What Mustang to take from the available line-up? Need some advice

[kalli]

Originally Posted by Flash70 Just rambling here --- I mean the reason I said not the mach 1 is because the price to me is high. That is like $30,000 usd. Yea the outside looks good but I learned my lesson on buying cars on how they look on the outside. The engine compartment does not look nearly as well taken care of as the coupe's. What would the cost be to ship a car from the usa? Around $2,000? I am not sure what the taxes are there. So 30-2 = 28,000 about we will say. Most mach 1's over here now are cheaper than that last I checked. Idk thought just doing some price comparison. just example 10.000$ us car + 1200 shipping + 10% duty on all ->12320$ add 20% VAT ends up with 14750$ which is 10000 euro BUT nothing nicer to have the dealer close to you if you have trouble. on that I'd call geevers, tell them about it and I'm quite sure they'll arrange something with you. would be surprised if they wouldn't want to make business Kalli

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[maschoemaker]

Originally Posted by kalli

just example 10.000$ us car + 1200 shipping + 10% duty on all ->12320$
add 20% VAT ends up with 14750$ which is 10000 euro

BUT nothing nicer to have the dealer close to you if you have trouble.
on that I'd call geevers, tell them about it and I'm quite sure they'll arrange something with you. would be surprised if they wouldn't want to make business

Kalli

Defenitely in these times...
We'll check it out anyway probably.

Fortunately importing an old car from the states only gives you a VAT/BTW of 6% instead of 19% I believe
Which would make a 25000 dollar car about 19337 euro's
(25000 dollars + 2000 imports) / 1.48 dollars/euro * 1.06 VAT = 19337 euro's

[maschoemaker]

We just came back from the dealer again to testdrive the cars.
We testdrove the 1969 302 coupé. Unfortunately, we couldn't test drive the 1969 fastback because the exhaust has rustholes in it and has to be restored (no extra cost) before it's going to be sold.

The '69 coupé has no powered or disk brakes, so we inmediately found out that we need that in modern world and especially busy Europe. However, the car drives really fine, the car has tons of space, also in the back (party of 4) and also in the boot (which is nice if you travel for longer distances). We can also get a really good deal with this one. There is no rust or dents or whatever in this car, it is completely fine, even has new suspension and a new carb. Price goes from 13950 euro's to 13500 including the powered brakes and the mounting of that (not disk brakes yet, but we'll come to that as we stupidly forgot to ask...), but it has 'just' a 302 engine (2V original with new carb, so making approx. 230-240hp). It's a 3-speed auto. But with some minor upgrades, like a new camshaft, we could make the engine have some more power.
For that we already bought the "Ford 289-302, Boss 302 and 351 W Hi-Po (Hot Rod on Great American Engines Series)" book, which says we could easily go from when you have 171 brake hp (rear wheel) to approx. 314 hp with some 'bolt-on' tweaks. This of course, is for over a couple of years, not inmediately. Also changing the 3-speed auto into a modern 5-speed manual would give you less loss of power. (all just to have the opportunity, not that we're defenitely going to do all that)

The '69 fastback has powered and disk brakes, back louvres, hood scoop and it's a fastback. However, the paintjob has been done rather badly, you can see some 'empty spots' and at some places some yellow spots at edges. It used to be yellow. Also the skythingy inside is bust (torn) and you can see that the fabric of the chairs is also a bit worn (has some minor torn issues). However, it has a 351 Windsor 4V engine with 290hp, but runs on LPG (and regular petrol as well) and the gas thank of that really consumes a lot of space in the boot, making it practically unable to put something else in. It also has a 3 speed auto ans as I said before, the exhaust has to be replaced with no extra cost. However, this car is a Mach 1 fastback, which explains why it is 6000 euro's more. The other is a coupé. I like the fastback model better, but the car is in less shape. However, investing some extra in this one and we could get it back into a perfect car.

So it really comes down to a matter of taste. Do we take enough with the coupé? It is a better deal. Or do we want to spend some more money and go for the real muscle car?
One thing is for sure though, we're going to buy the car at this dealer. He seems really trustable and doesn't sell crappy stuff. He's into the business with his father for over 35 years and he's a real lover. If your car breaks down anywhere in the country, he comes to pick you up with a truck and puts the car in the back of it. Also, if it is ever nessecary, he'll buy the car back. However, he doesn't import cars from the states, simply because when people select a car on the internet and it comes here, sometimes people see the car as if it is disappointing.

And once again it is proven that American cars (also modern) have many useless horsepowers.

[Flash70]

Well I am not sure if you are looking for a return on your car but I would think with the fastback being that much already you would not see any type of return for the amount you put into it. I would place money on the fastback having a lot of problems you do not notice right away. The coupe is also a real muscle car. If I could go back and buy a coupe for a little less money as my first classic mustang I would. It allows for slightly more spending on upgrades which means you learn more. + i think they look pretty cool if done right.

[THUMPIN455]

I get a kick out of the comment about having lots of room inside a Mustang. Would you think the same about the back seat of a 70-81 Trans AM? If so you are used to very small cars and sitting shoulder to shoulder, the epitome of cozy.

