An American Porsche? BMW? Alpha? Mustang?

[piscator]

I’ve always wanted an American road car that could challenge the European offerings from Porsche and BMW. Overall, I felt that my 1986 Pontiac 6000 STE (which I posted a thread about) qualified. I feel it equaled my BMW 535i of the same vintage.

Recently, I’ve been looking for a fun car that my daughter can use when she’s home from college. And, of course, that gives me an excuse to continue my quest for road-course American iron.

I know very little about Mustangs, but a doctor friend has an attractive one that’s about ten years old. Talking with the doc about his car, brought up the ‘80’s Mustang SVO, with the 2.3 turbo motor. I had a business associate that owned one when I had my STE. At that time, I thought the SVO was a fantastic car. But memory has a funny way of making cars of yesteryear perform better than they did!

So my first question is, how would the SVO stack up against a more modern Mustang? Say, at Lime-Rock or on New England back-road twisties?

Second, Is there any Mustang that fulfills my quest for a balanced American road-car that is not, necessarily a muscle car.

Lastly, what other American cars would fall into this category? What have I missed?

Aside from trucks, I haven’t driven many modern cars of any brand, so if my questions sound ignorant, I hope you’ll bear with me. I’m afraid that I’m a Luddite who prefers analog vehicles.

Obviously, a good used Subaru would satisfy my daughter’s needs just fine. But like many here I enjoy doing things a little differently. Maybe this is an opportunity to find my mythical American road machine. In that quest, your ideas will be much appreciated!

[Zeke]

Get her a Cobra.

[legion]

I believe all of the Mustang engines from the past 10 years (turbo 4, V6, and V8) outperform the old SVO turbo. The 2015+ Mustangs have an independent rear suspension that greatly improves handling. I have a 2016 with the 5.0 V8. I love it. It rides very well and I don't worry about the cost of things breaking.

The Camaro isn't a bad car either, but it is "simpler" than the Mustang with a single camshaft.

Suburus are fun but the ride can be kind of harsh on some of them.

[996AE]

[Tervuren]

Cadillac offers some serious performance punch from their sports sedans and wagons.

I also like the C5 and onward Corvette.(Get one with the right options and it is a great cruiser, magnetic suspension, fully adjustable powered sport seats, etc...)

The real thing about the Euro cars is their choice of materials for the interior. Most U.S. cars have different materials and you won't get a match.

The 2012+ SRT Viper with leather interior has a euro style interior that is quite nice.

If you were willing to spend the Viper is the way to go.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The 1999 Cobra had an IRS. Otherwise all of the current generation Mustangs should be very respectable. Or you could up your game and go for a Boss 302 from the previous generation, or a GT350 if you want to spend real money. A few others you could consider:

Pontiac GTO
Cadillac CTS or CTS-V
C5 Z06 Corvette
Cobalt SS
Pontiac Solstice
Pontiac G8
Ford Contour SVT
Ford Focus SVT
Ford Focus or Fiesta ST
Lincoln LS
Challenger or Charger SRT

[aschen]

svo mustang is cool but it would be left for dead by a newer mustang, even a performance optioned v6/4t model.

~2008ish mustang GT isnt a great car in the context of modern performance cars. As a fun per dollar ratio tough they are appealing. My dad bought a showroom mint 2007 low miles vert for around 12k and it is a fun car to drive if not refined or precise. Not sure what your budget is but the coyote engines cars are much better.

The american sports car bargain is of course a nice c5 or c6 vette.

[scottmandue]

New Mustang Ecoboost 4 cylinder turbo. 300HP 30MPG.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

The 1999 Cobra had an IRS. Otherwise all of the current generation Mustangs should be very respectable. Or you could up your game and go for a Boss 302 from the previous generation, or a GT350 if you want to spend real money. A few others you could consider:

C5 Z06 Corvette

Speaking as a C5 Z06 owner, I would not recommend it based on his post.

Instead get a C5 Coupe with magnetic dampers and a loaded luxury interior.

The only reason to get the Z06 is if you like the FRC body or want a factory ready autocross/track day car that will be reliable.

The C5 Z06 is a serious step down in comfort from a well appointed C5 Corvette Coupe.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by piscator

I’ve always wanted an American road car that could challenge the European offerings from Porsche and BMW. Overall, I felt that my 1986 Pontiac 6000 STE (which I posted a thread about) qualified. I feel it equaled my BMW 535i of the same vintage.

