which one, and why?
 

I know this is a seriously silly question to ask on a Porsche forum, but I'll ask it anyway.

I have been looking for a clean, low mileage 997 as a weekend toy and long-distance touring/fun car. (We have some long road-trips planned through the land of the free and the home of the brave.)

I had my search narrowed down to a couple of nice coupes, and then got seriously distracted by test driving the new 2011 Mustang GT —with that wonderful aluminum V8.

So now I'm trying to decide between a brand new Mustang and a low mileage 997.

The Mustang will be cheaper (in these parts by about $20K), and will of course be under full warranty. It will be easy to service and repair (if necessary) throughout the US, and is in my view just as much (or almost just as much!) fun to drive as the Porsche.

The Porsche of course is the easier car to love, and has already taken the massive new-car depreciation hit.

My wife is a good German girl and favours the Porsche. I'm also leaning that way.

But the Mustang is so cheap and good that I'm seriously conflicted.

What would you do and why?

So here they are:

Porsche:

355 hp
295 torque
26 mpg
0—60: 4.7
3131 lbs


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1278011288.jpg


Mustang:

412 hp
390 torque
26 mpg
0-60: 4.3
3605 lbs

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1278011322.jpg

The Stang is a great car but the engine is in the wrong end!

me being the "road-trip junkie" i would have to say.........................the porsche. but only if it was serviced within an inch of its life and with a compliment of do-it -yerself spares included. why?


cuz if yer broke down in da middle of monument valley,az communing with the spirit world and nature, yer screwed BIG TIME until the tow truck gets there and unless ya got a trunk full of cash the farthest hes gonna tow you is either farmington new messiko or kayenta,az. and as of last check there is NO PORSCHE dealership in either location. let alone a porsche wrench anywhere close. you will then have to resort to circling the porsche with drums playing in the back ground and waving chicken wings and wearing a goats head, while eating peyote and praying for a "spirit world" miracle" to fix the car.



ask me how i know.

well D..
the fact that you need to ask..
tells me..
your no Dottore...

Rika

Your answer is clear.

I don't have to ask you. I was there. :)

I haven't driven either, but there really shouldn't be a decision to make if you can swing the 997. There's a little higher chance of problems, but the experience should be worth it.

We were contemplating a Mustang a couple of years back. I've rented several (you my try that!) and they were very nicely setup. We decided to extend running what we have instead, but I think the Mustang is a good choice, for all of the reasons you've listed.

I'd be conflicted too. The answer probably lies in how long you plan to own it, and how you'll sell it when you're done.

If you're going to own it a year or so, you'll still lose quite a bit more on the Porsche. Especially if you're planning on buying a low mileage example and putting on a few thousand road-trip miles. You'll do better selling the 5.0.

That's if neither car needs anything. Oil change costs are quite different. Tire costs are different. If something breaks, the Ford is under warranty and quickly/easily fixed and you're on your way. The Porsche? Different story.

And there's probably something to be said for exploring the United States in a uniquely American icon. Only a Corvette would be more memorable, and even then, marginally so.

I guess I'd vote Mustang. But I love the 997 a lot. Just not as much for your expressed purpose, at least how I interpreted it.

Save the 997 for your exploration of the Autobahn :D

Well Grasshoppa..go drive them both again and sleep on it for a week or two...the answer will come to U in a dream...

In the world of men...comfort on a long trip would be a major consideration. Cost of maintence, insurance and depreciation would also factor in. Also a break down on the far edge of the world...ummm could be a consideration..but that could happen with the Horse to.

You should not rule out the new Mustang V6. Great mileage and still 300 HP at least take one for a spin or better yet rent one for a week end.

I drove one, thanks. It's good, but didn't put a silly grin on my face like the V8.

I just rented a Chevy Aveo 1.4 power nothing. Try it out you may like it. ;)

In all seriousness, I would just rent the Ford for the duration of the stay. You can get a couple of a month for dirt cheap compared to depreciation and maintenance costs.

Listen to your wife. The Porsche is a precision instrument. The Stang is a car. Listen to your wife.

Ian

Edit: I have rented a lot of Stang converts. A Hertz fav in Florida. Albeit not the 8 cyl. Not bad for handling overall & comfort is OK but they are still crude imho.

Do you mind seeing yourself on every corner? If not, then certainly the Mustang. If so, then 997/

Would you keep the 3.2?
I would buy the 997 regardless, if possible.
Reasoning: Duffy Lake!

The Duffy Lake road is a good argument—although I'd love to thrash the new Mustang on that road sometime as well...

I have put the 3.2 up for sale. Absolutely no more garage space. (See ad on this forum).

I'm guessing that most of the respondents here have not driven the new 5.0 liter Mustang.

I mean, I've also rented a whole bunch of Mustangs over the years, and none of them impressed me all that much.

The new 5.0 liter is however a different animal. I started a thread on it here a week or so ago.

Cheers

If you are really coming down here to finally "man up" to the "tussle in the desert" then buy the MouseTurd. My neighbors are used to seeing nice exotic cars around the house and would report something as silly as that, especially in that color. Then I would know you are sneaking around...

No way to compare them really. Do you want to go fast in a straight line, or fast all the time, corners and all.

You sure you are really German? Maybe its rubbing off... A real German would have no question in this matter.