'05 V6 as daily driver?

[V8 Disco]

Hi all - I'm after some views on whether a new shape Mustang (with the V6, apols to all V8 fans, but I'd need the extra MPG..) would make a useable daily driver. The prices I see are very tempting and I live near an independent dealer that sells them fresh from the USA.

More specifically:

1) Servicing - I am in Hampshire, any recommendations, likely cost?
2) Insurance - will I get hammered for LHD?
3) Durability - I rely on my daily driver for about 18K miles PA. Up to the task?
4) Spares - If I bend/break, are the spares easily and quickly available?
5) SVA - I imagine that indicators/brakelights need altering - problems?
6) Mileage - any real world figure?

Any advice greatfully received!

Cheers.

[monkey43]

Hi.

I'm doing 18k a year in an '05 GT and runing costs have been remarkably good.

I've serviced the car 3 times so far - total cost under £200. Still on original set of tyres with plenty of tread left. No horror stories to report.

If your only reason for going V6 route rather than V8 is mpg I don't think there's a great deal in it. Regular motorway stints in mine have seen 28mpg comfortably - round town expect 20mpg (remember trip computer calibrated in US gallons so understates actual mpg by 20%).

But with the V8 you get the extra performance, and the soundtrack to boot

Also look at mustang owners club website (www.mocgb.net) for more details/threads, that will answer all your queries.
Steve

[smele]

The biggest problem with the V6 is that you will have a devil of a time if you want to sell it. Also, as has been said, there is not a lot in the mpg figures to make much of a difference.

[Mustang Baz]

V8 Disco said:

1) Servicing - I am in Hampshire, any recommendations, likely cost?

Roy Holmes at the Mustang Workshop in Fleet, off Junc 5 of the M3. Depends very heavily on mileage, but a basic 5k oil change will be app £110+ VAT or £30 more for fully syn oil. Major services are, if I remember, 30k, 60k, 75k, 100k - although may be wrong with this. There are a lot of US websites with servicing needs and recommendations; www.atchleyford.com/maintain.htm

V8 Disco said:

2) Insurance - will I get hammered for LHD?

Not necessarily; there are good specialists on US imports, and I have used Adrian Flux with good effect. Also worth considering Ride drive scheme which can offer additional discounts.

V8 Disco said:

3) Durability - I rely on my daily driver for about 18K miles PA. Up to the task?

Absolutely - my 2000 GT has done 100k miles, and has only recently needed some more substantial expenditure. These are generally cars which are built to do long road trips!

V8 Disco said:

4) Spares - If I bend/break, are the spares easily and quickly available?

Yes - generally, through your dealer or through a mass of US websites, you can locate what you need relatively quickly. Longest I have had to wait is 2 weeks currently for a set of new brake calipers. Other things often in stock with the biggest servicers

V8 Disco said:

5) SVA - I imagine that indicators/brakelights need altering - problems?

Not in my experience - had mine done by Mildenhall Autos for app £600 all in, incl price of test and all alterations.

V8 Disco said:

6) Mileage - any real world figure?

As mentioned, up to 100k and going well (touch wood). There are models in the US going over 250k miles so I would not worry unduly. Av gas mileage - app 24 mpg.

V8 Disco said:

Any advice greatfully received!

Get a V8 - it will not make much difference to the mileage (seriously). Better resale, more desirability, and of the 2, there is little comparison. V8 engine also very open to substantial additional upgrade potential. LHD issues are overrated in my experience, and only an issue overtaking on small lanes and at pay-tolls. The benefit of LHD in Europe far outweighs this.

Edited by Mustang Baz on Wednesday 11th April 16:47

[V8 Disco]

Thanks for your replies - I have requested a quote from the insurance co that sponsor the MOC forum. Smele, I'm worried now.... I looked at prices and think that the V8s might be beyond my budget not just from the fuel point of view. Is the V6 that much of a dud? I guess that's why I am seeing such tempting prices for them - £12700 for a '05 with under 10k miles.

[steve.c]

Mustang Baz said:

V8 Disco said:

1) Servicing - I am in Hampshire, any recommendations, likely cost?