Are you planning to make the Mustang a daily driver, or perhaps taking it on long trips that require an overnight stay? If not, then boot space doesnt really matter does it? Its also fun for us on this side of the pond to find out that a 60 mile trip is a very long drive for anyone in the Isles. The differences are fun, and so are old Mustangs, I would go with the one that speaks to me, but then again I can fix anything on them. Im no help in deciding am I?

[maschoemaker]

This car really is meant as a third car. The first two are volvo's (940 and XC70) so this is going to be a fun car. Maybe some longer trips, but mainly shorter cruises.
I think the boot sizes of the coupe and the fastback are quite the same, but unfortunately the gas tank really is large and with the spare wheel inside, there litterally is no rome for something else...
The fact we play golf also makes a part of the decision. Cruising to the course, golf bags should fit somewhere

However, as referred above. If we buy the coupé for 6000 less then the fastback our budget allows more investment in the mustang. Maybe installing an modern-authentic audio system (which looks the same, it appearently is possible today), or perhaps an auto to manual transmission or something like the Edelbrock top end kit (I just came across that, how is that?).
But it's not a fastback Mach 1

And @THUMPIN: ever sat in the back of a volkswagen Lupo? No? Good: never, ever do that to yourself! Or three blokes on the backseet of a Renault Clio? Possible, but really not a recommendation if you have to drive 75 miles to play field hockey and then drive all the way back when everybody smells

[setx69fastback]

I have always wanted a mach 1 myself, recently got a regular fastback because it was more in my price range, but maybe one day i'll trade up. As far as the audio goes I'm planning on finding an original radio, but not hooking it up. amp in the trunk, new speakers with 'vintage' covers, and an mp3 player wired into the console.

[maschoemaker]

Today I've visited a guy who is able to import cars from the States and can maintain them. He regularly visits the states and looks for cars. Showed me around, he's restoring a Mustang currently etc...
He says that when looking for a car on the internet, 9 out of 10 times you get crap, especially on places like eBay. People who buy a car there by themselves and import it here are first very excited, but once the engine is turned on, this shakes, that squeeks, the heater doesn't work (appearently people cut the line in states like Florida since there is no winter there), the windscreenwasher-engine is broken, etc. Therefore it is really hard to find a nice car on the internet. He can look around for us, but will have to drive hundreds of miles (expensive) before he finds anything nice. He also suggested my relatives there (have some living in Los Angeles) should look and let them having it shipped here, if there a bit known with cars.
He says that also shipping the cars can vary a lot in prices. When you find a car in the mid-west, transporting it here would cost 5000 dollars, because it has to be brought to shore first. Same thing for the entire westcoast, since the ship has to make a gigantic detour.
I can already see it: it's all a matter of how much you want to spend on it. Only import from the states once you want to spend a lot of money on something really good (like a Boss 302 or a Shelby). It's not worth the risk for the 'average' mustang.
Meaning buying one here comes closer.

[kalli]

Originally Posted by maschoemaker

Today I've visited a guy who is able to import cars from the States and can maintain them. He regularly visits the states and looks for cars. Showed me around, he's restoring a Mustang currently etc...
He says that when looking for a car on the internet, 9 out of 10 times you get crap, especially on places like eBay. People who buy a car there by themselves and import it here are first very excited, but once the engine is turned on, this shakes, that squeeks, the heater doesn't work (appearently people cut the line in states like Florida since there is no winter there), the windscreenwasher-engine is broken, etc. Therefore it is really hard to find a nice car on the internet. He can look around for us, but will have to drive hundreds of miles (expensive) before he finds anything nice. He also suggested my relatives there (have some living in Los Angeles) should look and let them having it shipped here, if there a bit known with cars.
He says that also shipping the cars can vary a lot in prices. When you find a car in the mid-west, transporting it here would cost 5000 dollars, because it has to be brought to shore first. Same thing for the entire westcoast, since the ship has to make a gigantic detour.
I can already see it: it's all a matter of how much you want to spend on it. Only import from the states once you want to spend a lot of money on something really good (like a Boss 302 or a Shelby). It's not worth the risk for the 'average' mustang.
Meaning buying one here comes closer.

Hiya,

a lot of that is very valid. my heater was cut as well and not being able to see the car before driving is a downside. i just fell in love with what I saw.
shipping a car from outside a state that is not connected to ocean is costly. but westcoast being expensive is wrong. i had mine shipped from L.A. to netherlands (or belgium?) and from there they shipped to cork, ireland where I live. thing went through panama canal. cost: 1100 euro.

but since the fella seems to know what he's talking about, take HIM to the place you want to buy that stang and have him check on the cars for a 2nd opinion. he knows the weak areas ... and you can't beat a seller that'll pickup the car for you when it's broken when you are not a mechanic or one of those talent-for-everything people

Kalli

[silverscmustang]

theres a guy that works next door to me that buys cars here and sends them to france i think the company is called mulsanne, heres his website:

http://www.mulsanne.com/html/homepage.html

email him and see what he can do, he definitly knows what to look for