2000AZ5.0GT

I know two, and I guess three including you, people who own a 96 mystic.

they aren't as rare as cobra R's IMHO

Baddog

Collectible and what someone is willing to pay are two different things. Who knows, maybe there is some person out there who is hell bent on finding a '96 GT 'vert with 36,000 on it. I've had my car for a little less than 3 years and have had at least 10 buy proposals clipped under my wiper blade in that time. The cars value is based on what some fanatic is willing to pay for it. I'm very much like the OP in this regard. I looked at a few cars when I bought mine. There were far quicker ones going for the same ask but weren't nearly as nice. I'd rather have a car that was meticulously maintained, detailed down to Q-tip standards and be stock than get a discount on some mod addicts car that sees the spurs every time it's fired up. OP, a true bolt on car should meet your needs and can all be returned to stock in an afternoon. Put gears and a free breathing exhaust system at the top of your list...