Roy Holmes at the Mustang Workshop in Fleet, off Junc 5 of the M3. Depends very heavily on mileage, but a basic 5k oil change will be app £110+ VAT or £30 more for fully syn oil. Major services are, if I remember, 30k, 60k, 75k, 100k - although may be wrong with this. There are a lot of US websites with servicing needs and recommendations; www.atchleyford.com/maintain.htm

[quote=V8 Disco]2) Insurance - will I get hammered for LHD?

[quote]
blimey thats expensive! a basic oil/filter change at my local Ford dealer is approx £70 all in!

[Mustang Baz]

V8 Disco said:

Is the V6 that much of a dud?

Not so much a dud as this is a Mustang after all, but remember this is a reasonable heavy car, with app 210 bhp, significantly down on the standard 300 of the V8. The sound is one thing you would also notice as missing vs the V8. Ultimately though, this is a LOT of car for a reasonably low price in comparison, and even with a V6, you are still getting some significant character I know I would still always plump for a V6 against so many of the bland, characterless options on the market today.

Edited by Mustang Baz on Wednesday 11th April 20:21

[LuS1fer]

V8 Disco said:

Thanks for your replies - I have requested a quote from the insurance co that sponsor the MOC forum. Smele, I'm worried now.... I looked at prices and think that the V8s might be beyond my budget not just from the fuel point of view. Is the V6 that much of a dud? I guess that's why I am seeing such tempting prices for them - £12700 for a '05 with under 10k miles.

The V6 is far from a dud and picking one up at £12700 makes a lot of sense because we American car drivers like our low mileage cars so the more depreciation before you buy, the better for the resale market- which will be hard enough as it is because there are far too many V6's imported because dealers still think us American car types think a 4.0 V6 producing 210hp is what we want.

Look at it this way, the V6 has much the same suspension but smaller front brakes (still 11.5", smaller front sway bar and no rear sway bar so it will roll more than a V8. The engine has a coil pack, electronic injection and a smaller rear axle. It uses the tried and tested slick T5 gearbox or the same 5 speed auto as the V8. It has smaller 16" wheels with tall 215/65 rubber (plenty of used GT wheels floating round though)and weighs only 150lbs less than the V8. Interior will be more basic than the upper spec V8s (huge area of plastic on the door).

Most people who drive the V6 find it perfectly good at everything it does. It's only when you start paying for "mods" that the V8 has as standard that it makes less sense. On the handling front, it should still be pretty good as the 2005 shell was immensely stiffer than the previous Mustang. Add to that the fact that even V8 Mustangs are still too expensive to fly off the shelf and the V6 for the right price makes a lot of sense.

On the parts front, there are plenty of UK American part specialists (see back of Classic American)and glass specialists, service parts are usually next day delivery and oil filters often cheaper than UK Ford (they sell them for $3 in the US, that's £1.60!). Since everything is electronic and hydraulic, the most they will need is regular oil changes and any idiot can do that. Durability is fine - only bad SVA work tends to make things interesting. One guy here has driven his V8 5500 miles to Morocco and back without missing a beat. I'm not saying they never go wrong as Ford US tend to be happy to rely on warranty work if stuff goes wrong and in the UK, you don't get one bar an add-on from the dealer but there are plenty of American car specialists in the Uk if you ever need someone.

Try A-Plan for the insurance, they're often very good.

So in total, the V6 should be a great car as a daily driver but drive one first and you'll lose less in the long run if you buy them very very cheap because most American cars sell best in their mid-life phase. One thing is for sure, the Mustang has an army of UK fans and admirers and so I see a time when we'll see more and more being chosen over their ugly European brethren.

[Twin Turbo]

Something like 3/4 of all Mustangs sold in the states are V6 models.....so they cannot be too bad.

Other than e-bay, the cheapest V8 I've seen was £15900 (for sale in the current copy of Classic American - metallic red, auto, about 25k miles).

Take a look on Autotrader.......a lot of those V6 models have been for sale for a long time. I reckon they will have to drop the prices soon to start shifting them.

Oh, and roll-on the £15k V8 (can't be long now!)

