What To Look For

[Abb0]

Hey Team,

Well, after being here in the US for a couple of years I'm finally going to be getting the ass into gear and getting myself a Mustang in the next couple of months. What I'll be looking at is a '99-'04, hopefully a GT but I'll be more than happy with a V6 at this stage.
The advice I'm after is what pitfalls to look for. What are the problem areas that I need to keep an eye on when I'm looking at potential cars to buy.

Anything greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

 

[KBExperience]

Hey Team,

Well, after being here in the US for a couple of years I'm finally going to be getting the ass into gear and getting myself a Mustang in the next couple of months. What I'll be looking at is a '99-'04, hopefully a GT but I'll be more than happy with a V6 at this stage.
The advice I'm after is what pitfalls to look for. What are the problem areas that I need to keep an eye on when I'm looking at potential cars to buy.

Anything greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

Do not buy a V6.. I promise you will be wanting a GT within a month.

 

[nyuk98gt]

Abb0:

Welcome to the forum.

Tons of good threads on here so you will know what mods you should make first (if the car doesn't have any mods).

If you get a V-6, a supercharger or turbo is a good option. Check out the V-6 forum to find out what the sixer mob recommends. On the other hand, if you like the rumble of a good old American V-8 then look for a GT. With the '10's, '11's, and 12's out, you should be able to get a pretty good deal on a Mustang of the model years that your are considering. Just give some thought to what goals you have for the car and that will help to guide you towards a V-6 or V-8, NA (naturally aspirated) or FI (forced induction = SC or turbo), the suspension mods you may want to make, tires/rims combinations, tuning options (DIY or use a reputable tuner), etc., etc.

The cars are quite robust and reliable. The only thing to watch for, imho, is the auto transmission OD. It should not be shifted (3-4 is third to Overdrive) at WOT because the OD band is not strong and can burn up. This is not a huge deal but it is something you would want to have fixed so the trans would give you all four speeds. The 4R70W is very durable otherwise. There are billions of Crown Vics (taxis and police cars) tooling around NYC and these vehicles have several hundred thousand miles on them - still going strong.

May I ask, Paul, where you moved from? No Mustangs there? Or, are they cost-prohibitive?

edit
LOLOL! You're from Australia, I am guessing from your screename. A little politically incorrect but witty. You couldn't have packed a Falcon in the carry-on?
end of edit

Chris

 

[Abb0]

Haha No not Australia but New Zealand, right next door. The username is a nickname I've had for several years and the explanation is long and boring! Mustangs are very expensive in NZ and although I've always liked them (my cousin has two, numbers matching '69 fastbacks!) it was something that I probably would never have been able to afford.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll be coming back here a lot doing the research and probably asking questions.
What I was really after was advice on what to look for that could be potential problems. Sort of like the floor pans in the early Mustangs. The transmission info is exactly what I'm after.

Thanks again.