I was thinking about getting a new car next summer after I graduate because I need a car that is professional looking and seats more people than a vette. My requirements were a V8, american car company, and rear wheel drive. The 3 cars that came to mind were the 2005 Mustang, Chrysler 300C and of course the 2005 GTO. I was suprised that when I compared gas mileage and 1/4 times and I was suprised at how crappy the new Mustang compared.

GTO 400 hp/395 ft/lbs: 13.8 in the quarter: 29 mpg highway: $33k (I would get the employee discount which helps out with price)

300C 340 hp/390 ft/lbs: 13.9 in the quarter: 26 mpg highway $34.8k (all wheel drive)

Mustang 300 hp/320 ft/lbs: 13.8 in the quarter 25 mpg highway $27k

I couldn't believe that the lightest car had the least amount of power, got the worst gas mileage and wasn't even the fastest. I wish they still made the F-bodies, I might just have to get a used LS1 F-body instead of a new car. The Chrysler 300C SRT/8 looks like a sweet car and this Spring it will get the 6.1 liter Hemi with 425 hp, 420 ft/lbs, now that sounds like a good car that a legal professional can drive around in. Like I said I'm in no hurry to get a car now but I want something that is professional looking yet fun to drive by next fall, what kind of car would you guys suggest?

 

I suggest my 95 impala ss 396ci. 220 afr shaft mount rockers etc etc
should run high 11`s on motor by spring 28 grand

 

Just a little tip. The 2005 Mustang runs faster than a 13.8 according to most sources I have read. Motortrend ran a 13.6 @ 99.9mph in an AUTOMATIC and laid down 267/283 on a dynojet. 0-60 in 5.1 seconds This was all on factory specs.

And we allll know GTOs run faster than a 13.8 bone stock, so dont look at magazine specs for them either.




My idea was going to be the new Cadillac STS if you want to have a REAL professional business car that can do real well in dry, rain, or snow conditions. But out of those 3 I'd personally be stuck between the 300C and the Mustang GT. I'd lean more towards the Mustang but it all depends on how many people you are going to be driving around, and for how long

 

Makes the choice pretty clear doesn't it? The mustang doesn't have much room in the backseat. Not sure about the GTO. But for sheer classiness and still having power and a roomy interior, the 300c stands out in those selections. Caddi would be another option, but then you are adding another easy $10k-$15k to the price

 

Thanks for the input guys, as far as the mustangs 13.8 and the GTO's 13.8 I got those numbers from guys on the forums who have actually ran their cars at the track and those were the real life times they were getting bone stock however the GTO's 13.8 in the 1/4 was the 2004 with the LS1 not the 2005 with the LS2, the Mustang was a GT with the 5-speed, the automatic mustang only gets 23 mpg on the highway.

 

300C is the ****... If you can afford it a Caddy CTS-V is a bad *** ride too

 

I would get the 300C in rear-wheel drive, slap a pair of dual e-cutouts on, and youd instantly have a car that can serve two purposes: quiet luxury and good gas mileage, or loud pavement pounding hemi muscle

 

Good idea on the exhaust cutouts, I was thinking about a supercharger or something but I'll just keep building up my 85' vette instead of modding the car that I want for work.
There is no way I could ever afford a CTS-V $50k, I can't even afford a 300C, however in order to get a good job I will need a professional looking car, if it wasn't for stuck up attorneys/clients I'd just drive my vette or a older modded car that has a back seat.

 

hey john, I asked the sales people at work, the new prices arent out yet, but the gto's will be here should be in march. they said about a 4% increase. he's thinking gm discount would end up around 30K for the 2005. now, as far as driving around clients or whatever, forget the gto. the backseat is comfy/roomy (for a smallish car), but the seats take forever to move forward and its kinda tight squeezing in back there. once your in its great, but getting in isnt very convenient. I dont know what the 300c looks like. send me some pics or links. but it sounds like the car for you. what about the new charger? that will have 4 doors too. two little doors, but they open like a ext. cab pickup or a saturn back door, so its easy to get in/out. also you dont want your car to have an obnoxious sound level to it Id think. seems the 300C wins there too. what about a v8 bonneville? very nice cars. maybe next year they'll put more power into it too. you'd love the active handeling systems and tight ride ( for a "luxury" car).

 

You can atleast lease a 2004 GTO for ~215-230/month, atleast thats what my dad can get it for working for GM.

 

right now the gto can be leased for $317/mo from my work. Ive never heard of them being that cheap. where did you here that price from? poss. is that price w/alot of cash upfront? the $317 is with like $800 at signing.

 

Sundance -- i'm sure you've heard of em. Could have been 240/month. Thats the 2004 model, they want to get rid of em to make room for 05s. But yeah, I would not be surprised if its with some $$$ down

 

My 04 GTO only gets 22mpg on the highway. Thats why there is a $1000 gas guzzler tax on it (A4). I dont know what the 400hp 05 will get, but I dont think it will be 29mpg.

 

Well, when the 300C first came out I really didn't like the looks, but with some very light mods it can look a lot better to me. The mesh grills they have in the aftermarket now really wake up the front end to me. I hear there were about 90 300Cs and Magnums at SEMA this year with various mods. They still can't keep them in dealer lots.

The SRT8 will come out in the spring, but if you're having trouble affording a 5.7L 300C the SRT8 will be out of your range. It'll be a lot cheaper than a CTS-V though.

Out of your list, if you want a functional back seat, the 300C is the only choice. If you drive one I bet you'll be impressed.

 

I want to go drive a 300C and I agree the SRT8 will be far more than I want to spend plus it doesn't come all wheel drive and will be lowered so you can't drive it in the winter. We'll see. Thanks for all the input guys, now I just have to graduate, pass the bar and get a decent job so I can afford one. This may be a little while, $35k is still a big chunk of change. I looked at the cheap Caddy CTS but that was still over $32k without the sport suspension or anything.
If anyone has any more input about the cars please chime in, thanks.