Buying a used mustang (Advice, Comments)

[woowoo]

1996 Ford Mustang coupe
base model, Hunter green
3.8L V-6
5 Speed
76,000 Miles
Needs tires, has a check engine light, Body a little rough.
$4200.00 (Listed at 5995 )
Its on a new VW lot.

Has anyone actually owned one of these?

BTW Its for a 24 year old male.
He can't afford the insurance on the 4.6L V-8

 

[Modeps]

my only comment is i've never really liked the mustangs. I always thought they kinda cheap. But of course, thats only my opinion.

 

[woowoo]

and your entitled to it

 

[Freejack2]

Don't know what accessories the car comes with but edmunds says dealer retail for a car with that many miles in rough condition is $4772. Private party is $3845.
Does the car come with a warranty. If so how long?
Tires at a guess will be $300 or so. The check engine light worries me. If there is a warranty then the dealer is liable to fix any problems. If there is no warranty, have an independent mechanic give this car a thorough going over. Even if the mechanic costs you a couple of hundred dollars, things like head gaskets and new transmissions are very expensive...
I put a lot of mileage on a 2000 model rental in Florida. Nice cars.

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
Don't know what accessories the car comes with but edmunds says dealer retail for a car with that many miles in rough condition is $4772. Private party is $3845.
Does the car come with a warranty. If so how long?
Tires at a guess will be $300 or so. The check engine light worries me. If there is a warranty then the dealer is liable to fix any problems. If there is no warranty, have an independent mechanic give this car a thorough going over. Even if the mechanic costs you a couple of hundred dollars, things like head gaskets and new transmissions are very expensive...
I put a lot of mileage on a 2000 model rental in Florida. Nice cars.

Nice thing about that engine is that it's OHV, though, making things like headgaskets much less expensive, and possible to do yourself, too.
And, for something like that, and by that I mean a Ford that's 7 to 8 years old, I'd think a warranty imperative.
I'd ask for a Carfax report from the dealer, too, they should do it for free.

 

[woowoo]

Thanks for the input
No warrenty As-Is
It has power everything , Working air conditioning and cruise.

The car fax looks pretty good.
Rental for three years, Sold to a private party then to this dealer.
No accidents, flood or salvage.
I have not been able to get ahold of the previous owner.

This car is for my nephew.
He is going to try to finance it for three years

I think i will make him take it to my mechanic and at least pull the codes.
Maybe play the stall game with the dealer and see if they will drop more.

 

[TheCorm]

BTW Its for a 24 year old male.
He can't afford the insurance on the 4.6L V-8

LOL....over here in the UK, 24 year olds find it expensive to get ensured on a 2.5 V6!!

Jamie

 

[CraigRT]

I wouldn't buy a V6 Mustang.. the 4.6 is a more reliable engine I am sure... I can't see the value of a 3.8L Mustang.

 

[jspeicher]

Find a Cobra or don't bother.

 

[Jzero]

Ex-rental, some exterior damage, and the check engine light is on......Sounds risky. If it were me, I'd pass.

 

[StageLeft]

Definitely check those engine codes first

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Yeah i'm sure the guy who had it as a rental drove it pretty hard and it's startong to come appart.... Stay away from it unless you want to replace alot of expensive stuff on the car.....

 

[Zenmervolt]

For that price you would be able to find a very nice Civic/Accord/Camry/Carolla. I would shy away from any car that is being sold with a check engine light illuminated. The "body a little rough" comment has me wondering also.

A 5-speed rental car? Run. Run fast and run far. It's next to impossible to get a rental car with a manual transmission in the U.S. Probably used as a learner car by 50 different people. I'll bet that the clutch is ready to go also.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

EDIT: Never mind.

ZV

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
EDIT: Never mind.

ZV

Edit: N/M Editied as I was posting. Roofles.

 

[jspeicher]

for that price, you should be able to find something equally if not better

 

[cjchaps]

If I were you I would not purchase an ex-rental of 3 years. Those cars get so hammered on. I'm sure you could probably find a better deal elsewhere. I'd say pass.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Rental for three years, Sold to a private party then to this dealer

I said it was a rental, not that it was probably a rental, because his post said it had been a rental car for three years.

 

[BigSmooth]

If the guy wants a V8, all he has to do is wait one year and his insurance rates would be quite a bit lower.

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Definitely check those engine codes first

And anyone that isn't an ASE mechanic (or a SERIOUS gearhead) and DOESN'T get a used car inspected by a mechanic - deserves anything that goes wrong with the car. It's the best investment you can make.

 

1996 Ford Mustang coupe<---- 7 years old and they are asking that much for it ?
base model, Hunter green
3.8L V-6
5 Speed
76,000 Miles<------- Not bad
Needs tires, has a check engine light, Body a little rough.<------- LOOK OUT
$4200.00 (Listed at 5995 )
Its on a new VW lot.

 

[woowoo]

I have a friend of twenty years that owns a shop so it will go there before the purchase.

But
We cannot wait too long.
His current truck is getting ready to blow.......

P.S. He would love the V-8 but cant afford the insurance/gas.
So we are looking for coupes/sedans with a V-6.

Body a little rough = a 1 foot by 1 1/2 foot scrape at the bottom of the passenger door
and the passenger mirror is broken.
We would brobably fix the mirror and live with the scrapes.
They don't affect the operation of the door

Other than that usual dings that one would expect on a 96

BTW there isnt that much out there for that price.

Thanks for your input

 

[XCLAN]

i would pass because body rough and check engine light

 

[amdskip]

body rough
ex rental
check engine light

I would definately pass on this one.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Ford.
Rental.
Engine light.
Dinged up body.
Sold by a VW dealership.


Need I say more?