Cheaper...I would have to disagree. I originally wanted a GT500 but with dealer mark ups I was able to get the E cheaper. After all the mods are done I will be faster and STILL cheaper than a GT500. Granted I was looking at one with they first came out. You can find them closer to MSRP now, but its rare.
I think the debate starts and ends with production numbers. Put simply, there are and will be WAY more GT500s on the road in a given year. Those that hoped to pad their 401k with a Barret Jackson payoff someday are living in la la land with these new Shelbys. Funny thing is, I see more people purchase these higher production Shelbys with hopes of hiding it away for 20 years. Truth be told, the Saleen has as much performance credibility and true limited production numbers to give it more of a chance to make value gains some day. Yet I see most Saleen enthusiasts out there actually driving and enjoying their cars on a regular basis, so it shows the different thinking of the two camps. Not diametrically opposed by any means, just different. Another thought now that I'm clobbering the horse... I think we are starting to see a saturation in the Shelby variants, and maybe the Ford Mustang specialty variants in general. I mean Shelby GT500, then Shelby GT, then Shelby Hertz edition, then GT500KR, then SuperSnake, need I go on? I'm really wondering at this point when we get to the Shelby Brazilian Tree Frog edition.
Style, build quality, and rarity be-damned; some would say there's no replacement for displacement - the GT500 gets a point for what can be done with a KB on board as some have noted earlier.
I can't decide between the newer Saleen SC or GT500.
Thanks.
So get both. What do I mean? Check out this 2007 Saleen Prepped GT500 in the most recent 5.0 Mustangs and Super Ford magazine. I couldn't find a link to the article, so I scanned it out of my magazine. Enjoy!
"Horsepower will screw with your sense of reality and make a mess of your ability to differentiate right and wrong. You start thinking a new set of tires a week is an acceptable expense". Damn, I need another new set of tires. Honeyyyy!
somone picked up an Extreme for 50+ k on ebay. Since its winter those things will sit and im sure deals are to be had. That way you get a more powerful stang that looks way better
Yeah if you can the Extreme edition for 50k you may want to go that route. I love my GT-500, I paid 50K for it 2.5k over msrp so I jumped on it. My wife has been eyeballing the Saleen/SC Vert took a test drive in one and they are nice cars, cant really go wrong with either imho.
If you're thinking about getting the S/C, go with the GT500...if you're looking at getting the extreme...defintely go with the EXTREME!!!
I have to agree with this guy right here. Between an S281SC and a GT500, no contest...........GT500 all the way. Between a GT500 and an S281E....I'd have to take the Extreme. 'Course.........price not being an object........I'd be all over that new S302E
On another thread, it was concluded that the 06'-07' Extremes weighed in at 3620lbs dry. A weight of 3660lbs or so was weighed at a real truck stop scale because of the gas in the tank and a couple suspension mods. The S281 SC is rated at that same weight as well. So the GT500 is 3920lbs dry, 300lbs heavier mostly in front, because of the engine and interior upgrades I'm assuming.
Other than drag racing, modding giant amounts of power is not that usable on the street or road courses. The S281SC can be taken to 500hp with a 10lb st up. The question becomes which car is better balanced for all around performance. Put lighter wheels on the S281 or Extreme plus Watts link and a few Steeda goodies, and you've got better front/rear weight balance, better brakes, 500hp on a 300lb less weight car, and a better suspension.
I love the look of both. So I wish the GT500 was lighter or came with a better brake and suspension package, upgrading will only add even more weight.
For my eventual needs, I like the powerful and nimble Saleen cars, or Saleen/Steeda upgraded Mustang GT's, Erik
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06' Mustang GT premium pkg, Saleen SC with JDM 550hp(flywheel) kit with 3.2 pulley. Complete Saleen & Steeda suspension upgrades, Borla exhaust 9,10x18 chrome bullitt wheels, 285/40/18 & 255/45/18 Nitto 555 tires. New car scent air freshener.
I think the added weight from the stock Mustang GT's 3500lbs without sub woofer, to the 3550 dry rating of the S281 3V is due to the larger wheels and brakes alone. Since the stock 18 x 8.5 Ford wheels weigh 23lbs plus tires about 31lbs(275/40/18's) a total wheel weight of about 54lbs x 4. Saleen wheels and tires are upper 60's in weight I think? 50 lb addition?
The Stop Tech Brakes Saleen uses are the best balanced for the Mustang GT platform, so their weight is justified for the quality. Are their ultra light versions of the Saleen wheels after market? Just curious, Erik
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06' Mustang GT premium pkg, Saleen SC with JDM 550hp(flywheel) kit with 3.2 pulley. Complete Saleen & Steeda suspension upgrades, Borla exhaust 9,10x18 chrome bullitt wheels, 285/40/18 & 255/45/18 Nitto 555 tires. New car scent air freshener.
