2008 Ford Shelby GT500

There's a high-performance experience to be had behind the wheel of this $80,000 Mustang…

Still, $80K is a TON of money for a Mustang when you could get a Corvette Z06, a Nissan GT-R, or a base Porsche 911 for the same dough. But, as Phil said, if you're the Mustang Man who has everything, then a GT500KR deserves a place in your collection.

The 2008 GT500KR is the most powerful and quickest Mustang ever. With the help of a shorter final drive (3.73:1 versus the GT500's 3.31:1), it stomps to 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds and roars through the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 115 mph, according to Ford.

The KR is likely the best Mustang on the road, too, and will certainly become a collector's piece. Like other Mustangs, however, it has fairly numb steering and an interior filled with inexpensive materials. It also lacks an independent rear suspension.

An $80,000 price tag on a Mustang is hardly rational, but that won't stop Shelby's devoted fans from gobbling them up.

The Shelby GT is a hotter version of the garden-variety Mustang GT.

And the Shelby GT has a special something going on in there, too: a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Package. In addition to a freer-flowing exhaust that helps the 4.6-liter V-8 produce 319 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, the package includes some suspension hardware to make the car handle a bit better.

Although triple a new Mustang GT in price at $79,995, the new KR is at least in the price range of many Mustang aficionados. Best of all, no assembly is required-and the N.O.S. battery is included.

The Shelby GT500 comes as coupe ($41,930) and convertible ($46,755), powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 developing 500 horsepower. All Shelby GT500s have a six-speed manual transmission. They have P255/45R18 front and P285/40R18 rear performance tires, Brembo front brakes, and SVT-tuned suspension. All also come with a gas-guzzler tax ($1300). The GT500 comes standard with leather upholstery.

Seats in the Shelby GT500 are more aggressively bolstered, and the positions of the speedometer and tachometer are swapped. The GT500 is upholstered in black leather, with or without red inserts. All interior chrome is replaced by satin-finish aluminum for reduced glare. Snake logos slither on the seatbacks and steering-wheel hub.

The Shelby GT500 is easy to control and very predictable.

The Ford Mustang looks and feels like an all-American car, and that's a good thing. It's quick and fun to drive and offers combination of style, performance, and handling that's hard to beat for the money. The V6 Deluxe is a stylish, sporty cruiser. The GT and Shelby GT are serious performance cars. And the Shelby GT500 raises it to near Corvette performance levels.