[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Reason

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

So it seems the roller coaster has come to a stop. I have been back and forth with some dealers over the last few weeks trying to get into a BRZ as a straight trade for the Mustang. I decided on one dealer and last night went back to them to hear their 'final offer' as it were. They had come down on the price a little (mostly due to a cash-back incentive Subaru is running on the 2014's that are still on the lot) and were also offering me a bit more on trade in for my car after I provided some receipts for the air suspension.

I took the numbers and went for a long drive in the GT and, almost to my own surprise...I've decided to not go through with this. Yes, I want a BRZ. Yes, I think the Mustang isn't really the car for me and if I had to do it over I would have kept the fr-s. I think I'm just going to live with my fuck up, pay off mustang as fast as possible and when the dust settles in a couple years, I'll get my BRZ. The mustang isn't a bad car. It's even admirable how well it can step outside of its usual areas of expertise and actually throw itself around a corner.

I think for the past year since I bought the Mustang, right from day 1 I had a mentality of "I just need to adjust this... change out that part and then POOF sports car!". First it was the shifter, then it was the suspension. Then it was winter and I was on snow tires so it got a stay of execution for 6 months. Then it was wheels and tires and then after it warmed up and I started really driving the car around some of the regional driving roads, and I had changed the suspension and improved the shift feel... then the car had no excuses and I was disappointed that it didn't feel like I had hoped. It doesn't feel bad by any means but it's getting things done with less delicacy. It has good balance and brute force grip but it isn't gentle or gradual. You throw it into a corner, pick a throttle position and you hold on while it undulates and squirms over every crack and pothole and lump but it keeps its line. You don't respond to what it does so much as you tell it what to do. It's the difference between a well trained German Shepard which will do as its told with no emotion, and a silly, excited and slightly dumb Labrador retriever eagerly waiting for you to throw a stick for it. The former gets your respect, but the later gets your adoration.

There are outside factors too. I'm about to move within walking distance to work so fuel economy isn't as big of a deal for the future. It also affords me the ability to compromise the Mustang so that it is a bit more of a dynamic 'sports muscle car' and not quite as commuter oriented. Practically that just means I can probably ditch some things for weight savings and not have to worry about noise and vibration as much.

It still won't be as rewarding as an 86 is, but I can at least take some of what I love about the 86 and try to give it some of that spirit.

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.

Makes sense. It's a steep price to pay to keep trading in cars, and the Mustang has its own set of qualities that are enjoyable. May as well make the most of it now while you can. Someday you'll have a BRZ or other lightweight sports car, and might actually miss that Coyote V8. May as well enjoy it while you've got it.

Also, thanks for posting. I can see myself having done the exact same thing as you (trying to turn a Mustang GT into something it's not) and being disappointed. Glad you shared your experience.