GT and a 2013 Camaro SS IMO the Camaro is hands down the better car and offers a better driving experience than the Mustang GT. (I hate saying that because I'm not a Chevy guy)

Now my experience my be skewed because the Mustang was a regular GT but the Camaro SS was a 1LE.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Yes! The Camaro was on my short list based upon the paper numbers and reviews I had read.
Then I test drove one!

I actually liked the new Camaro OK, didn't really feel like it was much more "enclosed" than my wife's '05 Mustang convertible, and it handled about like I expected, but I was looking at a top end (ZL1) version.

The picture though does express how I feel about the Miata, maybe with better handling.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I actually liked the new Camaro OK, didn't really feel like it was much more "enclosed" than my wife's '05 Mustang convertible, and it handled about like I expected, but I was looking at a top end (ZL1) version.

The picture though does express how I feel about the Miata, maybe with better handling.

I loved the way it drove but I felt like a little kid sitting in daddy's car. I am not really short but just felt the sides came up way too high.
and the blind spots (oh good those blind spots) were a definite deal breaker with the amount of time I spend on the highway.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I loved the way it drove but I felt like a little kid sitting in daddy's car. I am not really short but just felt the sides came up way too high.
and the blind spots (oh good those blind spots) were a definite deal breaker with the amount of time I spend on the highway.

Yea, the sides were an issue for MomHawk. She literally could not see over the steering wheel unless we raised the seats all the way up.

The blind spots were about the same as the mustang convertible (or any convertible for that matter when the top was up). I thought the Camaro convertible (top up) had better visibility than the hardtop.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

MomHawk.

Lol

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

MomHawk. .

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Lol

And their son Mo

[Frost]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I actually liked the new Camaro OK, didn't really feel like it was much more "enclosed" than my wife's '05 Mustang convertible, and it handled about like I expected, but I was looking at a top end (ZL1) version.

The picture though does express how I feel about the Miata, maybe with better handling.

Really? I thought the Camaro is one of those cars along with the Chrysler 300 where the side windows were practically useless given how high the doors were. The thing's blind spot was particularly massive.

To each their own I guess. The Mustang (not the current one) wasn't as bad.

[themajesticone]

Originally Posted by Twin4Life

Thats exactly why Ill never buy a Mustang. Yea, they are blistering fast, for the money and even handle very well, its that hood line and the feeling you really are boat captain, Camaro is even worse.

Agreed. I rented a v6 camaro this past weekend to drive down to LA and although yes there is more power and weight than the FRS it is still very tanky. I felt small in it and I am 6'2" ~200 lbs. When I got back to my FRS I felt HUGE inside haha.

Moreover, the hood visual you get inside the camaro is awful. My ability to perceive the car's size from the inside was difficult to get used to since you have very little visibility of your surroundings. For a long distance drive from LA and back it was pretty good but will never beat my FRS. I don't care how slow the 86 is I appreciate it way more now.

[SON1C]

This was a great thread, well written and put together. I went through something similar as I had a 2003 mustang gt, 2003 sonic blue cobra "termi" (the supercharged version) only to realize I wasn't happy with the cars and now I finally feel at home with my new brz

[rs999]

Originally Posted by Poodles

Don't remind me.

I picked up some Koni STR.Ts and Steeda Sport Springs.

I'm looking to get a watts link but I can't decide between the diff or frame mounted versions.

[SUB-FT86]

This story happened to me too. It was a G35 coupe instead though and now I have a FR-S and I feel like my life is complete.