Looking to buy and would like suggestions

I really like the Mustang and seriously considering buying a used
one. I am looking for a 2008+ convertible. I live in Florida so the
convertible is ideal. Wish they had a hard top convertible, the rag
tops can get noisy after awhile. I do not want to go over $20k (my
eyes want the GT..but the wallet just wont let me)

What issues have you seen with the convertibles that I should be aware
of? What maint should I perform on the rag top to keep it tight?

Any suggestions on a year that I should try and stick with?

How reliable are the mustang over an extended period of time? I am a
person that normally buys a car and holds onto it for 15 years, so I
would like to avoid mechanical issues as the car gets older. I
normally perform oil changes, rotate and balance, alignments every 5k
miles. Typically dont do the maint, just found that I can normally
skip one and be fine. What maint schedule should I keep with the
mustang?

Any suggestions on where I should buy one? I am thinking maybe find
someone that goes to the auctions, might be able to get a better car
and stay within my price range?

Really appreciate any suggestions or insight. Just need some guidance
from a few owners and experts. Thanks!

On 9/30/2011 8:03 AM, wrote:
> I really like the Mustang and seriously considering buying a used
> one. I am looking for a 2008+ convertible. I live in Florida so the
> convertible is ideal. Wish they had a hard top convertible, the rag
> tops can get noisy after awhile. I do not want to go over $20k (my
> eyes want the GT..but the wallet just wont let me)
>
If you can find a private party, you should be able to get an '08 GT
ragtop for slightly under 20K$ (as per Edmunds). But, be careful of GTs
that have been driven by males under 25 -- and get a mechanic to check
out anything you want to buy.


> What issues have you seen with the convertibles that I should be aware
> of? What maint should I perform on the rag top to keep it tight?
>
My only ragtop was my '86 Mustang. The top did not fit quite right when
I bought it (in '87, used), so it was a minor hassle to put the top up.
Over time (I sold it in '95), the top wore over the rib joints, which
I "fixed" with duct tape. Since that '86 was garaged, it did not see
the kind of material aging that you will see parked in the Florida sunshine.


> Any suggestions on a year that I should try and stick with?
>
> How reliable are the mustang over an extended period of time? I am a
> person that normally buys a car and holds onto it for 15 years, so I
> would like to avoid mechanical issues as the car gets older. I
> normally perform oil changes, rotate and balance, alignments every 5k
> miles. Typically dont do the maint, just found that I can normally
> skip one and be fine. What maint schedule should I keep with the
> mustang?
>
My '98 GT was in great shape, until I handed the car keys to my teenaged
boy. Now I'm driving a sedan.

Seriously, I had no problems with my GT for its 12+ years of life. It
was garaged, driven with some care, the oil&filter were changed every 5K
miles, and it was never driven over 125 (in fact, rarely over 110).
While the synchro's were worn, the rest of the tranny was good and the
clutch was still fine at ~90K miles. {The car was delivered new with a
faulty tranny; after some arguments with Ford folks, Ford replaced the
tranny which was fine thereafter.) The 4.6L engine was absolutely
great, and all systems (AC, radio, etc.) were still working when that
!@#$%^&*() kid totaled my Mustang; now I know why Homer chokes Bart.

> Any suggestions on where I should buy one? I am thinking maybe find
> someone that goes to the auctions, might be able to get a better car
> and stay within my price range?
>
Get a mechanic to thoroughly check it out, even if the seller says it
was only driven on Sunday by a Little Old Lady. Some of those LOLs know
what a Christmas Tree is. :-P

> Really appreciate any suggestions or insight. Just need some guidance
> from a few owners and experts. Thanks!
>
>
>


--
Cheers, Bob

On Sep 30, 7:03*am, wrote:
> I really like the Mustang and seriously considering buying a used
> one. *I am looking for a 2008+ convertible. *I live in Florida so the
> convertible is ideal. *Wish they had a hard top convertible, the rag
> tops can get noisy after awhile. *I do not want to go over $20k (my
> eyes want the GT..but the wallet just wont let me)

I'd recommend the GT and skip the 'vert with its added problems.

> What issues have you seen with the convertibles that I should be aware
> of? *What maint should I perform on the rag top to keep it tight?

> Any suggestions on a year that I should try and stick with?

I think any of the '05 and up Mustang are pretty solid choices.

