Michelle I understand completely the sentimental attachment, and there are reasons to keep a car like this. BTW, this is my sig on my former board:
87 GT T-Top original owner-all options except leather, including 3.08 rear end
MAC shorty 1 5/8 headers, MAC offroad H-pipe, Flowmaster Delta Flows w/turndowns, electric fan, 3-row radiator, Centerforce Dual-Friction, Steeda quadrant, adjuster, and cable, Tri-ax shifter, K&N, fenderwell silencer aborted, Optima red-top relocated to hatch, Steeda Competition springs, offset steering rack bushings, MM full length subframes, BFGoodrich DR's (real traction is a wonderful thing!)
You can do things that make immediate improvement, and don't cost much. Fot example, my Steeda Tri-ax shifter makes shifting a new, short click precise experience rather than the "long handled spoon stirring a can of tomato soup" feeling. Maximum Motorsports long subframe connectors for @ $100 make the car stop feeling like a "dog shaking after a bath" when driving over railroad tracks.
Then you can plan and budget things like a $5000 crate motor and a $2000 transmission. Think of a $500 car payment saved for enough months to buy the upgrade, and then the car is still paid for!
I love the new Stangs, but they are HEAVY pigs! My car weighs 3000 pounds, new runs about 3800. With the Drag Radials on my car and @240 HP I've run 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. It takes a lot of HP to make up 800 lbs.
On handling, the sub connectors help tremendously. I added Steeda racing springs and the car now changes lanes like a go-kart! Body roll is close to non-existent, very fun in traffic.
Oh, about $300 for the springs.
My advice- keep your baby, spend money on it when you can and want to, and put it in your will!
P.S.- Put $15,000 in it in the next five years, and you can embarrass Ferrari's in it!
Mustangs rock!!
