Opinions on a very tough choice - trade Exige S/Viper for Ford GT?

[LotusStig22]

Originally Posted by Tracktimeplz

Lost me here...Those cars cost more to buy, maintain, and track than the ford, for about the same performance.

Also that truck engine is tried and true, and is responsible for the ford GT's large variety of aftermarket HP upgrades.



Good luck

Cost more to maintain, but get, what...50x better mileage?
The GT's a gas guzzler mate.

Imho, I think the raw feel of the viper along with the pure adrenaline rush of the Exige S beats most things out there. Sure, you'll look "G" in a Gallardo or GT, but when that's in the shop for servicing, how you gonna your kicks mate? Certainly not a '84 Honda Accord (Or whatever else you own). With two, yes twice the maintenance cost (But still less than the GT), but double the fun.

[Simba]

I wouldn't do it. The FGT is a very fun car, but the Viper and Exige both do their respective jobs better than it ever will.

Two cars that do two different things very well is better than one car that does both marginally by comparison.

The only exception to that would be were you to spend a fairly silly amount of money on the FGT making it handle as well as the Lotus, which can be done, and perhaps do a turbo system on it.

[300hpMR2]

Too bad you aren't in Austin. The annual Ford GT Rally is going on right now.

[Simba]

Originally Posted by tko211

The Viper in my opinion is a big heavy car that takes a lot of work to drive. It's cool in it's own right but no FORD GT.

The "big heavy" Viper weighs just about exactly the same as the FGT, and the ACR in the right hands will rape and pillage the FGT in every significant benchmark.

Neither car is "easy" to drive by any stretch of the imagination.

[jlj3394]

There is an Elise for sale on this board for $22. You can add a supercharger for ~$8000.

If you can afford the GT, you'll probably have $30,000 to spend later on to get back into a Lotus as well.

Get the GT and then post pics.

[Vishus_1]

I vote for the GT.

If you only put a few thousand miles on it and decide this wasn't a move you liked, I bet if resale holds true to what they have done, you could probably sell it for either the same price or a minor difference. But nothing is certain and it's value could lower. I have been watching them as well to see if they might go the way of the Detomaso Pantera - i.e. the Ford imported ones in the 70's.

One thing about Ford GT's that is becoming a bit concerning is the issue with some parts availability. There are some pieces that you just can't come by any more.

If Fiat decides to dump Viper, ACR parts could be an issue.

And now that 2010 Exiges have a different front clam - I wonder if now or shortly become a problem to get 2006-2009 front clams in the future.

[Bavarian Motorist]

This is an emotional decision as much, if not a bit more, than a rational one. If the GT will boil your blood and summon your adrenaline, then do it. Isn't that the point of owning cars like these anyways?

[tabajay]

Ford GT

[ksdaoski]

FGT

[Darth G-F]

I drove a Ford GT on a track and absolutely HATED it. One of the worst car I ever drove on a track actually. I'm only 5'10 but I couldn't fit under the roof with my helmet on. So I had to recline the back seat so much I could barely see forward. Then the big a pillar would block most of the view going into corners... in a 500hp+ car. No way.

If you want a track car in that price range, the F430 is absolutely marvelous! Probably the best exotic car I have ever driven. Just pure driving bliss.

If this is to be a street car, take whatever your heart desire. Buying as ports car should never be rational. It should be emotional. If the FGT gets your blood going, go for it. Just don't take it to the track, you'll hate it.

[SOCRATES]

Thanks, all. All great points to digest here. I'm still pondering...

PS. Yes, I concur, it's a 99.9% emotional decision at this point.

[xtn]

Originally Posted by ewalberg

It's a sweet car in person but it's still a little mix and match styled in my opinion. For some reason it has a vaguely dated look to me.

Um... it supposed to look vaguely dated. That's kind of the appeal.

xtn

[evomind]

ill chime in.....
im probably a little less biased than most of the folks here, but some of my comments may surprise you.

1. cost. your looking to trade/sell 2 cars. by my estimation the total WHOLESALE value of those 2 cars has to be abt 115k. i think the 09 acr wholesale is around 85k, not sure on the exige, so i guessed. that FGT youre looking at wouldnt do it for me considering what youre giving up. unless it has ALL the options (stripes, mcintosh, and painted calipers to go along with the upgraded rims) also would have to be the 2006 model.
the non stripes are not worth nearly as much as the striped version. in this economy, i wouldnt pay more than say 140k for that car.
so, first off, if i were looking i would find one with all options and model 2006. if its a 2005, make sure the engineers did the recall.
for a car that id be looking for, i can find a fine example in the 150k range. maybe less, remember a lot of people are hit hard by the economy. keep looking for exactly what you want.

2. how often do you drive 2 sportscars? when i had 2 one rarely was driven.
OTOH, it might make sense to keep what you have. the new vipers are just awesome and the ACR is very cool. the exige is a cute toy too. youve already taken the depreciation hit on them.

3. the fgt is a great exotic car that is EASY on maintenance. face it, in that price range its the only exotic you can take to any decent speed shop and they will know all abt it. the 5.4 ford has been around a long time and now that the gt500 uses basically the same engine, any speed shop that is familiar with fords can do anything you need.
changing the oil doesnt take any special expertise, so basic maintenance is no biggie on any vehicle except the ferraris folks have suggested.

4. will you track the car? if you want a track car, keep the exige. if you wad it up you wont cry as hard if you wad up the acr or the fgt. and you might live because you wont be going as fast.
OTOH, the exige wont touch the other 2 cars on a track.
the fgt is the fastest of the bunch, on or off the track. if the costs of tracking the car are immaterial to you and you wanna risk wadding it up, the fgt is a great car on the track. (id use grippier tires than stock though)


drive all cars and decide. only you can decide what car/s do it for you.
good luck. you cant go wrong either way.
let us know what you decide.
have fun!

[mrcarcrazy]

Damn, you have quite a difficult decision.

I say get the Ford, and buy another lotus in a year or two. But I dunno. I don't think I'd sell my Lotus...so I might be a hypocrite for suggesting you sell yours.

This is difficult. Do you have 2 kidneys? then you could have 3 cars! hahahaha - The Black market is booming these days.

[evomind]

i couldnt afford a FGT so i bought and built this instead.

[texige]

You have already owned a Viper and an Exige. Time to try something new. Owning a variety of different cars over time makes car ownership alot more fun. The resale of the FGT should be good when you are ready for the 2012 Exige with 400 hp FI V6 engine.

[Bgwilly31]

Well from the sounds of it. You may take a pretty good hit ont he viper selling it so soon.

But besides that imo and its not biased. As i was in the market for a viper acr before the rossion decision.

I say keep what you got. Its the best of both worlds. The viper is an amazing car and i cant imagine how it would give you any less thrill than a stock gt would give you. Than on top of that you get to keep your Exige. I would love to have been able to keep both cars when i purchased my new one.

[evomind]

any developments?

[SOCRATES]

Originally Posted by evomind

any developments?

Actually, the solid black one fell through, as the guy got cold feet about selling. Still a lot of other cars out there to consider though, I just have to find the right one.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by SOCRATES

Actually, the solid black one fell through, as the guy got cold feet about selling. Still a lot of other cars out there to consider though, I just have to find the right one.

perhaps a blessing in disguise.
good luck in your search and make sure you have the car checked out and test driven b4 u do anything.

i test drove one with 2k miles on it once and second gear synchros were a bit worn.