update on 2003 mach 1 i am looking at

[62thunderbird]

Checked out this 2003 mach 1 toady. noticed it had minor overspray on the right front fender and right door on some of the rubber molding. Also it had the cleanest shiniest firewall I have ever seen, everything attached to it was also very clean, like it was new, but the rest of the engine compartment looked like it was five years old. Does that mean anything?

The right front seat honizontal "tuck and roll" was not soft and very flat on the front of the seat bottom, it was hard and stiff. It drove with some right pull but the tires were not very good with two different brands on the front, likewise for the brake. But it drove and sounded "normal" it ran at 1,000 rpm at 36 mph or equivalent to 2,000 rpm at 72 mph. What axle do you think 3.27 or something low like that?

Interesting car history. Factory door sticker says built in 05/03 and a worn part sticker under the front bumper had the date of 05/12/03. Now get this, the car was first registered in San Fran in 09/03. It passed an emissions test in 05/02/05 almost two years later with 897 miles on it. New registered owner on about 5/22/05 with no mileage report and then it was retitled on 080505 with no mileage report and retitled again in 030807 again with no mileage. It was repoed a year later and resold through Pacific auctions on and resold a month later on 040408 with a reported mileage of 33,676.

How does a car get retitled in California without a mileage report three times?

Anyone know a Mach 1 expert in the Sacramento area?

Its a long message but I hope interesting, anyone out there with some ideas?

 

[darkside03gt]

sounds like its been hit if there is overspray on it. take it to folsom lake and have them look at it. they will be able to tell if its been in a accident.

 

[Crzyhrse]

Sounds like the stock 3.55's and you are looking at a wrecked car to me. Run T-Bird, RUUUUUUUUUN!

 

[forum155pl]

dont run!... LOWBALL!!!

 

[62thunderbird]

Before I run from the car I will take it to a pro to get it checked the car has been sitting on that lot for three months. So you guys think it is a wreck? But I looked under the car at the frame and it did not have any wrinkles in the frame.Maybe it has just cosmetic damage. Maybe they put a new front clip on it but the only way to find out is to get the car on a rack to see everything better. So folsom Lake Ford what about future Ford that is down the street.Do you guys still say go for it even if it has only cosmetic damge or forget about the car and find a different one?

 

[flstang65]

Sounds like a wreck to me. Car Fax it and take to a good professional to check it out. If you really want it, low ball like an Arab trader. I, myself, however, would look for another car.

When I was stationed at Ft.Hood, the dealers there were notorious for that, selling wrecked cars and taking advantqage of young soldiers. One of my guys had me go look at an 01 Cobra with him. There was over spray everwhere, fenders and doors didn't line up right, front bumber cover was off just a little and the styrofoam pad underneath the front bumper cover wasn't attached at all. Also, I beleive the hood had issues. On top of that, the passenger seat up front showed more signs of wear than the drivers. To make it all worse, they refused to give us the Car Fax/Autcheck report on it. I had to go home and get it myself. Sure enough, it was in a pretty nasty accident. They still commanded a premium price and refused to budge one single bit from their higher than acutal retail price. Thier reason was that it was a Cobra and it's a collectible. We left and he got a nice clean 03 GT with some mods already. That's just all my .02 for what it's wotrth.

Good luck on your car search!

 

[forum155pl]

if you get it for the right price i would say go for it... your not buying a lexus , its just a mustang, can be fixed with a wrench and a few beers

 

[darkside03gt]

Before I run from the car I will take it to a pro to get it checked the car has been sitting on that lot for three months. So you guys think it is a wreck? But I looked under the car at the frame and it did not have any wrinkles in the frame.Maybe it has just cosmetic damage. Maybe they put a new front clip on it but the only way to find out is to get the car on a rack to see everything better. So folsom Lake Ford what about future Ford that is down the street.Do you guys still say go for it even if it has only cosmetic damge or forget about the car and find a different one?

It may not be a wreck. it could have been a victim of vandalism. someone could have egged it on that side and it ruined the paint.

STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM FUTURE FORD!!!! Those guys are the biggest thieves in town. trust me you dont want to take that stang there. there people are incompitent. when i was looking at a silver gt up there before i bought my stang and there mechanics certified that car without the power windows working or the a/c plus the thing about shook itself to death on the freeway when i took it up to about 70mph. the guy that was with me tried to tell me it was normal. I know more then a few people who have taken there fords to them and not one of them has had a good experience.

folsom lake is a little on the pricey side but they are some of the most professional mechanics i have ever delt with. and when you bring the car in complaining about some kind of noise while driving (like i did) they will jump in the car with you so that you can duplicate the noise. trust me those guys are top notch just pricey. plus the trip down sunrise will give you a good chance to take the car on a little extended test drive.

see if you can find some info in the car on the previouse owner. i found the original loan paperwork with a phone number that still worked and was able to find out that my car had never been raced or heavily modified. maybe you can find the first owner and talk to him to find out what was done to the car if the carfax doesnt show anything.

 

[62thunderbird]

By going to DMV and asking them info on the car would that be a god way to find about the owners? I like the car I just want it inspected. The car will be going to college with me that is why I am selling my 97 it is getting old and the Mach 1 is outright awesome. Thanks for your help. Also what about Mustang plus in sac do they deal with new mustangs? I will call up Folsom Lake Ford and get a quote on checking it. I am looking at another Mach today It is in Rio Linda just so I can compare what they are supposed to look like stock.

 

[BurningRubber]

I would suggest finding another Mach.

No, its not a Lexus but you honestly aren't going to be able to talk them down alot because they know some sucker who WON'T notice those issues will come along and pay what they are asking for.

The car shouldn't drive funny or be shady in the brake department.


I also found a little overspray on my car AFTER I bought it, ends up someone put it into a ditch. Cosmetic damage only, and you cant tell anything was replaced except for a little bit of white paint along some weather stripping...


I know it's tempting now to get it, and it SEEMS like a good deal, but do you REALLY wan't a wrecked car for that price?

FYI Carfax is not 100% reliable by any means.

 

[62thunderbird]

yeah i know because for some reason it does not feel right. I woul like to buy one private party but they ask more but i am looking found a couple on ebay but they are east coast cars. I will wait and see there is another mach in rio linda but nobody answerd the phone so I am going to call back soon. My dad is really picky. There was one on ebay and it had a phaded shaker and the interior carpet had a tear ad he was like flipping out and said he would not buy a car with something that is faded that can be detailed or replaced. But other wise it was a top flight car and he did not like the tear or fade in the shaker.My dad gets worried easily and sometimes walks away from good cars but tells me the simplest parts he did not like that is why he did not like it. I was wondering that you guys could write something on this post saying that it is just a mustang not a BMW or Merecedes and they are not perfect and there are defects in these cars when bought used. Or something like that. Thanks

 

[BurningRubber]

Small defects are to be expected, as long as they arent in the wrong areas.

With the shaker, if its faded the hot glaring sun will do that to vinyl over time. If the carpet is torn, that doesnt mean much. It happens.

 

[TrueBlue03]

Told ya! That price does look too good to be true. It was probably wrecked. Its the cheapest mach within a 500 mile radius with that kind of mileage...and its been for sale for a long time. Most machs with that mileage sell anywhere from 16k - 18k by private sellers. Probably means that they have had a tough time getting rid of it or want it gone fast...

It even advertises something like "not a dent or a scratch anywhere" in the craigslist ad... that was the first thing that stuck out when i read it... and then the manager telling me that lots of people called about it, but no one wanted to buy it for that price sounds fishy. I'm willing to bet its been modded, raced and then wrecked.

if you look at it again, look in the trunk and pull up the carpet/spair tire carpet and check to make sure nothings dented or welded back together. Also check the front suspension from underneath and see if the K member sits out to one side. I've seen 2 machs in san jose at those kind of used car dealers in that have their front ends shoved out an inch or two to one side...

