Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to learn more!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
its really based on what is more important to you... having the top down, not racing from stop lite to stop lite or having a muscle car with awesome performance..
One more thing......when adding a sound system to a convertible....how much can you add without putting things into the trunk????
Trying to make a smart decision.....
2) Those buying a convertible, also buying a roll bar?
3) Can you actually average around 20 MPG with the V8 and 23 MPG with the V6 in all around driving. Maybe the V8 then is not too far off the gas mileage of the V6.
4) Your insurance quotes per year between the V6 and the GT around $170 to $200 more on the GT. I believe that was about the range I was quoted, depending on year.
If you garage a convertible, they are more easy to live with. If kept outdoors, there are a variety of issues to contend with. As for the feeling of top down driving, it can be fun indeed - sort of like a motorcycle ride. Well kinda. That said, if ya like comfort many a day is too hot or too cold for the top down. Convertibles do add weight to a car, so the performance speed wise and gas mileage can be a little less. There is more maintenance too. It is like buying a boat - be sure you will actually use it often, and not have it become a negative. It adds fun to the drive, in some cases. There is a sense of freedom and sport to the top down driving. Trust me, there are downsides too. And the inside of the car needs to be cleaned more, rattles, and well, lets just say consider where you park it, driving style, climate and all before buying. Be sure to use a roll bar and save your head!
:shades: Loren
05 v6 - $22 k , 04 gt - $20k , the delearship says it is new and they bought it and that is why it does not show up as new on the ford website. is it priced low due all the incentives ford offered for last year's model?? .
The 05 sure does have killer looks but the 04 is a gt!!!. I don't think I can afford or more importantly wait indefinitley for the 05 gt!
GT will cost more for insurance - could be a couple hundred. But GT = power. Let me know what ya decide on and what you find when really looking over both nose to tail.
Loren
Yes, it seems totally wrong to me, but it does accomplish two things.
First, lower gas pedal means more comfort for the right leg, as you stretch out more.
Second, some people may have mistaken the brake and gas pedals when using and
thus for legal purpose they chose to lower the gas pedal.
To me, it seem like you could raise it almost two inches, but I don't know if the dealer can do it. I was thinking a person could put a handicap gas pedal block on there. They have them for short people. I am kinda short too, come to think of it. Anyway, back to subject, this could be taken off before selling the car. But what if someone else drove the car and hit the gas by mistake -- I then would be responsible? Why can't they just do things right when making modern cars. My Miata ( '96 ) is just about even between gas and brake height and it sure is sweet that way. As for the placement of the stick shifter in the older Mustangs, well you know that is totally wrong. I take it a lot of automatics sold. Well you can change the station on the radio while shifting into third I guess, for those wishing to multi-task
Loren
Lot's of people claim the same problems,,,, oh well, who knows. - Loren
As to visibility, no a convertible with the top up has the same visibility that the same car does with the top down but it's really not a huge problem. My seats are cloth rather than leather as my 88 had vinyl and getting back into that after the sun was shining on it was kind of like ironing your pants while you were wearing them. A couple of years ago I bought a Windbaffle that attachés to the head rests and shields the driver and passenger from back drafts while driving. Works great keeping the cockpit warmer in the early parts of the season and means that in the hot summer you can drive with the top down and the air on and really feel comfortable in the car.
I would go for the drop top and think there always will be one in our family. My plan is to keep this car a couple of years more (it's only got about 32,000 miles so far) and then replace it with a new GT convert (probably 2007-2009 variety).
Good luck with your decision...either way it will be fun!
My goal this year was to finally get my convertible that I dreamed about all my life -during marriage, children, responsibilites, etc. I was int he process ofmaking great deal on a V6 2004 in December and kept looking at the beautiful 2005 coupe in the showroom- very retro - very exciting. I sat in the showroom car for a good 15 minutes and then said - hell I came for a convertibleII I want the convertible!!!
I ended up with a 40th Anniversary model and I love it. The noise is actually minimal. I don't have a garage and it weathered a DC winter with no problems. I love as the weather is warming up, I can put the top down and away I go! A definite feeling of freeedom and fun.
I will always have a convertible from here on out... and I agree with the person who wrote saying he leaves his car unlocked when the top is up.... and when I leave it with the top down, I just put loose items in the trunk!.
