1986 Ford Mustang SVO review from North America
"One of the best driver's cars of the 80s"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Cam seal started leaking at 130k miles, replaced.
Turbo bearings failed at 142k miles, replaced.
Valve seals are leaking slightly, causing an occasional puff of smoke at startup.
General comments?
Extremely fun car to drive. The SVO isn't a straight-line car like the V8s. This car was designed to compete against touring cars like the BMW 3-series. Twisty-road handling is incredible, 4-wheel disc brakes, Koni shocks, and 16" aluminum wheels all from the factory makes this a serious road car.
Not a large aftermarket for the 2.3 turbo, but parts from other cars can be adapted to work. Fairly easy to make good power from the small engine.
If you drive one, be prepared to answer a lot of questions from curious people. (main question is "Does that have a 5.0?").
Recommended reviews
| 1986 - Mustang GT/LX 5.0 EFI V8 A trusty and reliable sports car for a good price |
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| Great Car if you know how to work on one! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3L turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 106000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 143000 miles |
| Previous car | Jeep Cherokee |
| Date of Entry | 3rd March, 2003 |