 

[Crzyhrse]

With a dealership selling that Mach at $14K, how much do you think the dealership got that car for? They either raped somebody that was mentally retarded, or they got it for a dirt cheap price for a specific reason. The prices have dropped on V-8's, but not that much that a dealership is selling cars for less than a private seller. Their's far too many cherries out there for $2K more and have better piece of mind about it's past. Just my worthless opinion.

 

[62thunderbird]

I would Like to find a better one for all the reasons you guys stated about this red Mach. So I found a couple more in Cali and what our plan is to rent a cheap car and for the day go out to look at these other Machs. They are so cal area private sales that are good priced 15-16K so I am doing that with my dad on tuesday I would due it Monday But I just got my T-Birds Radiator record and I am going to reinstall it. I agree with you guys a 100% maybe that car has been wrecked but it is a back up car in case the other Machs sell. and if it is good and inspected sure I will go for it but I want to find a different one. What would the best color , Red, Orange or black or Azure Blue, I like blue the best but I also like black because I like to detail cars. Thanks for your guys help. I will keep updateing what goes on if i find one.

 

[Crzyhrse]

The thing I never liked about the Black or DSG Mach's was that the paint pretty much hid the Mach 1 striping. To me, that's what gives the car a nice contrast. The three Mustang's I've owned have always been blue. Definitely no disappointments with the Azure Blue. If I had an alternate in your choices I'd take the Comp. Orange.

 

[BurningRubber]

Comp. Orange is a killer color.

There is a Comp. Orange Mach for sale around here, it has black rims, DD out back. Look like Bullitt's or FR-500's. Thats the only thing I dont like about it though. Needs something lighter in the wheel dept for a color that bright!!!

 

[EPIK]

Comp orange is the best Mach color IMO. i wish i got one, but i wasnt looking for a Mach when I got mine, I just stumbled upon it...I love red though too....

Tell your dad that Fords are far from perfect. I bought mine from the Ford dealer & mine was far from perfect. Has anyone ever noticed on alot of 99-04 Mustangs that the body line that goes from the top of the side scoop to the front fender rarely lines up perfectly on the passenger side??? I have noticed this on many of the 99-04's i see & its almost always on the passenger side....Why???

Anyway, i would stay away from the Mach you are talking about, but there are a few nice ones for sale out here in Sacramento... Are these the ones you looked into??


Is this the Torch red one you are looking into? That looks like a shady dealer...


Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com

here are a few nice looking Machs....


Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com

Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com

Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com


I also saw avery clean Azure Blue one for sale on Florin Road by the PCP motorsports motorcycle dealership. Not too sure how much they were asking, or if its a 5 speed, but it looks really clean.....You should look into it...

 

[rabidscoobie]

Black is an awesome color when clean....but thats the catch,keeping it clean...very hard and black will show every blemish very easily.I have owned a few black cars before and that was the main reason I got rid of my GT this past april and got the Mach...Acually that was the number 1 reason.

To the other poster that said platic fades....the Mach scoop isnt plastic,they are aluminum.Mine has that whitish look to it,I dont really know how to get it back to a good black but a lil Son Of A gun will keep it black and non faded for a couple washes.

As for that dealer I think he is shady.Back in April I was looking to get my wife a newer used car.So went to houston cause there was a dealer,similar to the type you are looking and all his cars where 2-4yrs old with very low milage like 20-30k.But every car he sold he said he bought from an auction and thats why he sold them cheap(Cheap as in a 2006 malibu with 12k miles was $4k).Come to find out all cars where salvage titles.Id stay with a major dealer or a private owner.

 

[Crzyhrse]

To the other poster that said platic fades....the Mach scoop isnt plastic,they are aluminum.Mine has that whitish look to it,I dont really know how to get it back to a good black but a lil Son Of A gun will keep it black and non faded for a couple washes.

Alot of people use "Back To Black". Not sure how long it lasts until it looks faded again. I use "Pig Spit". You can find it at Wal-Mart or any Harley shop carries it. It work great on my Shaker. But my Mach stays in my garage so I can't say how long that product would last parked outside in the sun.