Ok, so I'm in the 99-04 mustang market. I checked with my insurance guy today and learned that a v8 mustang would be a few bucks cheaper than the v6. Weird, I know. But with that said it's only like $5 cheaper a month not a big deal. I just can't decide which I want to get. I know v8's usually hold up in higher mileage, but they do drain gas and I will be doing some long distance driving since I'm in college. But if I get a v6 I will give it a slight cam, long tubes, tune and a good intake. I figure with all that the gas mileage wouldn't be too much better than the v8. But I think either way I would be getting around the same horsepower. Thoughts? Which do you think I should go with?

 

V8 and V6s have minimal differences in MPG, but large differences in performance.

I've owned a lot of Mustangs over the years and the only one that really stood out MPG wise was my 98 V6, after I did a few basic mods that somehow improved fuel economy. My 98 got an average 26 mpg and maxed out at 30 mpg all highway.

My 2011 V6 gets around 23/24 mpg mixed with 30 mpg maxed all hwy.

My 2008 GT gets around 21/22 mpg mixed with 26/27 mpg maxed all hwy.

My 99 Cobra did get 20/21 mpg mixed and maxed at 26 mpg all hwy.

My 00 V6 was around 23/24 mpg mixed and never got better than 27 mpg hwy.

My 95 5.0 gets terrible millage at around 19/20 mpg mixed and 22/23 hwy, but it's old and needs tuning.

 

my 95 cobra gets 18MPG with- 3.73 gears underdrive pullies, full exhaust with headers and O/R H-Pipe.
my 98 GT 4.6L V8 got 25MPG with 3.55 gears, CAI, O/R H-Pipe and dynomax bullet mufflers, and SCT tuner. when i switched to 4.10 gears it dropped to 20MPG and all that driving is about 1/2 city 1/2 country.

with that being said, 9 out of 10 times you cant get muscle car with horse power and gas mileage at the same time. you have to give one to get the other.

 

This is all very helpful guys! If I got the GT do you think I could get a chip to give me better gas mileage on the high way? I would want more horsepower in town but I wouldn't mind losing it on the long travels.

 

My v6 never did better then 20, my gt has been averaging 22.

 

Get the GT.

I promise you'd rather have it.

 

really depends on what OP wants, GTs are turn key fun, however a v6 can be an excellent starting platform for a build for the way you want your vehicle if you have the time and/or money, (even though ~85% of mustang owners will never do more then bolt ons)

 

Depends on the year.

Example. My 95 would have to be chipped, or can be tuned only using very expensive tuning software (in excess of $1000). It would probably run a sh*t ton better and would probably get low 20s mpg like the rest of my cars. Problem is, it's just hard finding somebody with enough experience to work on a modified 5.0 around here. Hense why I'm selling the car.

Now newer Mustangs, yes, any one of them will get slightly better MPG with a tuner. Why? Cause Ford programs them to run rich from the factory so that there is no chance the run lean under load and blow up the motor. How rich? Try A/F ratios of around 9.5-10.5. What's a good A/F (air to fuel ratio)? Idel is 12.8-13.2. The lower the number the richer the mixture. Above 14 is considered lean, and below 12 is considered rich.

In short, get a GT, Mach 1, or Cobra. Just much more fun right out of the box. Unless it's a 2011+ V6, I doubt you'll be happy.

Only thing I will say is avoid 94-98 GTs. Why? Cause the 94/95s (while awesome) are old cars and bring old car problems and good luck finding a shop that can fix them. If they can't plug in a computer in a car to tell you what's wrong with it you're screwed. 96-98s were just dogs. The first gen modular 4.6L sucked. The 99-04s are a much better platform for the GTs. 05+ are the best (and yes this is coming from a person that's owned them all).

Look for
* 99-04 GTs - 260 bhp is a respectable number, even today, but to play with modern cars, you're gonna need to perform a few basic mods to get this outdated 2V 4.6L up to date.
* 96-99/01 Cobras - 300-320 bhp you can't go wrong. All around good car for the buck.
* 03/04 Mach 1s (just don't over pay for them, on a good day I'd only go to $14000 on one with excellent miles). They use an improved version of the 96-98 Cobra engine.
* 03/04 Cobra - 390 bhp and a world of fun, it's a great fun car, but with 20K+ price tags, over priced in my opinion.
* 05-Present GTs - (just make sure that if it's an 05/06 it was recalled for the famous "water issue") really good cars, great handling, great power (300 bhp out the box), great everything right out the box. Much smoother feeling than the Sn95 platform. Also responds very well to mods due to Fords "safe tuning." Only downside is they have a couple of terrible blind spots and don't get a deluxe model, very ugly and bland on the inside. Stick to Premium models only.

 

Thanks guys!

jthorn9 - yeah I had a 96 and it wasn't to bad even when I had a supercharger that I built on it. But that's why I want a 99-04, the engines were a little bit better built and I like the looks better. If I get a GT the only mods that will be done to it will be cold air, and o/r H with a slp system, then maybe a tuner. Everything else done to the car will be for looks.

 

Best mileage I got in my 2002 v6 was 28 highway on a 660 mile trip