What to Buy?

[LeeVin]

I am a recent empty-nester looking for a new vehicle. I have had an SUV for way too long. I am 95% sure I am going to purchase a SHO, red, blue or gray. I will add the 402A package, and I think I will add the performance package. Did someone indicate there is no spare with the pp? I want comfort, but I want performance and I want it to sound like a muscle car. My son has a ten year old Cobra that has a lot of horsepower. My husband’s truck has mods. I don’t want to add too much HP, I cannot afford to go to jail. (I must be getting old, too much HP - is there such a thing?) It will be a daily driver, but would be nice to turn a few heads.

I want to have my own opinions before I am given the opinions of my husband and son. I want to say “Honey, I want a red SHO, 402A and pp, and add this, this and this.” He told me he would buy me whatever I want. Should I have the dealer add the exhaust and CAI? Do I want a chip, and if so, which one and why?

I would love all of your opinions/suggestions.

 

[Leadfoot1]

The new SHO with the PP is a nice ride and it does not come with a spare, but an 18 space saver from a wrecked 13 would work. The 10-12s had 17 inch spares but that won't clear the new rotors.
the CAI and exhaust would add sound and maybe 20HP but the biggest bang for the buck would be a tune (Livernois, Torrie, James).
Springs and tinting seem to be the first mods of many SHO owners. H&R and Eibach are the spring choices, H&R gives an extra .7 inch drop over the Eibach 1 inch.

The exhaust and CAI will not affect the warranty, but the tune might.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

A tune definitely might if there is any related damage......:swing:

 

[Darkside]

Welcome! If having a muscle car sound is very important than the Sho might not be the car for you. Seeing you are from Arizona, the awd shouldn't be a priority. What about a gently used Cts-V? If I lived in warmer climates the V would be at the top of the list.

 

[Skyking]

Like Darkside said, If muscle car sound is what your looking for, I dont think you will ever get it with the SHO no mater what combonation exhaust/cai you put on. Even the vids i've seen with downpipes and exhaust dont sound anything close to a muscle.

You want sound, go Mustang and never look back If it has to be 4 door, CTS-V or 300 SRT8 or even just the 300c.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Best 4 Dr RWD car for fun and money is a low mile G8 hands down. Much more room inside and plenty of room for relatively cheap mods, like a cam, headers and tune. Easy to get into the 12's and not to expensive to get into the 11's, and still have a great D.D. And with SS arriving in the $45-$50K range, the G8 if kept in good condition will hold its value. GXP is nice but GT with 6.0 is a better deal.

 

[PokerMunkee]

I'd go with a Chrysler 300C or better yet, SRT8. The HEMI sounds great with an after market exhaust. They have all of the options and technology the SHO has and are just as quick. The new 8 speed automatic is coming very soon, so it would be worth waiting for.

I've only seen a few of the new 300 SRT8's on the road, just as rare as the SHO in my area.

 

[bpd1151]

A tune definitely might if there is any related damage......

Whoa, the world must be coming to an end.....

Is this an acknowledgement that your tune caused your failure Bob?



Also, although you have a kick ass G8, Pontiac's are no longer being produced and most, if not all parts have to come from Australia now, so I wouldn't necessarily say that getting into any used Pontiac would be a wise recommendation as parts would be astronomical.....

Yikes.....

 

[D5mckelvey]

Best 4 Dr RWD car for fun and money is a low mile G8 hands down. Much more room inside and plenty of room for relatively cheap mods, like a cam, headers and tune. Easy to get into the 12's and not to expensive to get into the 11's, and still have a great D.D. And with SS arriving in the $45-$50K range, the G8 if kept in good condition will hold its value. GXP is nice but GT with 6.0 is a better deal.

No manual trans.......

If I lived in warmer climates, I would jump at the CTS-V, G8 GXP , BMW 335i (a monster with a tune). Or any of the pony cars if you don't need 4 doors. (mustang, challenger, Camaro)

I would love for one of the big three to produce a vehicle that has over 350 hp with AWD and a 6 spd manual. These have been Audi, BMW, Acura's bread and butter for years, you would think the big three would catch on. And please make it a NON-HATCHBACK!!!! Just make a 335xi but produced here is the US basically. Why don't we have that?

 

[Leadfoot1]

A tune definitely might if there is any related damage......:swing:

I agree, that's why I said "might" affect warranty.
If you return to the stock tune and bring it in for something unrelated to the powertrain (electronics, window, vibration, etc) no issue. But if there is a major powertrain problem they will look deeper and possibly void the coverage.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Whoa, the world must be coming to an end.....

