Buying 97+ Mustang
- Thread starter MustanGangsta
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streetstang03
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nice user name LOLanyways, get a 99+GT if you can. more hp and tq. you definetly shouldnt have to be fixing the stang a lot. they are very reliable. the only common problem is having to replace the IAC valve, which is only about $50 to replace when it goes out. 96/97 GTs have less horsepower than the 99+ due to not having the PI heads and intake. performing the PI head and intake swap on a 96/97 GT will actaully get you more horsepower than a stock 99+.
streetstang03
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NiteRydaGT
New Member
96/97's had 215 flywheel hp, 98 had 225, 99+ have 260.
After the headswap with a unfinished tune I made 234 RWHP, about 276 flywheel through my automatic. You'll see better gains through a manual.
After the headswap with a unfinished tune I made 234 RWHP, about 276 flywheel through my automatic. You'll see better gains through a manual.
streetstang03
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ironmedic
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Sick96Stang
New Member
streetstang03 said:
I dont know where u are finding PI intake/ heads for $500 but please do tell me. There was 1 on ebay that was $500 that was used with 30K miles on them but thats the only one I have seen. The cheapest I have found new for the PI headswap kit is $1300.
Steve777
New Member
MustanGangsta said:
If the 96-98 is the body style you like ....get one. Don't get a 99+ for the sole fact that it has PI heads. I like the 96-98 style and thats why I got it. If you do feel like changing the heads, then you can. It would actually be cheaper to buy a 96 for around 8,000 and change the heads on it than it would be to buy a newer one.
As far as problems, mine has 71,000 miles and I had it for about a year ...no real problems yet ...the only thing I noticed (and seems to be a problem with 96s) is the low oil light comes on at random times - I guess something is wrong with the sensors on that year. Clutch is starting to go too, but its the stock clutch so 71,000 seems about right for that.
Good luck
The Mustang is actually rated very high in reliabilty among all American Cars. that is remarkable since most are Thrashed hard most of the time. One thing you may notice when looking for used, the Automatic cars are usually in better shape. Lady or more mature Driven? It is hard to find a 5 spd car that is not full of rattles. Maybe the manual stresses the body more? I noticed this. I bought my Auto not for this reason but it had 33k on it about 1.5 years ago for 8000.00. Autos take allot more to get them to run. But I believe you can get them cheaper. With my Jmod shift kit & gears I am now equal to a stock 5 spd. With my bolt ons I out ran a Manual 95 5.0 at the strip that was on drag radials. 14.7. Throw a converter on it and drag radials and you will be faster.
Back2Mustangs
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- Sep 2, 2004
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Mustangs(all years) will last you 200K miles easy. I'd say thats pretty reliable. Parts are extremely cheap, if anything does go out, and the cars are kindergarden level as far as how hard they are to work on yourself.
Auto cars are a good buy because mostly women and older people buy the autos. Its just a statistical fact, so don't you auto guys get your feathers ruffled. 
But automatics are easier on the motor and driveline, by controling shifts and RPMs, so it will be in a little better shape than a manual. I'd do the auto to manual conversion if you buy an auto though. Its not that hard. And basicly, as easy as it is to swap the heads on 96-98 cars to the PI's that come on 99+'s, it really comes down to which body style you like better and how much extra $ you want to save for mods. Personally I'd get a 96-98 Cobra which you can find all day long for $9K or less.
LT1 Z28 bone stock=273RWHP and 300ft-lbs on a line accross dyno graph... I miss those cars' power. 
But thats why I have my PI heads and intake waiting for p&p and a KB to sit on their face!! 
Arnolds97 said:
Auto cars are a good buy because mostly women and older people buy the autos. Its just a statistical fact, so don't you auto guys get your feathers ruffled. But automatics are easier on the motor and driveline, by controling shifts and RPMs, so it will be in a little better shape than a manual. I'd do the auto to manual conversion if you buy an auto though. Its not that hard. And basicly, as easy as it is to swap the heads on 96-98 cars to the PI's that come on 99+'s, it really comes down to which body style you like better and how much extra $ you want to save for mods. Personally I'd get a 96-98 Cobra which you can find all day long for $9K or less.SR 97 GT said:
LT1 Z28 bone stock=273RWHP and 300ft-lbs on a line accross dyno graph... I miss those cars' power. But thats why I have my PI heads and intake waiting for p&p and a KB to sit on their face!! 
ChadS98GT
Founding Member
if you want a 96-98 Stang....get a cobra end of story....
engine is much better.....otherwise save a little longer and hold out for a 99+ GT....
or just get a 96-98 and be slow....or you will have to dump anywhere from 1500$-3k$ to be as fast or faster than a bone stock 99+
I guess you need to know what you want out of the car before you decide what you want to buy.....
engine is much better.....otherwise save a little longer and hold out for a 99+ GT....
or just get a 96-98 and be slow....or you will have to dump anywhere from 1500$-3k$ to be as fast or faster than a bone stock 99+
I guess you need to know what you want out of the car before you decide what you want to buy.....
Sick96Stang
New Member
Dont be scared to get a 96-98 GT. Everybody who says those cars are crap obvioulsy havent heard of the PI head swap, because that is gonna make your car a little bit faster than the 99+ GT's. Only thing that should keep you from buying a 96-98 GT is the price. The PI head swap will cost u about 1.5K if you can do the install yourself, if you need somebody else to install it for you it will probably cost you around 2-3K. So if you can find a 96-98 GT for say 8K then take that unless you can find a 99+ GT for 10K or less.
Back2Mustangs
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Which actually isn't that difficult these days if you have patience. 99+ for under 10K, which I have seen several of in the last month, will be more and more common when the 05's hit the streets.Sick96Stang said:
ChadS98GT
Founding Member
Sick96Stang said:
yes.....while the headswap is nice..it's not flawless.....I have chosen not do deal with it...just to much money IMO....I did however do the intake swap and I suggest that to all 96-98GT people....as well as possibly the cam swap...still building up the courage to do that
I still say go for the cobra
I agree. for the money get a 95 GT or a cobra if you can find one. the 95 has the same body but it was the last year of the 5.0. 50s are much easier and cheaper to mod, plus make more power. The only advantage of a OHC like the 4.6 is obviously ablility to rev and better milage and durability, but nothing beats a 5.0 for power and value. Also, those cars are cheap to buy, you can pick one up in awsome shape for about 5k.....if you do the math that leaves you with 4k to spend on making it faster. 4k worth of parts will make that thing a weapon!IronMedic said:for 9k, get a 5.0, 96-98 GT's suck
get a 94/95 GT or even a fox body!
Personaly, i love the 96-98. The heads are more restrictive than the 99+ or 5.0, but there are many ways to get around that if you dont want to spend the money on a PI swap. I bought my 96 for $6999 with 60k miles. if you can find one in as good as shape as mine, in the same price, use that extra cash to do the swap which will whipe the floor with 04 stangs. Or use it on bolt-ons which will have the same effect. (either way, first mod...do 3.73 gears in the rear differential.)
I would have to also agree with buying an older Cobra. Your base power is already higher starting out than the PI and they are rated at better MPG too. One good thing is that allot people bought these as there novelty weekend car and you can find them with low miles. If I was you spend and extra 2 grand for one if you have to. Believe me you will sink that extra into a NPI Stang eventually anyway. Mustangs are like getting hooked on drugs. You keep wanting to do more. You will have to Supercharge a NPI car to get the 305 or 315hp those cars have. So why not start there?
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