Why would a 4cyl mustang be a bad idea?

[Tyrant]

I've been looking around at cars for quite some time before i buy a first car, I originally wanted a mustang but realized the insurance would be very high for a first time driver. I found out recently a kid in my school owns an 89 lx convertible w/ 4 cylinders and he said he was paying somewhere close to 1400 a year. I figured I could just get my own mustang but i'm getting alot of bad opinions about doing this.. my friends say its basicly like buying rear wheel drive ford escort. I figured i'd be able to afford insurance, i'd be using less gas then a 5.0 and i'm not exactly looking for speed. I'm just wondering if anyone has an opinion on this? I don't know why it would be a bad idea going for 4 cylinder.. i'm being told it wouldent be a "real" mustang if i had a 4 cyl.

[Maroon 5.0 LX]

There is nothing wrong with getting a 4 cylinder Mustang. If that's the body style you want, go for it. Seems most folks Have to have the V8, which is nice, but you have to consider the cost factors as you have.

Later on, as insurance rates are within your budget, you can always move up. Just make sure the car is in decent shape so you don't have to put a load of money in it to keep it on the road.

[GodStang]

The 4 cyc. are very nice cars.

[OnMy3rdStang]

I own an 89 4 cylinder mustang and I only pay 90 bucks a month for insurance.

Stereotypically a mustang is a 5.0 and there are alot of people who dont concider a 4 cylinder a real mustang, but there are alot of potential and room for change like a turbo 4, v6, and v-8 swaps and the best thing about swapping engines is sometimes you can get away with 4 cylinder insurance and still have a v-8 since the cars vin has the 4 cylinder code in it.

So yeah you wont have the power of a v-8 (obviously) but just because its a 4 cylinder doesnt mean it has to stay one

[sjlawr]

I have an 89 4 banger mustang convertable. I LOVE IT. it may not be as fast as a V8 or as my 01 V6, but its still fun to drive. The 4 cylanders are easy to work on, and cheap to fix. The best part is when you can drive it to the beach, and get 30 mpg on the way there, and still cruise with a cool car, So go for it man. good luck

[Blue GT 5.0]

Yep, go for it. I love mine.....

[lilmustang boy]

i got my moms old 4 banger... an 89... and for a first car they r great... im the only one at skewl that has his own stang.... so thats kewl... but the main prob i have is ricers wanting to race.... i just tell them off and drive away.. gas mileage is great.... not the best in the winter but o well dad has a jeep...... other than that a great first time car i luv mine.......

[Dark_5.0]

Just buy an ex-4 cylinder car man there are alot of them out there. You get the best of both worlds, you pay 4 banger insurance but have a 5.0 under the hood.

[Dean Malaxos]

I just bough an 87' LX 4cl last week. I love driving it, also my 13 year old son thinks it's the coolest car ever. I would go for it, mine was the best $400 I have ever spent.

[stanger9219]

AT LEAST ITS A MUSTANG!!! my first car was a four banger stanger...i loved it. at least it had the look

[lilmustang boy]

Originally posted by stanger9219
AT LEAST ITS A MUSTANG!!! my first car was a four banger stanger...i loved it. at least it had the look

yes that is true

[AutoX281]

If you can find one, an SVO, or other 4 cyl Turbo, would be a fun car too. The SVO's are rare cars, which in my books makes them that much cooler. They're light, have decent power (200-300hp depending on mods), and handle great. I'm guessing that the insurance is probably not as low as a regular 4-cyl, but you can get a clean one pretty cheap b/c not many people know they even exist.

--Javier

[fred414141]

i had to ask.........those who are telling you about the 4 cyl. cars not being real mustangs.....are they driving pavement-ripping high-powered mustangs? if they are,they're just boosting their own egos. and if they aren't,they're just trying to talk you out of getting a ride that might be cooler than their own. the cool factor isn't always in the cylinder count. look inside yourself for your answer. remember that opinions are like armpits,everybody has 'em,and a lot of 'em stink!

[84LX89GT]

The first car i bought was a 4 cylinder mustang and it was alright. I currently have an '85 LX t-top 2.3L auto and it's funner to drive than my other two cars because it doesn't attract unwanted attention (cops), it's more practical in the winter and i get more sun in the summer, gets better gas mileage and is cheap to fix, plus with "pony" wheels the thing looks pretty decent.
Getting a 4 cyl. mustang and making it look nice, or even driving it stock is a good decision and you'll like it. My only modification advise to anyone with a four banger is INSTALL A REAR SWAY BAR (from a GT or 5.0L LX), it makes the car handle 10x better and makes it feel alot sportier.

[1998Stang]

Originally Posted by fred414141

i had to ask.........those who are telling you about the 4 cyl. cars not being real mustangs.....are they driving pavement-ripping high-powered mustangs? if they are,they're just boosting their own egos. and if they aren't,they're just trying to talk you out of getting a ride that might be cooler than their own. the cool factor isn't always in the cylinder count. look inside yourself for your answer. remember that opinions are like armpits,everybody has 'em,and a lot of 'em stink!

Truer words were never spoken!

You can have a lot of fun with your Mustang whether it's four, six, or eight cylinders. There'll be plenty of time later for you to get bigger and more expen$ive engines!

All best,
Joe

[roper racing 03]

Originally Posted by Tyrant

my friends say its basicly like buying rear wheel drive ford escort. i'm being told it wouldent be a "real" mustang if i had a 4 cyl.

your friends are full of crap. i had a 1989 mustang 4 cyl. it would kick the crap out of alot of the small block fords and chevys on the street. we were putting out almost 400 horse without turbo or supercharger. we bored it 40 over and decked the heads and put a set of wiseco pistons. we had a 2 inch spacer between carb and intake and ground out the d-port intake to match the oval port head. we also lightend the crank and put a high performance cam in it. we bought a 900 dollar clutch pressure plate and flywheel kit for it. it had a mels ignition and. we never took it to a drag strip but i guarantee it would have ran a 10 sec 1/4 mile pass. a 4 cylinder mustang is a real mustang. put a 4 speed in her and race whatever crap your friends have. youll win. all you have to do is put a little time and effort into it. i now have a 1989 mustang 2.3 LX. the insurance is not expensive at all.

[nitrousboy]

to me i see a chance to make your friends look stupid. just put a turbo on it. just remeber a 4 speed and to take the time to setup the turbo the wright way the firs time.