I've been very pleased with my car.
It's 10 years old and still running strong with 123,000 miles. Of course, it has a new engine, but that's because I got the power bug, not because the original was shot.
For repair and modification purposes, it's hard to beat the good ole' push-rod Ford V-8. As far as common repair costs...really all you need to pay for is the part in most cases. Most common repairs can be done on a Saturday afternoon with a good set of wrenches. The parts themselves are very competitively priced due to the huge aftermarket there is for the late-model Mustangs.
You can buy a tune-up kit from some places with wires, pluges, PCV valve, fuel filter, etc. for around somewhere around $100. You can install those easily.
If you've never worked on cars but are willing to learn, the 5.0 is a great motor to learn on. I knew about jack when I started out, but spending time on this board and reading books and mags taught me most of what I needed to know. Don't be afraid to jump on in and get your hands dirty. You'll learn how to work on your car and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself.
If you have any questions let us know.
--nathan
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'91 GT, 306, 1087 cam, 70mm TB, 76mm MAF, RPM intake, ported Windsor Jr. Irons, headers, Flows, AOD, PI 2800 converter, Transgo kit, and 3.73's. Best ET/MPH: 14.595 @ 94.41 (3400 ft altitude = 13.99 @ 98.54 @ sea level).
Check out my site
[This message has been edited by silver_pilate (edited 11-04-2001).]