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Posted by Carless (Member # 9119) on :
 
So Im planning on buying a muscle car under 20k since ill be financing it. Ive looked at a couple options nd Ive narrowed it down to the 04-06 GTOs and 03-04 Cobras. I know its a Ford forum and you guys are chevy haters(most)But I donot mind having an lsx.

So the question here is:

What are pros and cons of the Terminators? Ive heard of some problems and stuff with compression or what not.

GTO will be an ls2 and if you guys know any pros or cons that would help too.


I know performance wise whats up, so power/suspension etc isnt a big deal between the two. Just wanna know what the big problems would be.
 

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Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
03-04 Cobra No doubt! Bad ass machenery if I say so myself.
 

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Posted by Blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
the mustang as a platform is a lot cheaper to maintain and modify.

If you find a good terminator that doesn't have a hurt motor, it's a lot easier to get power out of it. Pulley, intake, exhaust, tune?

The GTO has overall nicer interior, and even left stock is a pretty nice car, but so is the terminator.


I would choose the mustang, I know if something goes wrong on it, rather than replacing it with something stock, every part can be upgraded...cheaply
 

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Posted by LS1 (Member # 9529) on :
 
The LSX motors make good power, not quite as easily as a termi but they do respond well to bolt ons a little better.

Intake, exhaust, free mods.

The only thing cheaper is camming it, it's simple to cam an LSX. Parts will be slightly expensive, but I've got 116k and not a hiccup.


But a LS2 Goat can be had for 13-18k with low mileage.

And a termi for 18k, well bring a compression tester.

[ June 23, 2011, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: LS1 ]
 

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Posted by BTLD GT (Member # 5229) on :
 
what about a C5? any consideration towards one of them.

Daniel
 

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Posted by 93sspCOUPE (Member # 8418) on :
 
they both have cons that i could not live with

they both have a heavy irs the mustangs an easy swap to make it a live axle

they both weigh too much
the mustang is easier to make lighter tubular k coilovers etc
no one makes a tubular k for a gto

the tranny in the gto (manual) is better than the mustang one untill you upgrade the input shaft in the cobra

ls motors are very good motors easy to mod

4v suck when it comes to valvetrain and cams.

cobra motors do not take abuse very well so a used one should b inspected very well. find one where the owner has all the maintenece records. good comp etc.

it basically comes down to looks
 

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Posted by Zeke (Member # 9432) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by BTLD GT:
what about a C5? any consideration towards one of them.

Daniel

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quote:

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Originally posted by BTLD GT:
what about a C5? any consideration towards one of them.

Daniel

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Hate to admit,but +2.
If you dont have kids or you have a commuter already and your friends wont abandon you,a C5 Z06 falls in that price range.
Or not........and buy a Cobra.

[ June 23, 2011, 05:28 PM: Message edited by: 50DADDY ]
 

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Posted by 04 S281 (Member # 9229) on :
 
The GTO has an awesome chassis and suspension... Designed with IRS in mind from the ground up. Far superior than the bolt-in IRS Ford slapped into the 79-04 chassis... Under all that Pontiac badging it's really a Holden/Vauxhall Monaro.

The LS2 is a great motor, reliable, and capable of nice power with simple mods.
 

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Posted by MikeD. (Member # 8060) on :
 
Go with the goat or a c5 Z. Or a CTS-V...
 

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Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :
 
I vote EVO
 

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Posted by Carless (Member # 9119) on :
 
I didnt even know you can get a c5 for under 20k?

This is helping alot, Ive been looking for a cts-v for the longest time and cant find ANYTHING. The ones i do find are kinda messed up. IF ima get a caddy, i want a nice one.

Thats the only thing im kind of scared of, The compression loss on cobras. I dont wanna spend around 15-20k for a cobra nd have it break on me. Ive only done a compression test once in school like 4 years ago so its not like im a pro nd remember how to do it, so im assuming itll cost me a lil bit.

Im kinda leaning more lsx as of right now.
 

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Posted by Carless (Member # 9119) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Adam5.0:
I vote EVO

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quote:

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Originally posted by Carless:
I didnt even know you can get a c5 for under 20k?

This is helping alot, Ive been looking for a cts-v for the longest time and cant find ANYTHING. The ones i do find are kinda messed up. IF ima get a caddy, i want a nice one.

Thats the only thing im kind of scared of, The compression loss on cobras. I dont wanna spend around 15-20k for a cobra nd have it break on me. Ive only done a compression test once in school like 4 years ago so its not like im a pro nd remember how to do it, so im assuming itll cost me a lil bit.

Im kinda leaning more lsx as of right now.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Carless:

quote:

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Originally posted by Adam5.0:
I vote EVO

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i thought about that, even STI but everything i find has over 50-60k miles. Im talking 08 and up. So im assuming those cars are being dogged.

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quote:

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Originally posted by RED@7kVERT *8850GT*:
A cts-v for $20 you say??

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quote:

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Originally posted by Zeke:

quote:

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Originally posted by RED@7kVERT *8850GT*:
A cts-v for $20 you say??

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It's going to be a bit difficult to find a 1st Gen CTS-V for under $20K, but by no means am I doubting that there are few out there in California.

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quote:

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Originally posted by 50DADDY:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2458363905.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/2452962566.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2455182120.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/2451077616.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2447407291.html
And CTS-V's are sick as hell,but one thing ive noticed is dont get one if you like 5k launches.

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quote:

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Originally posted by MikeD.:
Go with the goat or a c5 Z. Or a CTS-V...

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Listen to this guy

 

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Posted by Carless (Member # 9119) on :
 
Lol those are super clean. Hopefully in a month or so ill be ready to buy something like that. I really wouldn't mind a c5 zo6 for under 20k. Yeah I am assuming they're all dogged but for some reason when I think of awe ego or ski, I think of ken block doing some crazy shit shit. You don't see that on a pretty much stock car at the dealership lol.
 

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Posted by MikeD. (Member # 8060) on :
 
Ls motors are tuff. Plus, insurance is a lot cheaper on a vette than anything else you are looking at. Even with 80k+ that ls1 or ls2 will still run hard.
 

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Posted by Carless (Member # 9119) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeD.:
Ls motors are tuff. Plus, insurance is a lot cheaper on a vette than anything else you are looking at. Even with 80k+ that ls1 or ls2 will still run hard.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Carless:

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeD.:
Ls motors are tuff. Plus, insurance is a lot cheaper on a vette than anything else you are looking at. Even with 80k+ that ls1 or ls2 will still run hard.

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Yeah thats what ive been told. But its getting harder finding a manual anything right now. Im gonna take my time with all this. I really just fell in love with the zo6 theory. haha.

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