new buyer

[1.5 liter]

iam going to buy a used 00-03 mustang. i want a stick, convertible. and prefer a gt. what should i look for mileage? any other? and what is the highest mileage i should go for.
this is going to be my first new car. i want it to last at least 5 or more years. i know i have to take care of it but just wondering

[[SS]Disabled]

Originally Posted by 1.5 liter

iam going to buy a used 00-03 mustang. i want a stick, convertible. and prefer a gt. what should i look for mileage? any other? and what is the highest mileage i should go for.
this is going to be my first new car. i want it to last at least 5 or more years. i know i have to take care of it but just wondering

In my opinion a 00 with a good milage is below 40k. a 03 is less then 10k.
There was a thread here where there were the same questions but anyway, listen to the car for strange noises, look for leaks (tranny or oil or whatever), smell the engine when the car is cold and when running.
Thats about all i think, more people will add.

[90Stangjc]

The average miles put on a car in a year is 12-15K, look for that. That car will last as long as you WANT it too last. "If you play, you pay".

[stang_racer20]

Originally Posted by 90Stangjc

The average miles put on a car in a year is 12-15K, look for that. That car will last as long as you WANT it too last. "If you play, you pay".

12-15k just does not happen any more man. most people with every day drivers put on 18-25k on these days at least.

[1.5 liter]

Originally Posted by stang_racer20

12-15k just does not happen any more man. most people with every day drivers put on 18-25k on these days at least.

yeah ur right i put about 20k on my car this year. thanks for the replies

[Mendari]

Hello 1.5 liter,

Mileage is a good start to purchasing a used car. Also, the location of where its being sold can also be important. For example, if the car is parked in a three car garage with a Volvo sedan and a Chrysler Minivan and no teenage children in sight, then you should feel secure that the car was never driven hard. Unfortunately, this scenario may be as common as Jenna Jameson throwing her phone number at you while you're stopped at a red light. Good luck with either situation.
An easy way to start looking is to visit a Volvo, Saab, or Mercedes-Benz dealership for trade-ins. Statistically, these drivers have very few accidents and usually don't drive their cars very hard. Also, the dealerships are eager to sell these cars because they are taking up valuable "new-car" space on the lot.

Good Luck,

Mendari

[1.5 liter]

Originally Posted by Mendari

Hello 1.5 liter,

Mileage is a good start to purchasing a used car. Also, the location of where its being sold can also be important. For example, if the car is parked in a three car garage with a Volvo sedan and a Chrysler Minivan and no teenage children in sight, then you should feel secure that the car was never driven hard. Unfortunately, this scenario may be as common as Jenna Jameson throwing her phone number at you while you're stopped at a red light. Good luck with either situation.
An easy way to start looking is to visit a Volvo, Saab, or Mercedes-Benz dealership for trade-ins. Statistically, these drivers have very few accidents and usually don't drive their cars very hard. Also, the dealerships are eager to sell these cars because they are taking up valuable "new-car" space on the lot.

Good Luck,

Mendari

thanks for the reply Mendari. two days ago i went to the cerritos auto square and i went to the ford dealership. i was looking at some mustang and some guy came up to me asking do i want to drive this stang. so i did but it was a auto, i drove the car and it was slow. and its a gt, coveritible. i dont know y it was slow but it was. i think my hatchback was quickier. but anyways i drove back to the dealership and i saw a gt that was stick. i told him if i could drive it. i noticed there wasent a knob. i told him and he said "dont know y there shouldnt been" than he started talking about something else. i even told him in the beginging that im looking for a stick gt, and convert, he said ok. i guess he didnt kwant me to drive the stick i dont know y, but im thinking he dosent know how to drive stick. i was very confused when i left

[Mendari]

Getting a used Mustang GT for performance purposes will require a little more research than getting one for point A to point B driving. During 1994 through 1999 the Mustang switched engines from 5.0 to 4.6. Not only was there a difference in displacement, but the engine architecture also changed dramatically from a pushrod design to an over head valve "Modular" design.
Similarly, the Modular engine went through various head designs. Sometime in 1998, the heads underwent a performance improved "PI" design phase. These new PI heads flowed better than the previous design. Also, I think, but I am not sure, that the rear-end gears on the GT went from 2.73 to 3.23. This change will affect acceleration and fuel-economy.
I currently have a thread open in the Mustang forum regarding the topic of gears. I am weighing the benefits and complications of going all the way up to 4.10's.
To give you better idea of final drive ratios, my previous car, a 1992 Honda Prelude Si had a very responsive 4.27 stock gearing. A new BMW M3 has a final drive ratio of 3.64. For purposes of fuel economy, Ford decided to give the Mustang GT a very sluggish 3.23. This link will better illustrate gearing, RPM, shift points, and M.P.H. http://www.tccoa.com/articles/gears/gears.html

p.s. [SS]Disabled, I sent you a message re: How Mendari pays his bills.

[[SS]Disabled]

Mendari, where do you work?