But memory has a funny way of making cars of yesteryear perform better than they did!

This is the primary reason people are shocked by how good modern performance cars have become. Last fall, I bought an american performance car. It is scary fast and scary competent.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

New Mustang Ecoboost 4 cylinder turbo. 300HP 30MPG.

Recently rented a new Mustang. Wow.
If I didn't need four-wheel-drive to get to my house, I'd have a hard time not getting one.

[Tobra]

Corvette is the droid you seek

I like the C-5 and it provides fairly astounding performance for the price. Quite the huge aftermarket if you want to upgrade the brakes or suspension.

They are not more Miatas than anything else on racetracks every weekend by mistake, just sayin' a bit of of tiny little tin can to stick your daughter in though.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Sorry, I had a hard time making it past the part where you loved your 86 Pontiac :-)

[icemann427]

I drove an 84' SVO for about 250k miles. I had 245's all the way around on the stock 16" SVO rims. It literally would stop on a dime, and saved my butt a couple of times. Handling was well balanced and I used to have fun driving the twisty's down the SoCal mountains into the Borrego Springs desert. Like most four banger turbo's, it was not a low end powerhouse but was fairly nice in third gear. It used to love to cruise at 4k in fifth gear. Somehow, there was a real sweet spot at that RPM level. I used to make a weekly trip up the mountains to San Diego out of the desert and it would plain fly up that hill.

The Recaro styled seats were pretty comfortable...Heat and A/C worked well and it was a fairly nice car for the time. They are still really cheap as no one really appreciates them. In no way, however, would it compare to a newer performance vehicle in either comfort, quietness, quality, or performance. With all the vehcile being offered since that part of the 1980's, I wouldn't go back to that car...

[pwd72s]

Not 'zactly in love with my '09 Bullitt Mustang, but it's been 100% reliable and a good compromise car that does everything well and nothing in a spectacular manner. Yes, it has the old stick axle..I feel it still handles pretty well despite that.

Proved itself last night...dark and rainy Oregon night, returning from playing pool in Salem. Headed home on hwy 20, maybe 2 miles out of Albany, Oregon after topping off with 91 octane no alcohol gas. Annoyed by the lights of a big pickup I thought was following too close, I used it's V-8 horsepower (a mere 315) to gain some distance. Probably got up to about 70. The Mustang's optional HID's cutting through the gloom, I picked up a pair of deer standing in my lane. Oh, KRAP! Luckily no oncoming traffic. Brakes, quick steering, decent handling all came to the rescue. It was kinda like cutting an Auto-x slalom section pylon, Left around the critters, right back in my lane, and on towards home. It was over by the time Cindy told me the deer were there.

Glad I'd gained the distance ahead of the pickup. He'd have rear ended me if I hadn't. I did notice that he gave me distance after that.



(edit) An '08-'09 Bullitt Mustang would blow the doors off an old SVO...

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

The 1999 Cobra had an IRS. Otherwise all of the current generation Mustangs should be very respectable. Or you could up your game and go for a Boss 302 from the previous generation, or a GT350 if you want to spend real money. A few others you could consider:

Pontiac GTO
Cadillac CTS or CTS-V
C5 Z06 Corvette
Cobalt SS
Pontiac Solstice
Pontiac G8
Ford Contour SVT
Ford Focus SVT
Ford Focus or Fiesta ST
Lincoln LS
Challenger or Charger SRT

Perhaps a Dodge Neon SRT-4?

[nota]

fiero 88 is the best year for the american mid-motor sports car

and swap in a gm new motor most bolt up or swap with the trans [fwd]
they have done every thing from 4 to v8 lsx big blocks old mouse or caddys
my car has a northstar 4v 4cam all alloy v8 300hp and same weight as the iron v6 it replaced
tube A arms vett 13'' brakes coil overs ect under 10k all up

or buy one all ready done

[berettafan]

Lincoln Ls for a budget domestic bimmer.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Lincoln Ls for a budget domestic bimmer.

If that's in the running, be sure to check a gen1 CTS-V too.

[berettafan]

oh on the LS be sure its the v8 model.

I'd def not turn down a test drive in a cts-v