Help me choose the right Mustang

[WaOnFiRe]

Hello all,

I'm new here. I actually have a 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA that I may be selling or trading for a Mustang. (Switching to the bad side lol)

The problem is I know nothing about Mustang!

I would like a 1987-93 model since it would be in the same price range as my car but I'll need some advices.

What is the best overall year? What should I look for when looking at these cars?

I'll be waiting for some replies... Hope you can help me know more about Mustang.

Thanks and see ya!

PS: No one wanna trade or buy my GTA by the way? J/K

 

[soontobefastfox]

I would go for a 89-92 Mustang because they have mass air (86-88 they were EFI but used Speed Density) and have forged pistons (in 93 they went to hypertheutic pistons). If you want light weight and stiffer go for a notch mustang. Thinks to check for when purchasing a mustang look at the torque boxes (where the lower control arm bolts to the unibody, make sure they are in good condition). Try to find one that isnt modded out like crazy (its hard) or molested to death (you can normally tell if it is or not). I hope this helps..

 

[timewarped1972]

good points........
the other thing, which makes a difference is your better off to pay attention to the over all condition of the car rather than some of the options. example, the speed density cars, as mentioned above, you can mod them to a point before having to switch to a maf conversion. a maf conversion costs about 4 or 500 brand new. so lets say you found a really nice speed density car, you'd be better off converting it to maf, than buying a maf car that was beat to hell......
same with transmissions. most people prefer sticks, but again, most guys with stick cars end up pulling the t-5 for a rebuild anyway, so if you found a super clean auto car you'd be better off converting that to stick than buying a ratty stick car....
find one thats clean, hasn't been beaten, and hasn't been hacked on, it will save you alot in the long run and being these cars are all basically the same you can add any options you want pretty much.
also, another big thing is smog equipment, if you need to pass smog or may in the future, try to find one that hasn't had all the smog equipment removed...alot of cars have had the stock exaust with the cats removed, this is not a big deal it's easy to fix, it's the ones that have had the egr, smog pump, etc removed....go check this place out........http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/lrs.aspx?ref=mu&gotopage=/content_50_home.aspx
browse the car part catalogs so you have an idea of what parts cost so when you go look at cars you have an idea of what it will cost to fix or replace things.....

 

[soontobefastfox]

good points timewarped, never thought of the auto thing.

 

[timewarped1972]

yeah it seems like it's easier to find clean auto cars sometimes......

 

[soontobefastfox]

yeah it seems like it's easier to find clean auto cars sometimes......

yeah makes sense. I was just lucky to find an unmolested 5.0 t5 fox with 47k on it...

 

[timewarped1972]

that is lucky!!!!!

 

[srothfuss]

When you find one you think you are interested it... Read this: http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=573378 It's got everything you should know about buying your first Mustang.

Welcom to the boards!

 

[WaOnFiRe]

Wow, I never tought I would get that much replies so fast! This is great!

I have read all the tips to buy a Mustang on the other page... I think I'll have to print this out since their's so much to look for.

I hope I'll be able to find a clean one around here (Canada).

Thanks!

 

[WaOnFiRe]

Oh yeah I forgot to ask some more questions...

Is their differents gears in the rear or the same gears were used in all these Mustang?

Should I choose a GT or LX model?

What were the average stock quarter mile times for an automatic, manual and different gearing?

If I have read right, the 89-92 5.0L are more desireable and are stronger built then the ones before right?

 

[timewarped1972]

stock they came with 2.73's 3.08's or some auto's had 3.27's...as an option.
as for the lx or gt, pick which ever one you like the looks of the best. the lx's are a little lighter but the gt's are nice too.....but i like the gt's but i'm a little biased on that one.
1/4 mile times are usually mid to low 15's for stock auto's and mid to high 14's for sticks, ball park......
there's nothing wrong with the 87 88's, they are just speed density instead of maf.....there's nothing wrong with the 93's either except they don't have forged pistons in them.....like i said it's all relative depending on the condition of the car....and what you may or may not have to put into it money wise

 

[WaOnFiRe]

What about manual transmission, did they got different gears?

Well if the 89-92 are forged, they should resist more to abuse right? I need something reliable, I'm no mechanic so if originally the 89-92 are were the best from the factory, I should try to find one in good condition in these years.

 

[timewarped1972]

manuals had either 2.73 or 3.08's stock......
as for the engine's it's relative depending on the shape....you'd be better off with a non forged 93 than a worn out 92 or earlier.....and with these cars being older their going to have high miles on them anyway, unless the engines been rebuilt.....
generally you can't go wrong with any of them if their in good shape.......
also, if your car is an auto, thats stock with a 305........a stock 5 speed fox body will be or seem alot quiker

 

[WaOnFiRe]

I had a couple of friends tell me that some Mustang in these years came with 3.55 or something like that, is this true?

 

[timewarped1972]

the 93 cobra might have, other wise no.....but the way people swap gears in these cars who knows what you'll end up with

 

[WaOnFiRe]

I'm looking at some local ads on the net right now and man, their's so many Mustang but they all seem modified or with high mileage... I would have prefered a stock one with not too much stuff done to it and no more than 120 000 miles.

Oh yeah, and is an automatic Mustang with 3.27 gears as fast as a manual with 3.08 or 2.73?

 

[srothfuss]

Another good site: www.mustanggt.org

LX and GT are mechanically identical cars. That site will give you all of the basic information about the Mustang in the years that you are intersted in.

 

[JSSuper455]

I'd say that equal condition/driver, the auto 3.27 would be about par to a stick 2.73 but probably not the 3.08 car. Thats my thoughts anyway.

Btw, nice GTA. There is nothing wrong with a GTA, but welcome to Mustangs anyway! If your GTA is like the GTA's here in the states its a TPI 350 auto no? Thats pretty similar maybe even faster than a 5.0 Mustang 5-spd.

BTW, The order of weight from lightest to heavy, is LX sedan (Notch), LX Hatch, GT. Of course Verts are heavier still. Thus technically a LX notch would be the fastest stock 5.0. Honestly since these cars are getting up in the years nowadays, wich one was faster when new really doesn't apply all that well anymore. My opinion on what model is best is basically what you, the check holder, likes the best. If you like the "lighted" and "Skirted" GT model or the all business attitude of the LX notch, go for one of those. Its all entirely up to you!

 

[87_stang]

Well man I see you've got some great advise here so far. especially fromsrothfuss. Can you post the sites of the cars your looking at? Might be able to give some good advice going off what you found so far. Good luck to ya!

 

[WaOnFiRe]

Thanks for the compliments about my GTA! But it's only a 5.0L TPI, T-Top, 4 speeds automatic, 3.27 rear, digital dash and all options except leather and the 5.7L TPI. It
's all stock and original. Wan't to see more pics? Go to my web site at http://waonfire.monchar.com

I think I like GT cars better... Maybe it's because I'm accostumed to having many options in my car...

So a 3.08 geared Mustang GT with a manual would be my best bet for performance.

I like my GTA, I have owned it for more than 5 years now... It's all stock... I don'T drive it much because the car is too nice. I don't wan't to modify a great car like this so I wanted to find something else to mod and something that has more aftermarket parts. Of course since I'm a rear wheel drive obsceded, the other option was to buy a Mustang. Switching to the dark side you could say...