Foreu2env

the long of it - Hey whats happenin? I currently drive a 2003 focus but have gotten a much better job/pay since I bought that car. Last week I went to a dealer and test drove an '06 mustang... pretty much sealing the deal that my next car will be a mustang. Problem has been finding a stripped down 06 with a manual transmission... SO i looked at used cars.

the short of it -

There's a 2005 sonic blue V6 on a used lot near my house, which has basically been turned into a GT clone. everything from wheels, bumpers, stripes, and exhaust. However the fitment on the front bumper seem's off. The bottom half which comes up to the headlight, is not flush with the headlight. it hangs about 1/4" low it seems. On the right front side of the bumper theres a scratch that looks like someone nudged it or that it brushed up against a wall/post at a slow speed. No cracks or dents just a "raspberry" if you know what i mean. My question for you, and you probably wont be able to answer without seeing the car but i figure i'll ask anyway is.... #1 the bumper IS supposed to be flush with the bottom of the headlight correct? and #2 a 1/4" gap, could that be something major? or do you just think the people who put the GT bumper on the V6 didn't do a very good job? Either way i'm planning on replacing the whole front bumper once i get it (if i do)... but without knowing how that front bumper attaches to the car, i wasn't sure whether it could be due to a structural problem or just a fitment isssue... any input would be appreciated, thanks!

P.S. i'll try to put some pics up of the bumper in a few mins...

Foreu2env

photo's, bad quality but its from a camera phone... the one of the headlight KINDA shows what i'm talkin about, but at the angle it's hard to tell... the 2nd photo shows the scratch and a better view at the gap.



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wmtheflash

There should be no gap at all.

However, I bet if you look around you can find a V6 with no problems.

Here's one from a local dealer with 25K on it, it's an auto, but all they want is $17.9K. I bet there are plenty of V6 '05's for around the same price, probably close to wherever you live:

http://www.amherstmotors.com/preowne...FTOKEN=9354305

I suppose what make this one special is that it looks like a GT. Unless you absolutely hate the way the V6 looks, then I'd steer clear. There are so many V6's in beautiful condition that there is no reason to buy one with a problem to fix right off the bat.

I mean, if you want the car because you love the way the GT looks, then sure, it could be a good deal once you get the work done. Personally, I think the V6 Stangs look pretty cool as is.

It's a matter of taste, but I don't like to my vehicle to be a clone of something it isn't. I mean, I suppose I could get a decal that says GT-350 or GT-500 and put it on the vehicle, but it's not either of those. It could get annoying when everyone would ask me about my car.

You know, you have a fairly new car already. Why not wait about a year or so, then look for an '05 GT? I searched CarMax and found low mileage '05 GT's for about $24k already. It'll probably be $20 in a year or so.

Foreu2env

#1 I wont buy an automatic.
#2 theres TONS of V6's out there... but they're all automatics. Between carpoint.com, autotrader, and some other sites, i've only come up with TEN within 300 miles of me that have manual transmissions.
#3 if i buy that specific car, I'm removing everything that says GT on it and replacing it with the pony emblems...

The reason I like this one is that it already has dual exhaust installed, already has the GT fog light grill installed, and it's got the larger Bullit wheels... all of which I wouldn't have to pay for to do myself... which leaves me money for wheels, suspension, and engine work.

between the entire GT body kit, the dual exhaust, and the wheels... i'm saving myself quite a bit of money just to deal with/fix a 1/4" gap in the bumper.... as long as it's not structural.

Foreu2env

P.S. my car's an 03 but it already has 54,000 miles on it.

I'm 22, so a V8 on my insurance = more than a car payment for a new GT

My focus has a 100,000 parts and labor warranty which makes it still worth something to someone if i sell it. If i put another 30,000 on it then try to sell it, i'm not gonna get anything out of it...

P.S.S. that car above.... they only want $15,995... i figure with the gap i can talk them down to 15,000$ which means between my trade in/sale of my car and my cash down payment, i'm lookin at a 200-240$ a month car payment. much easier on me than the payment and insurance of a V8... but thanks =)