Hey guys,

I will be looking for another car about this same time next year to replace my current v6 mustang daily driver. This time my budget is 40K out the door, I was thinking of the Saleen S-281 supercharged, any comments on this vehicle will be greatly appreciated. Or if you have other suggestions please let me know, I want to know exactly what I want when the time comes.

Mike

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99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
So-Cal Lowering Kit; Cal-Tracs traction bars
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

can you get that, new for 40k, out the door?

 

Hey Mike,

I don't own a Saleen Mustang, but I've been involved in the Mustang scene for 11 years now and even though some of their stuff is really nice, I think a lot of it is more fluff than anything.

IMHO, even their SR-351 car is a joke. I've assembled a car that looks just as nice, handles very well, stops great, and would completely kick its butt...and did it with a true 302" motor with a supercharger. Just last year I built a 4-bolt motor and stroked the 302 (331"), and would even trounce that thing harder.

If you want a turn-key performance Mustang, I'd look into the Steeda line or Kenny Brown line. I honestly believe those are better bang for the buck and they also carry full warranties.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)
97 SHO
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fsT/index.html

 

Waiting for Jaguar to start building the XKF myself.

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'92 Civic Si, Centerforce Dualfriction clutch, no front license plate.
"00 SVT Lightning, silver, G-tech Pro, no mods yet (JBA headers and Sal's filter kit on order)

alphadoggy@jetlink.net

 

Brimstone- Iv'e done a number of late model mustang and cobra build-ups and customizing for myself. I looked a Saleen a number of times. I really think his prices are out of whack for what you get. You can have better results and more reasonable costs by getting your best deal on the base car and doing the work after. Check with GRC performance in Mission Viejo. Talk to Umberto or Phil and pick their brains. They work on Mustangs exclusivey (and my L) and really know their stuff. They have their own Dyno also. By the way, they love Lightnings and are starting tio do more and more with them. I have no financial interest in GRC, but I am just really impressed with these guys.

 

Thanks a lot for the quick responses guys. I have a year to decide and I'm probably gonna use up every minute of it!

From the responses so far it seems Saleen is a rip off. Thanks for that tip. I will look into Steeda and Kenny Brown, anyone have contact information or do they have websites?

Alphadoggy,
What's the expected MSRP on the Jaguar?

whitelight,
the GRC performance thing probably wouldn't work out because this is company money and they probably won't be too cool with me modifying the heck out of a base car (in other words the 40K check goes to the dealer not to me). It would have to be some kind of package I can order through the dealer.
BUT, I'm pretty close to GRC and I'm gonna give them a call concerning my Lightning. I'd especially like to have it dynoed after I add some more mods.

Thanks again y'all, I will be welcoming more suggestions for a while

Mike

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99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
So-Cal Lowering Kit; Cal-Tracs traction bars
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

Look into getting an Audi S4, comes with 260hp v6 twinturbo all-wheel drive from the dealer. With only a chip & a tuned exhaust you can get 320 hp (would take a "L")!!! Tey cost $38k. Very nice & safe cars to drive.

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99' SVT Black Bolt NLOC #392
Clear Corner Lenses
Autometer Boost & Air/Fuel ratio Guages
best run 13.54 @ 101.35

**Unlike Lightning I will strike you twice**

 

Yoda,

60 HP gain with only chip and exhaust? Pretty darn impressive. Plus all wheel drive? I've always like that car too. 38K MSRP is probably affordable, we get our cars $100 above invoice, and I'd be willing to fork out some extra bucks for tax and stuff. Thanks for that suggestion!

Mike

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99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
So-Cal Lowering Kit; Cal-Tracs traction bars
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

Steeda is at www.steeda.com
I recently ordered a Cobra, I think with another 6-10 Gs you could make one hell of a car. I went with the Mystic Conv. It should sticker at about 34. The conv. itself is 4K. Mystic is 1500. 32 valve 4 cam IRS. They should have the HP thing in line. Or a GT for alot less and just go wild. If you are into going fast w/o the status is't easy. Take your time and think.
Tom

 

I thought that the Audi S-series were only available in Europe because of emmissons but you probably know more than me

What about the Cobra R, I have heard alot things about it, like quarter mile in 12's and over 1 g on the skidpad

But I don't know how much,is it a svt, or Saleen???

 

Cobra R is a SVT product. Two small problems: $55,000 and they are sold out.

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White 1999 Lightning
Build Date 7-26-99
#2892
Snuglid
Bedrug
Superchip
Member NLOC

 

Actually the Cobra R alloted to the local SVT dealership here is still up for grabs,I have no idea what the are asking though. I have heard from the Cobra owners on an "SVT" mailer I subscribe to that they aren't impressed w/ the numbers on it(at least not for it's price tag). For the extra 20-30k they could really hype up their cars,and they would,I quote: "eat the R for breakfast." You could get a LOT of speed for $40k! I hafta' admit I like the Audi,I also like the ummmm Honda >>>GULP<<<< S2000(Oh noooo SUSHI!),and the BMW Z3 2.8. Apples and oranges as they say.
Hitman

[This message has been edited by Hitman31 (edited 03-11-2000).]

 

Audi S4 is a nice car and is available in states. Trouble is it is low production similar to SVT. My colleague has one. He is convinced it will take my L but hasnt come up to the line to see yet .

Doug
Performance
0-60 mph in seconds - manual/Tiptronic: 5.9/6.5
Top track speed: 143 mph4
EPA estimates5 (mpg), city/highway: 17/24

 

I'm with blueblood on this one.

It all depends on what you want. If you need a "status" car, then you'll have to pay at least $40k for the kind of performance many of us think of when the word "fast" is thrown around.

It's too bad you can't "build" the car. :-) Chances are it'd be substantially faster and more refined than anything else you could buy from a tuner-shop.

But that's ok. Although I hate to admit it, if you have $40k to spend and you want a sports car, then I'd look seriously at the new C5 V*ttes. If you need something with a backseat or you need a more 'luxo-sport' type car then something like the Audi, etc would be nice. What's the BMW Z3 cost? I think the v6 version is 240hp at least.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)
97 SHO
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fsT/index.html

 

Yes the cobra R is over 1 on the g. second it is in the 12s.I believe those are good #s for a limited run of only 300 cars.To me,to buy one of 300 cars ever built and it be over 1 on the pad and only 50-60k,I think it is a very fair deal If you like mustangs.