My 1996 Mustang V6
Discussion
has just about 40,000 miles on the clock, bought it 7 months ago with 23,000
imported from japan by www.redbournesamerican.co.uk and they are highly recomended... it might not be the fastest pony on the planet, but she's mine, and she's paid for!
Edited by philoldsmobile on Monday 16th April 22:48
depends what you're used to really, i guess i'd describe it as more of a long distance cruiser than a sports car....
0 - 60 is in the mid to high 8 second bracket, so they are punchy rather than really quick, its about on par with a carb'd 305 thirdgen camaro - the 1/4 mile time for the US spec car is about 17.3 secs, the jap cars are apparently mapped differently for better jap fuel and run about a 16.7
the suspention is a little stiffer than you'd imagine, but my car has been poly bushed so its hard for me to draw an honest comparison there, but i'd say it generaly leanes more toward being a cruiser than a muscle car in V6 form, the lack of torque over the V8 means it does need to be worked a bit harder to go fast, but peformance is perfectly acceptable.
i find the V6 perfect for me because i do 95% of my milage on motorways, so power from the 3.8 is ample, but the fuel consumption and noise levels are superb. the honest truth is that going from the V8 thirdgen camaro to the V6 mustang, the one thing i've not missed at all is the V8 engine.
due to the milage and use that i put my car to, i was able to get a mustang a couple of years newer, with far fewer miles on the clock for my money, had i gone for a V8 it would have been much higher milage and in worse condition
i guess if you imagne what a mondeo V6 coupe would be like if it existed, you'd be on the right track...
0 - 60 is in the mid to high 8 second bracket, so they are punchy rather than really quick, its about on par with a carb'd 305 thirdgen camaro - the 1/4 mile time for the US spec car is about 17.3 secs, the jap cars are apparently mapped differently for better jap fuel and run about a 16.7
the suspention is a little stiffer than you'd imagine, but my car has been poly bushed so its hard for me to draw an honest comparison there, but i'd say it generaly leanes more toward being a cruiser than a muscle car in V6 form, the lack of torque over the V8 means it does need to be worked a bit harder to go fast, but peformance is perfectly acceptable.
i find the V6 perfect for me because i do 95% of my milage on motorways, so power from the 3.8 is ample, but the fuel consumption and noise levels are superb. the honest truth is that going from the V8 thirdgen camaro to the V6 mustang, the one thing i've not missed at all is the V8 engine.
due to the milage and use that i put my car to, i was able to get a mustang a couple of years newer, with far fewer miles on the clock for my money, had i gone for a V8 it would have been much higher milage and in worse condition
i guess if you imagne what a mondeo V6 coupe would be like if it existed, you'd be on the right track...
Edited by philoldsmobile on Monday 16th April 22:51
i agree completey, my old camaro had 140,000 miles and ran perfectly, that small block chevy was just lovely, but i wanted to go for the lowest possible milage, to get as close to a brand new car as possible, asi drive abroad a lot, and the thought of a breakdown when half way to my parents place in spain is not nice..
I went from a V6 Fbody Camaro to a V8 Stang, and found it a tremendous improvement in both performance and noise. I've got standard 'zorsts' on the Stang so it's pretty quiet, but the deep rumble and throatiness is there in the background.
Getting 30 to the gallon easy on the Mway.
BTW, mine's a 97GT - also a Jap import, about 40,000 miles on the clock. Picked it up last year for 4k.
Getting 30 to the gallon easy on the Mway.
BTW, mine's a 97GT - also a Jap import, about 40,000 miles on the clock. Picked it up last year for 4k.
Edited by andybe on Tuesday 17th April 21:59
I love the pony on the front.the bonnet bulge & the alloys too...it also looks like a big car for a coupe... thanks for the comments! 
the standard of cars coming over from japan is fantastic, you'd really be hard pushed to tell mine from an 18 monnth old car in condition..
i think the size of the modern mustangs is spot on, big enough to be roomy and comfortable, but not so big as to be akward or baulky..
V6 or V8, you'll love it. if you are after a more peformance orientated drive, the V8 will be better, for motorway miles, the V6 has an edge
horses (or ponys?) for courses as they say
the standard of cars coming over from japan is fantastic, you'd really be hard pushed to tell mine from an 18 monnth old car in condition..
i think the size of the modern mustangs is spot on, big enough to be roomy and comfortable, but not so big as to be akward or baulky..
V6 or V8, you'll love it. if you are after a more peformance orientated drive, the V8 will be better, for motorway miles, the V6 has an edge
horses (or ponys?) for courses as they say
philoldsmobile said:
thanks for the comments!
the standard of cars coming over from japan is fantastic, you'd really be hard pushed to tell mine from an 18 monnth old car in condition..
i think the size of the modern mustangs is spot on, big enough to be roomy and comfortable, but not so big as to be akward or baulky..
V6 or V8, you'll love it. if you are after a more peformance orientated drive, the V8 will be better, for motorway miles, the V6 has an edge
horses (or ponys?) for courses as they say
the standard of cars coming over from japan is fantastic, you'd really be hard pushed to tell mine from an 18 monnth old car in condition..
i think the size of the modern mustangs is spot on, big enough to be roomy and comfortable, but not so big as to be akward or baulky..
V6 or V8, you'll love it. if you are after a more peformance orientated drive, the V8 will be better, for motorway miles, the V6 has an edge
horses (or ponys?) for courses as they say
But don't you find the seat adjustment is a bit limited ? No problem for me, but anyone taller than my 5´9" is going to struggle, since I have to have the seat all the way back !
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