NeverMiss_P51

Hi all.
I am in Massachusetts. I used to have a 2005 V6 a while back. I loved that car. I swapped out the cloth seats for leather (did that myself) and installed an auto start. Like any fool minded person, I traded it. I wonder where that car is now! My Dad had a 1994 V6. I remember that one when I was in HS. It was a fun ride. My brother crashed it. My Father started this whole thing with a 65 Mustang. He told me he had to sell it because his new wife, my Mom, could not drive a stick! ARGH!!

Anyway, I am also a pilot, and a big P-51 fan, the Original Mustang! I have had the privilege to get up close and personal with a few of those beauties! But, because I can't afford a multi-million dollar plane, Ill start with the car!

Now, mind you, I like the new Mustangs, but I LOVE the older ones....vintage 1999-2004. For some reason, the lines on those look amazing. So, I am in the hunt for the right one. There are lots of them out there. They range anywhere from 1000 to 15000 on Craigslist. Now, because I am a Dad with a three year old, and we recently purchased a new house...my wife is capping me. She said I could only spend around 3000. No problem. This will not be a daily driver (SUV for that!). I will keep it in the garage and drive it on a nice day. Maybe Ill even learn a thing or two about cars! I would love a GT Convertible, but I will settle for a good V6.

So, what do you think? Am I dreaming the impossible? Not in a rush to get anything right now. I was thinking around the spring time.

Does anyone have any advice about a 1999-2004 Mustang?

Thanks for reading my Story!

drhoward

I don't know what they go for in your area but for 3000 dollars anything you get will probably be pretty bagged, I'd get a V8 if I was you just in case you ever decide you want to try to make it faster. That's just my opinion though.......

NeverMiss_P51

Well, found it! I came across a gem over the weekend. I am shuffling all the paperwork now for a 2000 V6 Convertible. . I will be the second owner, it only has 64,000 miles on it! Can't wait to be a part of the magic of a Mustang! Again!

08'MustangDude

That 2000, did you check the rear for rust? They're notorious for rusting out, and the fuel
tanks falling out. If it was garage kept, make sure it stays that way, or get it rust proofed.
Buy 6+ cans of Fluid Film, get it up in the air and spray all the metal... There is an attachment
to get inside the frame-rail holes too.

If you liked the older ones, but want a newer one, the 05-09s (5th Gen) are a good mixture
of both. I am disappointed with the V6s, at 210HP, when my '07 Charger 3.5 V6 was putting
out 250HP, then 265+ Tuned. So, yeah a V8 would be the better way to go for that generation.

The 2010, don't bother; new look 5th gen, same power-train options as the 05-09. The
motors and trans didn't get updated till 2011, so, any '11-'14 is going to be 300+ HP.
2012 was another "looks" update, front end. The 2010s get the new interior look
too, but same lack of power as the 05-09 as a V6.

'15+. 6th Gen, longer, wider, heavier, but all 300+ HP options there as well.

I would buy a 2011-2012, then swap my '08 front end on it, and sell the '08 cheap with
updated looks, like the 2010.

The 3.7 V6 and 2.3 I4 put out about the same HP, for the '11+, and get better
fuel mileage than the 4.0 or 4.6 engines.