More Input on Car Decision

Doc- I'm thinking it is a bad choice coming from the $$ standpoint. Your going to roll so much debt over into the stang you'll have no choice but to stick it out and pay it off.
Have you thought about just saving up and buying another stang outright? I've seen at least 1 99 go for 5k and I know you can shop around and get into a 96-98 cobra for the same amount.

As for older beaters. Let's see my cherokee sport 4x4, I paid 800 for but you can find them almost all day long for 2-1k. Last winter the fuel pump went out, I also noticed the water pump was starting to leak replaced those. And a few weeks ago the tranny cooler in the rad busted. So I need to fix that as soon as I get some time off work and if it took out the tranny it's no biggie, I've already called around 200 bucks for another at a junkyard. Worse case, after these repairs and last years I'll have put another 500 bucks into it.
Your other option would to be to pick up a 94-95 civic you can get into those for a fair price they get great gas mileage, the only thing I'd suggest and I always do with those. Is change the timing belt as soon as you can most people don't and it really is part of normal maintance on them.

2 years ago I traded my 03 Sonata, which was a very nice driver and family car, and in great shape, for my 00 stang. I don't regret it for a minute. Trade in value was good, I expected to lose money, but actually owed $100. less than they gave me for it.

do it

Do it, but don't jump on the first stang you see. Be patient, there ARE good deals on them, you just have to keep looking. Trust me, after owning a stang before you know you will never look back at dumping a friggin Hyundai for a MUSTANG.

As for a winter car, me along with most of my friends have crappy winter cars. Why do you need a nice winter car? That salt, snow ice on it. Not me. I have a 98 Mazda 626 thats been paid for for a few years now and my wife has a 01 Maxima she drives all year round. The Cobra is currently sleeping under a car cover in the garage till spring.