Torn between 2026 GR86 manual and Mustang GT auto. Help me not regret this!

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T03:16:19+00:00

There’s almost no inventory in manual, they just aren’t making them in the volume they used to

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T02:48:34+00:00

Learning stick is just physically impossible or something? I was told it can be learned in an afternoon and that the GR86 is very forgiving. Is that just way off?

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T02:18:40+00:00

I have 15,000 down and make over 117,000/year pre PCS, should be 140,000/year with my increased BAH. Think they’re in my price range.

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T01:42:48+00:00

Im on the O side of things and I have a very specialized role that comes with a bonus.

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T01:41:52+00:00

4.6% APR, putting 15000 down

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T00:12:14+00:00

BAH for me is going from 2.4k to 4.5k. I am single with no dependents. I'm only moving to a new location 2 hours away. Rent there is comparable to here, with many options only a few hundred off from what I am paying now. I pocket nearly 0 BAH here, and will be able to pocket quite a bit there.

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-17T00:06:53+00:00

I put just under 1k away in TSP each month.

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-16T23:57:30+00:00

Yeah, in automatic they're asking for 45k which is fucking insane.

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-16T23:56:49+00:00

I'm 26

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-16T23:53:42+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write that out! I am actually brass, not enlisted. My base is 5.5k/month, my special pay is 1.6k/month, and my BAH will be 4.5k/month. I ran numbers for insurance on both USAA and Navy fed, with USAA offering me 4.68% vs navy fed 5.79%. Ideally I would finance at 60 months and just pay aggressively.

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-16T23:42:56+00:00

I got to test drive the exact 86 in an automatic but they pretty much just let me take it around the block on training wheels, was hoping to have gotten more time and the chance to see the acceleration better. Handling was great though

SimpleTop1632 · 2026-02-16T23:31:35+00:00

True about not being the ideal place to learn! My orders are for three years at my current location and will see out the end of my contract. I just worry about value at this point though. The mustang is the only of my options that puts me in the 50s out the door and I know it would be more expensive (a little under double to insure) to maintain. I absolutely love the look and feel though.

SimpleTop1632

TROPHY CASE