Need to rollback odometer

Mr67Stang · Apr 3, 2013

I have been buying/selling old mustangs since when these "Fox Bodies" were the "new" mustangs I would drool over at the dealership. 20 years ago, when I went to buy a 20 year old Mustang, I never asked, "so, how many miles are on the car?" Nor was it common for the seller to advertise it or even know for sure. The old 60's mustangs as well as these Fox's only have XX,XXX positions on the odometer. Milage plays no part in determining the value of 99% of the Mustangs being sold today. It only applies to 10 year old and younger models (which I do not buy) and specialty cars such as Shelbys, Saleen, Roush, etc. Then, the milage would have to be documented and certified to be used as a basis for determining value. Therefore, if Billy Bob says his 1990 Mustang GT 25th Annaversary Edition has 25K miles on it and has been sitting in the garage since his brother died in Desert Storm, I respectfully say that I'm sorry about your brother but can you prove that odometer has not flipped once ore twice? Probably not, and then the "claimed" milage is worthless. Bottom line, on a plane Jane Mustang, who cares how many miles are on it? Only the guy that thinks he can squeeze another buck out of it.

1200gt · Apr 3, 2013

Mr67Stang said:
I have been buying/selling old mustangs since when these "Fox Bodies" were the "new" mustangs I would drool over at the dealership. 20 years ago, when I went to buy a 20 year old Mustang, I never asked, "so, how many miles are on the car?" Nor was it common for the seller to advertise it or even know for sure. The old 60's mustangs as well as these Fox's only have XX,XXX positions on the odometer. Milage plays no part in determining the value of 99% of the Mustangs being sold today. It only applies to 10 year old and younger models (which I do not buy) and specialty cars such as Shelbys, Saleen, Roush, etc. Then, the milage would have to be documented and certified to be used as a basis for determining value. Therefore, if Billy Bob says his 1990 Mustang GT 25th Annaversary Edition has 25K miles on it and has been sitting in the garage since his brother died in Desert Storm, I respectfully say that I'm sorry about your brother but can you prove that odometer has not flipped once ore twice? Probably not, and then the "claimed" milage is worthless. Bottom line, on a plane Jane Mustang, who cares how many miles are on it? Only the guy that thinks he can squeeze another buck out of it.

Your points could be valid for some others than yourself, I guess...

I do get what you are saying about the later models; specifically the 2010 era cars. Serious eledtronic diagnostic equipment is a must just to even know if the headlights are working correctly - just being facetious. I think cars will eventially become throw-aways like computers have pretty much evolved to be.

Personally, I would seriously consider the millage of any car, especially if I were buying an older Mustang. The longer it has been on the road, the more ragged-on it possibly could be; translating to MO-MONEY to upgrade or replace parts.

True about the odo proof, but just the same the laws of entropy are still at play.

Mr67Stang · Apr 3, 2013

1200gt said:
Your points could be valid for some others than yourself, I guess...

I do get what you are saying about the later models; specifically the 2010 era cars. Serious eledtronic diagnostic equipment is a must just to even know if the headlights are working correctly - just being facetious. I think cars will eventially become throw-aways like computers have pretty much evolved to be.

Personally, I would seriously consider the millage of any car, especially if I were buying an older Mustang. The longer it has been on the road, the more ragged-on it possibly could be; translating to MO-MONEY to upgrade or replace parts.

True about the odo proof, but just the same the laws of entropy are still at play.

My Point was, Back then, we did not care what the mileage was. We looked the car over and checked it out as best we could with our "back yard mechanic" skills and determined if it was running well enough to be worth what the person was asking. If it ran very well we assumed that it was probably rebuilt at some point. If it ran like craaauud, we expected it to be priced accordingly so we could rebuild it. Because it was pretty much impossible to prove the mileage, this is just how business was done. I and I'm sure a lot of us old pony drivers have carried this philosophy to the Fox cars just as we did the 60's cars we looked at in the 80's.

91TwighlightGT · Apr 3, 2013

The amount of under 60,000 mile Fox Mustangs seems to increase every year. I don't believe a tenth of them. Chances are that the car rolled over at least once.

Mustang5L5 · Apr 5, 2013

Mr67Stang said:
I have been buying/selling old mustangs since when these "Fox Bodies" were the "new" mustangs I would drool over at the dealership. 20 years ago, when I went to buy a 20 year old Mustang, I never asked, "so, how many miles are on the car?" Nor was it common for the seller to advertise it or even know for sure. The old 60's mustangs as well as these Fox's only have XX,XXX positions on the odometer. Milage plays no part in determining the value of 99% of the Mustangs being sold today.