Is this an acknowledgement that your tune caused your failure Bob?



Also, although you have a kick ass G8, Pontiac's are no longer being produced and most, if not all parts have to come from Australia now, so I wouldn't necessarily say that getting into any used Pontiac would be a wise recommendation as parts would be astronomical.....

Yikes.....

The tune didn't cause my issues... I CAUSED MY ISSUES. And you know that....

G8 parts are not an issue. Engine and Drive train are common GM items as are most other items. MUCH CHEAPER TO REPAIR THAN EB PLATFORM..... New SS platform is almost identical to G8. Sheetmetal and interior upgrades are only difference. Any SRT8 will cost at least $15.K more and not be any faster.

Personally, I like the sound of the EB engine once you add a couple aftermarket mufflers. And... If I did any snow/ice driving, I would have a SHO or MKS due to AWD.

 

[Mac98SHO]

The tune didn't cause my issues... I CAUSED MY ISSUES. And you know that.....

:booboo:


Not say I never caused any failure of my own either.... I just could not help myself.

 

[jontyrees]

not sure why everyone seems to be talking the OP out of a SHO. I say get a new SHO, get all the options 'cept maybe the PP, wait until you've driven it before adding CAI and changing exhaust (for my money that would be waiting until ....never) or considering a tune package. Tune seems to offer a major HP/torque bump for not too much $, but I'd drive the stock car first. It's not slow. I didn't get the PP on mine, as (for me) the benefits wouldn't outweigh a harsher ride. Texas roads are pretty beat up - not sure how Arizona is. for sure you would be ok with summer tires (although that golf tournament got snowed out in AZ a couple weeks back).

 

[Leadfoot1]

I seems like they are trying to discourage her from buying the SHO because of the "muscle car" sound. True, it won't have the V8 rumble but some exhausts sound okay.
As far as power... depending on the mods of the 03 Cobra, the stock SHO will probably beat it.
It's an excellent DD, and being in AZ I would go for the PP to get the extra trans and oil coolers.
402A definitely, multi contour seats if you take long trips, sunroof.

If you want the CAI or exhaust installed at the dealer, you will have to buy it yourself first since they aren't available through them. the CAI choices are Airaid and K&N.

I would also suggest H&R springs to help with launches and get the car out of the stratosphere.

 

[bpd1151]

It seems like they are trying to discourage her from buying the SHO because of the "muscle car" sound.

True, it won't have the V8 rumble, but some exhausts sound okay.

I would concur, & add since I am currently the only one running completely catless at this point, along with an X-pipe and high flow mufflers (Thanks Kirk @ NESHO ) mine sounds pretty damn good for a turbo application V6.....

Here 'ya go ------>


[YOUTUBE]6yxnTIezuCM[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]ZrBOfcJWXns[/YOUTUBE]

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

:booboo:


Not say I never caused any failure of my own either.... I just could not help myself.

I d.e.e.d...I d.e.e.d.... OOPS!'


And... it still hurts..

Summer is just around the corner... Time for us to think about Cedar Falls Raceway!!!

 

[intimdatr]

A tune definitely might if there is any related damage......:swing:

I think i must have missed something! Pop a motor in the Flex?

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

How long.... is a short Rope????????

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

My EB Flex has 52,500 mi on it and it's going strong... I did pop an LED light strip under my passenger side headlight. Not sure what kind of bug did it in... Ford denied the warranty claim.... aftermarket parts!

 

[LeeVin]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the input. I have a Dodge right now and though I love my HEMI, I really don't want another Dodge. Hubby won't buy from companies that took the bail-out. Had a BMW, replacing the windshield from all the rocks around here put a giant flag on my insurance. It was nice, but very expensive. We live in Phoenix but we frequent Prescott, and sometimes Flagstaff, where it snows. We did have "snow" in north Phoenix twice this year, but mostly it was just a little slushy here and there. The windows will be tinted dark as it's a little warm here in the summer.

I like the SHO and the luxury features you cannot get with a vehicle like the Mustang. That's my trade. I don't know if I can go from a SUV to a 2-door. As-is it has more hp than most 4-doors. I think I am going to drive it as is for a while like someone suggested. I am sure when my son gets stationed closer this summer, I will hear non-stop about all the mods he wants me to make to it.