I'm new here so pleaes excuse me ignorance. I'm a college student who has been driving his stereotypical Acura Integra for a few years. Soon, it will be time for me to get a new car and the 2005 Ford Mustang happened to catch my eye. I love the retro-futuristic design. One of my greatest concerns is the quality of the car. Ever since I researched cars to choose for my 1st, I've only heard the Mustang, or rather, Ford, receive heavy flak. These insults/criticisms have no doubt reached Ford perhaps they started raising their standards, or atleast to my common sense. Anyways, I just would like to ask you guys how the current Ford quality build is in their cars, take the 2004 mustang for example. Yellowy headlamp covers? Rattly interiors? Bad plastics? Poor construction? Faulty electronics? Dependable engine? Please don't think that I'm talking down on the Mustang, I just want to know the answers from those with first-hand experience. In advanced, thanks!
Posts: 131
Joined: 1/8/2004 From: United States Status: offline
Well, I have an '03 and haven't run into any quality or dependability issues. The thing you have to remember is the '05 will be a first model year in a lot or areas, they may re-use some of the old "established" parts/ systems but many will be first run. The motor is the 4.6 but its using 3 valve heads, the wheelbase is longer, the interior is brand new, dash etc, some of the creature comforts are new (multi color display option). It could be a nightmare BUT... If they do half as well on the mustang with testing as they did for the all new '04 F150, life will be good. I have heard very few complaints for the totally new redesigned truck.
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'03 Premium GT 5 speed Redfire w/ 17in Cobra rims Bullitt brake upgrade front and rear. Bullitt intake conversion. Kenny Brown susp mods. Bassani x- w/cats and 03 Mach1 catback. Densecharger cold air w/K&N. PRO 50 shifter. Fordchip for speedo cal.
Ford's quality has improved drastically over the years. I've owned Fords since the first one I bought used in 1969, it was a 63 Galaxie 500 4 door I used to go to college with. had a 289 in it, first year they were out I believe. then I had a used 71 Torino with the 302 motor. first new one I bought was an 81 Fairmont Futura coupe and made the mistake of getting a straight 6, don't know why I did that and I will never have a 6 cylinder engine again! Car was very nice, but it wouldn't get out of its own way! I closely watched the evolution of the Mustang 5.0 and finally in 1987 bought my 88 GT which is still going strong on the drag strip. I retired it from street duty in 2000 after 108,000 miles since I had bought new a 97 F150 truck. I've only had 2 parts fail on the 88, the TFI module on the distributor and just last year the passenger side window motor. I didn't baby my GT while it was on the street and started drag racing it on the track when it had 78,000 miles on it. Nothing has failed on the truck and the build quality was excellent in my opinion. Give Ford a try, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you get!
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retired and drag racing all I can now that I have the time! 13.533 @ 96.24 mph w/1.780 60', ALL THROTTLE, NO BOTTLE! 13.557 @ 98.24 mph most recentl
Posts: 126
Joined: 1/24/2004 From: USA Status: offline
I'm on my 5th Ford, and my 4th Mustang. You will get out of any car what you put into it. If you take good care of it, it will take care of you. I drive the hell outta my cars... But I take good care of them. Every once in awhile you will come across a car that has a few glitches that didn't show up in the test drive, it happens. For the most part I think you will be happy with what you get. Those drivers out there that are disappointed in their Fords either don't take care of them, or get one of those cars that got skipped during the QC check. I believe that the new Mustangs are going to Rock, and I wish I could get one my self. Good luck!
Posts: 1448
Joined: 12/23/2003 From: Some were, Pa Status: offline
Hay sweetie i have owned 12 so i think I kinda know a few things about the mustang itsself the guys can do better working on them But I Love them out of 12 i only had 1 give me troubles and thats kinda a werid story >> And Im looking for # 13
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sabine V6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...chin spoiler...grill delete...fog lights...billet ... ~~~~lifes worth living give it a try~~~~
haha, sorry for the repost, but i realized that i had posted in the concept section which probably wouldnt have gotten me a lot of replies. anyways, thanks everyone for your help...so ford isn't as bad as a lot of people claim!
well first there is a misconseption on american car..they did a research on the b3000 and the ranger..same truck but the mazda was alot higher.....granted the infinitis and lexus are great car and they should be for 30,40,50k....I would wait on a 06 'stang as with any redesign there are some bugs so let ford work them out and your not the ginnypig so to speak......the import cars seems to keep there basic design engines and don't go out the box much unlike the usa cars....I'm sure your choice for an 06 mustang will give you years of great service.I'm not a fan of the 3 valve design but it does help with less moving parts in the valve train which is great for high revin engine the 4.6 is....good luck with your choice
< Message edited by vfast -- 3/28/2004 7:58:20 PM >
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IF YOU CAN'T BEAT'EM WHOOP THEIR ASS! '89 lx 5.0 5spd 4 sale 3800 '90 lx 306 s/c '90 lx 5.0 auto hockey sux mopar..I like midgets they hang nice from my x-mas tree
< Message edited by vfast -- 3/28/2004 7:57:23 PM >
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IF YOU CAN'T BEAT'EM WHOOP THEIR ASS! '89 lx 5.0 5spd 4 sale 3800 '90 lx 306 s/c '90 lx 5.0 auto hockey sux mopar..I like midgets they hang nice from my x-mas tree
In my opinion you get what pay for... Mustangs are the cheapest sports cars you can get.. they will run fine as long as you take good care of them but you can NEVER compare them to a Porsche or a BMW.these cars may have better quality but remember that they cost at least 3 times more than a Mustang... I love Mustangs and that is why I finally after saving my money I could afford one.I have driven M3s and 911s (not mine of course) and the have nice leather, nice stereo systems, heated seats, onboard computers, and that kind of stuff but do you really need that in a sports car?? most people criticize the mustang for low quality interiors.. you know what I think.. I dont need a fancy interior!!! I just want 5 speeds and a true american V8!!!..
From what I've heard, seen and experienced the most reliable part of a Ford is the Engine, and I think the reason people may bad mouth the reliability of Ford is because most of the people who by mustangs and F series pickups beat the hell out of them. I was talking to a friend of mine about cars the other day, he said he's owned 4 Stangs and 3 camaros all 80's models he said he beat the piss out of all of em... All 3 camaros blew there engines and he said he never had a problem with any of the Stangs. As with all cars, you get what you put in. Take care of it and it will take care of you, cars have minds of there own... has anyone ever noticed when you wash and wax your car she seems to run better ha ha I'm retarded.
Hey, do any of you guys drive any SVOs or Turbo cpupe Thunderbirds? I just got ahold of a 93' LX convertible and I'm trying to decide whether to go with the V8 or to go with an SVO/Turbo coupe setup. I could really care less how loud my car is. I am thinking about practicality and everyday drivability. However, if I can't find any parts for a turbo four stang, then I'm gonna have to go with a V8. If any of you guys happen to know any good places in TX to get SVO components, then please let me know. In an unrelated issue, my list of vehicles that I have driven includes only Fords, so I really don't have much other experience with vehicles. However, I do know this, Ford is responsible for producing quite possibly the most reliable internal combustion engine in automotive history (the 300 cu. in. inline six cylinder). I drove a 91 F-150 for the past six years and never had any major problems with it until I got into a wreck and had to replace the front facia, bumper, and radiator. Meanwhile, back to the topic, I don't know much about modular motors, but they are supposed to be much more efficient motors. If the 4.6 motors are even half as dependable as my old truck was, then anyone who is a new mustang owner (and half a brain to treat it right) is in for a suprise.
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