12 & 13 Boss owners, still smitten?

HI RPM

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With the Boss getting on in years, and the availability of used 16 & 17 Shelby GT350's (not to mention a ton of 10, 11, 12 GT500's) are you guys still happy?

Or are you ready to/ have already moved on?
This forum has been (understandably) quiet for some time.

I'm still looking to get into a Boss in the spring. For me, its all out performance (while quite amazing) will take a back seat to how many smiles it brings me.

Wondering, do others feel the same?
 

DAVESVT2000

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Love mine, best mustang I’ve ever owned. Only done a few basic mods, mufflers, jacking plates, oil separator, vented diff cover, and 4 point Watson roll bar with 5 point belts.

Yes, I know the new 350’s are faster and better, but for my basic couple of times a year open track events, this car suits my needs. I’ve never trailered it to any event, never even thought about it. Drive it there, drive the snot out of it, and drive it home.

I would dare say it’s just as fast and handles just as well as my 2000R, but with the creature comforts of AC, radio, cruise, etc.

28,000 miles on mine after 7 years, just signed up yesterday for two days of open track next June at watkins Glen, and prob be doing two days at Gingerman raceway in south haven Michigan in August the week of the woodward dream cruise like I did this past summer.

Nothing like a little 2500 mile RT road trip .
 

KBBoss302

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Still absolutely in love with mine! I have been lucky enough to own or at least drive a lot of pretty neat cars and the Boss still puts the biggest smile on my face.
 

96gt02

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I really love the Boss as a whole but when it came time to get something it was hard not to buy a 11-12 GT500 that was in the same price range as the 12-13 Boss in my area.
 

HI RPM

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I really love the Boss as a whole but when it came time to get something it was hard not to buy a 11-12 GT500 that was in the same price range as the 12-13 Boss in my area.

I am finding the 11-12 GT500 pricing and the 12-13 Boss pricing to be very close as well.
Both are Iconic Ford Products. Makes for some tough decisions.

I am a nostalgic kind of a guy.
There is something about the Boss's (somewhat) bare bones, "old school" persona, that I find appealing.
Something about an evil, high revving N/A V8, that just brings out the motor head in me.
Something about a snarling, crackling, popping exhaust, that just speaks to me.
Something special that a stick shift/manual transmission brings to the driving experience, that no automatic can compare to.

Besides, no other car looks this good in "School Bus Yellow".
 
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HI RPM

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Still absolutely in love with mine! I have been lucky enough to own or at least drive a lot of pretty neat cars and the Boss still puts the biggest smile on my face.

That is exactly what I am looking for. A car that just makes me smile or laugh when I drive it. Something just plain fun. I will gladly sacrifice the latest gadgets and accept the fact that there may be faster cars available, to have a car that I can connect with.
I am so hoping that a Boss will do this.
 

HI RPM

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Love mine, best mustang I’ve ever owned. Only done a few basic mods, mufflers, jacking plates, oil separator, vented diff cover, and 4 point Watson roll bar with 5 point belts.

Yes, I know the new 350’s are faster and better, but for my basic couple of times a year open track events, this car suits my needs. I’ve never trailered it to any event, never even thought about it. Drive it there, drive the snot out of it, and drive it home.

I would dare say it’s just as fast and handles just as well as my 2000R, but with the creature comforts of AC, radio, cruise, etc.

28,000 miles on mine after 7 years, just signed up yesterday for two days of open track next June at watkins Glen, and prob be doing two days at Gingerman raceway in south haven Michigan in August the week of the woodward dream cruise like I did this past summer.

Nothing like a little 2500 mile RT road trip .

Dave,
you are doing/have done more with your Boss than I could ever dream of.
I tip my hat to you.
Between the race days and the Woodward dream cruise, I am left speechless. They are both on my bucket list.
The fact that you drive to and from these special events, IMHO, makes them even better.
 
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KBBoss302

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HI RPM and I have had some PMs regarding these cars so none of my opinions should be new to him.

I have let a bunch of my friends drive my Bosses over the years and they all get out of it saying something along the lines of "F-CK ME THAT THING IS INCREDIBLE!" And this includes friends with 911s, M3s, M5s, Viper ACRs, Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru STIs, etc etc etc. When you turn the TC off and drive a Boss hard, using the revs, using the steering, using the brakes, the car is absolutely alive in your hands. And you can amp that feeling up even more with better clutch, lighter flywheel, tune, lightweight driveshaft and wheels. If you like an exciting car, the Boss is hard to beat especially in the 25-30k range. It has this raw, aggressive energy that most cars cannot equal (I tend to gravitate towards aggressive cars/sportbikes - have owned 3 Mitsubishi Evos, currently own a rowdy-as-hell Focus RS and a surprisingly wild Lotus Evora 400).

In saying all of that, a 2012 GT500 with Recaros and SVTPP is also one of the neatest Mustangs ever in my mind - looks, sound, torque. But as I told you via PM, the 2011 GT500 I tested was a heavier and more serious feeling car that just doesn't quite have the rowdy feel of the Boss.
 

