Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

I'm going to relate this story to you guys, even though I know there are several Mustang haters among you. I went back to my hometown last weekend to judge the local Lion's club car show, which I do every year. My Dad used to be very active in the Lions and helped runthat show when he was alive, so the guys running it now request I come back to help judge it, and select the winner of his memorial award each year. Anyway, one of the chairmen of it is the sales manager for the local Ford and Dodge dealer, and he had a new 07 Shelby GT there on display. After the show was over, he needed someeone to bring it back to the dealership- I naturally couldn't volunteer fast enough. As I was getting in it to leave the park, he tells me to take it up the road and have some fun with it.... didn't need to tell me twice! I have liked the styling of the new Mustangs since they came out; this was the first I ever got to drive- and I was VERY impressed. I actually was trying to think how I could afford to buy it... it was that much fun! I know it had quite a bit more power than the standard Mustang GT, 370 vs 300 HP I believe, but this car just wanted to GO. Never have I been so tempted to go Ford than I was after that ride.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Awesome

actually it is 325 HP's. It is the same car they used for Hertz. The only difference is the colors. Of course those numbers are based at the fly wheel. It has the FRPP CAI with tune, and for sound it has the FRPP GTA axlebacks. So it is a little louder that the GT and a more grunt sound. I know this as I put them on mine. I like them as they are not too loud but sound good, and no drone. A lot of the axle backs have a drone at certain RPM's, except one that are Corsas, but to steep in price fro my blood.

Was it an automatic or manual?

Of course, don't mention this on the dodge forum as they will rip you a new one. As they did me when I picked mine up after the neon was destroyed,

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

It was a 5 speed. Could catch rubber through the first 3 gears. I was quite impressed! The 370 number was what he told me- I do know the Shelby package added 12K to the pricetag!

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Honestly I like the new Shelby GT350. It is a viable alternative to the people who wanted a GT500 but couldn't stand the markup or limited availablity or those who wanted (and could afford) something above a GT

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

For me I wouldn't use the word hate, but maybe competitive.

After all back in the day, my wife owned a Camaro, I had a Challenger, and now my oldest son has a Black 2006 Mustang GT.

What I do hate was I had sold the Challenger, but the Camaro couldn't be helped since it was totaled in an accident but God protected
her and later I married her. A crazy guy hit her going off an express ramp and going through a red light. Then he tried to leave the scene
and ran into 3 other cars. He was not a popular guy that day. The whole right passenger side was caved in. If a passenger would have been in it
they would have been killed.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

I've only ever owned one Ford before, and even though I liked the styling of the new Mustang, never thought much about buying one- at least, not till now. I would have thought that for the added 12K for the Shelby package, it would have added more than 25 HP over stock- I know it felt like more. I would still be a pretty happy dude if I could put it in my garage, though. I'll post up a pic when I get back home and get it off the camera.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Way to go TeeWJay426. Doing your civic duty and helping a guy out. Way to step up and volunteer to drive that car back. I but it was a blast to drive. Sounds like you had fun and helped out all at the same time. The new Mustangs are very retro and the supporting companies add a lot of bang. As far as hating, I sure don't. I have owned Chrysler products only and I bleed hemi orange. But I have a mutual respect for most brands of muscle cars. Enjoy the ride when the chance pops up and have a blast doing it.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Sounds like you had a fun time and that is all that matters. I don't necessarily hate the Mustang, I just don't care for the styling as I don't think it looks as retro as everyone says it does. I liked the styling of the previous versions. I'm also annoyed that a supercharged GT500 is slower than a 5.4L Cobra R. It just doesn't make sense.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Yes, $12k is awfully steep price to pay for only 25 more hp, especially when you aren't getting all of that at the wheels and especially when you can get a lot more out of it for that price, but you aren't just paying for the hp increase. Here's what all comes with it, though I still would put other things in it for $12k then what they do. The fake hood scoop would have to go.

http://www.mustangheaven.com/stangsp...07shelbygt.htm

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Thanks for that link, Axel. After seeing what the package includes, I'd say about 6k is for the car's mods and the other 6K is for the Shelby name.....:eek:. Definitely not worth the extra 12k, but it was still a fun ride, which I'd be happy to own.... for MY price, not theirs!:D

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Probably not the whole 6K. The cost of what it would be for the install and any painting. That is for the people who don't do their own install. With it sold as this, they can't void the warranty as well. Adding all that stuff on your own, could void the warranty. Though legally they have to prove what you installed caused the failure, Ford seems not to care. They figure they have deeper pockets for lawyers than the average person.

So would that guy give you a deal at least? since you do volunteer for the event, and he is a sales manager.

But all in all, as the Challenger is so close to being released, I would wait for that. I bought my Mustang, because it was almost 2 years ago, and I couldn't wait. If I had the neon totaled right about now, I could wait. But I don't know how you are set up, so if you can have both. the more power to you. That would be a great site when a garage door opened up. :D

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

so many people at DF are tired of waiting for dodge to release a sports car that doesnt cost 80 grand, or that doesnt have 4 doors, that there are more and more "nonner" owners there..

i would be lying if i said that i DIDNT look at a camaro SS and a terminator earlier this summer..but we got the laser and the demon instead, and saved 20 grand or so...

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

"nonner"?

What does that mean? as in non dodge owners?