I disagree. With me, mileage on older cars is just as important as newer cars.

I do not want a Fox body with 300,000 miles, and its value to me would be cosiderable lesser than one with 100,000 miles. Yes, parts can be replaced, but the most important part (the chassis) cannot. And if parts of it have been, well that's even more of a reason for me to walk away.

I always see ads for Mustangs with no mention of miles, only to call and find out it's up near 200K. usually ends it right there for me. Or i'll see an ad for a Mustang listing it as 10K miles, only to question that and find out that's miles since rebuild, and the chassis has 150K miles.

Mileage, and overall condition are huge for me. All too often Mustang classifies look like an aftermarket parts catalog for sale. I hate reading 3 paragraphs of mods, only call and find out the carpet is torn, the power windows don't work, the radio is missing and the A/C doesn't work....but it's got tons of cool aftermarket gizmos. I'm more concerns with a good clean chassis with low miles...equating a tight chassis. Engines, trans, springs, etc I can install at my own desire.

mikestang63 · Apr 5, 2013

Mustang5L5 said:
I disagree. With me, mileage on older cars is just as important as newer cars.

I do not want a Fox body with 300,000 miles, and its value to me would be cosiderable lesser than one with 100,000 miles. Yes, parts can be replaced, but the most important part (the chassis) cannot. And if parts of it have been, well that's even more of a reason for me to walk away.

I always see ads for Mustangs with no mention of miles, only to call and find out it's up near 200K. usually ends it right there for me. Or i'll see an ad for a Mustang listing it as 10K miles, only to question that and find out that's miles since rebuild, and the chassis has 150K miles.

Mileage, and overall condition are huge for me. All too often Mustang classifies look like an aftermarket parts catalog for sale. I hate reading 3 paragraphs of mods, only call and find out the carpet is torn, the power windows don't work, the radio is missing and the A/C doesn't work....but it's got tons of cool aftermarket gizmos. I'm more concerns with a good clean chassis with low miles...equating a tight chassis. Engines, trans, springs, etc I can install at my own desire.

I agree 100%. I would rather pay more for a lower mile car where things like the windows, radio, cruise, etc. work and where things like the drivetrain and suspension have some life in them. To add, it kills me when people sell their cars and list all of these mods done to the car but say, " the A/C needs a recharge", or " Just needs a tune up". BS.... that tells me either they are hiding something or they don't take pride in ownership, No one that cares about a car drives it in disrepair unless they are dead broke. The whole " It has only 20k miles because I replaced the motor 20k miles ago" is funny. I've even come across guys that have reset the odometer to match the miles since they rebuilt a motor. I tell them that's nice they rebuilt the motor but unless they replaced every single part on the car, it still has 200k not 20k miles and the price I will pay is for a 200K car.

Mr67Stang · Apr 9, 2013

That's what I mean. If it has 85,000 showing on the odometer, they can not prove to me that it's 85K, 185K or 285K. Therfore, I guess "advertized" milage does not matter at all. What condition the car is in is what matters.

7-UP BILL · Apr 10, 2013

mikestang63 said:
Must be why so many people selling 20 year old stangs say they have 50K miles on them...lol

My convertible has 46,000 miles on it and its 23 years old. Some things are what they seem to be.

mikestang63 · Apr 10, 2013

7-UP BILL said:
My convertible has 46,000 miles on it and its 23 years old. Some things are what they seem to be.

Nice. mine just tripped 50000. However, for every true low mile car, I've seen 10 that claimed low miles and were not. Human nature.

Mustang5L5 · Apr 11, 2013

My daily driver has more miles than my Fox.

Sadly...it still rides and drives much nicer than my Fox...almost like new.

7-UP BILL · Apr 11, 2013

My DD is a '04 Bonneville GXP. It just passed 55K mileage. Think I need to start driving a little more.

Mustang5L5 · Apr 12, 2013

I've got an '06 Infiniti G35x with 120K miles. Still rides and drives like it did when it had 0 miles. I've maintained it well

Need to rollback odometer

Mr67Stang

Active Member

1200gt

Active Member

Mr67Stang

Active Member

91TwighlightGT

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

mikestang63

Mr67Stang

Active Member

7-UP BILL

mikestang63

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

7-UP BILL

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Similar threads

Need to rollback odometer

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Active Member

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency