Too good to let slide? (Might purchase new (old) mustang...)

[Sonics2042]

Hello,

I currently have a 1990 Mustang with 105K+ miles and is relatively stock. Also with auto transmission.

I was looking to maybe sell my car before I put too much money into it...since it is not a new engine anymore

I saw an ad for a 1991 Mustang GT with saleen wing that has 425 hp + racing suspension + 5-speed + 3.73 gears. The ad says he/she has invested 20k into the car. (I would confirm all this and check condition of the car before purchasing), but he/she says on the ad they only want 11.5k for the car.

Is this too good to be true, or do I over-rate the value of fox body mustangs?

[Sonics2042]

Any ideas/comments/etc...

[HiFlow5 0]

425hp, might have been beaten on a lot. i remember reading an article saying stay away from ads the say "fast", lots of power, and a big list of parts. some of that are just ways to sell a beat car and is eye candy. but then again it could be in perfect shape and really cared for. 11,500 seems like a lot for a 91 fox. you could get one stock for less then half that price and then modify it to your liking. you would know what has been done to it and have spent less.

[Unit 5302]

Well first, $11,500 is way out in left field. Second, who wants a car that's been modded that much? It's probably thrashed. Third, 20k invested? Is that including his purchase price?

You could stick a few k into your car and have the same performance, or get an SN95 to that kind of power for less than $11,500. It's up to you, but I wouldn't be all that interested in a car like that.

[LX5liter]

$11,500 for a 11 year old car? It better be $20,000 invested not including the purchase price, and be in pristine condition.
Justmy $.02.

[Jeb_Bush_2000]

Amusing anecdote about a modded Mustang:


I saw a teal green LX hatchback once, at Dmitri's Discount Cars & Blankets. The enormous fiberglass wing on the back was attached with two drywall screws. One wheel was a "ten-hole" that looked like it lost a fight with an angle grinder. One was a donut, and the remaining two were those multi-spoke aluminum ones that you can get at Wal-Mart for $49 apiece, sans clearcoat in many places.

It was unlocked. A flashy, unlocked car in the middle of Crackton. That alone should have sent me running.


I opened the driver's door, which immediately dropped about three inches. I got in. The arm-rest was in the back seat. The entire dash was painted black, with white stripes. The gray cloth was stained brown in a handful of areas. This was later revealed to be from the leaky sunroof.


When someone came out to talk to me, I requested the keys. The kid got a funny look on his face, mumbled something, and then went to get the manager. The manager returned with the keys, and gave me a brief primer on this particular vehicle. It had:


"high power engine",

"stick transmission",

"new paint",

"gearing" (?),

"back brakes...not yet", and,

"five hundred watt amp and sub"


Apparently the former owner spent all his money on a system instead of on, y'know, the broken things.


I took it for a drive. Boy, it sure didn't have rear brakes! It did have a super-loud exhaust (two-chamber Flows, I guess) and 3.73's. The shifter was missing a nut, or something, so shifting it was akin to performing surgery while wearing mittins. In the dark.


I took it to my mechanic. As I rolled up, he said, "What the f***? You buy this thing?" (Picture Joe Pesci in a greasy jumpsuit, smoking a $.35 cigar while rebuilding a carb. That's my mechanic)


He took it for a run up the street, and I will admit, it peeled out quite nicely, but on his way back, his attempt to pull a "Jim Rockford" failed right about the time he found out there were no rear brakes. After we winched it out from between the dumpsters, we looked under the hood. Nothing fancy...just some pullies and a cold-air intake, and a hot coil. Shut the hood...and the car stalls.


35 minutes later we get it going again, and limp it back to the dealer on five, maybe six cylinders (the sixth might have just been going with the flow). I handed the manager the keys and politely declined his offer to "step inside and crunch number".


The asking price for this world-class vehicle? EIGHTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.


So...well...watch out for modded cars. They can be trouble.

[Sonics2042]

Well, I have seen a picture of the exterior and it looks pretty good. And 20,000 invested BETTER not be with purchase price. I have 14 questions to ask even before I go out to actully see it. And it better be in perfect condition.

One of em, is why it is listed with a 306 ci motor...

Thanks.

[Jeb_Bush_2000]

Isn't that a 302 bored .030" over?

[Unit 5302]

Yep, a 306 is nothing more than a rebuilt 302 basically. The chances of 20k being invested without including the car is VERY slim. If that's the case, sounds like at least 15k was in labor, lol.

[1BAD89]

Dood your problem was buying from a place called Dmitri's Discount Cars & Blankets.