hey guys,

I'm 17, almost 18, and I want a classic mustang as a daily driver. I have a few questions though.

-Engine size-Condition-Coupe or Fastback?
I know its alot of Q's, but I need the FAQ's!

thanks for any help


Chris

 

The 289 and 302 have different power depends more what year they are and carb.Gas mileage is about the same on both these cars don't have a over drive you'll be lucky to see 15mpg on a good day.If your going to drive it daily i would get a coupe so if it gets totaled you won't feel that bad about it.Most of us have a drive driver and our mustangs are more a weekend toy.

 

[QUOTE=Chris-g;6913753]hey guys,

I'm 17, almost 18, and I want a classic mustang as a daily driver. I have a few questions though.

-Engine size

-is this true? how does it effect overall performance between the two?

[INDENT]-for someone my age, is it more prudent to get a 289 considering performance and possible extra inssurance costs?[/INDENT]

Chris,

You should consider getting an inline 6 cylinder car if your looking for something economical. They cost quite a bit less, the gas mileage is in the mid-20s, and the insurance is less. If you want a daily driver and you don't have a lot of money to blow, it's a better choice. You can always do some some performance mods later that won't cost a fortune if and when you have the cash.

My son is the same age as you are and I just bought an early 65 for him as a project car for the two of us to work on together. The car is already in great shape and has very minimal surface rust only. It's very driveable now, and I paid only $4k for it. It's better for an inexperienced driver not to have a muscle car and I'm more comfortable knowing that. I do remember what it's like to be your age. After all, it was only 35 years ago.

Good luck in your choice!

Gregg

Gregg

 

I agree, buy a 200 six coupe in good condition and do a little here and there to improve it over time. You'll appreciate the car much more if you've invested time in it. Start with the brakes and suspension refresh.

As you gain more experience you may want to eventually attempt a V8 conversion.

 

If no one else will say it, I will: you don't want a '60s car as a daily driver. They were unreliable when they were new, and they are even more unreliable now. Like was already said, most of our Mustangs are toys. When you're late for work, it nice to know that my Saab will crank 99.9% of the time. Not to mention the quite ride, better handling all around, 10x safer, 10x more comfortable, and it's even quicker on the highway. Oh, and double the gas mileage is nice. My first car was a Jeep Cherokee. I got it when I was 15, got the Mustang when I was 16, and got my Saab 900 when I was 18 (for 2400 bucks). I'm 21 now, to put things into perspective.

 

Good points St3mpy. I wouldn't want to rely on the 64.5 for everyday driving, but I drive a lot more miles than Chris will probably drive. The good thing about these cars is you can actually work on them and learn and understand how a car works, if you choose to. That's part of what I want my son to get out of the project car we bought. I find it refreshing to open the hood on the Mustang and see that you could fit a couple of illegals in there, one on either side of the engine. My Mustang is also pretty simple, not nearly as much to go wrong as a new car and costs less to fix too.

But these days most people think of a car as something you just get in and drive without thought of working on it or repairing it. I think you have to buy a classic Mustang with a different attitude. Don't by a 60s car with the idea that's it's just a "gas-n-go" type car.

As far as safety and reliability goes, of course the cars of today are so much more reliable and safe, but somehow they were O.K. back then. 99.9% of the drivers survived them and probably enjoyed it in the process. Someday people may look at what we are driving today and say the same things.

The good thing about these cars is that they are still holding their value. My Mustang is worth at least 2 times what it sold for new after 46 years. If you get tired of the car, you can sell it and you'll probably come out O.K. I wish I could say that about my new cars!

Gregg

 

Im 17 almost 18 i make more around 550 a week Working for a tree company. I have a 66 Convert and man even this amount of cash still makes me save. My advice buy a car that has minimal rust and that's running or close to it i was given my car from my gf step dad for flipping a house and i figure ill put 4-5 grand into it before im happy most likely more. I love to work on it but when you get realistic its all time and money. But what a great car to learn on. when i got mine i had to just take the engine and tranny out and then that was it it came with everything off of it and im just doing rust removal. I say get a car thats running and doesnt have alot of rust.. Look for the rust on the floors. trunk and wheel houses.. Check the cowl area and fenders. And either a 289 or 302 i like both. Mine came with a 289 but its ceased, when it comes time ill get either a 289 or a 302 im not to picky i just want a nice sleeper/ cruiser, and i plan on making mine close to a daily driver.

 

I couldn't disagree more! Indeed a sixties car by nature is not as long lived and requires more work to maintain reliability. What I don't agree with is discouraging this young guy from diving in and getting his hands dirty.

My first car was a '48 Chevy that I drug out of the wrecking yard a year or two before the first Mustang was introduced. The car cost $12.50 and by the time I had it on the road over a year later I had $100 in it. The only two parts of my young life besides this old Chevy that were more influential in the development of my character were my parents and the US Army.

Although by the time my kids were old enough to drive I was at a point where I could afford to buy them cars, they both saved their money and bought beaters and kept them running. Of my two kids one of them was a girl. She is now a competent stick shift driver and knows more about cars than the vast majority of our Young X Boxers regardless of their sex. When we showed up at the Kart races when she was a young teenager, all the boys were disgusted because they knew that they were all racing for second place, she was that dominant.

I said all that for the purpose of encouraging this young guy to find an old Mustang and learn to keep it on the road. This will do more for him than drugs, alcohol or an X Box could ever do for him.


Chris, Don't get too wrapped up in body styles or engine size. There are three VERY important criteria when selecting ANY used car. These criteria are:

condition
Condition &
CONDITION

The suggestion for buying a six is a good one. It might not have the sex appeal you would like, but they are inexpensive to buy, easy to work on and economical to drive. They will hold their value well, assuming you take care of them, and as you learn about cars, you can step up to a nicer one later.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted.

 

-Engine sizeThey aren't similar, they are almost identical. Really. Takes practice to be able to tell them apart.
No, the insurance on a teen with V8 will be rape either way. Get a 200 six. Much better on gas, and on insurance.
The coupe is more practical (the rear seat can actually be used) and visibility is much better.
You'll be lucky to get 20 mpg highway with the V8, wile the six will get 25-30.

-ConditionMustangs don't have a frame, they are unitized construction. Building a a driveable car from a mess is time-consuming, and expensive. On the other hand, a clean six costs a LOT less than a clean V8.

-Coupe or Fastback?Personal preference, within the limit of what I said above.

 

I have to disagree with almost everyone on this. Get something that you like. Looking around, you will start to know what you like more. I would be more concerned about it being solid than "pretty". This may help when you ding it up too. I don't know too many peoplle that haven't dinged a few cars when your age.

I would also agree with the 6, although not so much because of milage. I have a 351 that gets 18 mpg, so I don't agree with everyones low milage claims. That has a lot to do with the carb you choose and the kind of tune.

The reliability claim is also garbage. I drive mine 50 miles a day. Have done it for 15 years and I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) how many times it has let me down. That is all in how well you know your car and maintain it.

So, find something you like, and go for it. Don't worry about what others think.