a basic 5.0 for the engine experience
Discussion
I briefly owned a 2016 5.0 GT manual (convertible)... Loved it, accepted the shortcomings in it's handling department. It was a really nice thing to blast around and and everyone loved it (family, I don't really care about anyone else - Although people did often comment on it)
The thing that did really irritate me was the brake feel - It was like pressing an on off switch with your foot and made low speed driving a bit of a pain at times due to it being quite difficult to smoothly modulate the brakes... Maybe it was just me (or my car!)
The thing that did really irritate me was the brake feel - It was like pressing an on off switch with your foot and made low speed driving a bit of a pain at times due to it being quite difficult to smoothly modulate the brakes... Maybe it was just me (or my car!)
I'm now thinking of importing one from the US.
reasoning is mainly to enjoy it for a few weeks touring first. I have in laws there and so can register/insure it in their name first.
not sure there'd be any financial benefit apart from the car hire saving for 4-6 weeks.
it would be lhd, but that would be useful in Europe, so that's fine.
any views on which model?
The base cars there seem to have a lot more (ugly) cloth seats, so I'll need to be careful on spec and not assume US is same as UK.
One thought is that a spicier version would make best use of the fixed shipping and import costs, but then a std version would be easier to buy and register before touring.
Any thoughts and experiences of importing such a car?
reasoning is mainly to enjoy it for a few weeks touring first. I have in laws there and so can register/insure it in their name first.
not sure there'd be any financial benefit apart from the car hire saving for 4-6 weeks.
it would be lhd, but that would be useful in Europe, so that's fine.
any views on which model?
The base cars there seem to have a lot more (ugly) cloth seats, so I'll need to be careful on spec and not assume US is same as UK.
One thought is that a spicier version would make best use of the fixed shipping and import costs, but then a std version would be easier to buy and register before touring.
Any thoughts and experiences of importing such a car?
CABC said:
I'm now thinking of importing one from the US.
reasoning is mainly to enjoy it for a few weeks touring first. I have in laws there and so can register/insure it in their name first.
not sure there'd be any financial benefit apart from the car hire saving for 4-6 weeks.
it would be lhd, but that would be useful in Europe, so that's fine.
any views on which model?
The base cars there seem to have a lot more (ugly) cloth seats, so I'll need to be careful on spec and not assume US is same as UK.
One thought is that a spicier version would make best use of the fixed shipping and import costs, but then a std version would be easier to buy and register before touring.
Any thoughts and experiences of importing such a car?
You'd only want to do this on an old car or one you can't buy here (gt350)reasoning is mainly to enjoy it for a few weeks touring first. I have in laws there and so can register/insure it in their name first.
not sure there'd be any financial benefit apart from the car hire saving for 4-6 weeks.
it would be lhd, but that would be useful in Europe, so that's fine.
any views on which model?
The base cars there seem to have a lot more (ugly) cloth seats, so I'll need to be careful on spec and not assume US is same as UK.
One thought is that a spicier version would make best use of the fixed shipping and import costs, but then a std version would be easier to buy and register before touring.
Any thoughts and experiences of importing such a car?
Impossible otherwise to sell lhd, not much cheaper with agents fees, import duty and vat
QuattroDave said:
Mach 1 is much better, tremec gearbox being the best change but a lot of the track components fitted don't make it to RHD models so you're paying for the gearbox, decals and bumper changes!
I do like the Mach 1, but it's deeply frustrating that the EU models have a power drop (due to petrol particulate filter and RHD manifold changes), an effective power drop due to no Torsen diff (EU gets longer diff), and all of the track pack changes binned off.The forthcoming new Dark Horse EU version is 'gimped' in exactly the same fashion, probably an effective 60bhp+ drop over US version.
bennno said:
You'd only want to do this on an old car or one you can't buy here (gt350)
Impossible otherwise to sell lhd, not much cheaper with agents fees, import duty and vat
great excuse for a GT350....Impossible otherwise to sell lhd, not much cheaper with agents fees, import duty and vat
lhd not too much of a problem as I'd use it in Europe for a few years. then I'd take a hit on sale (unless a 350)
looks like 4k to import, so in itself not worth it.
however, to rent a V8 from the east coast is near impossible, and we'd want to tour for a month or more. possibly leave at in laws and tour twice in one year. easier to rent in the west, sure.
