Hopeful future owner here. Finally at the point where I can start looking for a replacement for my beater 2000 Saturn and I think I'm showing symptoms of Mustang fever. I've always thought they were cool cars and when I was in HS my cousin had a 2000 V6 Vert I got to drive a few times which was awesome.

Fast forward to now and I'm almost 26 and starting my last year of grad school. The wife got a car last time we purchased and I'm still driving the hand me down from my parents. Now it was a good little car but 5 years of AR and Memphis summers with no A/C has gotten OLD and I'm ready for something newer. The wife actually thinks Mustangs don't look bad (shocked me, she's not big into cars) so I've got approval to look.

Budget is probably 12k tops. I'm thinking that puts me looking at 02-04 GTs or maybe an 05-06 if I settle for higher miles. As much as I think Termi's are insanely awesome can't see finding one in that range although I appear to be on the edge of Mach 1 range. So what do you guys think? I tried to find threads on what to expect price wise but couldn't put together the right search terms. Also any idea on what to look out for? Found info the Mach 1 tick but that's about it. I'd be wanting a Manual, preferably V8 (would do V6 for the right one). I've got about a 30 minute highway commute each way so just looking for a little fun on the road, doesn't have to be the fasted thing out there, just quickish.

My questions (again looking around say 75k miles or less on the car, plan on driving it awhile)
:
1) Can I get a decent mileage Mach 1 down in my price range? (Azure blue is so sexy)

2) Can I find an 05/06 GT or V6 in range (pretty sure yes on the V6 not sure about the GT) and do I need to be leery about first year of the new model?

3) What's a good price to be paying on 03-04 GTs both coupe and convertible? Should they be under 10k by now after haggling?

4) When we bought my wife's car, the Autotrader price was so far under the asking price on the lot I couldn't get them to haggle much. Is that typical or are the "online/internet sales no-haggle prices" actually haggle-able? (making up words!)

These are two examples of what I'm seeing searching...
03 Mach 1 (AB) 72k miles looks like asking 12.7k (suspension looks lowered and chin spoiler looks trashed)

02 GT Vert 72k miles 11.1k (Steeda intake and front sway, can't tell if any other mods)

Sorry this is long, thanks for reading!

 

Shoot for a Mach. 4v heads. Forged crank. Port matched exhaust manifolds. Sweet shaker scoop. More receptive to mods. Sounds better IMO.

 

Approval from the wife for your car after she bought hers already???
If you are happy with the GT body styles of the '04 and under era, you should be able to get a sweet, non-abused, low mileage car for that money. Look for stock examples and then you decide what mods to add if you want any. A 5 speed GT will be very enjoyable for your commute.
All prices you see, from dealerships to the internet, are asking prices. Some are 'pie in the sky' stupidity and you simply don't respond to those. If a seller is asking $14,000, then you can certainly counter with a $12,000 offer, especially if you are at the guy's home with cash in hand. Money talks. The seller will at at the very east counteroffer and then that is up to you.
Good luck with your search and don't limit yourself to your immediate area. Travelling a few hundred miles is nothing when laying out good money to get the right car. Lots of photos, a Carfax, and several phone calls with the seller will get you the right feel for the car so you don't waste your time.

 

It'll be hard to find a Mach 1 with less than 75k miles in your price range. I was talking to a guy at the car show I went to last weekend about his '04 Mach 1 (the one I was going to look at, but he bought before I got a chance) and he said he paid $12,500 out the door but it had 100k miles on it. You should be able to find a nice SN95 GT in your price range.

 

If you are interested in a Mach, go to http://www.mach1registry.org/forums/index.php.

If you like AB here is one listed in the 'For Sale' section . . .http://www.mach1registry.org/forums/...d.php?t=127413

 

There's no reason you can't find one for that.

I bought my 2004 OW 5 spd mach 1 with 18,500 miles for just under $15k, granted it took a while to find but you can still find one for that if you just look lol.
Definitely think of overall of what you want though.

 

Definitely interested in Machs. I'll be checking out that ad. Actually not too far from me. I'm near Memphis. Is that your ad?

That's reassuring to hear. I'm definitely in no rush, I'd rather wait for the right car and price. I think I'd enjoy a Mach. Like the unique look and the shaker hood is awesome. But I think I could be quite happy with only a GT. Don't have heavy mod goals or plans especially since I'm looking for a DD, don't want to compromise driveability too much. Maybe just the occasional strip pass for fun. Did you buy yours from a dealer or private?

 

That's a great deal. Mine started at $16k, I got them to drop it to $14k but after taxes it went right back to $16k. It had just under 54k miles on it. The KBB value was over $17k.

 

I bought mine from a private seller, it is my DD and I just took a nice highway trip with it and the best mpg I've gotten to date was 26.7 mpg highway!!! Could not believe how good it was.
The mach 1 is a definite awesome car to have, a lot of people take it for a regular gt and do not know the motor it has lol

 

No . . . I have a Comp Orange Mach (Not For Sale).

 

Yeah I was looking through your threads. Looks great. Neat to see you've owned since new.

 

Cool and thanks!

 

And comp orange is definitely the second best Mach color :P

 

Early production S197s had more issues than later models....I would not get a 2005/6 Mustang. Look for a 2007 or newer. I may even suggest going to a 2008, but you'd be okay with an '07.

I can't wait for the S550 Mustangs next year, but I ain't buying one!

Just my two cents.

 

Good to know! I've seen some 07 V6 coupes in my price range which might be worth considering for the gas mileage

 

Also, for any of you Mach 1 owners who are also on Mach 1 registry, could PM the mods for me? It's been over a week and my account still hasn't been fully activated yet. Can't post anything. Thanks (Same SN)

 

Hey whats up everyone. Bought a 98 gt about 2weeks ago. Love the car. Super clean. 1 owner. Bone stock. Just ordered a tuner from BAMA. Hoping it was a good choice for a first MOD. I figure down the road i will do the old school mods like air and exhaust. The tuner seemed like the best bang for the buck for now. Would love to hear any advice or experiances with the tuner.

 

Ended up in a 2008 Grabber GT w/76k miles!


Before test drive


Getting ready to leave and swapping tags over


First pic of me in it


Parked in the driveway at home!


It's slowly sinking that it's mine! Indicated about 26 mpg cruising at 75-80 on the way home. It's no 35mpg like my Saturn but everything else more than makes up for it!!!

Now to fight the mod bug. Nothing crazy for a while. Tint and sequentials first probably, then maybe axle-backs/cat-backs and intake/programmer but probably not for at least a year.

 

That is awesome! Good luck fighting the bug for a year though hahah

 

Congratulations, and what a great find. It's a beauty. Enjoy, and good luck staying ahead of the mod monster.