> How reliable are the mustang over an extended period of time? *I am a
> person that normally buys a car and holds onto it for 15 years, so I
> would like to avoid mechanical issues as the car gets older. *I
> normally perform oil changes, rotate and balance, alignments every 5k
> miles. *Typically don't do the maint, just found that I can normally
> skip one and be fine. *What maint schedule should I keep with the
> mustang?

Just do regular maintenance and take care of it. You can run them
hard though, I put over 100,000 miles on two of them (many, many drag
strip runs) and never had to replace a clutch, repair an engine or
transmission.

> Any suggestions on where I should buy one? *I am thinking maybe find
> someone that goes to the auctions, might be able to get a better car
> and stay within my price range?

I'd recommend a private seller. Talk to a local Mustang club for
recommendations.

> Really appreciate any suggestions or insight. *Just need some guidance
> from a few owners and experts. *Thanks!

Remember CarFax.com.

Patrick

> wrote in message
...
>I really like the Mustang and seriously considering buying a used
> one. I am looking for a 2008+ convertible. I live in Florida so the
> convertible is ideal. Wish they had a hard top convertible, the rag
> tops can get noisy after awhile. I do not want to go over $20k (my
> eyes want the GT..but the wallet just wont let me)

My '07 GT coupe has been flawless to 32k miles so far. My wife is the
primary driver but she'll chirp 2nd if the need arises.
I drive it like a muscle car should be driven. (Old school driver from back
in the day)
Can't speak for any rag top issues but the rest of the car has been great.
Go for the GT, even if you have to back track a year or two to meet the
budget, you'll regret not doing down the road.


--
John
'07 GT 3 pedals
'01 FLHR
Ski Doo's

In article
>,
wrote:

> I really like the Mustang and seriously considering buying a used
> one. I am looking for a 2008+ convertible. I live in Florida so the
> convertible is ideal. Wish they had a hard top convertible, the rag
> tops can get noisy after awhile. I do not want to go over $20k (my
> eyes want the GT..but the wallet just wont let me)
>
> What issues have you seen with the convertibles that I should be aware
> of? What maint should I perform on the rag top to keep it tight?
>
> Any suggestions on a year that I should try and stick with?

I live in NC now. My first convertible was a '94 v6 mustang. Blue, white
top, ex-rental. Got a great deal because CarFAX said it had been rear
ended. Had it inspected and my inspector showed me the very minimal
damage that had been done and repaired. Had a nice total repaint job.

I bought it in '96 with 25,000 miles on it. My only problem was the auto
trans (yep, ex-rental) which was repaired back in the day for $1100. The
top was original and lasted about 10 years. I have to add that I worked
nights and the car spent all day in a garage. Never had a real problem
with the top. Once in a while I'd get water in the space below the rear
window if the car was parked outside in a hard rain. Never leaked while
driving even in a hard rain. I had that top up and down a zillion times.
It always worked flawlessly.

The car came to a tragic end after it was stolen and run off the road at
a pretty good clip. Luckily, 3 days before I was going to have the top
replaced and the front end rebuilt. /laugh At least I didn't fix up
the car BEFORE it was totaled.

A buddy of mine has a '06 GT vert and I could not believe how quiet it
was with the top up. And top down on the interstate was also much more
quiet than the '94. I was hooked, and had to get an '05 to '09. A new
2010 at the time was beyond my budget.

My '09 is also a budget & insurance friendly v6. Not an ex-rental. It
seemed to have plenty of power for me in stock form. After some GT dual
exhaust take-offs, cold air kit, and an SCT flash, it really pushes me
into the seat. I think those 3 things were just over $1100. Next will be
3.73 gears.

I've had it well over a year and the top still works perfect, no leaks,
and quiet inside. I run the top up and down all the time on this one
too. It's a black top with some white showing on the side piping (the
"gutters" above the side windows) stitches where it folds up. It's very
minor. I see a few more years before it might need to be replaced. Maybe
I'll get 10 years out of this top too.

Overall the car seems to be built quite well at over two years old. It's
no GT but it was fun doing simple mods to wring out a little more HP. It
hauls ass nicely, gets 23-24 mpg going to work, handles good, looks
good, and it's fun to drive. No need to slam the doors or the trunk
shut. Fit and finish is great. I'll get another one if this one gets
totaled out. As I said before I'd prefer a manual trans but this auto is
pretty nice.

I bought it from a VW dealer. I think I got a pretty reasonable deal...
Or I wouldn't have bought it.

--
A candy colored clown they call the sandman, tiptoes to my room everynight
Just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper, go to sleep, everything is alright