[Hotshorts]

Hey guys, I'm a noob so forgive me if I write anything that's been done before. Basically, I'm looking at buying a 1988 Mustang LX Convertible. I went and looked at one tonight and I wanted to get some opinions and see if you experts think it's worth it. The guy says it's mine for $700, btw.

The first thing I noticed was some smoke coming from the spark plug closest to the firewall. It wasn't billowing or anything, but it was definitely oil burning from there. I took it for a test drive and in 1st and 2nd gear it feels like i'm driving in quicksand, seriously no get-up and go at all. Not that I expected much from the 2.3, but it was like a moped with a 500 lb. man riding on it. Sluggish! Anyhow, I finally got it up to speed and took it down the highway (barely). It rides fine and all that. I noticed on the freeway that the oil temp gauge and the oil pressure gauges were at 0. The oil temp gauge jumped a little when I put it into 3rd, but that was all. Then I stopped at a gas station to check it out and noticed the exhaust manifold was glowing orange and the stench of burning oil was pretty bad!!! This didn't seem quite right, lol. Anyhow, I'm wondering if you guys might be able to tell me what the problem is with it being so slow and why the gauges are reading like they are??? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[89Bullitt]

I wouldnt touch that car IMO!!!!

It sounds like a basket case. I too was looking at a 600 dollar car (700 when i got it home) and it stalled on me 5 times and wouldnt go anywhere. Just too much that could be wrong with it. I found another hatchback about an hour from me, 89 4 banger just like the first one and it ran great. Your better off moving on to the next unless you have the time, money and patience to mess with it. I put a winshield in mine, a taillight, already had a tune up so i changed the oil, thermostat and fuel filter and it runs like a 1500 dollar car so thats what im selling it as. It has 360,000 miles on it and runs like a dream.

Could be that the gauges are unplugged but it sounds like a major basket case, move on.

[OHC230]

+1

I agree, unless the rest of the car is in stunning condition and the owner is will to accept a lower offer, I would run away. There are plenty more where that came from.

[BossHoss]

Originally Posted by Hotshorts The first thing I noticed was some smoke coming from the spark plug closest to the firewall. It wasn't billowing or anything, but it was definitely oil burning from there. I took it for a test drive and in 1st and 2nd gear it feels like i'm driving in quicksand, seriously no get-up and go at all. Not that I expected much from the 2.3, but it was like a moped with a 500 lb. man riding on it. Sluggish! Anyhow, I finally got it up to speed and took it down the highway (barely). Then I stopped at a gas station to check it out and noticed the exhaust manifold was glowing orange and the stench of burning oil was pretty bad!!!Thanks!

A glowing manifold and no power sounds like a clogged cat...the oil leak at the rear of the head could be a bad valve cover gasket..at either rate...sounds like a few repairs will be needed before you get it on the road.

You can use this to get the seller to come down on the price,or as 89Bullitt and OHC230 said,,walk away and find another one.
I guess it comes down to finances and mechanical ability...just my opinion.