[Enzo_Guy]

So I have been shopping around for Mustangs and the salesman at the stealership told me they had a mechanic's special. It was an '04 GT 'vert with a 5-speed and 60,xxx on the clock. Mods were Magnaflow cat-back, 3.73s, short throw, and CAI.

I drove the car and was greeted by a loud ticking noise (sounded like a lifter) every time I would let off the throttle. It would also tick when I got back on the pedal real quick after letting off. Any guesses as to what it might be?

I'm considering buying the car (being that I like mechanic's specials since I can usually fix them on the cheap and get thousands knocked off the car). The other thing is I might just grab some aftermarket heads, that way I'm not playing guesswork in the top end and I get a performance part. Guy wants $13K, my offer was my truck trade-in ('04 Ranger, usually get $7500-8000 offers from dealers) with $1000 on top, so about $9K total. I can tell they want to sell it bad so they might go for it, but would it be worth it on my end?

[TheUNZippee!]

Exhaust leak?

[F8L GT]

13k is way to much for that. given the time when it does make the noise, it almost sounds like it might be rod bearings starting to go.

[F8L GT]

like zip said, it could also be an exhaust leak also. but when i bought my car 4 years ago it had 28k on it and i got it for 12k. I think 13k for an 04 with 60k on the clock and ticking noises is way to much

[Enzo_Guy]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! Exhaust leak?

Definitely not, this was a metallic tapping noise. It was, without a doubt, a tick in the top end (stood by the motor and had the salesman get on and off of the throttle to be sure).

And I agree $13K is too much, my trade-in plus $1000 is a $9000 offer.

The dealer also had a '66 coupe with a 289 and a 4-speed for $9000. Oh how I wish I had a separate car I could drive daily! Another thing they had (performance car dealer, they deal in modified sports cars) was a '79 MG roadster with a rollbar and a 4.3L Chevy V6 under the hood!

[foursixblurrrr03]

too expensive imho. I got my 03 three years ago for 12k with 35k on the clock. Now you can find 01 cobras for less. There are much better deals to be had if you shop around.

[Enzo_Guy]

I just priced some insurance (I doubt I'm getting the car mentioned, but I'm getting ideas for what options and mods I would like to have). Hardtops are apparently significantly more expensive to insure in my area than convertibles! I'm getting a droptop, baby!

[03SonicBoom]

I would say a dealer ASKING $13k for a 04 GT w/ 60k miles is normal. With a ticking noise, WAY too much.

[Enzo_Guy]

Originally Posted by 03SonicBoom I would say a dealer ASKING $13k for a 04 GT w/ 60k miles is normal. With a ticking noise, WAY too much.

Found the car online, it's listed at $11,400. Salesman was being slick with $13K, either way $9000 is my best offer.

[dcook_14]

Originally Posted by Enzo_Guy Found the car online, it's listed at $11,400. Salesman was being slick with $13K, either way $9000 is my best offer.

You're seriously going to pay $9k for a car with a tick? That's a decent price if the car runs fine, but with the tick I'd go about $7500

[zinc-vert02]

i bought mine with 40k for 12k last summer, i pay 125 a month for full coverage

[TheUNZippee!]

I can tell you without a doubt that it is NOT the plug wires.

[M.P. Cobra Fan]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! I can tell you without a doubt that it is NOT the plug wires.

Don't be too sure.

[v606er]

7 or 8 thousand $ tops for a car like that man. Even 9,000 is too much.

[Runriot]

I paid 10.5 for mine last year with 45k on the clock. Hard to find it for that price now though, the market was worse back then.

[Enzo_Guy]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! I can tell you without a doubt that it is NOT the plug wires.

Haha!

Thanks for the help guys. The car itself is a consignment vehicle, so the chances of trade are minimal on this particular vehicle. I'll keep shopping around, I'm avoiding a Cobra for insurance purposes. They will decimate me already with a hardtop GT (convertible was $300 less every 6 months, so that translates to $50 less per month), I don't even want to know what a Cobra will run me.

Although a Cobra 'vert might not be as bad as the coupe, the fact remains that I'm 19 in a high insurance zip code with a Cobra and I would need to bend over and grab my ankles for that. I pay $240/month for full coverage on my truck (I have REALLY high coverages), so keeping the same coverages on the Mustang GT 'vert is $5/month more for an '04 and it gets slightly cheaper the farther down in year I go (a '00 'vert will be $10/month less than my truck). I'm not ruling out an '04 based on insurance only because that is a minimal difference, but the convertible is the way to go because in the '00-'04 body style I like it is going to be pretty close to what I currently pay with the same coverage.

[jonwrong]

High coverage or not, you obviously have accidents and/or tickets.

[Shaun03GT]

Yea man $9k is still a lot. The car is modded, which decreases its value. And not to mention it has a tick in the motor, obviously not a good thing. I personally wouldnt buy it for more than $5k. You can find 02/03 GT's stock with the same or alittle more milage for about $8k, never mind modded, and a tick in the motor

[dcook_14]

You might want to check. Cobra insurance was actually the exact same as GT insurance and I'm 23. I also have no tickets or accidents in the last 5 years though

[Enzo_Guy]

Originally Posted by jonwrong High coverage or not, you obviously have accidents and/or tickets.

You don't live in Maryland, do you?

Insurance prices are absurd here, especially around the Annapolis area where I am (some of the highest in the country). They wanted $700/month for an '04 STI, and I have a clean record!