buying a mustang need help

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 10:12 AM

I was interested in getting a Mustang.

A guy I know has a '89 or a '90 LX 5.0 with 3.55 gears, new exhaust, short shifter and a k&N filter, chrom rims with low profile tires, mint condition - I mean mint. Runs like a dream with over 100,000 miles on it.

Worth 5,500 bucks?

Mr 5 0 · 02-19-2002, 11:11 AM

That's about $1,000. over retail book price but if it's truly mint all around and you want it, offer him $5,000. cash-on-the-spot (if you have all the cash) and see if he'll take it. Sounds like a sweet 'Stang.

BTW: If it's a '90, it has the air bag in the steering wheel (first year).

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 11:38 AM

kewl thanks man! what do u think the times in a 1/4 mile are with those mods?

chris91LX · 02-19-2002, 12:56 PM

Depends on the trans but that thing is pretty stock, maybe 15 flat with an automatic, 14.5 with a 5 speed.

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 01:03 PM

14.5? even with the 3.55 gears and a flowmaster exhaust? its 5 speed by the way.

chris91LX · 02-19-2002, 01:23 PM

Gears are nice and will help, and alot depends on you driving, but I don't know of many people who can take a very stock 5.0 into the 13's. Don't get your hopes up, I did the same thing and was very disappointed. My first run bone stock was a 15.9, eventually got that down to 14.9 and with pulleys, full exhaust, 65mm tb, 73mm maf, cold air kit, Crane Hi-6s ignition, centerforce clutch, 3:73 gear, Factory 5 lower control arms, sub frame connectors and drag radials I hit 13.9@96mph. I'm just saying the odds are you aren't gonna drive over to the track and go 13's with an almost completely stock setup. I think Mr 5 0 ran in the high 13's with a fairly stock setup, but he's one of maybe 3 guys I've heard of doing it (credible people anyway) and I've never SEEN anyone do it. You strip weight and put a drag suspension and slicks on there and I'd say you have a good chance. Remember the car has 100,00 plus miles on it and it may run very well but it still has 100,000 miles on it. Just my .02

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 02:24 PM

13.9's arent that bad. but u put a lot of money into it just to get 13.9. i had a turbo that ran 14.30's with a 10 dollor boost controller. is it worth it to get a mustang?

gtstang83 · 02-19-2002, 04:12 PM

mustang is the ONLY way to go!! once you buy one, you'll never want anything else. you may hear a dozen rice rockets zooming down the street, but they all sound like mice beating on tin cans.but you cant mistake a 5.0 rumbling down the street. good luck

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 04:29 PM

think i'm gonna go for it. but 5500 is to much for the 1 i talked about earlyer even another stang owner told me he put over 13 grand in his car and got 12.60's out of it....he ended up selling it for 6,000. i think this guy is tryin to rip me off

gtstang83 · 02-19-2002, 04:36 PM

keep looking...you will find one thats right for you. keep us posted

1BAD89 · 02-19-2002, 04:37 PM

You don't get your money out of mod'd cars. And about the $13,000 in the guys car and he only got 12.60's out of it....bahahaha, must not have been performance parts, you could be running 9.90's for 13g's, unless your including the intial cost of the car and replacement parts he had to buy. $2000-3000 will get you low 12's- with the right parts. The guy is not trying to rip you off either, $5000 would be a good snag I would think if it was mint. I would say with the mod's you listed, you'd be in the mid-high 14's, I really wouldn't expect to bust off some 13's with those mod's, I'm not saying it can't be done by mr. pro driver on a freak day, it's just not the norm.

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 04:49 PM

good deal thanks guys. i think i am goin to get that mustang i like it a lot. i would like to have a 13.00 mustang. i think that is perfect for the streets and to keep the imports in there place hehe.

1BAD89 · 02-19-2002, 04:53 PM

Heads, cam, intake will get you 12.5's easy. (The right choices of course.) Probaly less and you'll still get 20mpg on the highway, and smoke "most" other cars.

nikolas d · 02-19-2002, 04:59 PM

sweet thanks

Jeb_Bush_2000 · 02-19-2002, 05:13 PM

Two things:

Sometimes you have to pay more than Blue Book on a car. Blue Book is ideal conditions...it doesn't take supply and demand into account. Example: I paid $7100 for what KBB says was a $4495 car. Why? It was one of only three V8 coupes I ever saw, and the other two were heavily modified. It was, in essence, the only stock V8 coupe I saw for sale within 500 miles of me, for almost six months.

Secondly, 3.55s SUCK at the strip. Great on the highway, but one of the worst 1320 gears you can buy, hands down. I believe 3.08's will actually turn better times on the same car.

Mr 5 0 · 02-19-2002, 05:51 PM

nikolas:

Jeb_Bush 2000 is correct about pricing, especially on older cars. The Blue Book or NADA is just a guide, but it gives you some idea of where you are on price That $5500. isn't bad if the car is mint but you always go for the best price you can so you have more left over for mods. Well, that's my thinking, anyway.

Getting high 13's out of a near-stock 5.0 (5-speed) is not really the herculean feat it's often made out to be.

