Unit 5302's Retro Test Drive 1995 GT

[Unit 5302]

Well, I'm out car shopping as some people may know.

Today's cantidate: 1995 Mustang GT Coupe

Blue/Teal exterior, gray cloth interior. 105,000mi. Dealer lot. The dealer was asking $7950 in the autotrader, and he said it needed nothing mechanically, and it was clean.

I arrive at the lot, don't see it for a sec, but there it pops out at me. Here's the scoop. It's been through at least one major accident, A/C hose is leaking, some touch up on the paint (minimal), some rust underneath, junky tailpipes, bad mufflers. The rear main was seeping, the tires were wrong size/type. Goodyear Eagle Touring 225/60R16. The pony emblem was broken. The start up revealed a shot thowout bearing, and a weakening clutch. Vacuum leak to the heater controls related to the braking system as the vent wouldn't come on unless I hit the brakes. Drivers side seat was torn badly on the side. Lots of noise from the trunk compartment, including what could have been a rear end bearing. The heater core was bad. All in all, a nifty little POS. Granted, the paint was in solid shape, and rust was very hard to spot on the outside, but the underbody showed some crumple, and the hood didn't line up to the fenders correctly. I got the dealer to drop down to 7k, but I'm not about to buy it for that.

Side note, I know this car failed it's last attempt at emissions.

Also worth noting, what a TURD these SN95 cars are. My 87GT would destroy it (as it has done to SN95's before). The car pulls strong to about 4500rpm, and then it just runs out of breath completely where my 87GT pulls strong clear past 5500rpm. I think it has to do with all the changes in MAF, a weak computer, and the revised intake, but all in all, it was a dog.

Your doin the smart thing Unit,your lookin at every car you test drive like a finely carved diamond,meaning your not gonna overlook anything that you may regret not looking at before the changing of $$$$$

[Mr 5 0]

Typical for a 100,000 + mile performance car. Mustang V-8's are more often than not driven by people who abuse them in some way - or crash them into things, as many of our members can attest. They are generally not grocery-getters owned by middle-aged businessmen or little old ladies.

I would look for a private owner who either left his Mustang stock and/or modified it a bit but took loving care of it (like me).

Anything over 100k will probably need some work and when you buy from a dealer you ususally get a warranty of some kind but now I can see why I've been told I could get $6,000. for my 116,000-mile, one-owner, well-maintained '90 LX 5.0. Everything works, never hit and runs strong and sweet. Then again, why sell it?

That '95 was a dog alright but not all used Mustangs are like that, as we all know. Finding the 'good ones' is the hard part (as we also know).

Keep the reports coming; It's interesting to see what's out there, in what condition and for how much. Good luck.

[Crazy Horse GT]

wow kell 7 grand for that wore out pos, jeez, no way good thing you ran away from that one ,better luck next time, happy hunting

[tireburner163]

I keep tellin ya man, that 88 GT is still here. Come on you know you want another SD car, you know you do

[Tod]

dang Unit, sounds like it's getting very interesting trying to find the right car. makes me feel extremely lucky to have found my beautiful '94 GT the way i did.

keep looking, eventually one will just pop up. good luck

[Unit 5302]

I don't like looking at private party cars most of the time. The reason being is simple. Private parties are almost always attached to their car so they ask ridiculous amounts of money for them. I don't know of any small dealer lot that gives a warranty on an old car like this, but private parties sure don't. I also don't like trying to work around somebody else's schedule. Most of the time they don't really want to sell their "baby" anyway, and it just gets to be a game of phone tag. Actually, both my 88GT, and 87GT were purchased from private parties, and to tell you the truth, it didn't really make much difference. The cars were in poor shape, the 88GT previous owner was just an idiot, messed up the brakes, exhaust, and the 88 broke something new every day for the first 3 days. Clutch flew apart, water pump went out, and I think the starter fried? Years ago, but I look whever I can find a car that matches my profile, and sometimes at a car that doesn't. Hehe, you guys might find out what I mean in a couple days. My 87GT had 113k on it, and I knew the problems right off the bat. It's been a pretty good car, actually, real good. It's now at 161k. I've had to do some work to it tranny (junkyard tranny was in it), starter, radiator, exhaust (knew was bad), heater core (knew was bad), but that's just about nothing for 50,000 miles of LT-1 and LS-1 killing joy. Actually, about the only car I've ever had with under 100k was a 91 Escort GT I bought after my 88GT. The scort had 64k on it when I got it, and 90k when I got rid of it. During that time it caused me no end of trouble. Electrical gremlins, fuel pump problems, fuel line issues, computer, heater core, transaxle exploded, gas tank was improperly installed, etc etc. What a POS.

Quite frankly, I expected a heck of a lot better from a dealer. He should know better than to stick a POS like that out on the lot and advertise it as clean. Keep in mind, this is what I found in a 10min lookover and 15min test drive. Who knows what else was wrong?

As far as the performance of the car goes, I don't think it was lacking for what it is. It was a strong puller below 4500rpm, no pinging, missing, rattles, or clatters all the way to 6000rpm. From my encounters the SN95 is just no match whatsoever for my 87GT. Now I know how they feel winding through the gears from the drivers seat. There is no other word to describe it but "doggy."

[Mustangbelle306]

Sorry you had such a rotten experience at the dealer! I will say, keep your head up! I got mine cherry (~58k) and with only 4.10s and nothing else, mine ran a 14.1 @ 100 mph So they can't all be dogs!!! I promise, keep searching (gotta find another Tuesday 5.0 )

Belle

[tireburner163]

Originally posted by Unit 5302
but I look whever I can find a car that matches my profile, and sometimes at a car that doesn't. Hehe, you guys might find out what I mean in a couple days.

hehe, I know what Unit's little secret is....but I'll let him break it to ya

BTW, if anyone want's to PayPal me 5 bucks I'll squeal!!!

[mustangman65_79]

Thats no good at all. My '66 was about the same shape, and I got it for $500.

[Jeb_Bush_2000]

I don't like the SN95s...the Fox cars are so much cleaner and tidier. The SN95s remind me of overgrown Probes.


Oh, and my dad's cherry Cobra is still for sale, Unit.

[Mustangbelle306]

Really? I always thought foxes looked like the result of a cross between a 1985 Tempo and a Granada MWAHAHAHAHA

If you're talking about what I think you are Tireburner, those cars aren't good for Minny-so-ta

[tireburner163]

Originally posted by Mustangbelle306
If you're talking about what I think you are Tireburner, those cars aren't good for Minny-so-ta

, Sorry but I don't know what your talking about......probably steams from the fact that I haven't the got a clue about what I'm talking about