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Looking for a used second vehicle that is simple to work on and is simple mechanically to do 1,200 mile highway drives 6x/year. Found a 2006 Ford Mustang GT with a 4.6L V8 engine that was ranked one of the best engines by Wards 3 years in a row. Price is right.
Question: Is a ten year old vehicle with 70,000 miles and one owner too old to be reliable on 1,200 mile highway trips?
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Never go by what the ‘reviews’ say. Each vehicle has it’s own unique life cycle. You have to assess the vehicles mechanical condition before you purchase ANY vehicle. Also, Carfax only covers what is reported, if repairs where done that weren’t reported, they won’t show up on a Carfax report. I’ve actually created this article with videos to address this very thing.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-look-for-in-a-used-car-purchase
Good luck and keep us updated on what you decide to do.
Truth is, there’s no such thing as “too old”. It all depends on the quality of maintenance and repairs a vehicle has received during its life, and the amount of abuse inflicted by the owners.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=146459]Never go by what the ‘reviews’ say. Each vehicle has it’s own unique life cycle. You have to assess the vehicles mechanical condition before you purchase ANY vehicle. Also, Carfax only covers what is reported, if repairs where done that weren’t reported, they won’t show up on a Carfax report. I’ve actually created this article with videos to address this very thing.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-look-for-in-a-used-car-purchase
Good luck and keep us updated on what you decide to do.[/quote]
What I have noticed is that some of the modern cars have many parts that seem manufactured for what appears to be a planned service life of ten years or approximately 100,000 miles. In particular, sensors, radiators, wheel bearings, shocks, struts, exhaust systems, gaskets – oil pan, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, etc. it is almost as if the manufacturers are cutting costs to provide just enough quality on parts for them to last ten years while the engines and transmissions can last 20 years. Are you seeing the same trends?
Maybe it is a strategy to keep the price of new cars competitive while increasing revenue streams from repair part sales.
Is it auto or manual? If it has been kept up they last forever. I have an 05 with 121k on the clock that’s been modded with cams, full exhaust, gears, nitrous and a few other things. Up until a few thousand ago I wouldn’t hesitate to hop in it and run across the country with it.
The car sees redline daily and has had over 25 bottles of nitrous run through it on a 100shot. My cam phasers are getting noisy and I’m about to do a full timing kit on her very shortly. If it’s been maintained I wouldn’t see why not IMO.
[quote=”Cammed 05″ post=146482]Is it auto or manual? If it has been kept up they last forever.[/quote]
It’s manual. The owner basically changed oil and tires in 70,000 miles and ten years so the vehicle is likely ready for a clutch, brakes, brake rotors, struts and shocks, and fluids changed.
I made 85k before I did rear brakes. I downshift a lot though. I converted to the 13 front rotors and calipers at 70 though. Shocks, struts, lower ball joints, and spark plugs will be things that will more than likely need to be replaced.
If your lucky the trans is fine. Then 3650 is hard to kill at stock power levels. I’m still on the stock clutch, and power shift the car all the time. I’m sure it will be due for one soon though. The engagement point changes all the time.
Look it over well.
[quote=”RCS1300″ post=146480][quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=146459]Never go by what the ‘reviews’ say. Each vehicle has it’s own unique life cycle. You have to assess the vehicles mechanical condition before you purchase ANY vehicle. Also, Carfax only covers what is reported, if repairs where done that weren’t reported, they won’t show up on a Carfax report. I’ve actually created this article with videos to address this very thing.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-look-for-in-a-used-car-purchase
Good luck and keep us updated on what you decide to do.[/quote]
What I have noticed is that some of the modern cars have many parts that seem manufactured for what appears to be a planned service life of ten years or approximately 100,000 miles. In particular, sensors, radiators, wheel bearings, shocks, struts, exhaust systems, gaskets – oil pan, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, etc. it is almost as if the manufacturers are cutting costs to provide just enough quality on parts for them to last ten years while the engines and transmissions can last 20 years. Are you seeing the same trends?
Maybe it is a strategy to keep the price of new cars competitive while increasing revenue streams from repair part sales.[/quote]
I disagree with you. Manufacturers don’t participate in planned obsolescence. Things fail because they get old and wear out. Some things more than others. I’ve done several videos on this topic.
Bottom line is the vehicle is either taken care of or it’s not. I think the service history has more to do with a vehicles longevity than anything. That’s why I recommended having ANY vehicle you’re considering for purchase looked over before purchase. If you’re going to purchase based purely on reputation, so be it. I just think a more practical approach is to have the vehicle looked over before purchase by someone who knows what they’re looking at is the best investment.
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