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Ford Mustang (2004 and earlier)

2124 messages,  Last post on Aug 24, 2010 at 1:12 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Mustang, Coupe

Messages Page 121 of 213

#1196 of 2124 Yep. by john_324

Aug 22, 2004 (5:29 pm)

Welcome to the club. Manual transmission I assume?
 
The cold "1st-clunk!-2nd" is a legendary problem for Mustangs with the T-3650 transmission (on all 5-spd Mustangs since 2002). Mine does it all the time. Try shifting very slow and smoothly when the car's warming up, and that'll minimize it.
 
Ford tells everyone "it's normal". But there is finally a TSB (technical service bulletin) out for this, so hope might be on the horizon. Tell your dealer about the TSB..that'll point them in the right direction.
 
It's not really a major problem, just one of the many minor annoyances that come with Mustang ownership. Best of luck.

#1197 of 2124 by john_324

Aug 23, 2004 (6:46 am)

Opps...just read your title - yeah, I know...I should actually read everything before replying...; ).
 
Sorry, I thought you had 5 spd. Wow, I've never heard of this issue with an auto transmission...

#1198 of 2124 Buying a used 2003 Mustang GT by mikhail24

Aug 25, 2004 (1:17 am)

Hey all...I've been searching for a while and finally found the right Mustang. I left the dealership this evening and told them I needed to think about it for a day or so, but unless something drastic happens I'm going back tomorrow to purchase it.
 
Car is a Dark Shadow Grey Mustang GT coupe, 5 spd. It only has 5,200 miles on it and is in pristine condition. Mach 1000 audio system too which is a plus...the only downside is that it has a cloth interior.
 
Sticker price was $21,900...haggled a little with the Sales Manager and was able to get the price down to $18,500. According to Edmunds' price calculator, this is 10% below average dealer price for this model with this amount of miles on it. I'm going to take it I think.
 
Anyway, just thought I would post experiences...when I actually go through with the purchase, I will relate how everything went with the Ford dealer, maybe it will help someone else out there.
 
As soon as I take possession of the car I'm ordering a Vortech V2-SQ trim supercharger kit and having it installed ASAP...should net around 370hp/370lb-ft torque for a little over $22,000.

#1199 of 2124 Re: Solid Rear Axle [john_324] by rayainsw

Aug 25, 2004 (5:09 am)

Replying to: john_324 (Jul 27, 2004 10:55 am)
“Also, for your average joe who buys a mid-life crisis Mustang, he's really just interesting in cruising around...the dynamics of his rear end really don't matter much in his grand scheme of things.”
 
Perhaps I am not quite an average Joe – and actually (at 55) I am likely a bit past the exact, statistical ‘mid-life’. But there are really now only 2 things that would keep me from seriously considering a 2005 Mustang GT. One is the fact that Ford has not yet decided to add the Man-U-Matic shift (SST) capability to the 5 speed automatic.
 
And the other is that IRS is not available as an option. I grant that many people drag race the Mustang (duh) and that they may very well prefer the solid rear axle. And I also grant that IRS would be more expensive than the solid axle.
 
What annoys me is that it appears likely that the IRS will ONLY be available on whatever Ford ends up calling the new Cobra. (As was the case in the past.) I would really prefer to see IRS, when available, as a ‘stand alone’ option on the GT.
 
On the real world roads I often travel, IRS makes a substantial improvement in both ride and handling. I don’t drive exclusively on drag strips or perfectly paved corners, and I prefer the pros (and cons) of IRS over solid rear axle in everyday driving.
 
Just my $.02 worth (????)
- Ray
Spitting into the wind, I expect . . .

#1200 of 2124 rayainsw by john_324

Aug 25, 2004 (7:02 am)

I totally understand what you're saying...I know some Cobra drivers wish for an option to get the live axle (recently this is somewhat mitigated by the availability of the Mach 1 though).
 
I think it all comes down to production economics unfortunately. Given your age, you recall when you could get your car optioned out exactly as you wanted it; these days, you're usually restricted to a couple of packages and a few minor add-ons. Anything more would slow the production, and increase the costs. One of the Mustang's big strengths is its low-buck performance. There are better-performing and nicer cars out there, but none as cheap as a Mustang.
 
A higher-priced Mustang might well suffer the same fate as the new T-bird: a cool car you'd think, but for the money, there's a lot of other, and better options out there.
 
But a manu-matic on a Mustang?! Ack...get outta here with that! ; )

#1201 of 2124 Re: rayainsw [john_324] by rayainsw

Aug 25, 2004 (10:02 am)

Replying to: john_324 (Aug 25, 2004 7:02 am)
“But a manu-matic on a Mustang?! Ack...get outta here with that! ; )”
 
All due respect – I owned and drove nothing but manual trans. cars for many years. 3 on the column, 4-or-5-on the floor – even 4 on the tree (a Peugeot) and 4 speed with separate O/D (Volvo).
 
But I (and many others) have either physical reasons to require an automatic – and / or simply the desire not to have to deal with a clutch all the time. The current crop of man-u-matics offers an opportunity to significantly enhance the gear change aspect of driving a car when desired - with the option of simply popping it in full automatic mode when Hotlanta area traffic becomes more stop than go.
 
Just my $.01.5 worth = with a penny and a half mail in rebate = FREE!
 
- Ray
Old enough to remember the days when choices included:
 
(From the Car and Driver 1965 Annual issue)
 
Pontiac Tempest / GTO
 
With 215ci 6 140 HP (!) - 3 speed manual, 4 speed manual, 2 speed automatic(!)
Final drive ratios: 2.56 / 2.93 / 3.08
 
With 326ci 8 250 HP – same 3 trans. options
Final drive ratios: 2.56 / 2.93 / 3.08 / 3.23
 
With 389ci 8 335 HP – same 3 trans. options
Final drive ratios: 3.23 / 3.36 / 3.55 / 3.90
 
With 389ci 8 360 HP – same 3 trans. options
Final drive ratios: 3.55 / 3.90
 
Note: Not all final drive ratios are available with all trans. options.
 
So – looking ONLY at powertrain combinations, I calculate a minimum of 12 powertrain combinations BEFORE adding possible final drive ratio options into the mix.
 
(And there were clearly many, many other options and color choices, etc!)

#1202 of 2124 by john_324

Aug 25, 2004 (10:13 am)

I'm just kidding ya re the shifter. ; )
 
I do wonder why Chrylser is able to come up with a u-shift-it-auto for just about every car they make (including some not-too-great performers), but Ford really doesn't seem interested. I don't think Ford even makes one for *any* of its cars...hmmm.

#1203 of 2124 Re: SST [john_324] by rayainsw

Aug 26, 2004 (10:28 am)

Replying to: john_324 (Aug 25, 2004 10:13 am)
"I don't think Ford even makes one for *any* of its cars"
 
The current (are they still producing them??) T-Bird has it available - essentially the same 3.9L V8 and trans. and SST mode as in my current 2003 Lincoln LS V8 Sport.
 
- Ray
Thinking on the 'Bird it used to be only something like a $150 option . . .

#1205 of 2124 don't get it by ntimp

Sep 01, 2004 (4:42 am)

I'm finally selling my mustang V6 coupe and frankly don't understand what all the hype is about. Have owned many sports cars in the past, 280Z, corvette, mitsubishi turbo, fiero, etc. and this car ranks lowest in handling and ride. V6 bad on gas mileage for the power and it's bad in the snow no matter what tires I've tried. Everyone who rides in it comments on the bumpy ride. Depreciation is huge, can't believe the trade in value is so low on a car with only 45K.

Messages Page 121 of 213

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