HI RPM

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KBBoss302,
Sounds like you had/have some cool cars. The Lotus is something very special for sure. You don't see them very often, at least around these parts.
Truth be told, if money was no object (when isn't it?) I would be quite happy restoring a 69 or 70 Boss and/or building a tribute car. Not a concurs resto, not a protouring car. A mild restomod.
After having restored an old 72 vette, I have a pretty good idea of what I think it would cost. For me to be happy w/a tribute car, I'm sure it would be $40-$45k range easy. Very likely, a bit more.
A real Boss would be WAY MORE, possibly double the $$, for the same quality.
Makes a 12/13 Boss in the low to mid $30ks, look like a bargain.
 
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DAVESVT2000

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The boss is well balanced, rotates easily thru the corners, and with the red key on, engine acts as an engine brake when you let off the gas, let’s you go a little deeper into a corner without relying on the brakes as much.

Imo the 500’s are a bit nose heavy, - bigger motor and blower on top.
 

DAVESVT2000

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5E0988E0-D3E1-49C7-B5E2-A6C53D5A1094.jpeg
All put away for the winter, just have to get the covers on and battery tenders hooked up.
 

KBBoss302

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Awesome cars, Dave!!

I contemplated building up a nice 69/70 Mustang with modern engine, suspension, etc but when looking at the costs of the Detroit Speed type stuff, finding a shop to handle a lot of it, etc, it made little sense to me. The Bosses are the best restomod a factory has ever made - old school looks, semi-modern chassis and safety features (although I still haven't gotten my Takata airbag replaced so maybe it's actually more dangerous than an old car!).
 

HI RPM

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Awesome cars, Dave!!

The Bosses are the best restomod a factory has ever made - old school looks, semi-modern chassis and safety features

Hard to beat, for sure.
That and the fact that they were a somewhat limited build car, makes them special to me. They have held there value pretty darn good. In my opinion, I think they have a good chance of being worth something more, farther down the road.
I'm not banking on it, certainly not the reason for wanting to buy one, but it would be nice if it happened.
ZL1's, Z/28s, 1LE's, HellCats, Z06's, ZR1's, Shelby GT500's, Shelby GT350's, Boss 302's, Vipers...Holy cow there is a lot of fast cars on the used market right now. It would not surprise me if many of these become highly sought after, in the coming years.
 
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droptop03

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I thought i would chime in on this. When I got my boss, it was with the thought it would be the last new car I would buy for myself. I flirted with the idea of waiting and getting the 2013 GT500. I know i made the right choice. After my few mods and tune it become my perfect car. I absolutely love this car. Every time i get in it and drive i fall in love again. It is my daily driver and no matter if I am taking a long road trip or a quick run for for milk it always puts a smile on my face as the engine always kicks over and the sound of the exhaust massages my soul. I am 75,000 miles and the feelings it brings are still strong. Still keep looking for excuses to get behind the wheel. I like the fact the it is limited edition and don’t see many on the road. Only seen very few in my area since i bought it. I can count on three fingers. On the other hand seen several GT500. i just retired and planning on moving to Panama and my car is coming with me. Only thing i will do before shipping is upgrade clutch, brakes, and finally install my T-springs. Also thinking of adding a watts link and and maybe a bigger throttle body. Not sure about the throttle body as the power band for my is still sweet.....
 

HI RPM

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Glad to hear that owners are in fact, still smitten.

I hope to be one of the "smitten" in the next few months.
 

IamRacerX

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Congrats! SBY is an awesome color.

Just to add to the topic of the thread here... I am an original owner of my 13 for about 6.5 years... I don’t drive it daily, but every time I drive the Boss I love the car.... plus I end up driving it a bit like a Hoonigan. Speeding around corners and zipping through the gears whenever possible. I think it might be close to the high water mark for driver fun from Ford. I’ve driven GT500s and they feel to nose heavy and are missing the zippiness of the Boss. The GT350 is pretty awesome, I just felt like it needed way tighter gearing to maximize the power curve. In higher gears the motor feels dead. Imo the Boss is a great balance of what a true pony car should be.
 

HI RPM

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The only time I have been able to drive my "new to me" Boss any distance, was on its journey home. A crappy 2 hour ride, in a driving rain storm.
For most of the ride, I kept the radio off. I just listened to the exhaust. I was smiling the whole way.

The weather here is clear, but seasonable cold in the 30's. Friday looks like possible lite snow, then rain thru out the day and night.
Saturday looks to be un-seasonably warm. Could hit low 50's. I might have a chance to to take the Boss out, depending on how salty/treated the roads are. Hoping the rain will have them clean.
If they are clear, clean, and dry, I would like to take her out. It will most likely be her last drive until spring.
 
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PhoenixM3

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KBBoss302,
Sounds like you had/have some cool cars. The Lotus is something very special for sure. You don't see them very often, at least around these parts.
Truth be told, if money was no object (when isn't it?) I would be quite happy restoring a 69 or 70 Boss and/or building a tribute car. Not a concurs resto, not a protouring car. A mild restomod.
After having restored an old 72 vette, I have a pretty good idea of what I think it would cost. For me to be happy w/a tribute car, I'm sure it would be $40-$45k range easy. Very likely, a bit more.
A real Boss would be WAY MORE, possibly double the $$, for the same quality.
Makes a 12/13 Boss in the low to mid $30ks, look like a bargain.
I’d like to chat about Corvette restorations, but don’t want to hijack this thread for it.
 

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