What to do?

[stepheje]

:confused: I have owned my gt-500 (white/blue) since May this year. Been in the garage and covered with less than 200 miles. Trying to decide what to do and how to go about it. I am thinking about changing the exhaust and having a tune up/ chip / pulley installed.

As this is my first new SVT (now non existant) type purchse, will changes affect future value?

[fivepointfour]

If the stock power is not enough, mod it. Don't get hung up on future value. This car was built to be driven and driven hard. Not to be a garage queen. Even Carroll Shelby himself will say "drive it."

If you mod it and do it sensibly, you will not hurt future value. As long as you don't blow the engine or make some sort of radical change to the car.

CAI, tune, pulley and supporting mods will make you car a serious machine. I'd recommend some more seat time at 500/480 and when you get bored with that, start with CAI and tune. When that is not enough, then think about pulley.

[vger]

If the stock power is not enough, mod it. Don't get hung up on future value. This car was built to be driven and driven hard. Not to be a garage queen. Even Carroll Shelby himself will say "drive it."

If you mod it and do it sensibly, you will not hurt future value. As long as you don't blow the engine or make some sort of radical change to the car.

CAI, tune, pulley and supporting mods will make you car a serious machine. I'd recommend some more seat time at 500/480 and when you get bored with that, start with CAI and tune. When that is not enough, then think about pulley.


That's how I would do it.

[stepheje]

I appreciate the advice.

The reason I ask the question is, I am new to the SVT and new cars, not to ford. The GT has been in garage since May is we have had rain almost on a daily basis around here. I also maintain a 70 Boss 302 and a 68 restomod in the garage as well.

The reason for the question is obviously the Boss is a valuable piece of equipment in stock condition, which mine is. The 68 has almost as much money tied up in it as the 70 but if sold, I stand to loose about 15 grand.

500 horsepower is more than adequate for most, however, I do like to run and I do like to win and there are a couple of vehicles out there I would like to smoke and take away the bragging rights.

If I make the mods to the GT, I just want to make sure it will not become tainted and loose its value.

Thanks

[dwtalso]

I'm not sure it can lose any more value than the depreciation that's absolutely going to occur with the car for the next 15 to 20 years :). Unless you plan to try to regain a signfiicant fraction of it's current value 30 years from now, there's just about nothing you can do, short of tearing it down and rebuilding it, that can affect its value more than depreciation.

The big issue is that you will pretty much lose everything you pay on mods. It's really hard to get back that money. So, just don't spend more than you can afford to lose :).

[Mgrad92]

If you're looking for an investment, then CD's are a sure bet. Cars, on the other hand, really suck as investments. It is truly rare for cars to appreciate at a rate faster than inflation. The problem with the current shelby is that they are still making it. From a collectability standpoint, each new shelby that comes off the line keeps the value of your car down.
So I say enjoy it. But don't do any mods that can not be undone. Keep all the original parts.
I was at a car show the other day and saw a 1989 Mustang GT in absolute stock form. What a rare car! Not because there were so few, but because so few were unmolested.