Pondering a purchase......

[Gargoyle]

2018 -2021 Most HP, stick with auto if you want the fastest - it’s honestly your most important first mod if you want straight line speed. These years have the lowest quarter mile times. The 4 years mentioned are the cream of the crop IMOP.

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[Racinjason65]

I’d get the newest/lowest mileage car that within your budget, especially if performance is important to you, the 2018’s and newer significantly outperform the earlier cars.
I have a 2020 GT Premium PP1 manual trans and a 2018 GT350 both heavily modded and both have Whipple superchargers, as a bonus, the GT350 is yellow

 

[Paris MkVI]

If it were me I would make sure I can get a Ford ESP plan on a stock Mustang. That may rule out the Gen 1 S550's now (2015-2017). The complexity of the cars now makes it essential, in my book. Granted, you'll find some amazing wrench-heads on this site who are good with working on their Mustangs. I'm not one of them, though. The last Mustang I worked on myself was in the 80's. Now, my '69, that car I worked on. . .

When buying used, you may indeed have to wait a good while for a Triple Yellow to show up, and then you will likely have to travel to get it. I did, and was fortunate to find one equipped exactly as I wanted it. It's my hope you have the same good fortune I did.

 

[sk47]

Can a tuned Mustang be detuned to factory specs and if so how would that be accomplished?

Anyway do the S550's come with spares or is it an option, how does that work?

My number one priority on all of them reliability. Get in em, turn the key, and go.

Hello; Take this with a grain or two of salt about tunes. My understanding is a non-factory tune should be able to be returned to stock with exceptions. Apparently, the best tunes make a copy of the stock factory tune and save it so it can be recovered.
The exceptions have to do with the skill of the person(s) writing the computer codes. Back in the old days there were guys who were magic with tuning carbs, then there were most of us. The aftermarket tunes appear to be that way. Some have very good reputations. Some tuners make good tunes but have poor customer service if you have a problem. If you buy a tuned Mustang, I do not know how to find out what the quality of the installed tune might be.

That said a decent tune ought not degrade reliability with caveats. From reading my take is it depends on how close to the edge a tuner sets parameters. Air /fuel ratios can be set too lean. RPM's can be set past a safe redline and so on. In general, some tunes try to squeeze out the most HP/torque that is possible leaving little to no safety margins.
From what I read and see on TV shows you can get mild tunes which do not push things too hard. I think there is a tune which can be had directly from Ford and does not void a factory warranty. Someone chime in if I have this incorrect.

But if you buy a used Mustang with an aftermarket tune and have it put back to stock (flashed back to stock) apparently such can still void a factory warranty. Somehow the Ford techs can tell the tune had been in use. This is a new wrinkle in buying a used car nowadays. Say you buy a two year old car with 20,000 miles on it. A power train issue pops up and you go in to get a repair under warranty. My understanding is even though you put the tune back to stock the warranty might be void.
So, the trick is to check about a tune before you buy the car. I am not sure exactly how to do this. Not clear a typical OBD II code reader can detect a tune. Maybe someone on the thread can tell us.

Spare tires. I have looked at a few Mustang GT's the last few years. Except for odd twists of fate would have bought one or two. Only one had the factory spare tire option in place. You can get a spare from Ford or from aftermarket. Some threads about spares on this forum.

Good luck young fellow. I am 77 and hope to find a Mustang myself. To do due diligence on modern Mustangs is a chore. So many new things to consider. One last thing to add. During the pandemic debacle tons of monies were flooded into the public. Car prices went nuts for a few years. Good deals have been gone for some time. There was a spell when companies such as Carvana were paying owners many thousands of dollars more for two-year-old Mustangs with 10's of thousands of miles than the owner paid for the car when new. Post pandemic deficit spending and money printing have created the inflation we all are burdened with.
There are signs the situation may be changing. Some decent deals can be had. A thing is a lot of folks with late model cars to sell bought when prices were very high. Many are trying to sell a bit too high for the current market. I do not blame them for not wanting to lose money.
Having stopped car shopping for a while due to these prices, I begin to see some change. Adds another wrinkle to the car search. You might find a good car, as I have, but feel the price is too high. So, I wait a bit more.

 

[Crew4991]

If you stick with the 15-17 years, you will get a regular 6 speed automatic transmission over that 10 speed that Ford/GM co-created. The first few years of that 10 speed were known to be garbage but some don't mind them and they certainly got better on the last few years of the S550. I prefer a manual but the regular 6 speed auto is the next best choice in my opinion.

