[Brettva]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site, but it looked like a great place to ask my questions. I'll try to keep it short and fairly straightforward.

I'm preparing to buy my first Mustang, which will also be my first car. I'm looking at mostly 94-98's, but I'd go for a 99+ if I could. I only have around 5k to work with though. I'll be trying out both V6's and V8's.

Here's the problem. I REALLY want a 5-speed, but I don't have any manual cars around my house to get more experience with. My only experience with a manual was this last summer, with my girlfriend's Eclipse. I was good with her car, and I had no problems even with starting from a steep hill. It's been about 3 months since I've even touched a manual, so I feel like I'll be rusty at it.

So, any pointers or reassurances or even horror stories on test-driving a 5-speed Mustang?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[BWAL]

just believe in yourself!

welcome to the site, by the way

[Brettva]

Wow, you read quickly don't you?

And thank you

[BWAL]

this site is pretty active, my response time was nothing out of the ordinary lol

if you don't feel comfortable test driving a 5 speed yourself, bring a friend or relative who can take you for a ride in it and take your time getting used to it on your own time if you buy it. too many people buy automatics due to not being able to drive a 5 speed, but once they learn they want to trade their car in. you'll definitely be happy with the 5 speed in the long run

[Brettva]

Really? Other forums can take hours to get any form of reply. I'm liking this place already.

Yeah, my family's vehicles are 2 v6 autos. A 93 Taurus wagon, and a 94 continental. I can't stand driving automatics, I feel incredibly lazy the whole time, and I lose concentration.

[UWISHU1]

if ALL else fails, just dump the clutch at 4k rpm and hold on you'll be fine.

[Brettva]

Dumping the clutch huh? Well, if nothing else, I'd surprise the hell out of the dealership with that move

[Thumbie]

for 5k youd get a good 96-98 GT. you don't really want a V6

dont mess around with the 94-95 with the 5.0 the 4.6 modulars are better

[06Black5spdGT]

What part of california you in? If you're near LA or anywhere like that with 5k you can get yourself a really good condition 94-98. I've also seen loads of 99-2001 mustangs for about 4-6k, most being salvage, or just high miles, but there are good deals in between all those.

Even saw a 99 Cobra for sale for 6k, because it was salvage, but I saw it in person and drove it, solid car.

With 5k though, around southern california, that can get you a very clean LT1 Camaro/Trans Am. Good cars, I've got an 02 LS1 Trans Am WS6, and just recently bought two more LT1 trans ams, and a LT1 Camaro just because they were honestly too good of a deal to pass up.

If you're interested in cars other than the mustang, go with one of those I mentioned. They make very good power, and are very cheap.

Interior is usually cracked though in most cases, not as good quality as the mustangs. I got my black 93 TA for 500 dollars, body is perfect, engine is perfect, just needed to have the tranny rebuilt. had 98k miles. T-Tops, everything on it.

And this one that I'm posting pics of I found for 3k. When I got it, it had 84k miles, hardtop, cutouts, cai, paint is perfect because of where it was kept all the time. Pulls just as hard as my 06 GT, with my GT barely edging it out, they will destroy my 95 GT, and 96 GT though without any problems, but that's obvious due to power differences.

One of the things that the Mustang has though over those GM cars is the feel. They feel so much more fun and exciting as you're driving stock for stock. Once modded for both, that all goes out the window, but stock a regular GT is much more exciting and feels much more powerful than the GM cars.

[JC316]

These mustangs are EASY to drive with a stick. Easiest stick that I have ever driven, it nearly drives itself. There is so much power on demand that you won't bounce or stall it and the clutch feedback is excellent. I have driven:

98 Saturn SL2 5 speed
95 Saturn SL2 5 speed
94 Mazda 626 5 speed
93 Nissan 300ZX 5 Speed
88 Ford Bronco 5 speed.

The Saturns and the 626 all had very little clutch feedback and were easy to kill.

[06Black5spdGT]

Originally Posted by JC316 These mustangs are EASY to drive with a stick. Easiest stick that I have ever driven, it nearly drives itself. There is so much power on demand that you won't bounce or stall it and the clutch feedback is excellent. I have driven: 98 Saturn SL2 5 speed 95 Saturn SL2 5 speed 94 Mazda 626 5 speed 93 Nissan 300ZX 5 Speed 88 Ford Bronco 5 speed. The Saturns and the 626 all had very little clutch feedback and were easy to kill.

