Considering Getting a V6 Mustang

[BeowulfZX]

I'm looking to buy a used car to commute to college. The 1999-2004 Mustang caught my eye because it looks like a fun ride and if im going to be commuting i would like to have something fun to drive. I decided that the V8 would be impractical because of the gas mileage and the insurance, so i decided to look into the V6. I do however have some concerns, mostly concerning handling in the snow and icey conditions, im aware these aren't ideal mustang conditions but i was wondering if it handles safely enough so if i get caught in a snow storm i won't be fish tailing all over the place. I have heard that if you add some weight in the trunk then you shouldn't have too much of a problem with it. Anyway im just looking for some input on how people who live in a colder climate deal with their mustang in the winter months.

Thank You.

 

[RED98]

Put chains or studded tires on the back and you should be ok. I have driven mine on roads that were sheets of solid ice, slick with freezing rain, with no traction devices, just bare tires. You can do it, but you really have to go easy on the gas. As far as passing over a GT just because of fuel economy, well just so you know, under normal in-town conditions, the V6 is not all that much better than the GT. Depends on how aggressively you drive, of course. My own car with a mix of 60% highway and 40% town driving gets about 23 mpg. The best I ever did was 30 mpg on a long highway trip. I'd re-consider passing on the GT. You will have a heck of a lot more fun with a V8.

 

[Skymarshal]

Save the V8 for later. If you're college age (19-23), insurance on a V8 will absolutely kill you! The GT Mustang is one of the most expensive cars there is to insure.

For winter driving, torque is not your friend, although most GTs have traction control. Just get a V6 and drive smart, and you'll be fine. I've driven rear-drive cars in severe winter states for years, and I've only gotten stuck once. Half the battle is knowing how rear-drive cars behave in slippery conditions, and how to recover from a skid.

Make sure you get good tires! There are usually laws against running chains or studs on regular streets, but just get a good set of M+S rated tires, and you'll get good traction all year round. (You won't have to worry about keeping a seperate set of snow tires unless the car you get has wide performance tires)

 

[ZeroCulture]

I drive mine in the winter ... the traction control is useless unless you get stuck .... turn it on and drive out. However, you'll be much happier if you invest in a set of true winter tires. Just get a set of blizzaks on cheap wheels, it makes it much safer and easier to drive. I don't even worry about it anymore ... now my 91 mustang ... that was a whole different story.

 

[AP1995V6]

Depending on how far you have to commute, a Mustang of any sort is not the most cost effective way to go as far as gas is concerned.

 

[BeowulfZX]

I am aware that a mustang isn't the most gas efficient car. I just want something i would enjoy driving, and i have always wanted a mustang. The winters where i live aren't bad enough to merit chains, i have never seen anyone driving with chains on their car, but during the winter there could be sometimes that i am forced to drive in the snow, and i have read places that they are almost useless in the snow. Anyway if i do decide to get a mustang what are some of the optional features i should look for, I would really like to get leather interior but i seldom see V6's with leather interiors. Im looking for a manual but if i see a nice automatic should i pass it up? Is there that big of a performance difference?

 

[Adverse2Change]

If you're looking for fun then definitely go with the 5-speed. Lot's of cars struggle in snow, you just have to be very cautious and go slower than normal. I'm sure you know the downsides of leather interior (blazing hot in the summer, cold in the winter)....

Definitely try and find out as much about the previous owner(s) as you can so you can get a better feel for how the car was driven.

 

[BeowulfZX]

Oh and another thing i noticed that some of the 1999-2004 Mustangs have different style hoods. What is the difference between the different hood styles? and what would one be looking for in regards to the hood?

 

['66 coupe]

Oh and another thing i noticed that some of the 1999-2004 Mustangs have different style hoods. What is the difference between the different hood styles? and what would one be looking for in regards to the hood?

'99-'02 V6 Mustangs have the '99-'00 GT hood.
'03-'04 has the '99/'01 Cobra hood
Pony Package cars come with the '01-'04 GT hoodscoop.
I like the '03-'04 as I'm not a big fan of fake scoops.

If you want leather, you're looking for a premium package car. Externally a Premium package car will have 16x7.5 5-spoke alloy wheels. Inside it'll have leather, leather wrapped steering wheel, and a Mach sound system. These are also usually equiped with abs and trac control.

As far as insurance on a GT is concerned, you may want to just consult your agent on the differences instead of listening to other people. Everyone's situation is different. "Expensive" is also relative.

As far as gas mileage is concerned. If you stick with a 5 speed, and commute a lot, you may find that the V6 and GT are not that much different.
Personally I'm an automatic person. I can drive stick, but when it comes to reliability, autos just have a lot less problems.

