Searching for the right GT


O

OnLy Me

Member
Jun 26, 2008
19
Hey guys, Been a member here for some time and have considered a GT considerably for the past 2 years. I've since been through an Audi R8, Ferrari, and a Lamborghini. The GT appeals to me personally because it's an American icon in Ford racing history. Along with the fact that they are relatively cheap to mod and maintain in comparison to my last few cars. Not to mention the how well they retain their value.

A few questions I'd like to ask in particular please.

- I've read that the doors are a bit of a p.i.t.a. if you will. What is it exactly about the doors that are an issue?

- In relation to the above, does this butterfly door kit offered alleviate those issues. And is this kit frowned upon at all by the purists? Does it affect the value of the car any, and can it be easily reversed if one opted? Lastly, anyone that does have them, do you feel it was worth the price? I haven't seen them in person, but at 15k, it seems a bit costly. Although the pics I've seen of the hinge work looks stunning.

- Does modifying hurt value? I'm sure a pulley and tune are fine, but how about when you start TT'ing and doing engine mods, bumper deletes, etc, etc..

- TT reliability.... How reliable are these kits, and is there much more maintenance involved than leaving the car stock.

- Buying a modded vs. stock car. Most modded cars bring little to no money when come time to resell. Is that the same with the GT?

I think that's it for now. I'm sure I'll think of some more, and ask accordingly. I appreciate anyone that will take a few minutes to answer some of my questions. I am looking forward to becoming a GT owner, and at some point in the near future, able to help noobies like myself in return. :wink
 
I have 2 GT's - one I drive and one I just keep in the wrapper, on the lift.

That being said, I've only had the driver for about a year and half and have put on perhaps around 1500 miles.

The doors are not really an issue for me, save that the drivers door was a bit tricky to align perfectly (wasn't perfect from the get go), but other than that, getting in and out of the car isn't really an issue; you just need to remember that you DO have a door over your head, or it could hurt ya real bad!

As far as I know and from what I can see, modding to a certain extent won't lower the value, and in some cases, will fetch the market value of the vehicle, plus a portion of or all the mods...but it really depends on what mods are done.

I did a 4.0L Whipple and I'm pretty sure selling the car would bring pretty much market value and what I sunk in to it...S/C, wheels, lowering and a few other small things, albeit I bought car for much, much less than what it's getting only 18 months later, so it's tough to say how much of a return would be increased value and how much would be add-on's. I do not think you'll get much if anything back for a TT on resale today, but you won't lower the selling price IMO.

Unless you need 1000+ RWHP, why not look at a Whipple? With a good tune and a few other small modes, you can get into the mid 8's for WHP and cost would be dramatically less than a TT kit. Mine is just shy of 800 WHP and it goes like a bat outta hell...not to mention to lag and tons of low end grunt. She never stops pulling hard until redline either. I'm not completely done but when I am next summer, I'll probably be in the 850 WHP range. That's still a serious amount of power...and you don't see many cars out there with even that...

I've pretty much owned the Italian exotics - Porches etc...and I can tell you that none of them gave me the same feel or even close to what this GT gives me...and most around here feel exactly the same way as well, from what I've read.

Driven moderately, they don't retain value, they increase in value...

Can't comment on the butterfly doors, but others here can I'm sure.
 
my rule of thumb on modding is as long as it can be brought back to original, no problem,,, the modding is half the fun.. driving is off the hook fun. the doors are just a pain if you park in a tight space,, ie the doors have to open all the way up to get out.. the people who own GT's are the best, by far..

good luck and enjoy..

kurt
 
If modded correctly, it will add value. Decide what YOU want and have fun
 
I had a pulley and tune done by the gt guys. It dyno'd at 650rwhp. That put the weight:hp ratio to the same as my 4/7 co ra. It's plenty to start with. It is harder but not impossible to break the rear end loose ESP on cold pavement and cold bridgestones. I'd suggest getting the feel of the car before going hog wild with power. Do get the short throw shifter though. It is the best mod I have.
 
Doors. There are two kinds of gt (Cobra) drivers and passengers: those who have hit their heads on the door (burned their leg on the side pipe) and those who will. Typically it will happen once. Sometimes twice. The doors make getting in and out easier for people with long legs.
 
6'4" and never hit head. Both sons 6'7" and they never hit heads. Burned legs routinely on various Vipers.
 
Not sure what the OP is referring to about the doors being a PITA. Some very early cars had fit issues, but that was sorted out. Obviously, they open wider than a standard door, but you're not likely to park it at a supermarket, eh? A few things to get used to. Like when you are out of the car, then reach in to get something and forget there is a guillotine behind you as you back out. Or, if you are tall, getting the muscle memory to duck your head to the right as you pull the door shut. Oh...if you have to get in or out in the rain you will get soaked. In short, there are no issues with the doors beyond getting used to them. They are simply a critical and essential design element of no practical value...unless you are making an escape and need to do a Le Mans entry!
 
I only tuned my car and switched to Bridgestones. Yes the Whipple is great but I'd get used to the car first. A guy here was showing off in his Whippled GT a few years ago, lost it after mashing the accelerator and spun into a truck, totaling the car. You must remember there is no traction control. Lots of these cars have been lost because of this....
 
The only issues with the doors is you need to have space to open them. Some guys have tight garage space. As far as parking in the real world I make sure I have enough space or I don't park there. Bottom line is it's not that big of an issuse unless your garage is tight.
 
