Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Mustang GT vs C5 Corvette

109 messages,  Last post on Aug 07, 2008 at 1:26 AM

You are in the Ford Mustang Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Coupe

    

Messages Page 2 of 12

#4 of 109 Which car? by skeezix

Apr 19, 2005 (11:25 am)

As Starrow points out, one will have to settle for a used Corvette, maybe a 2002 or 2003, to match the price of a new GT. A new car vs a 2 - 3 year old car could make quite a difference.
 
I'm still amazed that Ford didn't put a 6 speed in the new GT. That would mean a lot to me.
 
I've driven 4 F-bodies and believe me, I know where a live axle's limitations can be found.
 
Even a 3 year old Corvette will out perform a new GT, from acceleration to braking.
 
The GT does have a back seat.
 
Appearance inside and out is subjective; lately, I've had trouble differentiating the new Mustang from the old ones until I get right up on them. That is a very good thing for one who liked the old Mustang's styling.
 
Hey, I bought a 2003 Z06 in August of 2003 and it's a wonderful car, what can I say. I'll bet a used one could be found for $30K - $38K. In this comparison, you get more when you pay more. Good luck

#6 of 109 Re: 05 Mustang GT vs C5 Corvette - Which one to buy? [adg1] by houstonsmaug

Apr 28, 2005 (5:46 am)

Replying to: adg1 (Apr 18, 2005 12:00 pm)
This is an easy one for me. I live in Houston, TX. Here the roads are somewhat less than perfect. I owned a '99 Vette for a couple of years. During that time, I had it in the shop about 4 times to get the suspension fixed. Whenever my wife and I wanted to go out with the sister-in-law we would have to pile into the SUV. I routinely scraped the front of the car when I went to the grocery store (and many other places besides, including my own driveway). Other than that, the car was great. I didn't particularly like the 6-speed though: It suffers greatly in comparison with a Porsche, or a late-model Camaro SS.
 
Now, I have an 05 Mustang. For my daily driving and getting rowdy on the streets (not racing), the Stang is 90-95% of the Vette. I don't have to worry about breaking it. It will be much cheaper to fix. Frankly, the solid rear axle is a blast, again I don't have to worry about breaking it. Note that most of my concern is with the amount of damage that the roads around here do to the car. This is why I drove an SUV exclusively for two years after getting rid of the Vette. I just couldn't stand not standing on it for so long. Had to have something fast.
 
I'd say that your main concerns are:
1. Do the roads where you live tend to destroy the car?
2. Do you routinely have to enter a driveway that is steep?
3. Do you want to take more than one passenger with you?
4. Is your reason to get this car, NOT to go racing at the racetrack?
 
If the answer to any ONE of these questions yes, then get the Mustang. If you
can honestly say no to all of these questions, then get the Vette.

#8 of 109 z06vette by rorr

Apr 28, 2005 (9:17 am)

Ummmm, okay.
 
I think the previous post pointed out that if you intend to track your car, a used C5 made more sense than a new Mustang. That isn't the issue. And he also used to have a C5 and pointed out that for day to day use, the Mustang made more sense for him.
 
BTW - my cousin vintage races a '66 Shelby GT350 (you know, tinny little 289, solid rear axle, drum rear brakes, squirrelly little 60-series tires on 15" rims) and regularly beats Z06's on open track days at Texas World Speedway. They don't like it. And he's also beaten numerous vintage 'vettes (including one running a dry-sump 454).

#9 of 109 Which one to buy? by skeezix

Apr 28, 2005 (12:19 pm)

If ADG1 is trying to decide between a used C5 and a New Mustang, I have to assume that he has already answered the 2-seater thing, else the two seater Corvette wouldn't be in the running at all. My Corvette is not my only car, so it becomes an organizing task, deciding which car to use on a given day, based on what has to be done.
 
Hey Houstonsmaug, I hear you about bad roads. I have to travel on about .5 miles of dirt road going to my house. There are a lot of rocks on this road too. The Corvette is very low to the ground and one day I took my eyes off the road, hit a big rock, and put a hole in the Corvette's oil pan. $1500 later all was well. That was 2 years ago. I'm just very careful now. The Mustang wouldn't be as susceptible to this kind of thing. However, on paved roads, I don't see the Corvette as being any more susceptible to road damage than the Mustang if one can deal with the "low to ground" factor.
 
Entering my garage is also an issue as there are steel hooks on the bottom of the frame that hit the concrete. The sound is awful, but the only damage being done is to the concrete, which has scratches where the hooks scrape. I have decided that for me, the performance I get from the Z06 far, far outweighs those issues I just described. I know ADG1 is not necessarily looking for a Z06, but my experience can certainly be a data point.
 
Also, rorr, I have to assume that the GT500 that is beating up on the Z06s in Texas is not stock, right? I'm just wondering what the performance of a non stock GT500 from the 1960s has to do with this car choice.

#10 of 109 skeezix by rorr

Apr 28, 2005 (1:35 pm)

GT350, not GT500. The GT500's are pigs on a road course.
 
Stock? Well, it's not a stock '66 Mustang. It's not even a stock '66 Shelby GT350H. It is equipped to compete in Vintage events and so it is limited to whatever was 'legal' for SCCA B Production in 1966. The guy who runs the restoration shop where the car was built has nearly 40-years worth of racing experience with Shelbys (Walt Hane; he drove FOR Shelby in the '67 Trans-Am season).
 