 

[RED98]

You can never tell when it comes to insurance. It all depends on what you are buying and your record. Here's a true story: when I was 21 in the Army, I traded my '91 Escort GT for an '88 Mustang GT. It was one of those impulse, do-it-and-don't-worry things. Then I drove the 5.0 up to the insurance office, I thought I was cooked. I had just traded in a 4-banger econocar for a Mustang GT. Well, surprise surprise, my rates went DOWN with the same coverage. Turns out since the Mustang was older it was considered cheaper to replace. And it helped that I had (and still have) a clean driving record.
Oh and my final word on the V6: if you must buy a V6, get a '99-'04 because they have much more power. But, I guarantee, if you keep the car for any length of time, at some point you will wish you bought a GT. Not that the V6 is a horrible car; it isn't, but it can't match the GT for fun, unless you want to spend thousands on the engine, and in that case, you might as well have gotten a GT to begin with!

 

[ChingonStang]

I bought a 1996 V6 5spd for 3k when I was going to college. My first mustang and I loved driving it! Good on gas and the commute. It was a good college car.

Once I graduated I stepped up to a 04 V6 Vert Auto. Now that the weather is cooler in texas, I have the top down a majority of the time.

Even though I like the auto, I miss 5spd sometimes.

And I love my fake hood scoop. LOL!

 

[BeowulfZX]

Yeah i was definately planing on getting a 1999-2004, Personally i don't really like the lines on the 1994-1998 models. And for the record im not really looking to race or really even mod out my car (other then maybe the stereo), im just looking for a car with some power under the hood which the V6 should provide. Honestly I would rather have a V8 i just don't think its as practical, and i mean hey a V6 is still a mustang it might not be as powerful as most other mustangs but its still more powerful then what most motorists are driving. Anyway should i look for any year in particular between 1999 and 2004 or are they all pretty much the same?

 

['66 coupe]

They're all pretty much the same mechanically. There are several changes between the years though. Once you learn all the differences you'll be able to tell the model year just by looking at the outside of the car(except for '01 from '02; no changes there).

I'd go for an '03 for the following reasons:
-'01+ console(cup holders are the better)
-'01+ spoiler(not a fan of the '99/2000)
-Cobra Hood
-'01+ headlights(Blackened FTW ;Silver FTL )
-16' painted 5-spoke wheels become standard in '03(No ugly 15" 3-spokes).

As for modding the stereo. If you want to do this, don't get a car with a Mach audio system. Even a simple headunit change requires you to bypass the stock amps.
Of course, if you want leather seats you'll end up with the Mach system. Also, if you want a 5-spd, finding that in a leather car will be hard too.

 

[BeowulfZX]

Ive conceeded to the fact that im not going to get everything i want, but that is the case with most used cars. The mach system doesn't come standard? what comes in a base model mustang? And if i did decide to redo the stereo i would probably replace everything, custom sound always sounds alot better then stock, although i have heard the mach systems are pretty nice so maybe i wouldn't even have to redo the audio.

 

['66 coupe]

Ive conceeded to the fact that im not going to get everything i want, but that is the case with most used cars. The mach system doesn't come standard? what comes in a base model mustang? And if i did decide to redo the stereo i would probably replace everything, custom sound always sounds alot better then stock, although i have heard the mach systems are pretty nice so maybe i wouldn't even have to redo the audio.

My '95's Mach 460 system is still awesome. It's even enough with no cats and the top down.
The only problem with the mach system(in the years you're looking at) is the 6-disc changers sometimes hold cd's. But my sister says hers only does it rarely, and if you leave the car and go back in about an hour, you can get the cd out.

What I'd do to get the things you want is look for a base '03 car; 5spd., no mach system, cloth, maybe no spoiler(looks better IMO). Then have the dealer reupholster it in leather. That way you get a brand new interior, and the stuff you want.

 

[03v6]

Isnt' Trac Control an option in V6's?

 

['66 coupe]

Isnt' Trac Control an option in V6's?

Yea, but the only good thing about Ford Traction Control is that it's defeatable.

That's also something that is usually only on Premium Package cars. I guess when dealers buy cars they either check off all or nothing on the option list.
There are A LOT of base auto cars with spoilers out there, but a lot were rentals like mine. Not one problem with my ex-rental though.

 

[03v6]

Gotcha

 

[Adverse2Change]

[quote='66 coupe]My '95's Mach 460 system is still awesome. It's even enough with no cats and the top down.
The only problem with the mach system(in the years you're looking at) is the 6-disc changers sometimes hold cd's. But my sister says hers only does it rarely, and if you leave the car and go back in about an hour, you can get the cd out.[/quote]

My system does that occasionally, its just the very basic system. Usually happens to me in extreme temperatures... so maybe the CD starts melting or becomes to hard to move.

 

['66 coupe]

My system does that occasionally, its just the very basic system. Usually happens to me in extreme temperatures... so maybe the CD starts melting or becomes to hard to move.

My '95 Mach 460 single disc player holds cd's if I leave them in for 24hrs. But all I do is flick the face of the player and it releases it. My roommate's '96 Mach460 does the same thing.
But, my '01 single disc player(not Mach) never held one cd. I didn't have problems with that until the "upgraded" Pioneer starting getting a couple years old.