Then again, memories. priceless. I'm (stupidly) drawn to the adventure of buying our own car and then importing it. we wouldn't lose much overall.
CABC said:
great excuse for a GT350....
lhd not too much of a problem as I'd use it in Europe for a few years. then I'd take a hit on sale (unless a 350)
looks like 4k to import, so in itself not worth it.
however, to rent a V8 from the east coast is near impossible, and we'd want to tour for a month or more. possibly leave at in laws and tour twice in one year. easier to rent in the west, sure.
Then again, memories. priceless. I'm (stupidly) drawn to the adventure of buying our own car and then importing it. we wouldn't lose much overall.
You realise it’s car + shipping + 10% duty + 20% vat ?lhd not too much of a problem as I'd use it in Europe for a few years. then I'd take a hit on sale (unless a 350)
looks like 4k to import, so in itself not worth it.
however, to rent a V8 from the east coast is near impossible, and we'd want to tour for a month or more. possibly leave at in laws and tour twice in one year. easier to rent in the west, sure.
Then again, memories. priceless. I'm (stupidly) drawn to the adventure of buying our own car and then importing it. we wouldn't lose much overall.
bennno said:
CABC said:
great excuse for a GT350....
lhd not too much of a problem as I'd use it in Europe for a few years. then I'd take a hit on sale (unless a 350)
looks like 4k to import, so in itself not worth it.
however, to rent a V8 from the east coast is near impossible, and we'd want to tour for a month or more. possibly leave at in laws and tour twice in one year. easier to rent in the west, sure.
Then again, memories. priceless. I'm (stupidly) drawn to the adventure of buying our own car and then importing it. we wouldn't lose much overall.
You realise it’s car + shipping + 10% duty + 20% vat ?lhd not too much of a problem as I'd use it in Europe for a few years. then I'd take a hit on sale (unless a 350)
looks like 4k to import, so in itself not worth it.
however, to rent a V8 from the east coast is near impossible, and we'd want to tour for a month or more. possibly leave at in laws and tour twice in one year. easier to rent in the west, sure.
Then again, memories. priceless. I'm (stupidly) drawn to the adventure of buying our own car and then importing it. we wouldn't lose much overall.
CABC said:
yep, so it's really over £10k for a $30k car.
still thinking of buying in US..... but just sell within 12mths and take a bath over there.
Hi if you go US route defo buy a "special model," whether its Shelby, Roush or Saleen otherwise a LHD GT will be looked at as undesirable by the RHD masses.still thinking of buying in US..... but just sell within 12mths and take a bath over there.
Me personally, when the RHD 550 was mooted I bought a challenger, wanting to be not common!
But after four years the lure was too much and I bought a 2017 Roush Stage 2 - new but old stock, in the US.
Its not blown, but pretty much the only 550 Roush in the UK, I like that lol
QuattroDave said:
Personally I wouldn't bother with an S550 bullitt or mach 1. The bullitt is a marketing exercise with a 'no production limit' build volume and an increase in power you'll never notice above a standard GT.
Mach 1 is much better, tremec gearbox being the best change but a lot of the track components fitted don't make it to RHD models so you're paying for the gearbox, decals and bumper changes!
Dark Horse is S650 2024 model only and likely £70k!
I have a full set of KW clubsport fully adjustable coilovers ready to go onto my S550 mustang GT once spring comes around and it's meant to properly transform the handing of the car.
Sound of the V8 with an H pipe makes me smile even 4 years into ownership!
Bullitt was not a marketing ploy, get your facts rightMach 1 is much better, tremec gearbox being the best change but a lot of the track components fitted don't make it to RHD models so you're paying for the gearbox, decals and bumper changes!
Dark Horse is S650 2024 model only and likely £70k!
I have a full set of KW clubsport fully adjustable coilovers ready to go onto my S550 mustang GT once spring comes around and it's meant to properly transform the handing of the car.
Sound of the V8 with an H pipe makes me smile even 4 years into ownership!
Bullitt 1 said:
QuattroDave said:
Personally I wouldn't bother with an S550 bullitt or mach 1. The bullitt is a marketing exercise with a 'no production limit' build volume and an increase in power you'll never notice above a standard GT.
Mach 1 is much better, tremec gearbox being the best change but a lot of the track components fitted don't make it to RHD models so you're paying for the gearbox, decals and bumper changes!
