what to look for in a used mustang.

Mr 5 0 · 10-12-2001, 06:28 PM

booster:

Unit addressed the logical things to look for in a used Mustang; I would only add that an unmodified Mustang is your best bet but are getting hard to find as they age, and of course, the lower the mileage the better (duh).

Import owners are clueless about American cars and most of what they claim comes from an unjustified sense of elitism.

Back in the '70's, American automobile quality was rapidly going downhill and most American cars were getting rather junky.
Added to that were two national gas shortage crises in '73 and '79 at a time when American cars were famous for gas-guzzling (huge and heavy).

The Japanese jumped into the breech with real quality control and excellent gas mileage to boot. Buyers flocked to the imports, Chrysler almost went bankrupt and GM went from a 48% share of the domestic car market to 28% today. Ford didn't do too well either (think 1975 Mustang II).
As we all know, the Japanese (and the Germans) built a reputation for manfacturing quality, reliable cars and even today, imports are still benefiting from this reputation, even though they don't always deserve it.

Meanwhile, American car quality has soared to levels sometimes above the vaunted Japanese.
To be specific; Ford's have done very well and the Mustang is especially reliable.

Case in point:
I bought a 1990 LX in March of 1990. Changed the oil every 2,000 and did careful maintainance but also ran it hard on a semi-regular basis. Few mods: (3.55 gears, PRO 5.0 shifter, sub-frame connectors, HD axles, exhaust, ignition tweaks, cold-air induction, stuff like that). No garage (in the Northeast) and I drive it all year, except in snow and ice.

112,000 miles later and only routine items have been replaced. Never stranded or screwed by a faulty part in 11 years. My 'Stang starts and runs great; very low 14's...high 13's on a good day when the air is cool, I'm 100% alert and the et gods are smiling.

Yeah, I'm biased toward Mustangs - especially the 5.0 - but I have the positive experience to back that confidence up. Some folks will buy a beat-on or wrecked and repaired 'Stang and have a lot of grief so they'll say 'All Mustangs are junk'. Wrong. Your Mustang was junk. Sure, a few lemons come out of Dearborn, but on the whole, Mustangs are well made and reliable.

I wish you well with your future Mustang purchase. We'll be here to help you out with mods, tuning or whatever else you need, just ask.

------------------
Mr. 5.0
Messageboard Administrator

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10-12-2001, 06:28 PM	#6
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	booster: Unit addressed the logical things to look for in a used Mustang; I would only add that an unmodified Mustang is your best bet but are getting hard to find as they age, and of course, the lower the mileage the better (duh). Import owners are clueless about American cars and most of what they claim comes from an unjustified sense of elitism. Back in the '70's, American automobile quality was rapidly going downhill and most American cars were getting rather junky. Added to that were two national gas shortage crises in '73 and '79 at a time when American cars were famous for gas-guzzling (huge and heavy). The Japanese jumped into the breech with real quality control and excellent gas mileage to boot. Buyers flocked to the imports, Chrysler almost went bankrupt and GM went from a 48% share of the domestic car market to 28% today. Ford didn't do too well either (think 1975 Mustang II). As we all know, the Japanese (and the Germans) built a reputation for manfacturing quality, reliable cars and even today, imports are still benefiting from this reputation, even though they don't always deserve it. Meanwhile, American car quality has soared to levels sometimes above the vaunted Japanese. To be specific; Ford's have done very well and the Mustang is especially reliable. Case in point: I bought a 1990 LX in March of 1990. Changed the oil every 2,000 and did careful maintainance but also ran it hard on a semi-regular basis. Few mods: (3.55 gears, PRO 5.0 shifter, sub-frame connectors, HD axles, exhaust, ignition tweaks, cold-air induction, stuff like that). No garage (in the Northeast) and I drive it all year, except in snow and ice. 112,000 miles later and only routine items have been replaced. Never stranded or screwed by a faulty part in 11 years. My 'Stang starts and runs great; very low 14's...high 13's on a good day when the air is cool, I'm 100% alert and the et gods are smiling. Yeah, I'm biased toward Mustangs - especially the 5.0 - but I have the positive experience to back that confidence up. Some folks will buy a beat-on or wrecked and repaired 'Stang and have a lot of grief so they'll say 'All Mustangs are junk'. Wrong. Your Mustang was junk. Sure, a few lemons come out of Dearborn, but on the whole, Mustangs are well made and reliable. I wish you well with your future Mustang purchase. We'll be here to help you out with mods, tuning or whatever else you need, just ask. ------------------ Mr. 5.0 Messageboard Administrator