Gman021

Hi everyone,

I am looking to buy a new (new to me) car that has a bit of muscle in it. I am pretty sure buying a 2005 (or 06, 07) mustang GT would be perfect. I like all of the customization that can be done and the decent cost of ownership. I have just a few questions.


Anything I should look out for when buying an 05 mustang?

How reliable have your mustangs been?

Any big negative with buying a mustang with an automatic transmission?


Thanks

sammm

You might ask or search in the Tech sections.

Gman021

I'll try that. Thanks.

DocSnickers

Gas mileage will be better with an auto, which can be debated depending on how you drive a manual. I prefer manuals myself just for that extra horse power when you need it.

Nuke

If you can find an '05, '06 or '07 without any of the more severe TSB issues (mainly the water leak issue that causes major electrical gremlins) and in good condition you'll do fine. Depending on where you live, you can find some nice '05 and '06 GT's in the $10k - $15k range (but I'd be hard pressed to pay $15k unless there was something very special).

Since my Stang isn't my DD, I wouldn't have bought one if all I could get was an automatic. There's too much more "fun factor" with the manual over the auto.

Quite a few S197 owners have over 100k miles (but to me; a major Toyota owner; that's when a car just begins to break-in). Other than weak electrical systems (alternator and OE battery), the S197 is relatively reliable.

Fuel mileage is affected by so many variables it's not funny, but in town with a lead foot about 15 MPG is about the BEST you'll see. On the highway, pump-to-pump with cruise control on and doing within 5 MPH of the speed limit, hand calculated mileage can be as high as 28 MPG (again, depending on things like fuel quality, gears, tire O.D., weather, road surface, etc) but be satisfied with 25 MPG.

OSUTX440

My 05 was supercharged.... I had 110K on it. No engine problems. Only issue would be the water leak issue that Nuke was talking about. Good platform to mod.

S197GT07

Depending on where you are in the MA area, I'd be more than happy to check out cars you're looking at for the most known issues.

Gman021

I appreciate the replies.

I was originally going to buy a toyota SUV or something because they are built to last, but I want something with more horsepower. I'm not looking to do anything crazy, I just want a little more speed than a regular daily driver.

I looked up all the reviews I can find, and so far almost all say the 05 and beyond mustangs have help up relatively well.

Odds are I may end up buying one with close to 100k miles (or I may get in at 60k) so I want to make sure it can go much further than just 100k.

Nuke

I've been a long time Toyota owner; 6 since 1981 totaling over 1,000,000 miles; and I can vouch for their reliability and longevity. Although I don't expect that kind of longevity OR reliability from ANY domestic vehicle, they HAVE improved over the past few decades. When I first started driving, ANY domestic vehicle making it over 100,000 miles without major repairs was almost unheard of. Also, the power of the Stang makes you forget about that anyway...

Gman021

I find it amazing American car companies can't make cars that last as long as car makers overseas (and the plants they have here). And then they wonder why they need to get bailed out.