[tinman0]

V8 Disco said:

Thanks for your replies - I have requested a quote from the insurance co that sponsor the MOC forum. Smele, I'm worried now.... I looked at prices and think that the V8s might be beyond my budget not just from the fuel point of view. Is the V6 that much of a dud? I guess that's why I am seeing such tempting prices for them - £12700 for a '05 with under 10k miles.

£12k for an 05 V6? Can't go wrong to be honest.

Its a car that will make you smile everytime you see it. And that is a MasterCard moment in my book.

[V8 Disco]

Cheers all - you've put my plans back on track!

I think the next step is to win over Mrs V8.. need get her a test drive as she's concerned that driving an LHD will be tricky. I'll arrange a drive and let you all know how I get on....

Thx again...

[LuS1fer]

V8 Disco said:

Cheers all - you've put my plans back on track!

I think the next step is to win over Mrs V8.. need get her a test drive as she's concerned that driving an LHD will be tricky. I'll arrange a drive and let you all know how I get on....

Thx again...

Just get her to drive it. She will realise straight away that the V6 is a real smooth pussycat that's more fashionable than a Mini and really easy to drive (may want to try her on an auto - mpg is much the same). My wife loved driving a bright red manual Camaro V6. It's like having an Audi TT but ten times more people look at you. It's more exclusive than a Moschino handbag. She'll love it.

[Twin Turbo]

I take it this is the one you're talking about? Mineral Grey is one of my favourite colours too, but it does have (shock horror!) a cloth interior.

[V8 Disco]

Yup. That's the one..... not going to have my current car sold in time for me to buy that one, but it's a great looking car in a good colour. Agree with you about the interior tho'.

I've always loved the original classic fastback shape - saw a beau-tiful GT350 and similarly lovely GT500 at SSR Wheels Day Easter this year, plus a couple of very tidy looking new shape Mustangs including a Roush. All these are either beyond my means or too old AND beyond my means ...

But.. a used V6 is a possible solution to 'what will I replace my Accord Type-S with?' A sub-10k miles car, under £14k with those looks and performance.. Can't wait to try!

Edited by V8 Disco on Wednesday 11th April 23:12

[philoldsmobile]

i've been driving a V6 SN95 ( 1996 model) as a daily driver for about 7 months now, and i love it..

the V6 is far from a dud, the SN95 had head gasket issues in 94 and 95, but the new shape mustang is a totaly different engine, any mustang V6 from 96 onwards is a very capable car.

i'd describe the peformance of mine as sprightly rather than fast, but its not gutless by a long shot - its about the same as my old 5 liter thirdgen camaro

fuel economy is excelent, my best so far has been 36.1 mpg at a constant 70 mph on a motorway. mixed driving is typicly returning over 25 mpg.

considering the 05 should be better in every way, i'd sy go for it..

BTW, my experience with SN95's has shown the V6 is a FAR quieter engine at motorway speeds, prob due to its higher note, not such a sexy sound, but its pretty much inaudible on motorways, just the usual tyre and road noise..

Edited by philoldsmobile on Wednesday 11th April 23:28

[Yo_Sushi]

I use my '04 V6 as a daily driver and while it may not be as amazing as the V8 it is still an amazing vehicle, it still turns heads and gets the looks, unfortunately it does lack that sweet sweet V8 burble, but as my first mustang I couldn't be happier. If you can hold out for the V8 then do so, but if you can't afford it, the V6 is a good choice, it isn't amazingly fast but it is still a very attractive car.

[mko9]

I have driven my mothers '06 V6 w/auto on the windy roads of New England while I was back Stateside. It handles well enough, and the engine is pretty peppy. Even with an automatic, it is probably getting over 30mpg once you convert from US gallons to Imperial gallons. As mentioned above, you can easily pick up GT parts, like wheels, swaybars, etc.

My only recommendation would be to honestly assess what you want, and why. Don't buy a V6 if what you really want is an American V8 muscle car. You will never be happy with your compromise. Or you will spend far more in the long run trying to make up for the decision. If on the other hand you just like the way it looks and want to stand out from the crowd, then go for it.

a yank

Edited by mko9 on Thursday 12th April 12:09