Which Mustang S550?

Hi all, I sold my C5 Z06 last summer and have been looking for my next fun car (in the mean time I co-drove my son's Abarth for last year's autocross season). Prices have been through the roof but I think  a slighly used S550 Mustang can still be had for a fairly decent deal compared to other fun/sport cars. Please correct me if I am wrong and there is other/better deal on fun/sport cars. I thought about the Camaro SS 1LE but the used ones are still over MSRP, really bad visibility and I am not sure if it's worth paying the premium to get the 1LE package for my use case. Also, subjectively I like the look of the S550 Mustang than the Camaro. 

It's mainly my fun/weekend car, 5-8 autocross a year and may be 3-4 trackcross (autocross on about 3/4 of a real track so not as bad on the car as track day IMHO).  Probably 1 or 2 track night in america events if I can find the time. Based on my C5 Z06 I'll probably drive it for less than 1.5K miles/year and I'd like to keep it to as close as possible to stock so I'll most likely run it in F Street.

Based on that criteria whch S550 Mustang should I get? Is it worth spending more time and money finding a Mustang GT with PP2 or a regular Mustang GT with some suspension, exhaust and tire upgrade to stay in FS will do the job? Is the Recaro seat worth the premium? Also, how hard will it be to improve the engine, transmission and diff cooling if I decide to do more track days in the future? Any known issues with the S550 with the Coyote engine? Lastly, if I can find a GT350 for mid to high 40s is it worth paying the premium for the GT350 over the regular GT in terms of future resale value but classed much higher in autocross?

Thanks for all the input and feedback. 

As of this year they're all in FS other than the 350 w/handling package. If you're concerned about remake value you probably don't want a plain gt.

You'll want the PP package. Brakes are killer stock although they dust like stupid crazy. There are some better suspension but underneath, but you'll negate most of it with aftermarket pieces. Ergos for 6'/275+# me are compromised to say the least. I rub my thigh on the steering wheel getting in and struggle getting out if someone parks too close. My head hits the headliner with a helmet on and pushed forward by the headrest.

Are there any visual cues for Mustang optioned with PP? I am thinking that dealers may not always know what they have or list all of the options/packages. For example, with Camaro SS 1LE you can tell it has the 1LE package from the hood and rear view mirror color and also the wheels. Also, does the Torsen 3.73 LSD rear diff only come with PP equipped Mustang?

In reply to ea_sport :

Easiest clue is 4 "pods" vs 3 vents above the radio. You can option in the 3.73 torsen if you wanted...

If you're buying a Mustang, PP is worth it for the additional cooling and bracing.  You can't do it cheaper than the price delta from a standard GT.  That said, I thought the stock PP suspension on our '17 was way too soft for track work.  Brakes were OK, but a pad change would have improved things.  Standard seats weren't great, Recaros probably better, but I haven't sat in them in a Mustang yet.  Seats are a very personal thing.

After looking at the cost to upgrade the suspension, I started looking at GT350s.  Lots of reported engine failures and extreme oil usage when tracked.  We decided to buy a ZL1 instead.

If you're set on a Mustang, I would go for PP + magnetic suspension.  That's probably the best you can get if you want to keep it stock.

As a lover of gt350s I'd probably avoid them. The bottom of the market is early non Rs. That's important because the early engines are failing and the early gt350s didn't receive the coolers required for track work the Rs did. There is actually a lawsuit going on about this now.

I had the same intended use case as you and I bought a ss 1le, but I do have a little GM bias. 

Is the mach 1 new enough that prices are still crazy? Seems like that would be the sweet spot. The good suspension from the gt350 without the temperamental engine, and hopefully a special enough model that it won't depreciate like a rock in five years.

In reply to dps214 :

Every dealer around here is marking them up big time.  

In reply to Opti :

Did you get a new or used ss 1le? if I can get a new ss 1le at MSRP I'd seriously consider it. The price of used ones are still over MSRP.

In reply to ea_sport :

Used. I'm not a fan of the 19 and ups styling, although some are better than others, so I had to go used.

In reply to Opti :

Same here, I prefer '17 and '18 styling but around here (Metro Washington DC area) dealers are still asking for low to mid 40s for '17 and '18 1SS 1LE. That's partly why I am switching to '17 - '19 Mustang GT with PP. I feel like they can still be had for mid to high 30s.

In reply to ea_sport :

Same here. I bought mine mid last year. It had 900 miles on it and I think I paid 41k. The ones I'm seeing here with less than 10k are 41-44k. I think msrp starts at 47k on a new 1ss 1le.