Ford Mustang vs Triumph Stag
Discussion
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People seem to forget that the Mustang was designed in the early 1960's and was from the very start a simple low cost vehicle. It was based on the 'compact' Falcon body. The base engine was the same 170 cu in engine out of the Falcon. 'Base' gearbox was a 3 speed. It was like a London Taxi - quick off the line up to 10 mph - and then nothing. Optional early 260 cu in and later 289 cu in 'cooking' engines were both sub 200 hp engines.More powerful options were available. The OP's comparison is not really a 'proper' like for like test against a relatively sophisticated European sports tourer.
Edited by roscobbc on Thursday 13th August 08:10
roscobbc said:
People seem to forget that the Mustang was designed in the early 1960's and was from the very start a simple low cost vehicle. It was based on the 'compact' Falcon body. The base engine was the same 170 cu in engine out of the Falcon. 'Base' gearbox was a 3 speed. It was like a London Taxi - quick off the line up to 10 mph - and then nothing. Optional early 260 cu in and later 289 cu in were both sub 200 hp engines. The OP's comparison is not really a 'proper' like for like test against a relatively sophisticated European sports tourer.
That's pretty much true, except for the "quick off the line up to 10 mph" bit, they were quick off the line, even with the 170ci Pursuit.But the main question to the whole thread is this:
If someone offered you one of these two cars, completely for free, which would you choose? The Mustang or the Stag?
Mustang - great looks, racing heritage , one of very few cars which deserves the overused 'iconic ' nomenclature , charismatic V8s and great cultural heritage via Bullitt etc .
Oh, and a British effort famous in period for expiring at the roadside and constituting, at best a footnote in the decline of British Leyland story.
Oddly enough I'll go for the pony car thanks....
Oh, and a British effort famous in period for expiring at the roadside and constituting, at best a footnote in the decline of British Leyland story.
Oddly enough I'll go for the pony car thanks....
Just putting this into perspective for a moment... This was a short article listing the observations of someone who had access to two cars that, on the surface, may offer similar attributes (V8, soft top, four seats etc.) and certainly offer an interesting comparison. I don't think it was ever intended to be the last word in journalism or controlled scientific comparison tests. I for one found it interesting, thank the contributor for taking time to bother and wish more folk would contribute posts like this rather than the threads which start, "which colour looks best on X expensive classic as I've got loads of money and am thinking of investing"...
Now, anybody up for similar on their E-Type and Corvette, Beta HPE and Scimitar, Rochdale versus Bugatti, or do I need to write a comparison on the NG TA versus the Subaru pick up?
Now, anybody up for similar on their E-Type and Corvette, Beta HPE and Scimitar, Rochdale versus Bugatti, or do I need to write a comparison on the NG TA versus the Subaru pick up?
S47 said:
As Hamish said it really is a no brainer, which would you buy with your own money - come on do we really need to think about it its a chalk and cheese situation
Is it really a no brainer? A no-walleter maybe but:Practical Classics Condition 1/dealer prices for a Stag are £11k-£15k. That will only get you a Condition 2 to 3 Mustang. If you only have £11k would you spend it on a sorted Stag or a rusty money-pit Mustang? Or if you're worried about reliability and have the £21k-£27.5k for an Consition 1/dealer Mustang would you spend it on 1 Mustang - or 2 sorted Stags?
And how much do you like keeping your own money in your own wallet vs. giving it to petrol stations? Fuelly.com has around a 5MPG difference between the Stag and Mustang. Doesn't sound much but on a 750 mile round trip to Le Mans that's 12.5 gallons/56.8 litres/£65.
If you were looking to get the best value out of your £ outlay then a Stag would certainly get you a far better car for your money (if that is your sort of thing). Early Mustangs whilst perhaps iconic have had far too much TV time over the last few years and are in many cases grossly overvalued. OK a hi-po 2+2 fastback will always be an expensive desirable car - but a 2bbl 190 hp plain jane cooking coupe? - too many many people paying too much them. UK market is crazy.
spoodler said:
Just putting this into perspective for a moment... This was a short article listing the observations of someone who had access to two cars that, on the surface, may offer similar attributes (V8, soft top, four seats etc.) and certainly offer an interesting comparison. I don't think it was ever intended to be the last word in journalism or controlled scientific comparison tests. I for one found it interesting, thank the contributor for taking time to bother and wish more folk would contribute posts like this rather than the threads which start, "which colour looks best on X expensive classic as I've got loads of money and am thinking of investing"...
Now, anybody up for similar on their E-Type and Corvette, Beta HPE and Scimitar, Rochdale versus Bugatti, or do I need to write a comparison on the NG TA versus the Subaru pick up?
Agree. This is precisely why I read and enjoyed the post. It's a real world comparison, that's all.Now, anybody up for similar on their E-Type and Corvette, Beta HPE and Scimitar, Rochdale versus Bugatti, or do I need to write a comparison on the NG TA versus the Subaru pick up?
OK. Watch this :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31JgMAHVeg0
Then ask yourself honestly if you think you could do that in a Stag.
J
Then ask yourself honestly if you think you could do that in a Stag.
J
And you wouldn't do it in a mustang either would you 
It would have to be the stag for me, just a nicer car all around
I think any old classic is only as reliable as the money and expertise that has been thrown at it,and wouldn't really be a deciding factor over these cars IMO there both lovely but I prefer stags
It would have to be the stag for me, just a nicer car all around
I think any old classic is only as reliable as the money and expertise that has been thrown at it,and wouldn't really be a deciding factor over these cars IMO there both lovely but I prefer stags
jith said:
OK. Watch this :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31JgMAHVeg0
Then ask yourself honestly if you think you could do that in a Stag.
J
You would try to do that in a Mustang - whether you would achieve it is another matter - a big block powerplant would help the lack of traction issue - but probably not the handling side of things. Then ask yourself honestly if you think you could do that in a Stag.
J
Hamish Finn said:
You really don't get this "classic car" thing, do you?
£65 an issue on a road trip to Le Mans?
Driving to Le Mans was just an example of the distances some of us drive our classics and not everyone can use £50 notes as bog paper. I easily hit 8,000 miles per-year in my classics at which point a 5MPG difference becomes £700, about the base cost of a trip to Le Mans.
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