I bought this 1997 GT new as a daily driver. Not long after, it was auto-crossed as stock and then, after considerable suspension upgrading, as a fairly serious SCCA E Street Prepared car. Still a pig, but a pretty damn quick pig.
Retired it when the new generation Mustangs outclassed it. Last year it was returned to (nearly) stock and given to my 16 year old daughter. Within two weeks she turned left in front of a car she says ran a light. Result - daughter fine, Mustang totaled (it had never been hit, not even scratched before this).
The Mustang was reliable, with lovely V-8 torque and, once modified, handled amazingly well (315 Kumho 710s all around will do that). The leather interior was crap - both front seats were replaced under warranty. Just imagine how bad they had to be to get Ford to replace them for free. The factory tolerances on the unibody were a joke. Replacing suspension components required a lot of heat and a BFH. The car was unsquare from the factory the rear wheels didn't track true to the fronts. Fender clearance differed by more than 1/2" side to side.
That said, it was an honest car that never claimed to be a BMW or a Porsche and it surely was not. The leather in my 27 year old Porsche is in far better condition than the Mustang leather was when new. My 10 year old 325ci is a
far better DD, though I confess to missing that V-8.
Do I miss it? Yes.
Would I buy a 2012 302? Tempting, very tempting. But, the Porsche is forever. 'Nuff said.