I don't know about out there in CA, but in ohio a stang that is in any kind of drivable condition is atleast 10K.

 

privet sellers are listing 8 and up for the low end base models with a lot of miles on them. i can hopefully get more money from my parents via a loan to get into the better range but there are still a few gems in the rough

 

Go for the Stang even if you do have a payment. You'll probably save that much on gas vs. the F150 anyway. I've had several F150s and the best mileage I ever got around town was around 10-12 mpg. Compare that to around 20 in the Stang and depending on how much you drive (being a kid, probably a lot), you'll save a lot of $$ in the process.

 

I can understand your desire to change from the F150. That's a lot of vehicle for a new driver to manage in city driving. They also can be a pain in the butt to park. The V6 Mustang isn't high at all to ensure. You'll piggy-back on your parents' policy, right? I got my V6 instead of a GT partly because I had a 16 year old male driver at home when I bought it. The V6 Mustang policy was average for a passenger car. In fact, I'll bet that it cost more to ensure the truck. I'd call your agent first to get some quotes. Rates vary a lot according to company.

On the whole Mustangs are pretty reliable. They're much more reliable than the F150 and most parts are less expensive to replace. Just be aware that the '05 was the first year in the model and had more bugs than later years. Look out for any signs of a leak under the dash, which was a problem for that year. Make sure that you can fill the gas tank all the way full (another glitch in early models.) See if you can find one that has good maintenance records. Be sure that the tires are in good shape because that's a major expense. Good luck!

One last thing. Limit how much time you spend reading this forum. Seriously. If you don't, you'll spend every last dime on mods. I'm not kidding.

 

Depends which part of CA you're in. If you live in SoCo, you shouldn't have problems with the stang, but if you live up where it gets cold and snows, you may have difficulty during the winter months.

Also consider what you need the stang for. In reality, you won't be squeezing 2 adults into the rear seats.. for long anyways. There is a little room in the trunk but it will be nothing compared to having a pick-up for. Otherwise read the TSB's and do your research. Don't rush into it and find the right one.

 

sounds pretty good. oh and one more thing, im really tall. 6'6" to be exact. front passanger seat was good size for me but that didnt have a wheel or a pedals. usually ford puts in adjustable pedals but did that come standard on the '05?

 

Wow, that IS really tall. I don't think they came standard on the 05, but you might be able to buy some kind of aftermarket ones...

 

well im able to fit into a camary comfortably so im guessing i can fit into a mustang. and as far as the prices and gems in the rough...

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1886290512.html

kind of weird with the low miles but do you think its worth checking out? its an auto which is good cause i cant drive stick.