What does this have to do with this discussion? Not a thing. Just trying to point out that a properly set up a 'tinny' Ford small-block, solid rear end, and 40-year old technology can beat some of the best current street cars, including a Z06.
 
Does this mean that a new '05 Mustang will keep up with a Z06 (or even a base C5) on the track? Uh, no. No way. But, UNLESS YOU INTEND TO RACE, the Mustang has more than enough performance for public streets. Is the Corvette quicker in a straight line? Sure. Is it faster on a road course? You betcha. Does that mean it is more entertaining on the street? I can't answer that; I've never driven a C5.
 
But I CAN tell you this: my cousin who vintage races his '66 GT350 also has a C5 M6 (actually - it's his wife's car; he usually drives a full size F350 pickup). He recently bought a Mini Cooper S for his daily driver and has told me, numerous times, that the Cooper is MORE FUN to drive on the street than his wifes C5.
 
Haven't you heard the expression that it can be more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow? The Mustang is by no means 'slow' but just because the C5 may be 'faster' doesn't automatically make it more fun.

#11 of 109 Mustang IS more fun by houstonsmaug

Apr 28, 2005 (2:25 pm)

One thing I was trying to point out is that the FUN factor is seriously affected by the worry about damage to the car. As to the potential for damage on ordinary paved roads, I offer two anecdotes.
1. Shortly after buying the Vette, I was driving in the right lane of Kirby, a well-used paved road. I found a car-swallowing pothole. It bent the right rear rim and broke the speed sensor for that wheel. The Vette immediately went into "SAFE" mode. In this mode, the car wouldn't go over 30 MPH and couldn't even get out of its own way at a stop light. Fortunately, this was at 2am and I only had to endure about ten different drivers honking at me as I limped home. Disconnecting the computer for a few minutes reset it to drive. I had the sensor replaced a few months later.
 
2. A week before I got rid of the Vette, I was driving east on I-20 at Monroe LA, For some reason, all the other cars were getting into the right lane, I didn't know why until I got airborne. Needless to say, as soon as I got home, I went straight to the dealer and got them started on fixing it. I don't know what it turned out to be, because that was when my wife said I could get rid of the car.
 
As to the relative possibilty of damage to the Mustang. The only thing I can offer is that the tires are taller and offer a greater distance between rim and ground.
 
For me, the freedom of worry significantly enhances the fun-to-drive factor.
 
Another factor that has brought a smile to my face in the last few weeks is that the traction control on the Mustang allows you to get silly without stamping out all the fun. Since I rarely *plan* to get silly (I kinda figure that's the same as saying "Hey Yall, Watch This", the famous last words of a Redneck), I usually forget to turn off the traction control. On the Vette, the fun would be shut down at the first sign of slippage. I once did a full-tilt burnout without turning off the TCS in the Mustang. All was fine.
 
I also figure that clutches for the Mustang are cheaper too.

#12 of 109 Keep the comments coming by adg1

Apr 29, 2005 (6:32 pm)

Thanks for all the comments and insight!
 
Here are my current thoughts.......
 
I really didn't think about the road condition thing, but I live in the suburbs of Chicago and the winter is hell on the roads. Lot's of surface damage to the pavement that takes all summer (and then some) to fix. I suspect the Vette would have similar problems as Houstonsmaug's from time to to me.
 
I also am concerned about the "sophisticated" computer system of the Vette. Two cars that I test drove at dealerships had warning readings of one type or another and I experienced the limit of the speed of the car. I could not get it over 20! Cars behind me, beside me, going through intersections....thought I was going to get hit!
 
I realize that the dealers would fix them, but I do worry that they are a bit sensitive to small problems.
 
I also would like to own a convertible. I have never had one and have always wanted to. If I buy a Vette, I will need to get a coupe with removable roof. A vert would be out of budget or too old for my taste. This will be a daily driver in the Chicago area and I don't want to purchase a 5 year old car as my "new" car. The coupe with the roof off is nice, but no convertible. Also, removing it and stowing it is not that easy, and I don't think I would do it all the time for short rides.
 
The Mustang vert operates with two latches and the press of a button. Nice. Add to that the fact that it would be brand new, warranty and all.
 
Also, the back seat is a very nice to have item. I will have three cars, will shortly have a teenage driver, so it is not absolutely necessary. However, it would be nice to take the family on drives in the vert.
 
No plans for the track, just daily driving and cruising for fun.
 
Do I sound like I have made my decision??
 
One thing though.....the Mustang is no Corvette. But....it might be just as much fun and have some practical considerations that make it the winner.

#13 of 109 a fan of both by graphicguy

Apr 30, 2005 (9:35 am)

Being a fan of the Corvette and the Mustang, that would be a tough choice.
 
I think as a daily driver, the Mustang would win out.
 
I came mighty close to buying a 'vette a few months ago, though. It was always a car I had wanted since my teen years. As I'm 40ish, the luster of the 'vette faded, though.
 
No regrets at all with the Mustang as it's just plain fun. It's about 95% of 'vette performance yet much more liveable on a daily basis.

Messages Page 2 of 12

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement