NC14GT

Too vague. This is a serious purchase for you. You need to offer details on each Mustang to get proper opinions or else we aren't helping you at all. Is the 55k car in 'excellent condition' with one owner and no needs whatsoever, like tires, brakes, etc..??? or is it a 3 owner 'good condition' car with no maintenance history? If it's the latter I would certainly pay $3,000 extra in a heartbeat to get that 30,000 miles one owner car that was garage kept since day one. Is that the case or is it a 3 owner car too that needs tires right off the bat? So many scenarios and variables. Please help us help you.

karman

Is it this one?
http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/..._A.562x421.jpg

.
Here are the other 2:
http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/...9bfcec5815.jpg
http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...r=ATD_W#Owner1
Been bouncing around dealerships for the past year.

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/...d375555391.jpg
"3 owner"(really more), no wrecks
http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...&partner=ATD_W
Been through a couple of auctions and several dealers in its life.

97GT03SVT

Those are the three what do you guys think? I need to see them in person to give you a true opinion but in the pictures they look very clean

Tony Alonso

I think you need to TEST DRIVE them Good luck!

Krohn

The middle one looks modified... sometimes modified is a bad thing... just something to keep in mind.

97GT03SVT

I agree, i'm fine with a cold air kit and an exhaust but anything else is probably a red flag to me. I'm going to see the blue one tomorrow

Krohn

I actually forgot to mention that holding out for a used (low mile of course) Bullitt would be an awesome decision!
If I was looking for an 05-09 body style, it'd be either a Bullitt, Shelby-GT, or GT500.

Obviously price dictates everything but waiting can also help sometimes. I waited for roughly a year before I bought my Boss. I had been scoping the market until finding a steal!

karman

Waiting is very important to getting a good deal.
You have all winter.
None of those cars would even bring me to the dealer to look at them.
Find an old man like me who just wants to switch cars.
It takes time, but they are out there.
2yrs. ago I sold a mint show winner car for under $20K with less than 20Kmi.
They are out there.

97GT03SVT

I may do this instead of trading in my 97 I may try to sell it and daily drive my cobra until I find the right deal. I don't want to spend close to 20k but it seems if you spend a little more you get a lot more. I have a hard time justifying near 20k for. 2005-09 gt when 2011s are selling in the low 20s

If I can get a one of these cars closer to the 15k range I may just save a little longer and get a 5.0

cdynaco

Except if you're considering a used 5.0 to save money, you are then looking at an 11 or 12 - both years have problematic piston design, failed transmission parts, and clutch issues that were not resolved until the 13/14 years (and they have the tick issue still being reported).
And when you say 05-09 that's quite a range compared to an 11. The 08/09 as suggested by many is only 2-3 yrs older than the 11 - and they are the best years of the 4.6L in the S197 without sacrificing for a diaper Mustang.

97GT03SVT

Wasn't the piston issue more of a problem for modified cars? Also I heard most of these issues have been blown out of proportion and should be fixed under warranty anyway. I'm still holding out hope for a 2005-09 for the right price. You have to agree a low mile 2005-09 for the same price as a 2011 is unreasonable.

As far as looks I do prefer the back end of the 2005-09 but the 2011 isn't a deal breaker considering all of the overall improvements from the 2009

cdynaco

I would agree with an 05-07 but again you keep lumping all 5 yrs and then comparing to an 11.

There were more than enough failures on the 11 and 12 5.0 to be wary. Incl factory engines without tunes. Many had nightmares trying to get a warranty resolution and not everyone received one according to several threads. And if you buy used how do you know what the previous owner did? And then you still have the trans and clutch issues.

There is no way I would buy a used 11 or 12 5.0 IMO.

If the 08/09's are holding their value compared to an 11, don't you think there's a reason for that?

Just my thoughts....

97GT03SVT

I see your point I think I'm just going to have to be very patient and try to negotiate. I'm hoping the winter months will help me at getting the price I want. It is going to be a daily driver so it doesn't have to be a super low mile garage queen but it would be nice

Krohn

Take your time, no reason to rush into something just to regret it later. There are SoOo many Mustangs to choose from!
List your priorities (even if they're not one's that everyone else on this site has), tape it to your computer, and wait till you can check off each one. lol

Price Range
Mileage
Service/Modification history
Color
etc...

97GT03SVT

I just found another ride that seems to good to be true. 2011 GT premium with 29k.... Dealer certified with a 7 year 100k warranty for $19999. I understand some of the transmission and engine problems but I plan on keeping this as a stock daily driver.

What do you guys think? I'm probably going to look at it some time this week. It's more than I was looking to spend but at the same time most of the 2005-09s I was looking at we're about this price anyway.

Mr. V

You are going to hear a lot of crap from certain individuals about what a piece of crap the 11-12 5.0s are. I don't waste my time debating people. I have a 12. No issues. If there was a huge issue with these engines blowing up, there would be more press about it. I bought in late 12 when the 13s had come out. I did several months of research because I couldn't afford to make a mistake. I have no regrets with my 12. Don't take my word or anyone's word for it. Do your research and make a choice. In the end, you are responsible for your investment. Don't let us sway you.

Tony Alonso

I definitely would be checking the function of the clutch engagement when revving that car up toward redline, listen for transmission noise, and go for a good test drive to see if you like the feel of the 2011 car in around-town driving. Then I would go out and immediately drive an '08-'09 GT and see if the driving difference is enough to spark your interest in the 2011.

When you get out on the freeway for a daily driver, it really doesn't matter whether you are cruising with a 300 or 400hp engine. It is my opinion, as someone who has daily driven a '96 Cobra, an '00 GT, an '03 Mach 1, an '07 GT, and now a '10 GT that low-to-midrange torque when you are accelerating from stop to 50 mph is what is more satisfying.

I have enjoyed my 2010 GT (last of the 3-valves) immensely as a daily driver. Of course, if I am on an offramp or onramp, I can feel the difference between it and my '01 supercharged Bullitt (it has about 100 more hp) when doing full-throttle acceleration up to highway speed.

I think the fact that you could jump from an '05-'09 to an '11, where the V8 engine outputs are quite different different, tells me you are keeping price, drivability, and the fun factor of the V8 experience in mind as your top criteria. So, I think you really need to test drive them both in the way you plan to use them daily.

Good luck!

NC14GT

97GT03SVT, you need to study these cars a lot more. A dealership selling a 2011 Mustang GT premium coupe for under 'private party' values raises red flags. Something is wrong here. Accident?? Clean title? A potential lemon? At the very least order a Carfax and see if anything is showing. Carfax isn't flawless but could be a useful tool in this instance. This type of car, especially on a dealer lot, should be selling close to $23,000 - $24,000+. Ebay is loaded with these GT's (with that mileage) in this price range as well. Even KBB has a 'private party' value around $21,000 for just a 'fair condition' car. BE CAREFUL!!! If it's too good to be true....


*** Added info: Not to be a total 'downer' I should mention that there is a remote, but very remote, chance that the dealer is clearing out annual inventory by the Dec 31 deadline. If this is the case, then maybe you have stumbled onto something. Don't expect that scenario though.

97GT03SVT

I have the car's history it was a demo for the first 5000mi than was sold once so it's technically a one owner vehicle. I feel pretty comfortible about it because it's a ford dealer certified vehicle. I haven't actually driven the car yet but it seems legit and on the up and up.

Keep in mind mustang prices in New England tend to drop during the winter months I think it's just a low demand vehicle right now. I've see. Other 2011s for sale in my area with similar and even lower mileage but I really am interested in the ford backed warranty.

97GT03SVT

I plan on taking a long test drive to be honest I've never actually driven a new 5.0, I've driven tons of 2005-09s and my brother owned a 2010 GT that I drove for a summer while he was deployed in Afghanistan. I figure if I can get a newer car with an extra 100hp for slightly more for an older one and get a power train warranty, why not? I was not really planning on a 5.0 until I saw how much low mile 2005-10s we're selling for...