The doors were designed for the Lemans start, drivers on one side of the track, cars on the other. Flag dropped and the drivers ran across, bailed into the wide opening door and blasted off. An excellent picture of this in Larry Edsall's book "Ford GT The Legend Comes to Life." Buy the book (really very good) and you can show the picture at car shows when asked about the doors. I think keeping these and other historical details from the GT40 are a big factor in making our GT what it is.

In 1969 Jackie Ickx felt that the start was unsafe because drivers were moving without harnesses done up. In protest he walked across the track, fastened all the safety gear, started last in Ford GT #1075 and 24 hours later finished first. One driver killed on the first lap, one with career ending injuries, neither with harnesses done up. The last year the officials allowed the "LeMans" start. Mentioned at the start of Steve McQueen's movie LeMans, based in 1970. Grid start.

Last year the drivers running across the track was included as a spectator event.

The history of the doors is just way too cool to change to butterflies. IMO.

Do warn your first time passengers as they get out, or run around and help them miss the door.
 
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Thanks so much guys! I like it here already! I did a search on some of this before I addressed my concerns with this thread, and didn't find all the answers.

I still would like to know more on the butterfly doors if anyone has firsthand experience....

*Another TT question.... and I hope I don't start any debates or make this confrontational in any way. I know there are 2 tuners in particular that seem to be the go to guys as far as TT'ing, Heffner and Hennessey. And this really comes down to me coming across a car that already has either one installed (as I would not TT it otherwise). Is one more recommended over the other in any way, or are they both equally as good as one another.

I know this can become a touchy subject on some forums, and I don't intend for this to become a tuner war type of thread. So tread lightly, as I don't want to become the Noobie that started all hell on his first thread. :facepalm:

Lastly, what would be considered a fair price on lets say a stock 06 car with sub 5k miles?
And what price difference is there for the same only as an 05 car.

Thanks again fellas!
 
Price will vary depending on color. Same mileage in two different colors can make quite a difference in the final price. From what I have seen, the model year doesn't have as much impact as does the color/ mileage. I know one of the two builders you mention above offers a TT on top of the factory blower...so I have heard anyway. Remember that the S/C gets you a lot more low end grunt, as opposed to the TT without the blower...so it really depends on what you want to do at the end of the day. If I were going TT, I'd opt for leaving the blower intact as well, so you get the best of both worlds, but that's just me. Good luck with whatever choice you make. Either way, you won't be disappointed!
 
I love the idea of the butterfly doors too. Here is the first and possibly only honest assessment on these doors by Ray who spares no expense on his builds and has only the the best in the business work on his cars.


http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/s...-Entertainment&p=316412&viewfull=1#post316412

I have not seen them in person myself. I had asked the same question you are asking and never really got any answers.
 
2112 said:
I love the idea of the butterfly doors too. Here is the first and possibly only honest assessment on these doors by Ray who spares no expense on his builds and has only the the best in the business work on his cars.


http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/s...-Entertainment&p=316412&viewfull=1#post316412

I have not seen them in person myself. I had asked the same question you are asking and never really got any answers.
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Wow, thanks a lot for that info! I think they look bad to the bone, but if Peak says he would NOT do it again, well.... that says it all to me. Guess the car I was considering that has them already is out of the question now. Too bad, I really thought they made the car even more incredible.
 
If you like the car, maybe you should check it out before you rule it out? Where are you located?

I was considering doing this to my otherwise stock door car, not buying a car with it already installed.

Maybe it is dependent on the car? Like I said, I never have seen one in person but they sure are cool.
 
Yes, I may go check the car out in person, (500 mile haul) but that quote by Peak says a lot to me considering he has seen and done it all. Doesn't he own a high line dealership himself? I also wonder if the doors can be reverted back to stock without any signs they were ever installed. Seems nobody wants to answer any info on this kit. :confused

According to Peaks statement, the issue(s) lie in closing the doors. My guess is they open just fine, but if there's a chance of them coming off track and scratching paint, that sounds scary to me.
 
IDK about "coming off track," but having seen several in action I think you do need to take some care especially when closing. The door initially comes down in an almost vertical plane and then transitions to a horizontal plane to latch shut. That transition between vertical and horizontal seems to be a potential stress zone if somebody really tries to slam the door from complete open. Again, I have no direct experience...just observation...and every one I have seen worked fine. Here's a short video from the GT Guys website: http://www.thegtguy.com/Pictures/ViewVideos?page=7
 
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As for rays review on them, his cars have been transported and handled by several different people, which could have gotten his doors out of alignment. I have had them on all my personal cars and love them and have zero issues with them. We have also installed them for several people on here that love them. If you get retarded with the doors and slam them or sling them around, yes you can get them out of wack, but if you treat them with care (and no, you don't have to baby them) they work perfectly and are awesome. You really should go see them yourself before you take one persons opinion.
 
OnLy Me said:
Yes, I may go check the car out in person, (500 mile haul) but that quote by Peak says a lot to me considering he has seen and done it all. Doesn't he own a high line dealership himself? I also wonder if the doors can be reverted back to stock without any signs they were ever installed. Seems nobody wants to answer any info on this kit. :confused

According to Peaks statement, the issue(s) lie in closing the doors. My guess is they open just fine, but if there's a chance of them coming off track and scratching paint, that sounds scary to me.
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No, peak does not own any kind of car dealership. Yes, they can be reversed without signs that that were ever there.
 
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