98 GT 5 Speed or 03 Auto?!!
 

Hey guys! I need some help, for the past month or so I have been looking to get my first Stang. I got about 7000 for the car, so far all the good deals have either been snatched up, or nothing has come up that has interested me. I recently have seen two cars a gorgeous 98 GT, 126,000 kms, awesome staggered 18 inch Gun metal Cobra R rims on a white exterior, exhaust (x-pipe to dual chambered flowmasters), lowered etc. Essentially all the exterior mods, and just a BBK CAI for the engine (6200$ lowest he will go). The other is a 2003 Auto silver stang, mostly stock with a low 100,000kms for 6500$. The thing is preformance wise, clearly the auto 03 is faster then the 98 (and don't hate, but I dont mind an auto cause I grew up on it) but I would need to invest lots of money to get the 1998 GT up to even just stock numbers of the 03, maybe a PI swap and cams etc. Where as the auto I was thinking 4:10 gears with SCT bama tune, headers, exhaust, and I would be good to go...for a while and it would be much cheaper then having to always try to keep up with newer models with the 98. What do you guys think?

Not sure how quick you need to get a Stang, but if you don't mind having an auto then I would say go with the '03, but I am real New Edge fan and in my opinion they are one of the nicest Stangs ever produced. Again, it's all about personal preference, and you need to get the car you think you will be happy with.

Hey ghost, as dubldee says, go with the one you prefer...

but if it's a sn95 model, I would wait to find a cobra more hp/$

without broking the bank...

I had an 04 GT Vert with an auto (the only auto stang I ever owned) and I wasn't a big fan of the auto. I put 4.10's in it but it just didn't do it for me. Maybe with some trans work and a converter I would have liked it but that can get expensive. Personally I would hold out for a new edge with a 5spd. The resale is always easier on a manual and you are just getting into the season where the prices tend to drop. I'm not hating on the auto's as I know they have their benefits too but that's just my opinion.

Well unfortunetly I need one within 2 weeks! The rides are getting tough. But yea I agree the benefits with a manual are much better, I do know with a set of gears and a tune it can really wake the Auto tranny up however. I just like the 99-04 models as the performance and looks of the car compared to the slouchy and somewhat soft look of the 98 is a little less appealing. Its just finding the newer model for around 7 grand is a little bit of a challenge! I Just dont want an Auto tranny blowing on me ya know?

I would get the 5 spd. as others have said, I know autos have their advantages and my winter beater is an auto (I still would prefer a standard but I'm not picky) but I don't see myself buying a performance car with an auto anytime in the near future.

So I went to go look at the 2003 Auto today, it felt very solid, and the interior was worlds nicer then the 98, I could also feel the power was hugely different, could hardly get traction in any gear I floored it in :D Gonna get it inspected, along with the 98 and we will see which ones is my pick!