I dont want an economy car...

[dstang01]

Next year I'll be in grade 12, and in the fall Ill be taking my savings and purchasing my first set of wheels Ive always loved mustangs and muscle cars in general, but as I got older (and the truth set in) I realized that I would most likely be driving an economy car. Ive been looking around at other options, I test drove a newer TDI (turbo diesel) volkswagon golf which nets up to 50 mpg and has moderate torque for a little engine, and Ive tried out civics and other cars too, but they all seem to suck the fun right out of driving. I live 1 mile away from my highschool so gas mileage isnt a huge issue yet, but I will have to commute to university in a couple years. Ive been looking at 5.0s as a compromise, they arent expensive and gas guzzling classics (sub 10 mpg), and they arent expensive modern muscle cars that kill on insurance. Fox bodys just seem like a good poor highschool senior's muscle car, I know ill get around 15 mpg but the cost of one is pretty resonable, so that helps compensate.
Do you think this is a wise decision? Overall, I know a 5.0 isnt the best economical choice for a typical senior, but gas money isnt everything... I hear these cars are very reliable and replacement parts are cheap. Plus, being able to do my own maintenance should save money as well. Any words of wisdom for me?

 

[dstang01]

ah crap, I was still browsing the tech section.. mods can move this to talk when they get the chance

 

[carbed87]

honestly, a good running fox is capable of 25mpg on the highway, and around 20 in the city if your perventative maintenece is on track. if thats not enough, then look for an SVO mustang, they should get even better, while still keeping the fun to drive and ease to mod factor around

 

[Ozz]

I won't get into large comparison but if you're looking at NEWER cars, right off the bat the extra THOUSANDS that'd be saved by buying a decent shape Fox vs. the newer car will more than make up for the gas mileage for quite a while, most likely well into when you can afford the extra gas

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

I know a 5.0 isnt the best economical choice for a typical senior

well Im going to be a senior as well and I have 3 foxes, an 86 gt with a full hci and other useless garbage, a 90 5.0 7up vert 5 speed unit, only 1360 of these made, and a 93 notch, that has 20k on the clock in wild strawberry, only its a 4 banger, but my father is going to fork out the change and have a terminator enigine and trans thrown in it!!

all in all they are cheap fun, fast and pretty decent on gas!! Insurance isnt that bad either, about $400 for 6 months for each of the 5.0 machines.

 

[ryan218]

im going to be in 10th and will start driving my fox to school a couple months after it starts....gas milliage was the last thing i was concered about when wanting a 5.0...slow 95 pretty much said it all....cheap, fun, and decent on gas if you keep your foot out of it,.

 

[carbed87]

lol ryan, how in sam hill did you get a hold of a set of ported trickflows

 

[grey5.0beast]

ported by him...

i am gonna be a HS senior too and i have and love my 5.0. I wouldn't trade it for any econo box ever. EVER!! I don't get so good gas mileage cuzI drive it pretty aggressively but it doesn't bother me. Get a fixxer upper for a few thousand and go to work!

 

[fivespeedsteed]

i just graduated high school 2 days ago. i got my car when i was in 10th grade and have had it since then as my only car. aka, my daily grind.. ive clocked over 17 thousand miles. all of which i love. i put up with its ups and downs and i love it to death. such a fun car to drive. i think a head cam intake fox with a simple suspension setup, working trac-loc and a 5 speed is the most fun car to own ever. my cars not there yet but it will be.

well maintained foxes do get well over 25 mpg on the highway. i bought my car in connecticuit, and drove it home with my dad to VA. 400 miles. 3 hours of it was the george washington bridge, took about 1.5 tanks of gas. not bad for a car that had been sitting in a garge for 10 years. if you want to keep your car able to take to college, just dont get rear gears. sick with the stock 2.73's or 3.08's, whatever your car came with.

good luck

 

[1.8kmint]

Ima be a senior next year also... Had my fox about 3 months now and it drives great and is alot of fun. I'm not driving it to hard and gas isnt completely terrible. If you want a nice car that is fun to drive and will turn heads get a cheap 5.0 for a couple grand and have fun with it....

 

[ryan218]

lol ryan, how in sam hill did you get a hold of a set of ported trickflows

if i told ya...id have to kill ya

my buddy is the one who owns them....he told me if i can sell them he will give me a 100 bucks...

 

[dstang01]

I won't get into large comparison but if you're looking at NEWER cars, right off the bat the extra THOUSANDS that'd be saved by buying a decent shape Fox vs. the newer car will more than make up for the gas mileage for quite a while, most likely well into when you can afford the extra gas

this is the logic Im thinking too, gas costs are offset by cheaper purchase price, maintenance, etc
Thanks for all the replys, what you guys are saying is basically what I was wanting to hear Ive always wanted a nice black 5 spd lx vert, maybe its not such a bad idea after all

 

[Ozz]

Good

Spending $25K on a new car to save a thousand or so in repairs on a $1500 car is just ridiculous. Not your scenario, but the basic point that way too many people miss. I'd rather put the extra saved into my Stang or the bank

 

[ryan218]

this is the logic Im thinking too, gas costs are offset by cheaper purchase price, maintenance, etc
Thanks for all the replys, what you guys are saying is basically what I was wanting to hear Ive always wanted a nice black 5 spd lx vert, maybe its not such a bad idea after all

do it..nonthing better then a drop top daily driver imo

 

[StarFox07]

I bought mine right before my senior year as well. No regrets, I love the car, despite her ups and downs. $20 lasts me a week for gas ( i dont drive ALOT but i do drive about every day) Go for it.

 

[dstang01]

Most people ive talked to think buying a 17 or so year old car is a bad move, do you think its a big deal? I dont mind doing work on the car as long as I wont be fixing it more than driving it

Also, when did the foxs get the revised vert top? (the one that goes all the way down) The foxs had forged internals until 92 and switched to a MAF setup in 89, yes? Which year would be best to look for?

 

[Ozz]

Hmm, the revised top was either 90 or 91, some of us were talking about that in another thread recently. Cant' remember which we ended up figuring it out. I think 90 though, IIRC the new top boot I bought for mine was listed as '90-93'. But it doesn't go ALL the way, just a couple inches more than the older versions. The 94+ went ALL the way down (i'm pretty certain you know that though, but just to make sure!)

A lot of people like the 89s because of tilt, non air bags and mass air setups, others like 91-93 because of the larger fender spats, air bags, etc. It's up to what you like to figure that out, basically after those things they're all the same

 

[Superhereaux]

A lot of people like the 89s because of tilt, non air bags and mass air setups, others like 91-93 because of the larger fender spats, air bags, etc. It's up to what you like to figure that out, basically after those things they're all the same

fender spats?

 

[MoneygrubbinCar]

You won't regret it when or if ya get one. I got my first just over a month ago sure it needs work here and there. It has benefits such as being cheap a cheap enough car to just go pay cash for and forget about makin car payments. Plus full coverage insurance isnt asked for when ya do that for younger guys like us ya save nearly a one or two hundred depending on youre driving record. Takin care of it is pretty simple for some atleast you have some arm room under the hood to wrench around unlike newer cars. Mine has 70k and I only find myself replacing seals\gaskets here and there just because of age. Gas isn't an issue either I catch myself driving slower just so I can hear the grumble of the 5.0 longer . Go get ya one you'll love it.

 

[Ozz]

To accommodate the larger diameter wheel (16" vs. 15") for the newer models.