Need help with purchase decision
 

I have been wanting to get a Mustang since I purchased my 2010 Escape. Every time I was in for service I walked around the lot looking at them and now its time to trade in the Escape, so I am looking at 2010-14 Mustang V6 Convertibles and have a few questions.

Is there much difference in seat of the pants performance between the 3.7 and 4.0 liter V6? Reliability a factor? I have test driven both, but cant really test the limits on such a short drive.

Are the 2013-14 HID and LED lights something that can be converted to the 2010-12 models? Not just a HID bulb conversion, I like the whole factory set up.

I have looked at a few 2014 Convertibles for sale in my area (SoCal) and see they are ex rentals with 40k miles or so. They all seam to have a production date of 04/13, so they have been rented for quite a while. Is that when all 2014 Mustang production started, or is it jut the rental car companies that get them early? Its nice for them to get 17 months rental out of them and still be able to sell them as the same model year still for sale new at the dealer!

Do you guys with high impact colors ever get tired of them? I like the gotta have it green and grabber blue, but the wife is only willing to go as flashy as Kona Blue or perhaps race red. Then there is always black.

Do you think the current prices will drop much when the 2015 is released?

Thanks!

3.7L (2011+) Models are way more powerful than the 4.0L. 300HP vs 240 and 280Tq vs I think like 240 or 250 TQ.

If you want factory HID get a car that has Factory HID. The OEM stuff to buy later is expensive since the ENTIRE Headlight assembly is different, not just bulbs+ballasts. Also, the wiring is a little different. To upgrade a car with factory HID after the fact is just a waste of money and not worth it.

Color is personal preference but I've never liked black. Way too hard to keep clean and shows every friggin' swirl mark and imperfection as it ages.

Thanks for the input Derf00. BTW the HP rating is actually210 for the 4.0 and 305 for the 3.7. The new V6 has more power than the old V8!

I have looked at 6 2013-14's, all turned out to be ex rentals. I saw 4 carfax, 2 from Hawaii, 1 from Nevada, and one from Arizona. It's like SoCal is the dumping ground for the rental companies gearing up for next years release of the new model!

Oddly enough, 3 of them are identically optioned Gotta Have It Greens, and 2 have sequential VIN's

I know what you mean about black cars, I have had a few. The Race Red car already sold. I guess that's a popular color.

Any other input?

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/...6d1b2d48df.jpghttp://images.autotrader.com/scaler/...fe81abdd54.jpghttp://images.autotrader.com/scaler/...152bf128b0.jpghttp://images.autotrader.com/scaler/...035f94f88b.jpg

Ford VINs don't run sequentially. the "rotation" label on the side window (usually removed by dealer prep) is the production sequence.

I wouldn't worry too much about the rental part. Mine is an ex-rental. I've had it 4 years this week and no mechanical issue at all. Just make sure you go over it in detail and take it a mechanic for an evaluation if you can.

That's odd. Every other manufacturer does it sequentially. How do the Ford VIN's run then?

Here are the 2 VIN's

1ZVBP8EM8D5239607

1ZVBP8EM8D5239608

One in San Diego, the other in Tustin CA.
Both ex rental cars, both Gotta Have it Green with Black leather deluxe interior, one with 29k miles, the other 30k miles.

It certainly could have been the same car with a VIN digit typo, but if the Ford VIN's don't run sequential, then what is the next number produced after 1ZVBP8EM8D5239607?

That's a good idea. Some of the ones I am looking at have a factory warranty balance until 36K. One I looked at with 40K miles from Enterprise came with a warranty from them for 12k Miles or 12 months.

Looked at 3 more yesterday. Al ex rentals. Never seen so many at one time before. Looks like the rental car companies are purging their Mustang inventory in anticipation of the new designed 2015's.

Anyone know when the 2015 is due?

Good news (for me) is the wife liked the Grabber Blue in person. So that's back on the table!

One of the Mustang Ex Rentals I am looking at is from Hawaii.

I had a friend in the Navy with cars over there that rusted from the salt air after a few years.

Do you think there could be any current or future rust problems due to the salty Hawaiian air?

I should have been clearer. VINs are issued sequentially weeks before the car is built, but that doesn't mean the cars are built in order of VIN sequence.

The second VIN is invalid; the check digit (the 9th character) should not be the same. I think that one should be 1ZVBP8EMXD5239608.