Within a year I'll have to get my own car, since my brother will need the 08 Honda Civic my parents have for use at college. So, being what I consider to be a car guy, I thought of all the cheap speed there was and a 5.0 mustang came out on top of tuners like the Prelude, and old trucks you can find cheap. It has to be decently fast, preferably an American V8, and needs a manual, and it fits that bill. But is the insurance bad? What about gas price and upkeep? I'll have to pay for all of that, and I know the cars of the 80's weren't known for their amazing quality. So in your guys honest and unbiased opinions, do you think this is a feasible first car?
Fox Body As A First Car?
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upkeep will bury you on all but the most pristine cars. Most of us Fox guys refuse to even daily ours anymore.
Mr. Snrub
Active Member
2002whitegt
Founding Member
My first car was a 87, but that was 10 years ago. If you want a mustang, you can probably find a new edge in much better condition.
The cars themselves can be very reliable. But you don't know of their past. Past owners could have abused them and neglected to maintain them. Used and abused foxes are cheap, but you'll be eat up in repair costs. So if you really do want a fox, save up some extra money and try to find one with under 100,000 miles. And even low mileage ones may need some attention to them. You have to think, the youngest foxes out are 20 years old now.
Mine was my first car, but that was 16 years ago.
I would never daily drive a Fox mustang again...not even my own which is well maintained.
For about the same price as a clean fox, you can probably buy a 99-04 GT.
I would never daily drive a Fox mustang again...not even my own which is well maintained.
For about the same price as a clean fox, you can probably buy a 99-04 GT.
Those aren't as fast as a 5.0 fox
Fox for a first car is a no go imo. Plus this statement illustrates it should be a no go for you
You can still find a good clean fox fairly reasonable if you look hard enough. I daily drive mine right now and it's in race trim. It's all in preference
Maybe I should clarify my commute and use. I live very close to my high school, and the grocery store is within 5 miles of me. Tops I'm driving 15 miles to the valley, and even then that's rare. Use is daily during the school year, but limited in range. And I'm not an idiot teenage driver, I'm responsible and can keep my foot off the gas. There's also not a whole lot of places to wring a car out here, being mostly suburbs and highways, you have to drive pretty far into the hills for that. Also, cops hand out tickets like samples at Sam's Club here, so I guess a v8 coupe would be less than perfect here. I'd also like to here a ballpark quote on insurance you guys pay if you're comfortable with it, and gas I'm worried about too. Is an 04 gt that much more reliable than a fox body? Do they put up similar numbers? All I saw in my price range were the 3.8 V6s, I thought that's what you were talking about Mustang5L5, sorry.
Mr. Snrub
Active Member
Those aren't as fast as a 5.0 fox
Your talking to someone who owned a 2003 GT 5-spd and Fox at the same time.
It's faster, rides smoother, reliable, ABS, longer wheel base (easier to control the rear end when spinning tires) and brakes better. Plus you get reliable A/C and a better stereo.
You asked for unbiased opinions. Your getting them.
When I was 16/17, I was paying nearly $3K/year for insurance on mine.
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91TwighlightGT
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
Having been 16 once, I can tell you that you aren't as responsible as you think. That's okay, it is part of being a teenager. My first car was a 91 Escort, and it was great for a kid. Good on gas, cheap insurance, 5 speed. Things may not have ended well if I had my Mustang as my first car. As a parent now, there is no way I'd put my kid in a Fox Mustang. They are just too easy to get out of shape and catch the inexperienced (and even experienced) driver off guard. It's tricky, too, because 9 times out of 10 you catch it, and it builds a nice sense of security. Then, snap oversteer.
So, IMO not a good first car. It's a great second car, though. Your insurance will be outrageous.
Really sorry, dude. Thought you were talking about the V6 as stated above, that's what's in my price range, too. Also, the insurance is a bit of a reality check, thanks.
Yeah, maybe it is better to get something a bit more tame to start off with, like a Prelude, right? Or is that still going to be an arm and a leg in insurance?
91TwighlightGT
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
No idea on Prelude insurance. The main things you want are a manual transmission, ABS, and reliability. You probably won't find anything RWD that will work for you, but there are some fun cars that fit the bill. Don't focus too much on modifying or doing much with your first car - just save your pennies and eventually buy that Mustang you wanted.
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
You are talking about a 20+ year old car at a minimum. ANY car that old as a DD is asking for trouble. A Fox as a DD is worse because 99% of them have been ragged out. IMO there is no way you are going to find a low mile, not abused one for $4000. I paid more than that for my 46K orig mile 90 LX convertible. I have been working on mustangs for over 30 years and have tried to use it as my DD but after owning it for about a year I am looking for another DD. Things have come up with the car that sidelined it for a few days at at time like the recent starting issue. Plus when (not if) you start modding it, you are going to need another car as a DD.
IMO unless you find a low mile, stock, and pampered fox, and plan on keeping the car that way, find another car for a DD.
IMO unless you find a low mile, stock, and pampered fox, and plan on keeping the car that way, find another car for a DD.
Stock fox + 20 years= slow. They weren't really fast when they were new homesliceThose aren't as fast as a 5.0 fox
I thought he was talking about the v6, and the fox is faster'n what I got now, brochacho.
