Newbie: What Mustang would you buy with a $10K budget

[Azstang]

I am 16 and I grew up around Fords, I definitely want to buy a mustang as my first car. I like the looks of a 2012 and I want to get a V6 instead of a V8 for my first car so insurance isn’t crazy expensive.

What would you buy for 10k?

 

[yote0]

You're on the right track. The 11-14 3.7 V6 and 15-17 3.7 are the best V6 Mustangs Ford ever built. Don't think you will find a 15-17 for $10K though, so keep looking at the 11-14 cars which have the better styling anyway (and a solid rear axle).

 

[Gladams]

Welcome to the club from Missouri. Happy hunting hope you find a good Stang.

 

[AHaze]

Have you actually obtained insurance quotes? When I was car shopping with my teenage nephew, a '05-'09 GT was slightly cheaper for him to insure than a '11-'14 V6 and a '98-'02 Camaro Z28 would have cost the same as a 3.8 V6 powered version.

 

[XJCasper]

What about a New Edge mustang?

Whatever you are looking for? Best advise here is check insurance rates. When my wife and I started dating? She was paying a ridiculous amount for an 87 Nissan 200sx. The car was gutless.

 

[Iceman62]

Most chicks would pick the #8 over #6...just saying.

 

[07 Boss]

You can always buy mine. It's ready-built strip street car that runs mid 11's on good tires.

 

[S197Voodoo]

05’ 4.0L V6 is good starter. Just make sure that whichever one you choose, you pull the TSB’s.
Overall, the 05’ is reliable, fun and relatively inexpensive.

 

[Recon]

Might look at a 2V new edge. I’m currently looking for a Bullitt to replace my daily.

 

[yote0]

05’ 4.0L V6 is good starter. Just make sure that whichever one you choose, you pull the TSB’s.
Overall, the 05’ is reliable, fun and relatively inexpensive.

Well at least you got the inexpensive part right.

 

[Dadasaurus_Rex]

Welcome from Queen Creek / San Tan Valley, Arizona!

Autotrader was my best friend in finding the exact cars that I wanted. I used it for both of mine. I recommend looking down around Tucson or Casa Grande as the prices are significantly lower there.

 

[Dadasaurus_Rex]

Have you actually obtained insurance quotes? When I was car shopping with my teenage nephew, a '05-'09 GT was slightly cheaper for him to insure than a '11-'14 V6 and a '98-'02 Camaro Z28 would have cost the same as a 3.8 V6 powered version.

Just gotta watch out for the OptiSpark on those LT1 cars. If the water pump weeps it will take that whole thing out with it. I love my F-bodies but the first mod I ever did on all 3 of my LT1 cars was relocating that. Why in the world GM decided to put the "dizzy" under the water pump is beyond me.

 

[JC SSP]

98-02 V8 Camaro has LS1 not LT1. But you are correct about the optispark on the LT1. A flawed design that will leave you stranded.

 

[Dadasaurus_Rex]

98-02 V8 Camaro has LS1 not LT1. But you are correct about the optispark on the LT1. A flawed design that will leave you stranded.

Ah, yep I missed the 98-02 on that post. Crazy to think LS1 cars can be had for cheap nowadays. They were notoriously underrated by GM in the HP numbers. My 01 Cobra got absolutely demolished by an 02 LS1 Z28 that my buddy had. Both manual trans cars. Stock for stock I had no chance. The only LS1 car I ever had was a 98 Vette auto.