Buy a U.S 1994 V8 5L GT Mustang in Australia (Imported from Japan)?

fearby.com · 09-08-2002, 08:20 PM

Hello

I am looking at buying a blue 1994 GT Mustang Coupe (V8, 5.0L) in Australia. The car has already been converted to right hand drive and it has only travelled 35,000 klms.

The car was built in the U.S and it was imported to Japan and then privately imported to Australia. The car is in immaculate condition with no known defects. I have test driven the Mustang and it feels great.

Q1) Generally how do Japanese owners treat U.S cars?

Q2) Is there anything to look out for with the 1994 Mustang GT’s?

Q3) Is this a good Mustang to buy as my first Mustang?

If anyone has photos of their 1994 GT Mustang Coupe please forward the URL’s J

Thanks In Advance

HiFlow5 0 · 09-08-2002, 08:37 PM

A 1994 mustang built in the U.S with left hand driving for over seas, then converted to right hand driving? Hummmm.........

fearby.com · 09-08-2002, 10:27 PM

It is quite common in Australia to convert the drivers side over to the right hand side in most imports.

Visually it is impossible to tell that it has been swapped. It costs about $5000 AUS ($2300 US) to convert a Mustang.

95mustanggt · 09-09-2002, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fearby.com

Q1) Generally how do Japanese owners treat U.S cars?

Q2) Is there anything to look out for with the 1994 Mustang GT’s?

Q3) Is this a good Mustang to buy as my first Mustang?

A1) I don't know, but I would image that they would lower the car so that it scrapes on the ground, then add huge rims with little itty bitty profile tires, add a monster 6 foot wing, paint it baby blue, add a bunch of Pokemon stuffed animals in side and then add a bunch of blue and clear lights.

A2) Not really. Just make sure that all the outstanding service work has been done. There is a parking brake recall on the 5 speeds, for example.

Q3) It's a great car. It has the 5.0L engine which is easy to work on and has a huge aftermarket. You can also get great performance from it

PKRWUD · 09-09-2002, 07:37 AM

Greetings,

I lived in Perth for a while in 1985, so i'm well aware of what you're talking about. Back then the hot ticket was anything built in the USA in the 1960's. I saw a junky 68 Camaro , that couldn't have gotten $1800 here, sell for $20k US, in a week there. Corvettes were $50k to start.

Anyway, the '94 is fine. Considering your situation, it's perfect.

As far as cars coming from japan, this is where you may have problems. The Japanese are notoriously evil to their vehicles. They know when they buy them that they must get rid of them after only a few years (law), so they rarely ever maintain them. Why waste the money? Because of the laws in Japan, there are tons of cars there that are being parted out and sent everywhere else. There are ships full of "used" Japanese engines, with 5 years or less, and rarely more than 50k miles on them, coming to our shores every day, and 90% of them are junk. I have not yet found one that was good, right off the bat. The oil has never been changed, and with the low speed, stop and go driving they are stuck with there, it turns the oil into a hardening gell. I even saw one one time where we pulled the oil pan off, and there looked to be another, underneath it. It was in fact hardened oil, not a pan. This is murder on the entire engine/bearings/oil starved galleries, etc.

My recommendation is to drain and inspect the oil before you do anything, and pull a valve cover too. Check the plugs, and especially the radiator. It will tell you what kind of shape the inside of the engine looks like, too. Just check all the areas that probably seem silly to you, because you normally take care of them.

Eitherway, good luck!

BTW, what's the asking price?

Take care,
~Chris

SCOTTLT79 · 09-09-2002, 08:27 AM

Hey,
Here are a few pics of my 95 GT. It is pretty much the exact same thing as the 94 GTs. My friend had a 94 and we couldn't find much difference at all.

95 GT pics

Mustangbelle306 · 09-09-2002, 10:36 AM

Perhaps it was imported for an American??

PKRWUD · 09-09-2002, 01:51 PM

BTW, Japan uses right hand drive cars.

tireburner163 · 09-10-2002, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PKRWUD
I even saw one one time where we pulled the oil pan off, and there looked to be another, underneath it. It was in fact hardened oil, not a pan.

09-08-2002, 08:20 PM	#1
fearby.com Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 2	Buy a U.S 1994 V8 5L GT Mustang in Australia (Imported from Japan)? Hello I am looking at buying a blue 1994 GT Mustang Coupe (V8, 5.0L) in Australia. The car has already been converted to right hand drive and it has only travelled 35,000 klms. The car was built in the U.S and it was imported to Japan and then privately imported to Australia. The car is in immaculate condition with no known defects. I have test driven the Mustang and it feels great. Q1) Generally how do Japanese owners treat U.S cars? Q2) Is there anything to look out for with the 1994 Mustang GT’s? Q3) Is this a good Mustang to buy as my first Mustang? If anyone has photos of their 1994 GT Mustang Coupe please forward the URL’s J Thanks In Advance

09-08-2002, 08:37 PM	#2
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	A 1994 mustang built in the U.S with left hand driving for over seas, then converted to right hand driving? Hummmm......... __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

09-08-2002, 10:27 PM	#3
fearby.com Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 2	Left to Right hand conversions in Australia It is quite common in Australia to convert the drivers side over to the right hand side in most imports. Visually it is impossible to tell that it has been swapped. It costs about $5000 AUS ($2300 US) to convert a Mustang.

09-09-2002, 07:37 AM	#5
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Greetings, I lived in Perth for a while in 1985, so i'm well aware of what you're talking about. Back then the hot ticket was anything built in the USA in the 1960's. I saw a junky 68 Camaro , that couldn't have gotten $1800 here, sell for $20k US, in a week there. Corvettes were $50k to start. Anyway, the '94 is fine. Considering your situation, it's perfect. As far as cars coming from japan, this is where you may have problems. The Japanese are notoriously evil to their vehicles. They know when they buy them that they must get rid of them after only a few years (law), so they rarely ever maintain them. Why waste the money? Because of the laws in Japan, there are tons of cars there that are being parted out and sent everywhere else. There are ships full of "used" Japanese engines, with 5 years or less, and rarely more than 50k miles on them, coming to our shores every day, and 90% of them are junk. I have not yet found one that was good, right off the bat. The oil has never been changed, and with the low speed, stop and go driving they are stuck with there, it turns the oil into a hardening gell. I even saw one one time where we pulled the oil pan off, and there looked to be another, underneath it. It was in fact hardened oil, not a pan. This is murder on the entire engine/bearings/oil starved galleries, etc. My recommendation is to drain and inspect the oil before you do anything, and pull a valve cover too. Check the plugs, and especially the radiator. It will tell you what kind of shape the inside of the engine looks like, too. Just check all the areas that probably seem silly to you, because you normally take care of them. Eitherway, good luck! BTW, what's the asking price? Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

09-09-2002, 08:27 AM	#6
SCOTTLT79 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Raynham, Ma, USA Posts: 189	Hey, Here are a few pics of my 95 GT. It is pretty much the exact same thing as the 94 GTs. My friend had a 94 and we couldn't find much difference at all. 95 GT pics __________________ 95 Red Mustang GT Pro 5.0, MAC fenderwall cold air induction kit, BBK Off-Road H-pipe with Magnaflow cat-back system Mostly stock(looking to modify) Rice Haters Club Member #63

09-09-2002, 10:36 AM	#7
Mustangbelle306 Yay for Chickys Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,532	Perhaps it was imported for an American??

09-09-2002, 01:51 PM	#8
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	BTW, Japan uses right hand drive cars. __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

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