Yellow is a great choice. Triple Yellow or Grabber Yellow are awesome. Maybe check our Cyber Orange too as it is more yellow than orange. Good luck on your search.

 

[sk47]

that 10 speed that Ford/GM co-created. The first few years of that 10 speed were known to be garbage

Hello; This is another wrinkle to consider. Lots of posts about that transmission. Maybe a class action lawsuit as well. I know a fellow with a Ford pickup who had multiple problems. His truck was in the shop a lot.

 

[sk47]

21 Best & Worst Ford Mustang Years (With Facts & Stats) - Engine Patrol

Hello; Just ran across this. I cannot and do not judge the quality of the information. supposed to be based on data.

 

[joe603]

I would recommend that you get the newest year you can afford...for a GT. Gen 3 is awesome, but Gen 2 loves boost. As for the GT350/500, it's all a matter of what you can afford. When I was in the market for a new car in 2021, I drove a GT350 that had 9k miles and ended up getting a new loaded GT for 15k less. GT500s are a bit too rich for my blood, but you only live once.

If it matters to you, the stereo systems in all Mustangs suck and will need to be upgraded. Performance Packs are generally worth the extra money...same for the premium packages. Recaro seats are cool, but I'd rather be more comfortable and have heated/cooling seats.

 

[cerbomark]

I agree, get the newest non modified Mustang you can, hoping that non modified cars got flogged less if at all. GT s are great touring cars, get the seats you want too, that s important. I d be shopping for lower mileage cars that did not get used for daily drivers (just my preference).
A car with a good history of ownership and history although shouldn't t be much on a low milage near car. Yellow is a cool color . I find they take a little longer to sell which might work in you favor. Happy hunting!

 

[Hoofer]

IMHO:
- spend time (hours) reading articles on this website as well as others. You will be very happy that you did.
- go to car shows.
- go to dealers and just look.
- look at online sales car gurus, autotrader, craigslist, cars.com, etc.
- I’d stay away from any vehicle built in ‘20.
- active exhaust is fun.
- performance pack 1 is worth the money.
- magne-ride is nice.

Good luck!

 

[Hoofer]

What ever you do - be careful buying from a private party or unknown “mom-n-pop” little dealerships… you don’t want to get a S550 that has been tuned…. Too many people are getting bent over with buying a used S550 and finding out it’s been tuned when engine problems arise.

If buying from a Ford Dealer ask your Salesman for a complete OASIS report - just so you can verify any warranty history, repair history, and to make sure there are no open recalls.

^this!^

 

[AZ_Ryan]

OP - Im a current classic mustang and 2023 Mach 1 owner. I previously owned of a 2015 GT. So I understand where you are coming from.

I do prefer the 2015-2017 front ends compared to the 2018-2023 non Shelby and Mach 1s. Unfortunately the 2015-2017s only came with 6 speed autos and weren't available with Magneride or active exhaust. So while still great cars, the 2018 and up cars did get a lot of notible upgrades with may or may not be important to you.

I will say going from a 2015 to a 2023 with Magneride was night in day in terms of ride and handling. It's worth the upgrade.

 

[Sean22]

Used to be an F-150 guy but when the S550s first came out I just had to have one. Traded in my 2011 F-150 Platinum for a brand new 2016 GT Premium 6spd auto as a retirement gift to myself (military). Loved the car. Six years later traded it in for a '22 GT Premium auto. You'll be happy with either version ('15-''17 or '18-'23). Lots of good advice here. Just do your research and good luck!

 

[Sean22]

OP - Im a current classic mustang and 2023 Mach 1 owner. I previously owned of a 2015 GT. So I understand where you are coming from.

I do prefer the 2015-2017 front ends compared to the 2018-2023 non Shelby and Mach 1s. Unfortunately the 2015-2017s only came with 6 speed autos and weren't available with MaMagneride or active exhaust. So while still great cars, the 2018 and up cars did get a lot of notible upgrades with may or may not be important to you.

I will say going from a 2015 to a 2023 with Magneride was night in day in terms of ride and handling. It's worth the upgrade.

That's one regret I have is not getting Magnaride. Will do next time!

 

[GTP]

My first Mustang was 2016 GT premium in triple yellow. But the 2018 refresh had SO MANY improvements and new features that I traded it for my 2019 GT PP1 A10 in orange fury.

Basically I enjoyed road course tracking to the point that I needed to start with a more capable car, and then modify it further for track reliability.

Going on track is a very important decision to make before you buy.

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