My early mid life crisis?

I've been lusting after an American, rear drive, pushrod, V8 powered car for a while now and it recently became a MUCH more intense yearning.

It began with the realization that the Scoob gets similar mileage to a Fox Mustang. Slightly better but similar. It proved it's worth when the snow fell but for the other three seasons, I'm REALLY wanting something else. The thing that really kicked the lust into high gear was when the timing belt in the Scoob's (scavenged from a '92 Legacy) EJ22 stretched and skipped enough teeth that it would not run. There were receipts in the Legacy from a local shop claiming that it had been changed at 90,xxx miles so I was puzzled by the failure at the current 120,xxx miles. I pulled the covers off (breaking 2 rusty bolts in the process) and found the original belt. Shame on the shop, but that's pretty good life for a belt; 20 years and 120,xxx miles.

I then had to wait 3 days for the belt and peripherals to arrive from Rock Auto when all of the local parts stores had timing chains with gears in stock for SBF and SBC, some even had gear drives! We were down to one vehicle for a bit and that was an eye opener.

If this is indeed a mid life crisis it is motivated partially by practicality and partially by a need for a deep V8 rumble and the kind of acceleration-to-investment ratio that can only come from a tweaked Fox Mustang or 2nd/3rd Gen Camaro. (IMHO) I have yet to find a car with more aftermarket and junkyard support than the Fox Mustang.

I peruse Craigslist daily in Peoria, Chicago and St. Louis looking for the haggard car of my dreams. I've even been looking at Caprices, Crown vics, etc. but the first search is always Mustang.

Is anyone else similarly afflicted? Do I need a mullet wig?

Not exactly a "what car thread" but these are my ideal specs for a Mustang, the price must be under the GRM budget cap, '89-'95, 5-speed, 5.0 and stock or VERY close to stock. I am emphatically anti rust.

Go for it.

I wouldn't mind having a notch or a convertible...but my plate is full with the current project.

Oddly, there was a '98 Cobra on the Dayton CL with a blown engine a while back for 1K.

Ls1 fbody

LSx fox body. Google search Popular Hot Rodding's Project Orphan. Lots of factory parts used, even the f-body gauge cluster!

Don't overlook C4 Corvettes either; they're not much more expensive than 3rd gen Camaros.

I've wondered what I would ever buy if I had a midlife crisis - my collection of daily drivers has included a 30 year old Dodge Dart, a C4 Corvette, a BMW convertible, a turbo LeBaron coupe, and not a single late model sedan.

MadScientistMatt wrote: Don't overlook C4 Corvettes either; they're not much more expensive than 3rd gen Camaros. I've wondered what I would ever buy if I had a midlife crisis - my collection of daily drivers has included a 30 year old Dodge Dart, a C4 Corvette, a BMW convertible, a turbo LeBaron coupe, and not a single late model sedan.

You would sell them all and buy a prius?

I've wanted a Mustang for years too, but that Fox chassis suspension...ugh. The only way I'd buy one is if I could find one already 'fixed' with Maximum Motorsports or Griggs suspension. It's just too expensive to do otherwise.

As much as a Ford guy as I am, I'd agree with another suggestion to consider a high mileage, slightly tarnished Corvette. You can get a C5 for not a lot of green these days, and it can do so much more right out of the box. The problem with the F-body cars is they are so damn heavy and it's a challenge to get them to stop on anything but an autocross course.

I would like to say that 3rd Gen Camaros can be had for very cheap. I know of a complete "barn find" 5.0L Auto RS with 80k for $1000.00 needing very little. Similar deals are out there.

In reply to John Brown:

Don't tantalize me with such stories! I've got one, and that's too many!

I just sold my C4 in great mechanical shape for $4000.averaged 23 mpg with high test, 26 on the highway, 18 or so in town. It had the 6 speed and 3.30 or so rear.

I'm not a tallented driver, the car was capable of much more than I could pilot it to.

I now have a dodge with 150 more HP, same 6speed ratios but a 3.73 rear and I'm getting 15 to 18 mpg.

The C4 is a great buy with high potential but is not easy to drive at its limits, and it doesn't work great as a dd in all climates.