Some info for a mustang newbie?

Hi guys, i have a few questions for you mustang guys. Im new to domestics since my previous cars were a toyota mr2 spyder, a camry and a tercel.

Firstly, im looking to get a 2000-2001 convertible mustang. do they have any problems common with other convertibles like cowl shake or lack of body rigidity(i mean to the point where it is really noticible and detracting from the exprience)?

Secondly since i have to pay for my own gas, and seeing as my parents definitely wont pay for insurance for a v8(I'm 17), Im looking to specifically get a v6 mustang. Is it a nice car? Will it provide reliability and decent acceleration? Im not into racing much but something a bit faster than my daily driver camry automatic(ugh...had no say, it's my dad's car.) would be nice. Is the automatic tranny too much slower than a decent driver shifiting a manual. I understand that manuals are more fun as well as faster, but most of my driving is stop and go city traffic.

Third, hows matinence and the engine layout for mustangs? I had to replace a motor in the 1993 Ford Ranger in my autotech class, and it was pretty much torture. Hopefully, the mustang is easier to work on.

Lastly, what is the redline for the V6? What would be some good mods to do to it initially? I heard something about replacing the H pipe and the intake. Anything in particualr?

Sorry for the long winded post but thanks in advance for your help.

Hardtop car will always have better regidity then a Vert, thats just physics.

v6's are reliable and they(manual version) are a high 15sec car, auto is more of a low 16.

Never worked on a v6

Dunno about the redline, but pullies, intake, chip and catback will give it some good pep.

anyone have any exprience with the saleen body kit? should i go for the much cheaper fiberglass or the urethene parts?

if you hit something w/ urethene it will flex some to protect from breaking, the fiberglass will break.

defenetly spend the extra bucks on urethane. like zx2 said, it wont break. it doesnt matter if youre a very carefull driver... remember that the bodykits are usually lower (closer to the ground) than the regular car.

yea v6's r good cars. i have a 02 auto and auto's run about low 16's and manuals run mid 15's. it was pretty slow stock but iv put about 1k in it and it runs a lot better then it was stock and im hoping to hit 13's when im done with it. and the redline for v6's is 5200 and if u read somthing abut a H pipe that is the stock v8 setup and v6's have a Y pipe single exhaust setup.

Well my friend bought an 00' Mustang used about 2 weeks ago, not a bad car, its a auto v6 with a cold air intake and a full flowmaster if im correct, the car is pretty quick and it makes a little over 200 with the add on's. Yes and insurance will hurt my friends 17 and pays 1800 a year, gas isnt all that bad

yes the v6 has a Y-pipe, it is very popular to use a stock GT exasut when a GT owner has gotten a different exhasut, since they can be had cheap and they are a nice upgrade.

gt take off's arent really loud...

its a v6, it will never be really loud unless you run open headers lol

well it would be "really load" but if u get good mufflers v6's can sound pretty good

so can i4's but its not a GOOD loud lol

heres a cammed out 3.8 http://members.cox.net/soon2bestangin/driveby.wmv

i know how a worked v6 sounds lol

Im a member at 3.8mustnag.com and go to a lot of meets lol