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

yes..."nonners" are people who belong to a given forum, but dont own a vehicle that applies to that forum...

i suppose that i am sort of the ultimate nonner...:D


before i was involved with all of the forums, the only experience that i had with mustang owners were the douchebags that i dealt with around home..typically stock GT or V6 drivers who ran their mouths and couldnt back it up..so i assumed that all mustang owners were douchebags. now that i run one of the largest stang sites on the internet, i realize that not all stang owners are douchebags, as i have met plenty like yourself that are good guys. hard to believe that i, of all people, have almost 11,000 posts (not counting off topic) at a mustang site...and ive made a bunch of friends there! :D

at this point, i care more about a fast car than i do the brand, although i would prefer a fast dodge. [8D]

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

I understand about the image of mustang owners. I almost didn't buy my Mustang because of the perception of the mustang owner. I think it was Jeremiah that convinced me to go for it by basically saying "who cares". With that and having the ability to get it with the X-Plan which was a few hundred below dealers invoice, i went and got it.

MF has gotten a lot better since I joined it. Less riffraff Aholes. There are still some, but with a site that big, what can you do. I do avoid OT though.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

even i avoid OT, unless im in a bad mood, and im looking for a fight...:D

I would like to think that i have alot to do with the steady removal of the troublemakers on MF, as many of them have been around for a LONG time, and at this point, pretty much all of the mods are good guys, and even if they do own mustangs, they arent obnoxious fanboys.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

I actually probably could get a decent deal from him, as I've known him for a long time, and my Mom has bought her last 2 cars there as well. Even so, I gotta wonder how good the deal could be.... like you said, the Challenger is getting near, and I would prefer that, although my faith in it's being produced in an affordable package close to the concept is shaky at best...... and I may be cooking up a deal on another 'classic' Dodge as well, which may be happening soon, which will require financial resources that would prevent a Shelby purchase...;)

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Yep, that X-plan is why I got both of mine. I'll sit back and wait if I have to in order to use the one for the Challenger. If it's like the Mustang then I should be able to get it a year after it comes out.

Technically, I own a Dodge, but I usually don't drive it. Here's what I've had, keep in mind I'm not that old either.

79 Toyota Corolla

80 something Audi

93 Plymouth Sundace

00 Dodge Dakota

00 Dodge Dakota, not a typo

00 Dodge Ram (let's just say financing trouble with the Dakota before the Ram.)

01 Dodge Dakota

00 Plymouth Breeze

03 Dodge Ram (piece of junk, lemon that had so many problems it wasn't funny)

05 Dodge Neon (wife's, techinically mine since I financed it for her)

06 Ford Mustang GT

07 Ford Mustang GT

08 Dodge Avenger (wife's, again technically mine since I financed it)

So, I can say that for the most part I have been Chrysler loyal. Unfortunately they really blew it for me when they brought out the Charger. I like the looks of it and probably would have gotten it over the Mustang, but the final kicker that blew it for me, though the four door definitely pushed it and it not looking anything like a Charger, was the fact that it had no stick. A true muscle car has a stick.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

You must have a big garage...[8D]

Question for you on the Charger. If Dodge released the car as is but with a different badge would you feel differently about it? I have never heard of a sedan really as a muscle car so an automatic would seem to be fine. I put the car in the "sport sedan" category rather than a muscle car.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Yeah, don't I wish. I only own the 07 GT and the Avenger. The others were cars that I had in the past.

I would. I mean don't get me wrong I still like the car, I just don't like the fact that it carries the Charger name and they try to actually pass it off as a muscle car, SRT-8 is where I get that from. Though the stick would still actually be the thing that would keep me away from it. If at all possible, and as long as I'm physically able, I will do what I can to never own an automatic again. Guess I'm strange that way.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

axel..i understand what you mean.

in my last college hockey game played, there was a scuffle in front of the net after i made a save, and one of the opposing players fell/dove onto my left leg while it was extended..it hurt a ton, but i shook it off and finished the game. i iced it after the game and such, and it felt quite a bit better when i was at off ice condition later that week...and while running sprints, my left knee exploded. i tore my MCL, PCL, lateral mensicus, and "ruptured" my ACL. i went through tons of rehab after a lengthy surgery, and i was told that i would never skate again, i would probably never walk without a limp, and that i wouldnt be able to drive a manual transmission "Safely". they also told me to expect the beginnings of arthrits by the time i was 30. im 28, and i am already feeling the effects of arthritis pain, but regardless of what they said, i walk just fine, i skate regularly (although no longer at a competitive level) and i have recently purchased my turbo AWD laser, so that i can have a stick shift car to enjoy while i am still physically capable. my stratus RT coupe is an autostick, which i ordered right after i graduated, and right after they told me that i would not recover fully...and i hate that its an auto, although it has been a great car, and i still havent spent a dime on it, shy of brakes and tires...impressive considering that i had it FOUR DAYS before it was on a drag strip, and about two weeks before it had been through an autoX course...but i constantly wish that it was a stick.

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

Whats wrong with stock cars? lol

RE: Drove an '07 Shelby GT
 

The biggest disappointment that I faced last time I went car shopping is that Chrysler hasn't had a coupe that was truely their design since the '93 Daytona. The other thing that frustrated me is that Chrysler is yet to have a coupe model powered by one of their OWN V6 engines. Every single time they offer a coupe, they never offer one of their own engines which really irritates me. I think its a mistake not to offer a coupe version of the new Avenger to replace the Stratus coupe. Although the Stratus coupe may not have been as popular as the sedan, there are still a lot of them on the road. I see a lot more of them than I see Monte Carlos.

I think the only weakness that the Stratus Coupe had was that the 3.0L was the top engine. If they would have squeezed in a 3.5L H.O., I think that might have caught the eye of performance enthusiants (forgive the spelling) who wanted more than 200hp, and people like myself that will only buy a Chrysler if it has a credible Chrysler engine (anything other than the 2.7L sludger).