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I need car help choosing v6 or v8?

1K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  lleweliyn 
#1 ·
Im saving up for a new car my budget is 4grand and a thosuand is put aside for car issues or modifcations. My friend showed me the 89 mustang 5.0 and i really seem to like it cause of the look the power of the car. but its a mustang and ford, not to happy about that. Also its a gas gausller but thats what you sacrifice for the power from the v8.

I was looking at like 88 rx7 or 90's 300zx. i guess thats downgrading im not very sure. im wondering if i can get the same power or speed from the v6. i dont know how much a turbo kit would cost me. thats why im posting this. if you guys have other suggestions let me know. im looking at the 5.0's right now but gas is gonna be a bit of a issuse but if i cant get the same speed or similarity from a v6 to save a bit of gas i will sacrifice for the v8. please help me please please lol
 
#3 ·
Well first off, you don't want a mustang. Yes their fast and the 5.0 does have quite a kick but it's not worth it for how terribly built most newer mustangs are these days and you're right about the gas mileage. I would definetely suggest the rx7 or 300zx. You don't have to turbo it to get more power but if you do turbo it, you'll have substantially more power than the stinking 'stang and more gas mileage. Good luck on your search.
 
#6 ·
Mustangs are EXCELLENT cars.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is a complete idiot.
(they are probably pissed that "the mullet" is phased out and nobody like's T-birds and Trans-ams anymore)
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Okay anyways.......=)
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The 5.0 mustang is almost always the BEST bang for the buck if you want speed and dont have much cash.....PERIOD.
There's virtually no other car out there for the money that pulls over 200hp and is VERY EASY to modify.....and it is VERY LIGHTWEIGHT too.

Why do you think there's so many fox body mustangs/5.0's out there?

Drag racers pick them for a reason....plain and simple.

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Now if you're concerned about gas mileage, you're going to HAVE to decide which is more important....speed or MPG.....

You are correct though, you will have to sacrifice alittle MPG for a v8.
Im sure if you find a nicely running motor, flush the cooling system, give it a good oil change, trannsmission flush,etc.....you're MPG won't be that horrible....since the 79-93 5.0 mustangs arent very heavy cars when compared to the other mustang generations.

Also remember, 50% of MPG is with the driver of the car.
So if you have a 5 speed, you can get GREAT gas mileage if you properly drive it.

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You're best bet is to get a mustang.
If you get a Mazda or Nissan, supercharging or turbo kits will cost ATLEAST $4000 brand new.....you can probably score a used kit from ebay or elsewhere for around $2000.

But whenever you install a S/C or Turbo Kit, you're going to end up dropping another $2000 on ECU tunes, chips, programmers and other modifications.

Remember, some of these Kits might not include Fuel injectors or bigger fuel rails, or bigger MAF sensors and bigger fuel pumps.

It adds up VERY QUICKLY, trust me.

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I'm NOT telling you what to get.

If you want a mazda or nissan....get one, both are excellent cars.

However if you want best bang for the buck....the 79-93 mustang is the best shot.

You can usually find project 5.0's or supercharged 5.0's for around $4000-6000 on autotrader.com.
(that way you get a pre-supercharged stang, probably dropping 450hp to the ground RELIABLY.)

You need to get past the whole "fords break down" crap.
When was the last time you saw a mustang on the side of the road?

These cars are rock solid, trust me, i own one, and driven tons of 'em.

They will hold 400+ hp on a stock engine all day long and do it RELIABLY
 
#7 ·
The power swap that a lot of Mustang owners wanted in the 90's was the V-6 from a SHO. The SHO was/is fast. It takes a 3.0 RWD bell-housing to bolt in the chassis.
But believe me it is a power swap, and modestly economical to operate (I got 34 MPG out of my SHO on the interstate and 25 around town).
Another cheap power swap is the Supercharged Thunderbird motor of about the same vintage. No special bell-housing to find. While not as fast as the SHO, I think it was faster then the 5.0.
In short, a V-8 is not mandatory.
The 88 RX7 can be a maintenance nightmare (I own one) but it is a joy to drive.
The 300 ZX is an insurance nightmare. Plenty of power, but there are other down sides to it too.
Think about the cost of parts, parts for a Mustang are easy to find and cheaper to buy. Try to find a throttle cable for any of these choices. This will give you an idea of how difficult it may prove to own the Mazda or the Nissan.
 
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