Chevy dude, can you spare a waterpump and some hor
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This is the first year of the return of 4.6L. Well sort of, like the 5.0 being a 4.9 this was really a 280ci. Thats a 4.5L. This engine was lighter and more advanced? This was all bull. This engine has 215hp. Less than the little light 5.0s by 10hp and this car now weighed 300lbs heavier. That equils a slower car. The lack of torque couldn't produce the torque of the old 5.0 either. So this ment the car was slower in the quarter. Really this car in a GT coupe auto was slower then a V6 Maxima of the same year. Accually the 5speed was running around the same time of 7.0secs. Yeah, this is why the tuners can bash American cars. Things like this. Well now you're thinking that it can be tuned and hot rodded. Yeah, get another engine. The cobra 280, 351W, 302W, 347 or anyother injected motor. The reason I say this is the 280 from 96-98 only are good for a natrually aspirated 400hp. The 302 is good for 450-500hp. Oh and supercharging, well the engine is good for 450hp before reliablity becomes a real problem. In truth reliablity is never good with this car. It needs a waterpump every 2-5 years and 30,000 miles from Ford. Even when you upgrade this car will have more issues. I have had two friends that owned a 96 and 97 and they were in the shop more then the road. With little things. So as a hot rod, this car is awful.
Now for the good. Well the car has four wheel disc brakes and handles decently. The GT package makes the interior seems like a luxery car. I think thats what Ford thought this was. Pleasant dash, and easy controls; this well, is the cars biggest pleasure. And for some it is worth the issues. Not for me.
Ah the most important issue of a everyday driver, is the economic factor. Do you need a car like this. No. Do you want one, well I will try to give a positive view point. The car is luxurious, pretty(to some), gas milage is 17-25(manual) 16-24(auto){the same as a fox 5.0!), gets better emissons(ford biggest horsepower robber,{if emissons is a factor for you then what are you looking at a mustang for you jerk} also this dosn't mean that it will pass easier) and ABS. This is a confort car. Not for performance lovers at all. Really when you compare the 96-97 mustang GT to the Camaro z28 you are talking about a car that does 60- 7sec a quarter of 15.8 and top end of 135 VS 5.8-5.5sec, 14.1-13.9sec and 165mph top speed. They don't ever compare. So if you want a 96, well just say Cobra, Cobra, Cobra.
The real car to talk about. The Cobra has some of the issues but none of that is the performance. The car is good for around 500hp and is different then the GT block from the ground up. This car holds 300 hp and is competitive with other cars of the day and now.
In short the 96 is a bad year for the GT all around(except interior) and the Cobra had a good year.
