Hesitant on purchase..

[The_Phantom]

These 18 + up Mustang doomsayers are all in a panic cause the have zero clue it's the direct injection making normal uber high pressure noises lol.

Direct injection noises do not scar cylinder walls. There ARE problems.

This is why I have a Japanese car and an American car!

I know someone will say that said Japanese car was built in America by Americans. While that may be true, they still follow stricter quality control standards. Something GM\Ford\Chrysler still haven't learned since I've been alive for 34 years.

This is very true.

OP, the difference between what you are used to and what you would be getting comes down to this:

Are you willing to sacrifice build quality and reliability for more power and a good V8 sound?

Regardless of what you read on a pro-Ford forum, there ARE issues with this car. Only you can decide whether or not the trade off is worth it.

I enjoy driving my Mustangs on the weekends. I've had a ton of them and currently have 3 at the house, including my '18 GT. However, when it comes to my daily driver, I take my Lexus LS460 everywhere.

The reason? Reliability. One is a mile-eater, the other is a toy. If I could only have one car, it wouldn't be a Mustang. But that's just me.

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[TTown]

This is why I have a Japanese car and an American car!

I know someone will say that said Japanese car was built in America by Americans. While that may be true, they still follow stricter quality control standards. Something GM\Ford\Chrysler still haven't learned since I've been alive for 34 years.

Same - 2nd car is a Lexus GX460 (made in Japan). That offsets the risk associated with a Mustang.

 

[Bluelightning]

These 18 + up Mustang doomsayers are all in a panic cause the have zero clue it's the direct injection making normal uber high pressure noises lol.

I heard a little tick from mine, so instead of freaking out, I popped the hood and noticed that it was the mechanical direct injection pump that is on top of the valve cover just making some normal mechanical noise.... Shut the hood and carried on with life and enjoying my car.

 

[Zelek]

Direct injection noises do not scar cylinder walls. There ARE problems.



This is very true.

OP, the difference between what you are used to and what you would be getting comes down to this:

Are you willing to sacrifice build quality and reliability for more power and a good V8 sound?

Regardless of what you read on a pro-Ford forum, there ARE issues with this car. Only you can decide whether or not the trade off is worth it.

I enjoy driving my Mustangs on the weekends. I've had a ton of them and currently have 3 at the house, including my '18 GT. However, when it comes to my daily driver, I take my Lexus LS460 everywhere.

The reason? Reliability. One is a mile-eater, the other is a toy. If I could only have one car, it wouldn't be a Mustang. But that's just me.

My dream daily is a brand new Lexus LS, whatever high number they are on now. They typically run about $100k for top end. That car speaks luxury to me.

 

[Labradog]

Do an extended test drive to make sure you like it. I sold a new car after 3 months because I couldn’t live with the MT-82

 

[rickdrews5]

HI Tubbs - wouldn't let all the things you hear about the 18 keep you from enjoying one if that's the route you would rather go. I've had my share of cars, roughly half fleet cars and half personal cars. Have bought a few first year cars, two of which were BMW's, one an M and was on those forums too when I had those cars. By looking at those forums the first year they were out you would think the cars were spontaneously combusting in driveways across the country - engines blowing up, bearings disintegrating, 2nd gear going out....the list goes on. Like everything else there's the silent majority and vocal minority - Not saying there's not an issue with some of these cars but there is with every line of cars and would be surprised if someone could provide a real-world, large sample size,non-speculative, non-biased, fact based statistically significant analysis showing otherwise - especially not including cars with modifications directly tied to the system that failed. I've seen all the Youtube videos, engines/transmissions being replaced if not entire cars, shift forks, ticking noises, etc. Totally acknowledge it would suck to be one of those guys with these issues but for every one of those poor souls how many of us do you think there are out here driving the hell out of them and loving every minute of it? I'm not losing any sleep and have put 6300 miles on this sled in three months.

The GT is now my daily driver rain or shine (snow = 2003 Durango) and it replaced a twin turbo Mercedes sedan that my wife now drives FWIW. Car before that was the same model only older, prior to that the two BMW"s and a mixed bag of 'is that a cop?' American sedan fleet cars. These 18's are a serious improvement and you will find there are alot of us lurking around here that are coming from foreign makes like yourself with ZERO regrets. Ahem....Well that is all except for the not so great 'premium' stereo which I'm going to replace anyway.

These forums are a blessing in many ways, so much to learn and share. Great thing we all have awareness of the 'what may happen' and what to watch out for however again it's all relative and that's why God created warranties.
.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[jtmat]

Hey guys, so I'm looking at picking up a 2015 GT ( https://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/d/mustang-gt-premier-2015/6657968924.html ), problem is I've only had Japanese cars my entire life. Went from a Lexus LS430 to a G37 IPL and currently with a Yamaha R6. I've done my research and have decided to go with a 15-17 GT, don't wanna go with the 18 because of the recently risen problems. But after reading hours through forums and hearing people talk about the transmission issues with the mt82 and a/c not working, etc.. I guess I am a bit hesitant to jump on my purchase. Obviously there can be the random lemon here and there but should I not take all these forum posts too seriously and realize that there are a lot of silky smooth running mustangs out there over the problematic ones?

GT silky smooth? Ha ha....

Depends on what you want.... the cheap interior drove me up the wall... speakers sounded like sht (rattling interior when the bass hit, etc).

