1988 Ford Mustang LX review from North America

A word on reliability: this car never refused to start. Ever. -40deg or +40degC, didn't care, it would always start on the first or second try, even with the dubious battery.

Valve cover seals leaked (20K kms); transmission synchros failed (30K & 80K kms); oxygen sensor (90K) not under warranty; catalytic converters had to be replaced twice (under recall orders); new clutches every 40K kms, but that's probably as much my fault as it is the dealership taking me for a ride; driver's side seat back broke; battery had 2 touching electrodes that would drain it (I still got 3 years out of it though); new mufflers every 3 years.

But the rust, oooh the rust. In Canadian weather conditions (where salt is used on frozen roads) the Mustang has a well deserved nickname: Rustang. Within a few years, rust started pouring out of the hood lip, the rear wheel wells, the lip of the rear hatch. It got worse from there on.

The brakes are sadly underpowered. Trying to haul this car to a full stop from 100km/h is a highly concern provoking event. It'll slow down in a very straight line, but as to whether it will ever come to a full stop is debateable. Expect very serious brake fade when going too fast.

The 5.0 litre Mustang is simply an awesome automobile. It is loads of fun, has gut wrenching power AND is docile to drive, all in one tidy package. It pulls like a freight train from 2500 through to 4800rpm, shift, do it again. Fun. Much fun.

I'd buy another Mustang in a heartbeat.

But probably not any other Ford product, after a lousy experience with a 1993 Mercury Sable GS and contemptible Ford "so-called" customer service. I've not driven a Ford in the past 5 years, so this may have changed for the better...right.