1998 Ford Mustang V6 review from North America

Purchased the car in non-functioning condition via auction, so a great deal of things were wrong.

Starter was dead.

Clutch was driven so hard so long and worn down so bad that it was damaging the flywheel. Throwout bearing was gone, as were a variety of other components in the drivetrain.

Front and rear bumper were damaged, front and rear lights were busted as a result.

Tires were all rotten, and two wheels were bent.

Interior was filthy, stained, and had burn holes everywhere. Mach 460 system was totally ruined, with three of the original eight speakers working, and working poorly.

Miscellaneous other things were wrong. The driver's side door sqeaks, the struts and shocks are toast, and so on.

This car has been an absolute riot. I got it for well under $2,000 and after an additional investment of around $1,000, it's become my daily driver. The starter and clutch were actually surprisingly easy to fix. This vehicle was my first project, and as a complete amateur I managed to get it running just fine. After some new tires, an oil change, and a good interior cleaning with some cheap wipes and a miniature carpet cleaner, I was ready to go.

Some cars are just plain fun to drive. They transcend limitations of horsepower, gas mileage, and other such mundane concerns. The Mustang is that type of vehicle. All you've got to do is open up the roof, roll down the windows, and get out on the road.

The back end comes loose with little provocation, the V6 (weak as it seems on paper) provides plenty of torque, and I've never really been stuck wanting more. The transmission and steering work fine, and the car just has a good feel overall, even in a state of total disrepair and with over one hundred thousand miles. Replacement parts are cheap, upgrades are readily available, and the car is a cinch to work on. It even looks pretty good in black. As a mixed highway/city commuter, I return around 25-26 mpg, which is par for the course.

Given its reliability, ease of maintenance, and fun-to-drive factor, I can't see how I went wrong with the Mustang. I certainly might have liked to get one without a laundry list of problems thanks to the previous owner, but fixing it is half the fun.