Dark Horse is S650 2024 model only and likely £70k!
I have a full set of KW clubsport fully adjustable coilovers ready to go onto my S550 mustang GT once spring comes around and it's meant to properly transform the handing of the car.
Sound of the V8 with an H pipe makes me smile even 4 years into ownership!
Bullitt was not a marketing ploy, get your facts rightMach 1 is much better, tremec gearbox being the best change but a lot of the track components fitted don't make it to RHD models so you're paying for the gearbox, decals and bumper changes!
Dark Horse is S650 2024 model only and likely £70k!
I have a full set of KW clubsport fully adjustable coilovers ready to go onto my S550 mustang GT once spring comes around and it's meant to properly transform the handing of the car.
Sound of the V8 with an H pipe makes me smile even 4 years into ownership!
QuattroDave said:
What is the S550 bullitt then other than a way to sell more mustangs at a premium? Kindly enlighten me,
My understanding, from all the road tests I've read, is that the Bullitt handles better due to suspension (and subframe?) mods. Slight tweak in power.Similarly the Mach 1 has suspension mods, but I don't know how they differ from the Bullitt. Or whether the Mach 1 handles or rides better than a Bullitt (with magnaride).
I've been thinking of buying one so will be interested to hear from those in the know.
SFTWend said:
QuattroDave said:
What is the S550 bullitt then other than a way to sell more mustangs at a premium? Kindly enlighten me,
My understanding, from all the road tests I've read, is that the Bullitt handles better due to suspension (and subframe?) mods. Slight tweak in power.Similarly the Mach 1 has suspension mods, but I don't know how they differ from the Bullitt. Or whether the Mach 1 handles or rides better than a Bullitt (with magnaride).
I've been thinking of buying one so will be interested to hear from those in the know.
Comes back to my point that the bullitt (although I'll qualify and say I meant the versions we get) are a marketing exercise that doesn't justify the price premium over the GT.
I had paid a deposit for a cancelled order bullitt in early 2019 but cancelled myself once I'd read up on the UK/US differences. Specced up and bought mine in Nov 2019 instead.
Mach 1 is a better proposition. If you're looking at buying one I'd go mach 1, even if only for the tremec gearbox which gets a lot more praise than the standard manual in the GT.
QuattroDave said:
Mach 1 is a better proposition. If you're looking at buying one I'd go mach 1, even if only for the tremec gearbox which gets a lot more praise than the standard manual in the GT.
The UK/EU Mach 1 is also a travesty compared to the US version. It might have the Tremec box but it otherwise has even more missing than the Bullitt - no handling pack, special wheels, front aero, rear aero, torsen diff, power drop etc.Olivera said:
QuattroDave said:
Mach 1 is a better proposition. If you're looking at buying one I'd go mach 1, even if only for the tremec gearbox which gets a lot more praise than the standard manual in the GT.
The UK/EU Mach 1 is also a travesty compared to the US version. It might have the Tremec box but it otherwise has even more missing than the Bullitt - no handling pack, special wheels, front aero, rear aero, torsen diff, power drop etc.SFTWend said:
So, to be clear, are you guys saying that neither the Bullitt or Mach 1 handle any better than a standard S550? Because every motoring magazine article of the UK rhd versions say that they do.
Nope, what I'm saying is that a lot of the kit that made these versions handle better than the standard model didn't make it to UK versions. There are still some bits (moreso on the mach1) that'll improve handling over the standard GT. But also remember that a lot of the stuff that improves the handling on these are bolt on mods (mainly suspension) so it's fairly easy to upgrade GT models to handle as good if not better than the bullitt for less than the price difference between the models.Best thing for you to do is drive each and decide for yourself. There isn't a bad choice for smiles
QuattroDave said:
Nope, what I'm saying is that a lot of the kit that made these versions handle better than the standard model didn't make it to UK versions. There are still some bits (moreso on the mach1) that'll improve handling over the standard GT. But also remember that a lot of the stuff that improves the handling on these are bolt on mods (mainly suspension) so it's fairly easy to upgrade GT models to handle as good if not better than the bullitt for less than the price difference between the models.
Best thing for you to do is drive each and decide for yourself. There isn't a bad choice for smiles
All good info, thanks.Best thing for you to do is drive each and decide for yourself. There isn't a bad choice for smiles
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