Bluestar

I feel the 8 would outlast the 6, given the same driving conditions. The reason being that the 8 would not have to work as hard as the 6 to get the car going. I'm pretty sure most of the older Mustangs that are still in use are V-8's.

avengence

Get the V8, everyone needs to have some sort of fun when they drive. Also, if you are really worried about it lasting you can always get the extended warranty on it... thats if you were really worried. Overall I would say the V8 would probably last longer just because ford has used it for a while. Seems like the V6 they change a lot but I dont really keep up on the V6 tech. Thats just my opinion.

boochy

This thread will be interesting. I see the V6'ers and the V8'ers duking it out for several days.

SonicBlue05GT

honestly, if you're after a gas saving automatic.. i'd get a Honda Civic or Accord.

that way it will actually hold it's value, get twice the gas mileage, better finish, and outlast any Ford.

it's not like an automatic V6 Mustang is all that fun or special to drive. [&:]

howarmat

3-valve

The 3-valve SOHC 4.6L with variable camshaft timing (VCT) first appeared in the redesigned 2005 Ford Mustang. The engines are equipped with an electronic Charge Motion Control Valve (CMCV) system that regulates the flow of air into the intake ports. Block material varies between the aluminum block used in the 2005+ Ford Mustang and 2006+ Ford Explorer and the iron block used in the 2004+ Ford F-Series (see below), though aluminum heads are used in all applications. The 3-valve SOHC engine was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2005 through 2008. Vehicles equipped with the 4.6L 24-valve SOHC include the following: [ul][*]2005+ Ford Mustang, 4.6L, 300hp (224kW) and 320ft·lbf (434N•m)[*]2006+ Ford Explorer, 4.6L, 292hp (218kW) and 300ft·lbf (407N•m)[/ul]
4.0 SOHC

Bore is 100.4 mm (3.95 in) and stroke is 84.4 mm (3.32 in) for a total displacement of 4 L (4,009 cc/245 in³). A somewhat-related SOHC version was introduced for the 1997 Explorer alongside the pushrod. It uses a jackshaft in place of a camshaft to drive a timing chain to each cylinder head. Three timing chains are used, one from the crank to the jackshaft, one in the front of the engine to drive the cam for the left bank, and one on the back of the engine to drive the cam for the right bank. The SOHC version is the last Cologne engine still in production, though it is rumoured it be phased out in the coming years, possibly in favor of the new Cyclone. It featured a variable length intake manifold and was good for 210hp (157kW) and 245lb·ft (332N·m)f. Ford Power Products sells this engine as the SOHC-640. A version of the SOHC engine as used in the Land Rover LR3 and is good for 216horsepower (161kW) and 269lb·ft (365N·m)f of torque at 3000 rpm. Applications: [ul][*]2001+ Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series[*]1997+ Ford Explorer[*]2005-2008 Ford Mustang[*]2005- Land Rover LR3[/ul]

avengence

I thought all they changed from the SN95 was the heads mostly. I guess they changed the whole block. Well anyway, a V8 is more fun

jaguarking11

I like the v8. The modular engines have allot of development behind them, however the 3v 4.6L v8 now is in its infancy. It revs well, it has a smooth power band sounds like god shouting and has a presence to it.

With all things aside, I expect the v6 to outlast the v8 simply because the v8 makes you do bad things. I expect to see 200-300k miles out of both these powerplants in the near future.

All I know is that, I test drove a loaded v6 auto at the dealer and bought a loaded v8 manual for my daily comute through the parking lot NYC is.

I think the v6 is an awesome engine, not to mention that for a daily comuter it will be quieter and use less gas. Some claim around 30mpg+ on the highway with the 6cyl. Best I have done in my v8 was about 27mpg but that was curising in 5th @ 70mph or so. And thats something I doubt I can repeate very often.

Get what feels rite, people here are pesimistic, my father owned one of the least reliable car in the 90's but that didnt stop him from putting 200k of really hard miles on it truble free mostly (had to replace o2 sensors and engine and trans mounts dute to the loads he had in the car would rip the stockers in 20k until he switched to some poly mounts). These cars were known as driving trans problems. He had a mopar that shall remain nameless due to me having fond memories of that car.

Even the older v6 engines that are 3.8L in displacement show up around craigslist with well over 150k on them and they had known issues. Take it all with a grain of salt, a car is only as reliable as the owner wants it to be. I knew someone who blew a chain on a corolla with less than 80k on the clock, it mangled the engine completly. He junked the car, he forgot that I looked at his odometer not two weeks prior to it blowing up when I borrowed the dam thing (prior to geting the mustang), then he told all my friends it had well over 180k on the clock, simply put its a shame people preceive fords as unrliable cars, they are not. My family has owned allot of diferent cars through the years, italian, french, german, japanese. We always come back to buying american.

I know a hell of a llot more ford owners with 300k+ on their odometers than I do honda, toyota, nissan etc combined. I am sick and tired of people treating ford like they are time bombs, ask people who use them as work vehicles, then beat on them every day sometimes in 3 shifts and the cars keep coming back for more, how else can you put 600k miles on a 7 year old car? dam near 100k a year there if you do the math.

Dont let people scare you, get what you want and enjoy it. Take every day as a challenge, there are some pople on this board with over 100K of truble free miles on their 05+ stangs.

NeNCGT

My wife and I have both a V6 and a GT. She drives her 07 V6 auto daily on a 60 mile round trip commute and she averages 26/27 mpg. The same trip in my GT (also an auto)will net you about 24/25 mpg. The wife loves her V6s and it the third one that we've owned. The first was a 3.8 04, second was a 06 4.0 and now she has a 07 4.0.
The V8s run smootherthan the V6s and there is always the fun factor that will get you less in fuel economy. If I had to choose between the two for a 70 mile commute I'd go with the GT, if funds are not an issue. The differance of 1 or 2 mpg is worth the comfort of the V8. As far a the life exspectancy of a 4.6, I run a transportation department and have over 30 vehicles with the 4.6s/5.4s. We get well over 200,000 miles on these engines and haven't to date done muchmore than replace the intakes and normal servicing. Ford got the 4.6 right as far as longevity, it's a good 200k to 300k engine if you maintain it.

MrSandman

The MPG difference is not that great between the v6 and GT. Both are fun to drive, but you would be more likely to want more out the the v6 (maybe).. which would cost you a little. A CAI and tune is around $600 and is a necessity for the automatic, imho. Drive both cars and see for yourself; most people that don't like the v6 on here either have never driven the 4.0.. or are used to monsters that do 12 sec quarter miles.

The engine in the 4.0 has been proven.. and improved over time.. and the drive-train is overbuilt. It will last a long time without question.

If you have the money though.. and cost is not really a problem.. I do think the GT is a better option. Don't get me wrong.. I love my v6.. and opted to keep it instead of trade for a GT when I had that option.. but I've had to put some cash into it in order to get it up to my performance expectations.

Nuke

IF you're worried about fuel mileage, then why are you considering a Mustang, period?

Otherwise:
[blockquote]
V6 = dial-up
V8 = high speed internet & Viagra on wheels![/blockquote]