Which Mustang should I buy

In My Humble Opinion
1

So I have, for some time, wanted to own a powerful car.
I now have the opportunity to buy one, and I have decided it should be a Ford Mustang GT.
Having looked at a few private sale 2nd hand cars, I have determined that they are all rubbish and not worth the risk of buying something that is about to break.
So I went to the dealership and looked at a pre-owned and a new one. I test drove them both.

The new is a 2014 Mustang GT (basic spec).
The pre-owned is a 2012 Mustang GT (basic spec) with 20 500 miles on the clock.

I do not live in the US of A but I am aware that most of the dopers do so I have re-based the below prices according to the cost of a new Mustang GT in the US which is $30 900.

The new one normally costs (the equivalent of) $30 900 but because of a corporate discount I can get it for $28 900. It comes with a 3 year or 38 000 mile (whichever is first) service plan and 1 years insurance.

The pre-owned one I can get for $23 350 and has the same service plan (minus the already accumulated miles and years).

The main difference between the 2 in terms of features is the transmission. Both have a 6 speed automatic but the new one has a sport mode and “Select Shift” which allows you to choose your gears.
Having said that, the main reason I want a Mustang is the engine which is the same in both cars.

Part of me feels that it is not that much more money to get a new car with insurance, the other is that I get a powerful car for less money with the pre-owned.

What do you guys think?

2

How long do you plan on keeping the car and how many miles a year to you drive?

3

2 to 5 years and probably about 10 000 miles.

4

Get the used one but negotiate a better price.

You’ll save money on the front end by not eating the initial depreciation. You won’t own it for very long or drive it very much so the resale price will be reasonable (if it’s in good condition). You’ll have just as much fun and you won’t miss the select shift feature.

Don’t wrap it around a lamp post.

5

I am leaning towards the used one. I want to make a decision on Saturday.
I might tell them to install rear parking sensors and window tints and they have a deal.

6

Muscle car owner here, though not a Mustang. I would get the new one, there is about $5000 difference in price and the attractive savings can disappear into the unknowns.

With a used/pre-owned car you do not know the following:

How was it driven? A lot of muscle cars get driven hard, taken to the track, and generally ran hard and abused mechanically. Of course this one was owned by a little old lady who only drove it to bingo at the senior center on Saturdays. Of course it was.

How was it serviced? Premium ‘car nut’ who loves the car service, scheduled service, or maybe once in a while service? You do not know how it was cared for.

Why did the previous owner get rid of the car? Maybe there are unknown issues. We hate this car and are getting rid of it after only two years. There are a lot of reasons people trade in their cars, but ask yourself why anyway. I am never getting rid of mine.

With a new car you can treat it how you want it treated, know exactly how it was serviced and how it was driven. And keep in mind, after you buy this car you may decide to keep it for much longer than you think you will now.

Also keep in mind that this difference between buying a used, private 2nd hand car and a ‘pre-owned’ car from a dealer is mostly cosmetic. Dealers know how to clean up a car, service some parts, replace a few, and make it look like it is practically new. Nothing against that, that is their job, that is the business they are in. That private party piece of shit that you don’t want to buy is little different from what you are buying off the lot. You do get the warranty so that is a plus. Caveat emptor and all that.

If you buy used you are buying an unknown, new you may get a lemon but it is more of a known. And again, dealers really know how to clean up and present a used car as almost new. Maybe this one is.

Use you own judgment and good luck, Mustangs are nice cars, I see them in my rear view mirror often. :wink:

7

These are valid concerns and if the OP was going to keep the car for the next 8-12 years, I’d recommend the new car as well. For a 2-5 year stretch, even if the car ends up having some issues he still has a warranty and probably can buy an extended factory warranty to cover the concerns you mentioned.

The dealer will probably not be able to answer these questions (or want to). A good mechanic would. I suggest taking the car to an independent mechanic and getting an impartial evaluation - it’ll cost $100 or so but worth the peace of mind.

Me too. :cool:

8

I have no response - I don’t really like Mustangs - but I love the fact your poll gives options of Old Mustang, New Mustang, or NO CAR AT ALL!

Tickles me, it does. :slight_smile:

Good luck either way.

9

From what I’ve heard of Select Shift and its ilk, you play with it for the first week or so and then just end up leaving the transmission in D and letting it shift for itself. So if it were me, SelectShift wouldn’t be a selling point.

10

Of course you do… then you see us in your drivers side mirror… then over your left shoulder… then you get to see those cool sequential turn signals as we pull in in front of you.

:stuck_out_tongue:

11

Word. :slight_smile:

I’ve got a 2012 V6 Mustang which I love and adore and want to marry. I personally couldn’t justify going to the GT model for the extra 100 HP, but YMMV (literally!). Anyway, although I bought mine new—the first and only time I’ve done so with a car—I’ve always been inclined to look at the lightly used models as well. As Quicksilver noted upthread, you’re saving a bunch of money on the initial depreciation on the car, so that’s a major advantage. The used car you’re looking at still has warranty, that warranty can be extended so far as I’m aware, and if you’re buying it from the original dealer they very likely have the complete service record for the car, which might be able to address some of the service concerns raised by Dallas Jones.

Now, if the used car dealer doesn’t have the service records, I’d be wary. That’s always the first big red flag at a used car dealership. In that case, I’d go for the shiny new one.

Either way, in my humble opinion you’re getting yourself a damn fine car. Have fun trying to make the tires squeal while cornering at idiotically high speeds! Also, if you’re up in The Great White North, have fun trying to make it lose traction in icy conditions, which isn’t easy with the excellent traction control system. :slight_smile:

12

Other. Get a '73 fastback.

13

P-51D. It could literally blow the others away.

14

I’d get the used one, cheaper insurance, cheaper property tax (if you have that.) I’d just want to see the service records for the car, and ask why it was traded in (not that I expect an honest answer but it’s worth asking.)

15

I have gone with the new one, paid a holding deposit today.

I think the extra money is worth the more stylish looks, better interior, better transmission and knowledge that everything is 100% mechanically sound.

16

Congratulations on the purchase. Hope you have a blast driving it! :slight_smile:

17

Congrats! What colour?

18

Thanks! I wish they could deliver it immediately. Instead I have to wait 1 week.

19

Black with Stone (sort of a greyish colour) interior. :cool:

20

If you’re planning to finance it that might make a difference. Sometimes the dealer will have cheap enough rates on new cars (but not used) that it would close the gap somewhat.

(I too have a 2012 V6 and I love the crap out of it. I find it gets me into some trouble, though, and I imagine the GT would be even worse.)

(Edit: I see you’ve already bought it. Congrats!)