V6 Reliabilty?

[69-B2]

My girlfriend and I are looking to get a V6 LX Stang, 99-01 years and Automatic. My main concern and question is how reliable are they? Aside from general maintaince, is there any serious issues that I should be concerned about. She currently has a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST Spyder. It has been really reliable, but we're expecting our second child and theres no room in a convert Eclipse for a infant seat. LOL. Plus being turbocharged it isn't the best on gas. LOL Thanks very much for any info!

Josh Edwards:SNSign:

 

[RED98]

well mine's a '98 auto, it's at 104,000 and the engine/transmission are running fine. No oil leaks, no smoking exhaust, nothing.

 

['66 coupe]

The V6es are amazingly reliable cars. My 2001 was a rental for one year, then I bought it in 2002 with 31k miles. I put another 50k miles on the car before a bad driver hit me and totalled it. I drive cars hard, and I'm sure it wasn't babied as a rental either, but no problem whatsoever; just regular maintenance.
My little sister also has a fully loaded '01 V6 with 13k miles and it only gets oil changes(usually based on months, not miles).

It has been really reliable, but we're expecting our second child and theres no room in a convert Eclipse for a infant seat. LOL. Plus being turbocharged it isn't the best on gas. LOL

You may want to look into the size of the Mustang's backseat. I'm sure a Mustang hardtop would have a bigger backseat than a 2G 'vert, but prolly not by too much. If this is your second child, will there be enough room for both?
Also what kind of mileage are you getting out of the Eclipse? How do you drive? As I said, I drive hard, and I was averaging 19-20mpg(city) with my auto V6.

V6 Mustangs are very reliable cars if you go '96 and newer. Definately look into the '99+, just because of the power difference. But makes sure it's what you need in a car. Not many people use Mustangs to regularly transport families of more than 3.

 

[ChingonStang]

There is enough room for two car seats in a vert. I have a 04 vert and have put in two car seats in the back with no problem and one of mine is a toddler. However...the front driver is gonna sacrifice some leg room.

 

[97sally6]

mines a 97 auto vert with 125000 miles and ive had zero problem with the transmission or engine. i plan on keeping it til it dies on me. hopefully that wont happen before i can build up the engine with forged internals and a PP splitport top end. yay for hopes and dreams!

 

[youwin]

/\ hopes and dreams for teh win!!!! BTW RPMmustangs is the BEST place to get all you need for swap and internals!!!!!

 

[69-B2]

Thanks for the replies guys. It helps!

Clingonstang, we bought a child safety seat last night and tried to install it in the Eclipse and there's maybe enough room for our 8 year old, but even then the seat back is straight up adn down. The infant seat has to face back and the over hang is alot.

I thought that the Stangs were reliable, but you know how it goes. You hear everyone talking crap about them and without actually owning one yet it makes you think. I tried to talk my g/f into a 05' V6. I would have to sell my 66 for a down payment, but she likes the SN's more. 99-04. And she doesn't want another drop-top.LOL The eclipse is our second convertible. We were looking at an 03 with 66k miles on it loaded V6 and they were asking $13,900. Is that toooo much?

 

[69-B2]

Thank guys for the replies! It'll help! I knew that the Stangs were still reliable, but you know how it goes, you hear crap from others and without actually owning one yet, I just wanted to be sure. My girl and our sons will be driving in it and I don't want them to be abandoned. LOL

Clingonstang, we bought a child safety seat last night and tried to install it, it has to face the back for infants. That leaves the front seat straight up and down and no leg room. Our 8 year old would fit but it would be uncomfortable and dangerous with the airbag 2 feet from him. There's room in the back behind the driver but thats all. It would suck having to take two cars everywhere we go. LOL

***Note*** When we bought the Spyder we didn't know she was pregnant. Sucks! LOL

 

[97sally6]

thats a little high. blue book is about 12k. look on there and build your car

www.kbb.com

 

[69-B2]

Yeah we'll most def check around! Thanks

 

['66 coupe]

Just out of curiosity, how much of a selection is there in Indiana?

I got my base V6 for $12,500 when it was a year old and had 32k miles. My sister's Premium Package V6 was 2 yrs old with only 5k miles, and we snagged it for $13,900. V6 Mustangs are all over the place down here, and that has a lot to do with the price.

Usually I would say that KBB does a poor job accounting for the rarity of cars and how hard it is to find certain models(ie, a '96 Mystic Cobra will KBB for just as much as a non-Mystic), but in the case of a V6, I wouldn't pay a cent above KBB. Those things depreciate like crazy.

OH YEAH,
Definately don't sell the '66!!! It's never worth it to sell a classic to get a late model(unless it's like a Cobra R).

 

[RED98]

By the way, I have said this before, but I better say it again.. if the reason you're looking for a V6 is fuel economy.. umm, well, truth be told, it's only slightly better than a V8. If you want really better mpg, you only get it on a straight highway trip. I got 30 mpg ONE time, on a long trip. Normally in town I get between 18 and 20, depending on how leadfooted I am. I have heard a lot of GT owners say that they get that. So, just to let you know.. a V6 only saves a little bit of gas, (especially if you have yours loaded down with a wife and 2 kids) while a GT is a whole heck of a lot more fun.

 

[69-B2]

66' Coupe, there's alot! Not many fixed up or modified, but alot driving them as daily drivers! You could count at least a hundred in Terre Haute, and not count the same one twice! They are very popular!

Red98, I'm sure they aren't the greatest, but I bet they're are better than my girls Turbocharged Eclipse. It's only running 15psi with full 3" turbo back and gets horrible gas mileage. Maybe 10-15!?!? I know high boost and mods don't help! The V6 would be best for her, cause she does have a leadfoot and don't want her to have the power of an 8! Especially in winter! LOL

 

[Adverse2Change]

By the way, I have said this before, but I better say it again.. if the reason you're looking for a V6 is fuel economy.. umm, well, truth be told, it's only slightly better than a V8. If you want really better mpg, you only get it on a straight highway trip. I got 30 mpg ONE time, on a long trip. Normally in town I get between 18 and 20, depending on how leadfooted I am. I have heard a lot of GT owners say that they get that. So, just to let you know.. a V6 only saves a little bit of gas, (especially if you have yours loaded down with a wife and 2 kids) while a GT is a whole heck of a lot more fun.

I get 29-31 mpg every time. I'm 95% highway driving. In town I'll get 24-26. My father in law's cobra gets 26 max, but usually 19-24. That's a major difference for a budget-minded person like myself... not to mention insurance costs.

As for buying a used stang, I wouldn't buy one unless I knew an accurate history of previous owners. Yes, they are reliable, but I don't want a car that's been driven roughly by some punk kid.

 

[69-B2]

Yeah, thats why I check to see any mods have been done and check tires (rear) to see if its been abused. We're looking at mainly car lots and they usually don't like anything thats been modded. You can usually tell unless they went through the pain of buying OEM parts to take it back to original.

Also, doesn't altitude (sea-level) play a possible role in why some get good mph and others get ****ty?? I know in Denver, CO most cars lose HP because of the high altitude. Just wondering???

Thanks guys!!!

 

[Fast_Mustang87]

get your kids a sparco racing seat...they make them for the young ones lol