Very high mileage Mustang for sale

Suek

Member
Jul 11, 2013
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Hi,
I've owned a 2002 Mustang for 8 years. One of the best cars I ever owned. I seen a 2006 GT with high mileage for $3,700. 280,000 miles. Yes very high. The guy doesn't know what's been done. He said a nurse traveled with it and a retired Veteran. I have not seen this car in person. Looks clean inside and out. My question is, wouldn't a car like that already had transmission work, etc. ? I don't like the fact there is no info on repairs. But the price is tempting me. But the other side says ya a money pit.
 
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For me, the only way I would buy this car is if it has a manual transmission. Otherwise, it could very easily be ready for its second or third remanufactured transmission because the 5R55 transmissions are typically good for 100-150k miles. A manual is cheap to replace, if needed, and can last a very long time otherwise. Also, a clutch replacement isn't all that expensive or difficult to do yourself. If you can, do a compression check on the engine and listen closely for any knocking sounds coming from the crank area, under the valve covers and timing chain cover. If it all checks out then it could be a good deal. Regardless, expect to have to pay for maintenance items on a car with this mileage. Anything from wheel bearing, bushings, shocks, coils, radiator, water pump etc. could need replaced at any time. You need to crawl under the car and thoroughly look for excessive rust and worn components. If you can do these repairs yourself then it makes owning a high mileage car much easier. The good thing about a Mustang is parts are cheap and repairs are generally easy to do yourself.
 
For me, the only way I would buy this car is if it has a manual transmission. Otherwise, it could very easily be ready for its second or third remanufactured transmission because the 5R55 transmissions are typically good for 100-150k miles. A manual is cheap to replace, if needed, and can last a very long time otherwise. Also, a clutch replacement isn't all that expensive or difficult to do yourself. If you can, do a compression check on the engine and listen closely for any knocking sounds coming from the crank area, under the valve covers and timing chain cover. If it all checks out then it could be a good deal. Regardless, expect to have to pay for maintenance items on a car with this mileage. Anything from wheel bearing, bushings, shocks, coils, radiator, water pump etc. could need replaced at any time. You need to crawl under the car and thoroughly look for excessive rust and worn components. If you can do these repairs yourself then it makes owning a high mileage car much easier. The good thing about a Mustang is parts are cheap and repairs are generally easy to do yourself.
Right, if you do things yourself plenty cheaper. In my family we have. But now I just realized that we aren't that young now. Lol I did most of my own stuff on cars for years. I don't mind. I guess I'm not liking the heat anymore. Lol That's what I was thinking..bushings and plenty of other stuff may be shot. Ya part of me was dreaming, the other part said eww a new toy. It's an auto. You are speaking what I would say almost. The thing also about it is what you mentioned about the transmission,etc. I thought about that. I know what I have in mine lol I better not. Thanks I appreciate it. It was already in front of me, the answer. Lol
 
With this many miles it is bound to need continual maintenance done. Having 280k miles on a fourteen year old car almost ensures this. I know how you feel about wrenching on cars as I don't care to do it nearly as much these days. If I had a lift then things would be different. You might want to consider a 2011-2014 Mustang V6. They have as much horsepower as a 2005-2010 GT and are quite peppy. Also, the automatic transmissions in them are much better and more reliable and the 3.5L engines in them are very reliable. You can get good deals on them too and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with 100-120k miles on it that is in good condition and has a clean Carfax report. Especially if it shows the car has lived its life outside of areas where the roads are salted regularly. If you buy one with an automatic just be sure to have the transmission pan dropped and the filter replaced and refilled. This will help insure the transmission lives a long life.
 
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With this many miles it is bound to need continual maintenance done. Having 280k miles on a fourteen year old car almost ensures this. I know how you feel about wrenching on cars as I don't care to do it nearly as much these days. If I had a lift then things would be different. You might want to consider a 2011-2014 Mustang V6. They have as much horsepower as a 2005-2010 GT and are quite peppy. Also, the automatic transmissions in them are much better and more reliable and the 3.5L engines in them are very reliable. You can get good deals on them too and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with 100-120k miles on it that is in good condition and has a clean Carfax report. Especially if it shows the car has lived its life outside of areas where the roads are salted regularly. If you buy one with an automatic just be sure to have the transmission pan dropped and the filter replaced and refilled. This will help insure the transmission lives a long life.
All the times we could have used a lift and things done fast. Did you ever get an idea like about a car and you know very well not to buy it? Lol I'm like a kid in a toy store. Only thing is once you buy it forget it. Unless you are covered by some kind of stipulation or something. Funny you should say about the 2011 and the other ones. I noticed the horsepower jump ! I said damn, I had no idea. I was hanging too long in the New Edge section. Lol Well if I can I would go for those years. Thanks for saying about the transmission. See those are the kinds of things a person should tell someone to help them out. Thank you
 
These days I just don't like crawling under cars. I need too much more clearance compared to my younger days. I understand about getting an idea about a car. I was looking for a newer Mustang for a few months. The Steeda Mustang I have is one I saw on Facebook one night about a year ago for a price that was too good to ignore. I knew it wouldn't be available long. I went to see it the next day and told the guy I would buy it. It took a week to get his bank note paid off and the title signed over to me. During that time he said many people offered him more money for it but he honored our hand shake agreement. It only had 54k miles on it with a good Carfax report which is why I felt comfortable buying it so quickly. It also has a manual transmission which took any costly transmission issues out of play. I had the 2011-2014 V6 Mustangs on my list of possibilities due to their reliable drive trains and good horsepower numbers. The 3.5L V6 and automatics used in these cars are the same ones used in the 2011 and up F150 trucks. This drive train is designed to last many, many miles with good maintenance. Another Mustang to avoid is the 2005-2010 ones with the 4.0L SOHC V6 engines. They have issues with the timing chain guides and tensioners. If they need replaced the engine has to be pulled out of the vehicle and this is a very expensive repair. Most times this has to be done between 150-200k miles. Add this cost to an automatic transmission replacement and you will have $5k-$7k in repair costs staring at you. For the 2005-2014 model years with 80k or more miles, I would only consider 2005-2010 models with the V8 and manual transmissions along with any of the 2011-2014 models.