Looking to buy a '94 GT. What to look for?

['66 coupe]

Well, my 2001 V6 is being totalled(not my fault). So I'm kinda in a rush to find a nice car, which sucks. The only decent used Mustang for under $8k I've been able to find is a '94 GT convertible.
I was just wondering if there was anything to look out for, or any recalls to TSB's to ask about. I drove the car today and the a/c wasn't working properly and the engine may have been running hot, although the temp gauge was normal. Other than these issues it's a very nice car.

Also, what's a decent price to pay?
Blue Book is coming up as $4700-5100. The car only has 88k miles and is a rust-free Florida car. The top and interior is like new, only the paint is fading(red=pinkish; no white spots).
I'm thinking about offering $5k, and planning on spending another grand getting the cooling system serviced, the a/c fixed(seems to be a leak), and a simple tune up. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[94-302-vert]

for a 94 the A/C is going to leak. If I recharge mine I get a year out of it easy... so that is a cheap way to prolong it.

All of the other things are the same for cars... that sounds like a good deal, I bought a basket case with 123k miles for $4800 2 years ago...

The AODE can be pretty problematic. Other than that these are solid, basic cars... easy enough to mod and still look relatively "new"...

 

[sick_azz_cobra]

I say.... take your time.... the car you see below with 80,000 miles and a ton of aftermarket stuff i paid 6000.00. but it took a lot of patience. if you have to drive to get the right one, oh well. my grandfather lives in lakeland so i know your options are limited... try finding something in Tampa and take a day to go look at a bunch, or try ebay. thats where i found mine. plus we just got my sister a 94 gt for 5500 and it was a one owner with 75000 miles on it. the deals are out there just be patient.btw the car below IS a true cobra 6000 man, worth the wait! good luck... if you want me to i can find some cars over on this side of florida too, i have a lot more options since i live right by west palm beach, and your only 3 hours from me. just an idea, let me know what your looking to spend, im the king of finding deals.

 

[sick_azz_cobra]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ategoryZ6236QQihZ008QQitemZ180009239315QQrdZ1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ategoryZ6236QQihZ009QQitemZ190011206782QQrdZ1

there are a couple for instance

 

[Pennywise2]

Try to fine one with low miles if possible.
www.ebaymotors.com
www.autotrader.com

 

['66 coupe]

Thanks for the replies.
My dad asked a co-worker about his '94 and he told my dad he has to keep charging his a/c too.
We finally found out what the insurance is paying for my V6, so I'm starting to look at newer cars with fewer miles. Just sucks that I can't find a 5.0 with 60k miles on it cause I'd prefer that over a non-PI 4.6.
I'm going to keep in touch with the seller just in case going cheap on this car turns out to be the best course of action. If that happens I'll be back around here. Thanks again.

 

[BadAndy]

we have a 95GT, bought with 19000 it now has 170000, the air blowes super cold, never had to recharge the air or fix the air in any way, its been the most trouble free car i have ever had, its my wifes dd, i think i will go ahead and replace the org alt this winter

 

[Car Nut]

My 94 GT has an A/C issue every 2 to 3 years. There is some kind of switch that goes out and I get it replaced for about $70. My freon has always been good. No complaints at all.

Like you've pretty much stated, you'll want to do all the basic servicing for fluids soon after purchase. I'd recommend getting a flush/fill for coolant, power steering, brakes, and transmission. IF the engine bay is dirty, clean that up real soon, because it will make future problems much easier to locate and figure out. New coolant hoses and a thermostat may help too if things look worn. I've always kept up on pretty strict and thorough maintenance and so far at 130K+ miles, the motor is smooth as new and it's been very reliable. I still take the stang on long trips and never have issues.

Sounds like your looking at all the right stuff. If you can find one or two more stangs in your price range, it's always nice to be able to compare.

 

[Joe 5.0]

I had to replace the low pressure switch in my ac a couple years ago, otherwise it works great and has never needed a recharge.

I say get on autotrader and dont be afraid to drive to buy a car. I'm saving myself a bunch of money on a 95 Cobra because I'm willing to go down to florida to get it. Theres more risk involved since I am spending $80 for a flight and the car can be a piece of junk, but if you really talk to the seller and they seem like they arent lying, it can be a great deal.