Good luck with your choice!
Check before buying. Expect good straight line performance, and not too stellar cornering ability. A good basic car, so having work done on it should be less than modern day cars.
Loren
Loren :shades:
P.S. the Miata is fun too!
what year are your mustangs and what type/size of rims do you have?
i have a 99 mustang convertible with the 15in rims that come standard that year... not very pretty..but i'm upgrading to 2003 17in silver cobra rims..
what are your favorite rims?
I hope your son is a very responsible driver. These cars are very tail happy and in the rain very very easy to get yourself into trouble.
Believer
He will laugh in your face if you offer $2k. Edmunds and KBB really aren't very good sources for those cars. They are worth a decent amount. The a/c probably just needs recharged and you can have that done for $100-$200ish depending on if you want to go r12 compatible or converter to r134. A 70k mile good condition GT is worth pretty much what he is asking. I think its to much but thats what everybody wants for them if not more with that kind of mileage. Thats why the one I bought had 120k miles and I still paid $3500 for my 89 5.0l 5 speed coupe with non-working a/c. Took me 7 months to find one price that fairly.
I hope your son is a very responsible driver. These cars are very tail happy and in the rain very very easy to get yourself into trouble. "
---end quote---
Ummm, this is not a Corvette ya know. If he is going to pay $4k+ just move it on up a couple K more and get a Corvette and it may go up in value some day Seriously, the car without air is not worth that much... with air it is not worth that much. As for handling, I had a base '85 and it handled pretty sloppy. I had a V8 '65 and it was fun, and wagged the tail, but I was never a crazy driver even when young. And yeap, as a rule, not the best car to teach kids on. Most learn on FWD cars now which are a different game. And too much power may be a bad thing indeed. If I get a Stang again, I am looking at a '98 or maybe the flat sides era '99-'04. Handling is better these days. I will stand on the price of that used Stang of '89 vintage at say $2k to maybe $2.8 if it is otherwise mint. Would get an estimate on a fix for the air first. Heck, maybe it will be driven only in cooler weather!
Loren
DID YOU CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURES?????
I simply can't believe, for one minute, that a Solara rides rougher than a Mustang. Body flex - yes. The Solara has been known to flex like overcooked linguini but a harsh ride? Are you kidding? Usually the Solara is accused of being too much of a marshmellow.
You are aware that typically new cars are shipped with as much as 60 psi in the tires. This is supposed to be taken care of by the dealer as part of their new car prep but it is sometimes overlooked. I'd hate to think you lost a few thousand dollars in trading a brand new Solara over something as silly as tire pressures........
Loren
I know of one individual in one of the GTO forums who drove his new GTO around for a few months with 60psi in the tires (and the shipping spacers still in the springs), damaging his car in the process. When I saw your initial post regarding the rock-hard suspension in your Solara (huh? a rough suspension in a Solara???), I remembered the GTO story.
Yes, the Solara convertible has a "fair" amount of chassis squirm. I think this has been noted in some of the reviews of the car. What consitutes a "normal" ride obviously varies between individuals (I'd probably get offended at what you think about my Celica GTS). That being said, if you are happy with your Mustang then that is all that matters. I think this just reinforces the notion that despite the reviews you read about ANY car (foreign or domestic), DRIVE THE THING before buying.
In your opinion, how does the body structure of your Mustang 'vert compare to the Solara 'vert?
No I wouldn't have a Celica GTS -I had a Celica back in '82 for a couple of years (turned it in on the big Audi) but Celica owners would love the Solara at least on a smooth road. I certainly agree with the "drive it first" recommendation. Obviously there were no convertibles to drive anywhere near here but I could have driven 6.5 hours to Ft. Worth and driven one. It retrospect I should have.
Loren
When I hit an imperfection in the road, I sometimes hear a "ringing" sound from the suspension, almost like loose change. It doesn't happen all the time, but I'm going crazy trying to pinpoint it.
Has anyone else had this problem?
what is this? is this the normal clear coat?
now, i dont know what they're suppose to look like and the ford dealership wasn't sure exactly which part i need. Does anyone know or can look under their hood.. thanks!
Total - 5582
of which: 3041 were DHG, 1818 were Black (Ebony), and 723 were True Blue.
MODERATOR
Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review