[RockTheSVT]

I dont drive a Mustang yet, but I'm in the market. Right now I drive an SVT Focus.
But before I buy a Mustang, I was just wondering what body style would be the best to start out with for what I'm looking for.
I basically want whatever Mustang I decide on to handle well, and be daily drivable. It will atleast need to easily out handle my Focus. I like handling more than I like going fast, so whatever I get, I need it to have the potential to handle well.
I plan on autocrossing and hopefully road racing the Mustang, as well as daily driving it (in the non-winter months).
So my basic question is just, what's a good body style/year to start off with to do what I'm looking for?

[patwrecked]

if you dont want to put money into making it handle, then a car with irs such as an svt cobra might work alright, but i know i have seen some pretty well set up fox bodys that do autocross. but that can be big bucks.;

[RockTheSVT]

Oh no, I do wanna put money into it to make it handle. I figure that stock whatever I get would be quick enough to do what I want it to do, and I would just throw money at the suspension instead of under the hood. I was just wondering if there was any differance in body styles that would make it a better platform to start out with.

[patwrecked]

the fox body is such a smaller and lighter car than the new ones. i would sugguest that a fox body is the way.

+ they look bad as hell for the ladies.lol

[RockTheSVT]

I do love the look of a Fox body. Thanks guys.

[homebrewed]

Originally Posted by RockTheSVT I do love the look of a Fox body. Thanks guys.

Ehh... I got a Fox, and well... It don't handle. At all. Its the perfect drag car.

IMO; find a "New Edge" 'Stang. 99-04 with a 4.6 and the 3650 5spd. Put KYB AGX dampers at all 4 corners, some Eibach Pro-kit springs and call it good. You'd be surprised at what those 2 mods will do. Also, drop a $100 bill and get some sub-frame connectors.

[patwrecked]

foxes are initialy drag cars. but trust me. i work for a place that builds f1 cars and from trips ive gone on iv seen thing u never thought possible. faxes have a good body for hadling but the stock suspension is shit. if this guy want to piss all his mony into the suspention instead of power thats great. put on some coilover, tubular k member, IRS rear is a must subframes and lower it 2" and itl handle pretty damn good.

[homebrewed]

Originally Posted by patwrecked foxes are initialy drag cars. but trust me. i work for a place that builds f1 cars and from trips ive gone on iv seen thing u never thought possible. faxes have a good body for hadling but the stock suspension is shit. if this guy want to piss all his mony into the suspention instead of power thats great. put on some coilover, tubular k member, IRS rear is a must subframes and lower it 2" and itl handle pretty damn good.

Oh I agree completely. Its gonna be a give and take with any Mustang. They are NOT a factory roadrace car. If he wants something to handle better than his SVT Focus, right from the floor, better skip the Mustang. Ain't gonna happen. Try a Mazda 2.3i or spend some $$$ and get an Evo... Or maybe a Lotus lol.

[RockTheSVT]

Oh I know a Mustang wont out handle the Focus right off the bat, but I've wanted a Mustang for years now, and the way I figure it is that they have the power that I'm looking for pretty much right out of the factory, so I really wouldnt have to modify the engine at all. I'd really just like to make it a better handling car and have some fun with it.
I'm still looking around though, I found a couple Fox's to check out and looked at an 03 GT yesterday (didnt like the interior color though, and I'm very specific on what I'm looking for so it's a no go).

[homebrewed]

Originally Posted by RockTheSVT Oh I know a Mustang wont out handle the Focus right off the bat, but I've wanted a Mustang for years now, and the way I figure it is that they have the power that I'm looking for pretty much right out of the factory, so I really wouldnt have to modify the engine at all. I'd really just like to make it a better handling car and have some fun with it. I'm still looking around though, I found a couple Fox's to check out and looked at an 03 GT yesterday (didnt like the interior color though, and I'm very specific on what I'm looking for so it's a no go).

A Fox, while cheaper in nearly all aspects compared to a newer year, will take more to make handle well. If you're not scared to get dirty, snag one and rip all the suspension out of it. Put in new and tear it up. Be picky bro, there's always a 'Stang out there that someone wants to get rid of cheap.

I'm sure you've already though of this, but check out some prices of things on different era Mustangs. See whats cheaper/more availiable for a Fox/SN95/New Edge. Maybe that'll help in the decision process.

[RockTheSVT]

Haha, I'm a mechanic (amateur mechanic I guess you could say, I've been going to school for BMW technology, and just started working in a garage), so I'm not afraid to get dirty. And thanks for the advice, I will definetly do some research.

And I found a 1999 SVT Cobra for sale, it has 40k miles on it and they were asking 15k at the dealership for it. I told them if they dropped it down to 11k I would be interested, just to see if they would go for it, and they did. So now I just need to decide if I wanna spend that much or not.

[92Rideagain]

http://www.griggsracing.com/ Check out Griggs Racing, they build some of the best handling Fox bodied Mustangs. There was an article awhile back in 5.0 Mustang where they put the complete suspension in a 93 LX and it pulled 1.02 left turn and 1.01 in right hand turn. That is exotic car level of handling. The complete kit goes about $10k, it can be purchased in pieces front end only or rear end all in how you want to do it and the budget that you have. Read the testimonials that they have on their website as well especially the one on Ernesto Roco. The people at Griggs are great I have talked to them about what I want to do with my setup and they have been so helpful. Go with a Fox body find one in good shape and inexpensive and put anything from Griggs on it. I am currently torn between going all out for the whole kit or just piecing it together. When I leave Iraq next year you all may see posts and pics of my car. Good luck on finding a Mustang and getting it to the level of handling that you desire.