I hate to post this on a dodge forum..i pretty much know the answer...try to be unbiased..if possible..please?



Well, theres is a slight problem now at our house...

The camaro is helping itself to a new owner. The motor has a fouled plug (bad piston rings), When we bought the car a few years ago for like 4500, The owner told us the rransmission was on it's way out, we never fixed it, it's been running for a long time on 1 bolt between the convertor and flywheel, it's a weak as crap 700R4, and apparently the A/C just went out for the most part the other day. Now with my mom working at winstar, she can kinda afford a new-ish car (we think). What do you think our best plan of action is?

Fix it
Sell the car after gutting the sound system and throwing a temporary system in it just to make it sellable

If the latter, what should we get?

Used camaro or mustang (post-98)

New Dodge Charger
If the Charger, which motor:
3.5L V6- 19/27 MPG, 18 gal tank, $121 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 19 MPG, $85 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 27 MPG (SE: 23K; SXT: 26K)
5.7L Hemi V8- 17/25 MPG, 19 gal tank, $135 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 17 MPG, $92 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 25 MPG (R/T: 30K)

New Ford Mustang
If the Mustang, Which Motor:

4.0L V6- 16 gal tank
If V6, Which transmission:
T-5 Manual: 19/28 MPG, $121 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 19 MPG, $82 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 28 MPG
5 speed auto: 19/25 MPG, $121 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 19 MPG, $92 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 25 MPG

4.6L V8- 16 gal Tank
If V8, Which Transmission:
TR3650 Manual: 19/25 MPG, $121 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 19 MPG, $92 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 25 MPG
5 speed auto: 18/23 MPG, $128 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 19 MPG, $100 of gas (assuming 2.30/gal) per 1000 miles at 23 MPG



Now incase that looks like greek to you, That basically says that:

The Charger R/T with the hemi is $4,000 more than the "luxery" V6 and $7,000 more than the "base" V6. However, in averaged mixed City/Highway Driving, The hemi will cost you $10 more per 1000 miles than the V6. So you actually lose money with the Hemi. Alot of it.

The Ford mustang with the 4.0L V6 gets 19/26.5 MPG When the 2 readings are averaged. Simplifying that leads to a reading of 22.75. The Mustang with the 4.6L V8 gets 18.5/24 MPG under the same circumstances, leading to 21.25. That means the V8 will cost you about $5 more per 1000 miles than the V6. However, the "Base" V8 costs $7,000 more than the Base V6, So you don't lose much in mileage, but alot up front.


Total money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Charger V8 vs base V6: $7,010

Total money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on charger V8 vs luxery V6: $4,010


Total Money Lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Premium V8 vs Premium V6: $6,050

Total Money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Deluxe V8 vs Deluxe V6: $6,050


Total Money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Premium V8 vs Charger V8: $-3,004 (Mustang is 3K cheaper, 4 dollars cheaper in gas)

Total Money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Deluxe V8 vs Charger V8: $-4,004 (Mustang is 4K Cheaper, 4 dollars cheaper in gas)

Total Money Lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Base V6 vs Charger SE V6: $-2,999 (Mustang is 3K Cheaper, 1 dollar worse in gas)

Total Money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Deluxe V6 vs Charger SXT V6: $-5,999 (Mustang is 6K Cheaper, 1 dollar worse in gas)

Total Money lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Premium V6 vs Charger SXT V6: $-4,999 (Mustang is 5K Cheaper, 1 dollar worse in gas)

Total Money Lost after buy and first 1000 miles on Mustang Premium V6 vs Charger SE V6: $-1,999 (Mustang is 2K Cheaper, 1 dollar worse in gas)


So it looks to me like the Mustang V6 Deluxe is the best deal? Base MSRP 19,910. ($20,905 as built online)


(Now, of course thats not considering that there's a 10,000 dollar markup on any mustang right now for the mostpart...)

 

ok, after factoring the 10K onto the mustang, the charger isn't loking too bad. The R/T with hemi is a little pricey, we want the automatic (it's a pain to wear through clutches sitting in traffic). So a V6 is prolly what we'd end up with nomatter what we get. We can also get a family discount i believe b/c the dealer sells diamerchrysler and ford on the same lot, and we bought the ram there. Of course, test drive is the key.


But then again, we have the option to pull out the auto trader....

 

the charger and mustang werent meant to compete with eachother

 

The Mustang is probably a better buy, but they chip/flake too easy. A cousin of mine owns one and that's all his does. The interior of the Mustang looks very outdated on the new models especially the back seats, but that's the look Ford wanted. Power wise it's good, so are the exterior looks if you like Retro. The Charger V6 has great interior, very luxurious even for affordable models. It's also powerful, but is slower then the Mustang. It's heavier I believe, but more reliable then the Mustang.

Try going for the Charger.


-Matt-

 

thanks for the thoughts. We're looking at a 2002 camaro thats for sale down the road, something that would make my mom real happy

 

Ummm...... if you are so concerned with the cost of ownership, fuel breakdown over 1000 miles etc etc, you should just get a honda civic[:'(] and be done with it

 

gas isn't expensive, i hate how everyone ****s a brick about it. the mustang, although good for a ford which isn't saying much lacks style like teh charger. chargers get noticed because they are special, people ignore mustangs because all teh douche bags of teh world drive them which means you will see them all over the place. the charger alone is worth the money just to be noticed unique and in style.

 

Let's say the car gets 18Mpg and 18K per year...

$3.00 for 1gal = 18 mile

$30.00 for 10gal = 180 miles

$300.00 for 100 gal = 1,800 mile

$3,000 gal for 1000 gal = 18,000 miles

For a poor college student who can't spare more then $5, wouldn't cheaper gas saving you hundreds, be a positive for you? Unless it's the complaining you're complaining about. I think it does get annoying hearing to people complain about gas prices, especially on the news, but they have every right intention and good reasons too.. Just my 2 cents.

-Matt-

 

yeah i agree with you

 

Get a Magnum with MDS