| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
Anyone have a personal review of this car or similar? Any specific problems to look for? It's got the 3.8L V6 and 4R70W tranny. I've been looking for a Lincoln LS or similar, but I can pay cash for this mustang now and my current cager is on it's last leg so I need to find something fast. The reviews I've read sound like the 98 model was well sorted and surprisingly reliable. I've never purchased an American car because of reliability concerns, but I'm beginning to think that those concerns are unfounded and that I should finally try a US made vehicle. This one has a lot of digits on the odo, but is a 1 owner car and looks/drives like it's been very well cared for. I'll be using it as a daily driver and occasional 1000 mile round trips to visit family. I already know it's lacking power - that's ok. I'm not looking for a sports car so the V6 and auto is fine with me. I know - asking for car reviews on a motorcycle forum, but I trust opinions here more than a mustang/ford loyal site. | ||
| Kilroy |
There was a problem with the v6s and head gasket failure. You can hasten this failure by not opening the coolant vent when changing the coolant. Don't ask. A very reliable car other than that. | ||
| Crackhead |
The headgasket issue was fixed when for updated gaskets to MLS style. If it has the split port intake, then it has the good MLS gaskets | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
The PO rebuilt the engine 40k miles ago - I'll get details on the rebuild later today. If he stuck with single port heads but used MLS gaskets, would that eliminate the probable failure? | ||
| Crackhead |
yep. the felpro gaskets are a good design as well. Ford didn't realize their gasket design was a main cause of problem. | ||
| Xl1200r |
If the car has any more than 100kmi on it, the head gadkets have already been replaced. You say it was rebuilt anyways. Ford issued a recall on this so it should have been done already regardless. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I just purchased my first American car! The head gaskets are good. Cruise doesn't work, but I'll do some research and see if I can get that taken care of. Thanks for the tips guys. | ||
| Brinnutz |
I was going to steer you another direction. But since you bought it, Congrats! | ||
| Froggy |
You can pickup an aftermarket cruise control cheap at a hardware store  | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I use a piece of coat hanger and some heat shrink tubing for cruise control on the bike, so I'm sure I can figure something out on the car. Not sure that it will involve a brick though  | ||
| Xb1200rick |
I have a 98 mustang 3.8 with the 5 speed . It has 203k miles on it . Very few repairs. runs like a top , would buy another one in a minute , IF I needed one Rick |