Aside from rear gears (I have 3.55's and they work fine - minimal wheelspin but good grunt off the line) a good shifter helps a lot and knowing when to shift (RPM) in each gear is crucial. That takes practice; you can't just drive to the track and run without having all your ducks in a row.

Besides having a fresh tune-up and new oil, you can do lots of what I call 'track tricks'. Inflate the front tires to 50 pounds, take out the rear seat (45 pounds), advance the timing and always, always, use plenty of ice to cool down the intake before you run.

Frankly, lots of driving practice with your car, some easy little 'tricks' and cool air all add up to a possible high-13 timeslip for a near-stock 5.0.

That's how I did it and on the street low 14's are pretty easy with good traction and good driving - and that will keep you in front of about 95% of the cars you'll meet at stoplights.

Mustang_289 · 02-19-2002, 05:52 PM

Man - don't be afraid to start at the $4K blue-book price! The owner will tell you right off the bat how much your out of the ball park. Maybe he needs to sell the car quickly - and may take $4K for it. You'll never know until you try. Maybe you can get the car for about 4.5K...

I totally agree - Mustang all the way! There is no confusion what's cruising down the street when you hear that sound of American Thunder of a stang! The rice burners simply sound like a rolling fart-tank on wheels.. When they add a beefed up exhaust with those 4/6 bangers sounds bad.

1BAD89 · 02-19-2002, 05:58 PM

If the guy is asking $5500 don't offer him $4,000 or $4500, he will get upset quickly. My car is pretty much mint with a new tranny, clutch, water pump, alternator, radiator, heater core, ac, all new brakes, tires, and all the little things. I was asking $4800 and a guy offered me $3900, and yeah it pissed me off.(because junk 5.0's are going for $5000+ around here. Needless to say I didn't negotiate with him anymore, he then offered me a lil more. If he would've said the 2nd offer int he 1st place I probaly would've sold it to him. Don't be a bastard, it'll get you no where. I know you want the lowet price to buy it at, but come on.

Jeb_Bush_2000 · 02-19-2002, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Aside from rear gears (I have 3.55's and they work fine - minimal wheelspin but good grunt off the line)...

I should clarify. I meant that at the strip...the real, no-foolin' 1/4 mile strip...3.55's are supposed to be the worst gear imaginable. On the street, I'm sure they're great.

nikolas d · 02-21-2002, 09:21 AM

so 3.55's arent good for draging? didnt know that. once i save my money i will buy the stang.

02-19-2002, 10:12 AM	#1
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	buying a mustang need help I was interested in getting a Mustang. A guy I know has a '89 or a '90 LX 5.0 with 3.55 gears, new exhaust, short shifter and a k&N filter, chrom rims with low profile tires, mint condition - I mean mint. Runs like a dream with over 100,000 miles on it. Worth 5,500 bucks?

02-19-2002, 11:11 AM	#2
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Mustang values That's about $1,000. over retail book price but if it's truly mint all around and you want it, offer him $5,000. cash-on-the-spot (if you have all the cash) and see if he'll take it. Sounds like a sweet 'Stang. BTW: If it's a '90, it has the air bag in the steering wheel (first year).

02-19-2002, 05:13 PM	#15
Jeb_Bush_2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Taxachusetts Posts: 374	Two things: Sometimes you have to pay more than Blue Book on a car. Blue Book is ideal conditions...it doesn't take supply and demand into account. Example: I paid $7100 for what KBB says was a $4495 car. Why? It was one of only three V8 coupes I ever saw, and the other two were heavily modified. It was, in essence, the only stock V8 coupe I saw for sale within 500 miles of me, for almost six months. Secondly, 3.55s SUCK at the strip. Great on the highway, but one of the worst 1320 gears you can buy, hands down. I believe 3.08's will actually turn better times on the same car. __________________ Stripped-down '93 LX Coupe -- "Danielle" R.I.P. 05/30/02 "I've seen some crazy stuff in my life, but that...was...AWESOME!!! Oh, sorry about your car, man."

02-19-2002, 05:51 PM	#16
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Stock 5.0 performance nikolas: Jeb_Bush 2000 is correct about pricing, especially on older cars. The Blue Book or NADA is just a guide, but it gives you some idea of where you are on price That $5500. isn't bad if the car is mint but you always go for the best price you can so you have more left over for mods. Well, that's my thinking, anyway. Getting high 13's out of a near-stock 5.0 (5-speed) is not really the herculean feat it's often made out to be. Aside from rear gears (I have 3.55's and they work fine - minimal wheelspin but good grunt off the line) a good shifter helps a lot and knowing when to shift (RPM) in each gear is crucial. That takes practice; you can't just drive to the track and run without having all your ducks in a row. Besides having a fresh tune-up and new oil, you can do lots of what I call 'track tricks'. Inflate the front tires to 50 pounds, take out the rear seat (45 pounds), advance the timing and always, always, use plenty of ice to cool down the intake before you run. Frankly, lots of driving practice with your car, some easy little 'tricks' and cool air all add up to a possible high-13 timeslip for a near-stock 5.0. That's how I did it and on the street low 14's are pretty easy with good traction and good driving - and that will keep you in front of about 95% of the cars you'll meet at stoplights.

