Episode 35

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Published on:

19th Jan 2023

Check a V8 Off Your Bucket List With A 2011-2014 Mustang GT

00:00 - OPEN - Check a V8 Off Your Bucket List With A 2011-2014 Mustang GT

01:00 - EPISODE INTRO - The 2011 or Newer Mustang GT

02:00 - State of America's V8 Pony Cars in The Early 2000s

Forth Generation Mustang

  • Only three Pony Cars left at the beginning of the decade
  • Camaro and Firebird were cancelled at the end of 2002
  • Fourth generation Mustang continue to be developed
  • Mach 1 and SVT Mustang Cobra added for 2003 & 2004

Fifth Generation Mustang

  • After 25-years of Mustangs built on the Fox Body platform a new fifth generation mustang was the S197 platform
  • New styling was reminiscent of the late 1960's Mustangs
  • Standard V8 in the GT was a 4.6-liter that made 300-hp
  • Re-introduction of the Camaro and Challenger prompted updates beginning with the 2010 Mustang

2010 Model - Body & Interior Updates

  • Styling got a major update for 2010
  • New look was a more modern interpretation of 60's Mustang style
  • Interior and handling updates were made as well

2011 Model - Engine Updates

  • Return of the true 5.0-liter V8 to the Mustang
  • New DOHC 32-valve V8 Rated at 412-hp & 390-lb.ft. of torque
  • 97-hp and 65-lb.ft more torque than previous Mustang V8
  • Motor Trend dyno test confirmed the new V8's output was closer to 435-hp and 404-lb.ft of torque

08:28 - A Better Overall Package Compared to the Competition

  • New engine, attractive styling, plus excellent handling and braking made the 2011 Mustang a better overall package compared to Camaro and Challenger
  • The Mustang also weighed less - 250-lbs less than Camaro and more than 500-lbs. less than Challenger
  • The 2011 Mustang was also easier to see out of compared to the Camaro and Challenger
  • Motor Trend put the 2011 Mustang up against the BMW M3 and found acceleration to be basically identical and track performance to be only a tenth of a second slower than the BMW.

Motortrend Video - 2011 Mustang GT vs. 2011 BMW M3 Drag Race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muRC7WJHgmA

MotorTrend Video – 2011 Mustang GT vs 2011 BMW M3 at Willow Springs road course.  Professional race driver, Randy Pobst compares the handling and braking of the BMW M3 to the Ford Mustang GT. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOwSPccbzl4&t=608s

10:30 - You Might Want a 2011-2014 Mustang GT Because:

  • You like cars that are fun to drive
  • You love the sound of a V8 engine
  • You love a slick-shifting manual transmission
  • You are looking for a car with a timeless, sporty design

12:40 - What's not so great about the 2011-2014 Mustang GT?

  • 2-door coupe body style limits passenger carrying capacity
  • It's not a snow car or trailhead car (limited utility)
  • Fuel economy is not great
  • Everything in moderation - this car can bite if you're not careful

15:15 - What to Consider When Looking for a 2011-2014 Mustang?

  • Who owned it and how many owners really matters
  • Get a CarFax to check for accidents, maintenance and title status
  • Get a prepurchase inspection from a Mustang mechanic
  • Specific features I recommend include getting a GT with the V8 engine, a 6-speed manual transmission, the limited slip differential, the Brembo brake package and HID headlights

19:15 - What Should You Expect To Pay for a 2011-2014 Mustang GT?

  • Around $16,000 for our target Mustang GT through a private party
  • Currently not many private party listing
  • Expect to pay more (in some case much more) at a dealership
  • 2-examples of low-mileage Mustang GTs highlighted
  • How long should you wait for prices to drop?

26:25- Recap of Why Drivers Who Want A V8 Should Consider a 2011-2014 Mustang GT

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!