When it all comes down to it, what do you want? I bought a 281 from a guy that bought a GT500 and he misses the Saleen. He says not even close to the amount of looks in the Gt500. It is all what you want, speed or looks or both?! If it was me I would buy an E over the 500 hands down and most likely buy the the SC over the 500 because of the look. Anyway, good luck
I'm going to sell my 2000 S281 and get a new car. I can't decide between the newer Saleen SC or GT500. To tell you the truth i don't know which one would be cheaper anyway. I think GT500 is more powerfull but it's just not as pretty as Saleen. What do you guys think? what are some major differences here that i should think about... I Want something faster and my 2k s281 just isn't doing it... If i get a saleen, it will have to be Supercharged.
also, this will be my daily driver just like my current saleen is.
Thanks.
Hi Boostin,
you wouldn't be from Manchester, NH by any chance?
I would definately choose a GT500 over a Saleen. First and foremost the GT500 has the bigger engine. Second it is currently the Halo car from Ford, as there are no 2007 or 2008 Ford GT's. The Saleen is a nice car but you have to remember it is really a Mustang GT with engine and body mod's. I guess you could say the same about the GT500, but the engine block is different and so it the suspension. As for holding value? I would be the Shelby holds more value because it has the Shelby name coupled with being the Halo car of this era. One previous poster said the Shelby name is being diluted by the Shelby GT, Shelby Hertz, KR and Supersnake. Well the same could be said of after market builds of the Mustang GT. Saleem, Roush, Steeda, etc. I think in one article I read that there are over a dozen race car guys that are doing what Saleen and Roush are doing. If each one is doing 50 cars......that is a lot of modded mustangs! As for speed well "there is no replacement for displacement" Even stock it would be hard for the Saleen to match a GT500. Once you mod the GT500 its over. Now let's not even talk about anything but drag racing or street racing because the Mustangs and Camero's are not designed for turning at high speeds. Yes I know they perform ok on the tracks but you would get eaten alive vs any exotic or American Sports car (Vette, Viper and Ford GT). So all in all we talk racing we talk about straight line runs.
As for holding value? I would be the Shelby holds more value because it has the Shelby name coupled with being the Halo car of this era.
It's hard to say what will happen 30 or 40 years from now, but cranking out 10,000+ cars a year (that's GT-500 production) is not usually the kind of thing that collectors associate with value.
As for holding value? I would be the Shelby holds more value because it has the Shelby name coupled with being the Halo car of this era.
It's hard to say what will happen 30 or 40 years from now, but cranking out 10,000+ cars a year (that's GT-500 production) is not usually the kind of thing that collectors associate with value.
Bottom line is anyone buying a newer model car for an investment is wasting their time, especially with the kind of production numbers we've seen out of both Ford and Saleen.
There will always be ultra-rare cars, SE's, etc but in general most of these cars depreciate just like any other sports car.
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2007 Black SC281 #1113 HIDS 3.73 Maxgrip Chrome rim upgrade
Again if your going to compare exotic and expensive sports cars to the Mustang GT platform, please compare a Mustang GT or Saleen Extreme with the complete suspension mods from Saleen including watts link, and all the Steeda goodies for extra chasis and sway control. Right there you have a far better suspension than the GT 500 at 280-300lbs lighter, with the Stoptech 2 peice 4 piston brakes being better than the gt500's as well.
Even with a modded Mustang GT as above mentioned, a COMPLETE suspension change out, Stoptech brakes, with a good 450-455rwhp Saleen SC ed tune, with aero dynamic body mods, I would truly love to see a side to side test with any other car in the $46-48,000.00 price range(base mustang plus mods) for handling. C6 Corvette, awsome 2 seat sports car, clearly not having to comprimise in design for any reason. Otherwise, bring on the tests. Magazines and shows always short the Mustangs with Stock or slightly modded models against cars that have maxed out suspensions, brakes, and power because they cost far more, and come that way.
On the street the lighter, fitted out Mustang GT is more nimble and a better street car than the gt500 on weight proportion alone, and can be powered well past the usable HP range on the street as the gt500 can be. Obviously the gt500 has incredible drag strip potential that is undoubted. Erik
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06' Mustang GT premium pkg, Saleen SC with JDM 550hp(flywheel) kit with 3.2 pulley. Complete Saleen & Steeda suspension upgrades, Borla exhaust 9,10x18 chrome bullitt wheels, 285/40/18 & 255/45/18 Nitto 555 tires. New car scent air freshener.
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RE: Can't decide... 05-07 saleen or 05-07 Gt500 - 