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02-19-2002, 11:38 AM	#3
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	kewl thanks man! what do u think the times in a 1/4 mile are with those mods?

02-19-2002, 12:56 PM	#4
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	Depends on the trans but that thing is pretty stock, maybe 15 flat with an automatic, 14.5 with a 5 speed.

02-19-2002, 01:03 PM	#5
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	14.5? even with the 3.55 gears and a flowmaster exhaust? its 5 speed by the way.

02-19-2002, 01:23 PM	#6
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	Gears are nice and will help, and alot depends on you driving, but I don't know of many people who can take a very stock 5.0 into the 13's. Don't get your hopes up, I did the same thing and was very disappointed. My first run bone stock was a 15.9, eventually got that down to 14.9 and with pulleys, full exhaust, 65mm tb, 73mm maf, cold air kit, Crane Hi-6s ignition, centerforce clutch, 3:73 gear, Factory 5 lower control arms, sub frame connectors and drag radials I hit 13.9@96mph. I'm just saying the odds are you aren't gonna drive over to the track and go 13's with an almost completely stock setup. I think Mr 5 0 ran in the high 13's with a fairly stock setup, but he's one of maybe 3 guys I've heard of doing it (credible people anyway) and I've never SEEN anyone do it. You strip weight and put a drag suspension and slicks on there and I'd say you have a good chance. Remember the car has 100,00 plus miles on it and it may run very well but it still has 100,000 miles on it. Just my .02

02-19-2002, 02:24 PM	#7
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	13.9's arent that bad. but u put a lot of money into it just to get 13.9. i had a turbo that ran 14.30's with a 10 dollor boost controller. is it worth it to get a mustang?

02-19-2002, 04:12 PM	#8
gtstang83 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: new windsor,ny Posts: 75	mustang is the ONLY way to go!! once you buy one, you'll never want anything else. you may hear a dozen rice rockets zooming down the street, but they all sound like mice beating on tin cans.but you cant mistake a 5.0 rumbling down the street. good luck

02-19-2002, 04:29 PM	#9
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	think i'm gonna go for it. but 5500 is to much for the 1 i talked about earlyer even another stang owner told me he put over 13 grand in his car and got 12.60's out of it....he ended up selling it for 6,000. i think this guy is tryin to rip me off

02-19-2002, 04:36 PM	#10
gtstang83 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: new windsor,ny Posts: 75	keep looking...you will find one thats right for you. keep us posted

02-19-2002, 04:37 PM	#11
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	You don't get your money out of mod'd cars. And about the $13,000 in the guys car and he only got 12.60's out of it....bahahaha, must not have been performance parts, you could be running 9.90's for 13g's, unless your including the intial cost of the car and replacement parts he had to buy. $2000-3000 will get you low 12's- with the right parts. The guy is not trying to rip you off either, $5000 would be a good snag I would think if it was mint. I would say with the mod's you listed, you'd be in the mid-high 14's, I really wouldn't expect to bust off some 13's with those mod's, I'm not saying it can't be done by mr. pro driver on a freak day, it's just not the norm.

02-19-2002, 04:49 PM	#12
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	good deal thanks guys. i think i am goin to get that mustang i like it a lot. i would like to have a 13.00 mustang. i think that is perfect for the streets and to keep the imports in there place hehe.

02-19-2002, 04:53 PM	#13
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	Heads, cam, intake will get you 12.5's easy. (The right choices of course.) Probaly less and you'll still get 20mpg on the highway, and smoke "most" other cars.

02-19-2002, 04:59 PM	#14
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	sweet thanks

02-19-2002, 05:52 PM	#17
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	Man - don't be afraid to start at the $4K blue-book price! The owner will tell you right off the bat how much your out of the ball park. Maybe he needs to sell the car quickly - and may take $4K for it. You'll never know until you try. Maybe you can get the car for about 4.5K... I totally agree - Mustang all the way! There is no confusion what's cruising down the street when you hear that sound of American Thunder of a stang! The rice burners simply sound like a rolling fart-tank on wheels.. When they add a beefed up exhaust with those 4/6 bangers sounds bad.

02-19-2002, 05:58 PM	#18
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	If the guy is asking $5500 don't offer him $4,000 or $4500, he will get upset quickly. My car is pretty much mint with a new tranny, clutch, water pump, alternator, radiator, heater core, ac, all new brakes, tires, and all the little things. I was asking $4800 and a guy offered me $3900, and yeah it pissed me off.(because junk 5.0's are going for $5000+ around here. Needless to say I didn't negotiate with him anymore, he then offered me a lil more. If he would've said the 2nd offer int he 1st place I probaly would've sold it to him. Don't be a bastard, it'll get you no where. I know you want the lowet price to buy it at, but come on.

02-21-2002, 09:21 AM	#20
nikolas d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: staten island Posts: 11	so 3.55's arent good for draging? didnt know that. once i save my money i will buy the stang.