Want vs. Need

Just Saying "No" Is Oh So Hard to Do

Posted June 20 2008 06:00 AM by KJ Jones
Filed under: Mustang Tech Articles, Fox Body Mustangs, KJ Jones

Let's face it. At some point along the paths we've taken to become hard-core 'Stangbangers, all of us have probably been faced with the dilemma of having the "killer deal" for a part, or maybe even an entire Mustang, laid out in front of us...A killer deal, "there," for the proverbial taking...

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The long runners on this manifold measure 8 inches in length.

The craftsmanship is top-notch, through and through. Now I'm able to see why Hogan's intakes are so expensive. If it wasn't for a killer deal, I definitely wouldn't have purchased this intake, because I certainly didn't

This long-runner, breadbox-style, sheet-metal, EFI 302 intake manifold is the truth. I don't have any current plans for it, but right now, just knowing it's mine sure does make me feel good.

Sometimes, the killer deals may be for stuff that we already may have five of, and we figure, "what's having another one gonna hurt?" Other times, the killer deal might be for something that has long been desired, but we put off buying it through a retailer because deep in our heart, we knew it would become available at some point...as a killer deal. There are also times when a killer deal comes around for something that we have absolutely NO reason for owning it. But, we go ahead and buy whatever it is nonetheless, and it sits in a box, or cabinet or corner of the shop forever, until we finally break down and list it for sale as a "killer deal."

I've been known to make snap purchases on killer deals. I've bought running/complete 5.0 Mustangs for as low as $500 (that was a MURDER deal). I try and keep a little cash on hand as capital for purchases like that, and it seems to work out pretty well.

With that said, behold my latest killer-deal score. It's a Hogan's sheet-metal, EFI intake manifold for a 302-based engine that I snagged from a guy selling parts at a recent high-performance swap meet. Did I really "need" this manifold? I'll man up and admit that I currently don't have any engine's in the works that can use it. And, as it's designed for heads with inline valves, there's no way it will work on Boss 340. So, no, I didn't need it. Did I just flatout "want" the manifold? You're damn skippy I did! I wanted it, so I bought it, and I guess I'll just stare at it from time to time until I come up with an engine idea that it may be suited for, or finally decide to pass it along to the next hard-core 'Stang guy as a "killer deal," of course.

One of these days, maybe I'll learn to leave those killer deals right where they are. One of these days.