Hi i am 15 and in 2 weeks turn 16 and am going to take my teset for a learners licence right away. In canada you have to have it for a year and have to drive supervised. I have a job and have 3800 dollers right now. My quesetion is should i wait to i get my nocice licence(driving unsupervised) at 17 and spend about 7 grand on a car or buy one now for about 3500 to 4k canadian? I know some1;s mom who is selling a 88 5.0 lx hatch 5 spd for i think 4k(could probly get 3500-3800) she is the only owner of car since new, its not in good shape and has 250 sothing k on it. I was thinking about buying this and while im learning save for paint, engine rebuild, new apolstry and rims and tires for it? Is this a good idea or should i just wait and save up for somthing more expensive in a year? Will i just be sinking money in an old car? Remember this is in BC canada so prices are different here.

 

if its not in good shape, I would try to talk it down even more.if your dead set on it, take a friend along who knows stangs and check out the car, foxes like to rot as they get older, check the doors, floorpans, quarters,framerails, rad support for rust, especially since its seen canadian winters...otherwise, save up some more money and take your time to find a nicer one.

IMO save your money, but keep your eyes open... good deals pop up every day...

I just got my new stang, 91 LX vert, 5.0, 5 speed, with bolt ons (CAI, pullies, exhaust etc...and some exterior mods for 3 grand (American, I'm in Pennsylvania)...

 

Ok but i dont have know anyone that knows about mustangs and most people my age dont no **** about cars. My dad will help me look tho. How exactly do i check for all this stuff like rad suport, framerails and stuff? And yes there are some good deals out there tho not as cheap as u got urs. I am so pissed cars in canada are so much more money. I live on vancouver island and there even worse here then rest of B.C. If i dont get this car then ill have to go to vancouver to get somthing.

 

Anyother suggesetions?

 

crawl underneath it and look for rust, holes and corrosion. bring a magnet and screw driver with you. poke around underneath with the screwdriver to feel for soft spots in the metal, and use the magnet to look for spots where bondo (body filler) may have been applied at some point. magnets dont stick too well/at all with bondo.

dont get discouraged, and take your time shopping... how far are you from the states?

 

So they body is steel not fiberglass? My dad knows her so i dont think she would lie about damage. I liveo n vancouver island if you know where it is. Its about 2 hour ferry ride to vacouver than about half hour to get to border of washington coast from vancouver. Border takes long time to get into. But isnt it really complicated to get a car from the states? And it costs alot to. And i find washington is one of the more expensive states for cars? Seems like the southern they are the cheaper they are.

 

Speaking from my personal experience, your first car should be VERY cheap to own and operate and ANY 20 year old car isn't either of those. Buy something dirt simple and good on gas for $2500, then grab up a 5.0 as a toy in a year or two. It's no fun watching your friends have fun while you're constantly working on your car (especially with limited skills) or watching it nickle and dime you to death.

So... If you have a ton of free time and money, get a 5.0 now. Otherwise, I'd hold off. You'll be able to buy a car in much better condition in a few years anyhow.

 

yeah, the body is steel.

I dont know about the whole importing car thing though... I got my new car from a guy 1 hour from my house...

 

Yes I do understand its not a very practical first car, but i really like mustangs. I dont have any experiance on fixing cars so i dont want osmthing that needs work all the time. How unreliable is an 88 car? Would it be alot better if i got a late year fox or a sn 95 or watever you call em? Also how much is it to rebuild an engeine plus labor? what about paint and new apolstry? Also this is in canada so again it will probly be more $[:'(]. PS nice 4 eye shelty

 

perfect way to gain experience on fixing cars is to get a shop manual and watch alot of car tech shows.... and to just get your hands dirty... best way to learn imo... a 19 year old car is reliable as long as it is taken care of.a guy I go to school with (almost) daily drives a powder blue 65 fastback, manual steering, brakes etc... but the car was babied since new. my roommate had a 95 blazer and the trans and rear diff decided to fall apart. sn95s are good, but they make a lil less power than a fox, but its all in personal taste. I love foxes, not too crazy about 94-98 stangs, but I love 99-04 and 05-current stangs.... its all personal taste. to rebuild an engine, I dont really know, but they have made soo many 5.0 HO motors, finding one for a decent amount wouldnt be too hard. paint depends on where you go, you can go to maaco and get a 200 dollar paint job that will stay shiny for a week or drop 3 grand on a paint job.... as for upholstry, thats a bit expensive...

thanks, the 4 eye is actually my first stang, and its for sale.... I bought it a year ago (it was a 3.8 v6) and it blew up on me.... then it sat while I was at school, now it has a 5.0 in it, but its not running, and the block plate is warped so the flywheel grinds... so it all has to come apart again... my daily driver is on its last leg, so my rents had me look for a new car, and my 91 vert is now my new toy.... just waiting for the damn title to come in the mail so I can go get it...(the guy I bought it from had it notorized wrong or something... my dad looked at it for me (in school))