What kind of clutch do you have? Almost any import I've driven has had an easier clutch to use than any stock gt I've driven except for the 05 and up. I've got a 90 twin turbo z 5 spd, and a 93 non tubo z and they both feel way easier to use regarding the clutch. I always had heard people saying how mustangs feel like you're shifting through the gears in a truck, and was always wondering what the hell they were talking about since the only mustang I had driven was my 06, then I bought my 95 and 96, and realized what they were talking about.

Only reason I mentipned the z in comparison was because out of the cars you mentioned those are the ones I've had the most experience with. DSM cars especially felt a lot better clutch wise.

[pyschopath76]

you will find it easier to "remember" how to drive that stick once you get in and go, then you will never look back.

[JC316]

Originally Posted by 06Black5spdGT What kind of clutch do you have? Almost any import I've driven has had an easier clutch to use than any stock gt I've driven except for the 05 and up. I've got a 90 twin turbo z 5 spd, and a 93 non tubo z and they both feel way easier to use regarding the clutch. I always had heard people saying how mustangs feel like you're shifting through the gears in a truck, and was always wondering what the hell they were talking about since the only mustang I had driven was my 06, then I bought my 95 and 96, and realized what they were talking about. Only reason I mentipned the z in comparison was because out of the cars you mentioned those are the ones I've had the most experience with. DSM cars especially felt a lot better clutch wise.

FMS King Cobra is what I use. I stared out with the old style King Cobra and it was STIFF, but the new style King Cobra has reduced pedal effort. What I am talking about in ease of driving is the clutch feedback. On the ones I mentioned, the clutch didn't give a whole lot of warning when it was fixing to engage, especially the Saturn's. This can make learning to drive one a bitch since you wind up bouncing, or over revving it.

I could drive the 300zx easy enough, but probably because I drove the piss out of it (Insanely fun cars), but my beginner sister had difficulties with it. She can drive my mustang just fine due to the clutch feel and the powerband. As for the SN95's shifting like a truck, that is due to the shifter, once I put a short throw on, it was so much better, nowhere near the quality of the 300zx though. I could shift so damn fast with the 300ZX, you would have thought it was a built automatic.

[Brettva]

Thank you all for your help, it's giving me much more confidence!

For those wondering, I live in a small city in Northern California. I'm about 40 minutes from Sacramento, and about an Hour from San Francisco. Currently, I'm debating between craigslist and dealerships.

This popped up recently, and I'm wondering if there's anything troubling about it that you guys can see.

1997 Ford Mustang GT

[Safi]

I would ask him for the reason behind him changing out the motor

[Fijistudios]

well a good fox can be found for 5k. Try close to stock, that is clean. That would be the best starter car.

[JC316]

Originally Posted by Brettva Thank you all for your help, it's giving me much more confidence! For those wondering, I live in a small city in Northern California. I'm about 40 minutes from Sacramento, and about an Hour from San Francisco. Currently, I'm debating between craigslist and dealerships. This popped up recently, and I'm wondering if there's anything troubling about it that you guys can see. 1997 Ford Mustang GT

That's a GTS. I would avoid it. It's CHEAP, cheaper than even my GTS. It has crank windows, manual locks, no cruise, no antilock, no fog lamps, no rear spoiler, a manual seat, etc. $4000 is a ripoff on it, you can get a much better car for that price.

[ForestGRN_Ghost]

go get a used 99.

as for the 5spd.
just take your time learning it
thats all

[Brettva]

JC316, thanks for the heads-up on that. I've heard of GTS mustangs before, but I never really knew much about them.

I'm not worried about being able to drive the car after awhile, I'm just nervous about the initial test drive. I doubt people selling their cars are too pleased if you stall out their vehicle.

Are there any common problems or defects with 96-2000ish GT's? I can use any and all information you guys have.

Sorry if this is all incredibly basic knowledge I'm asking, I just need to know what to search for, since it is my first car purchase.

Thanks again for all your replies so far

[RedStangTopDown29]

it depends...if ur not experienced and try to drive a stick on a v8 that pumps out close to 300 hp, there will be some troubles with some people

if u get a v6 manual it should be no trouble

but i test drove a 2005 gt and i dnt drive stick much and it scared the hell outa me the first time

so if u get really good at stick get a v8 for sure but if not then get a v6 and get better, id hate to see someone die bc of something like that