I'd never own another car without active exhaust.

If you want to have some fun for a couple of years... or own a mustang once to see if you like it... I say go for it. They are cheap enough on the used car market and enjoyable. If you decide to get out in a couple of years, hopefully your hit won't be that bad.

To be honest though, I'd never purchase a used Mustang... I just won't.. but I'm sure there are plenty good ones out there....

 

[TubbsMcGee]

Thanks for all the replies and different perspectives fellas. I agree that the vocal minority on the forums got to me a bit but I do realize that there are a ton of owners out there who are enjoying the heck out of their rides. The whole evaporator issue that I've read about kind of worried me, considering it would be an expensive fix and I don't wanna dish out $3000+ to fix the A/C IF it goes out. I realize that I am not getting the refinement to some extent that a Japanese car would provide, but I am sacrificing that for an American V8 and a ton of more horsepower. I am totally fine with that. The 2015 GT that I linked in my first post is most likely a realistic price point as far as my budget goes, I definitely don't wanna dish out the cash for a brand new 18, forgive me for even mentioning the "supposed" problems it has haha. I went into my local ford dealer to see if they had any leftover models (15-17) and they had one 17 left. Talked to the head of sales and he asked what my price range was, I said 30-35k. Immediately he said no. I asked what is the range he is looking for and he replied with nothing less than 50... LOL. I guess that is the price of living in Hawaii, it comes with a 20k markup from msrp..

 

[sdiver68]

$20k markup over MSRP? Car ferries from WECO to Hawaii are in the $1,100 range...

If that's true, find a nice new premium 18 for $38k in AZ after discounts, spend another $2k getting it there, drive it for 2-3 years and sell it for what you paid for it.

I'm sorry the arbitrage opportunity is too high to take that markup statement at face value. I just checked online prices at Honolulu Ford they are near MSRP. Even found the 2017 GT you mention for $3500 under MSRP. What am I missing?

 

[TubbsMcGee]

$20k markup over MSRP? Car ferries from WECO to Hawaii are in the $1,100 range...

If that's true, find a nice new premium 18 for $38k in AZ after discounts, spend another $2k getting it there, drive it for 2-3 years and sell it for what you paid for it.

I'm sorry the arbitrage opportunity is too high to take that markup statement at face value. I just checked online prices at Honolulu Ford they are near MSRP. Even found the 2017 GT you mention for $3500 under MSRP. What am I missing?

That's what I'm saying.. Each mustang had the MSRP sheet from ford then another sticker attached on the side of it from the local honolulu dealership which added a 20k charge to it. I mean when I went in and talked to the sales manager he asked my range and I said 30-35k which is perfectly within msrp and he didn't hesitate to say no. Their loss, they have a leftover 17 just sitting there and they're trying to get it for more than 50k.

 

[sdiver68]

That's what I'm saying.. Each mustang had the MSRP sheet from ford then another sticker attached on the side of it from the local honolulu dealership which added a 20k charge to it. I mean when I went in and talked to the sales manager he asked my range and I said 30-35k which is perfectly within msrp and he didn't hesitate to say no. Their loss, they have a leftover 17 just sitting there and they're trying to get it for more than 50k.

Buy one on the West Coast and have it shipped.

 

[TaraFirma]

That's what I'm saying.. Each mustang had the MSRP sheet from ford then another sticker attached on the side of it from the local honolulu dealership which added a 20k charge to it. I mean when I went in and talked to the sales manager he asked my range and I said 30-35k which is perfectly within msrp and he didn't hesitate to say no. Their loss, they have a leftover 17 just sitting there and they're trying to get it for more than 50k.

Wait....wut?
ADM on a fucking Regular ol GT?
They’re out of their rabid ass minds. If someone is paying that, they’re even more of an asshole than the dealer is.

 

[SlaughterOfTheSoul]

Thanks for all the replies and different perspectives fellas. I agree that the vocal minority on the forums got to me a bit but I do realize that there are a ton of owners out there who are enjoying the heck out of their rides. The whole evaporator issue that I've read about kind of worried me, considering it would be an expensive fix and I don't wanna dish out $3000+ to fix the A/C IF it goes out. I realize that I am not getting the refinement to some extent that a Japanese car would provide, but I am sacrificing that for an American V8 and a ton of more horsepower. I am totally fine with that. The 2015 GT that I linked in my first post is most likely a realistic price point as far as my budget goes, I definitely don't wanna dish out the cash for a brand new 18, forgive me for even mentioning the "supposed" problems it has haha. I went into my local ford dealer to see if they had any leftover models (15-17) and they had one 17 left. Talked to the head of sales and he asked what my price range was, I said 30-35k. Immediately he said no. I asked what is the range he is looking for and he replied with nothing less than 50... LOL. I guess that is the price of living in Hawaii, it comes with a 20k markup from msrp..

Don't deal with those people. Like ^^^ said have it shipped. 17s should sell for under 35k right now. Shipping should be under 5k in a worse case scenario.

 

[WildHorse]

As far as the manual trans being 'weak' lol.. the T5's were a much less stout trans and they held up just fine. I've seen M22 Rock Crusher trannies with bent/broken forks from powershifing.

 

[WildHorse]

Also if you think your Mustang makes a lot of weird noises.. go drive a high end Lambroghini / McLaren / Ferrari you'll have a double heart attack for the money you paid lol.

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