2002 Ford Mustang V6 Coupe review from North America
"Cheap semi-practical sporty car that looks like it cost a hell of a lot more than it did"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing has gone wrong yet, though the brakes are noticeably softer than when the car was new. I used to have a nasty stop and go commute that was heavy on the brakes, I'm hoping the pads just need replacement. The seat-belts are poorly designed and are constantly getting tangled, preventing the recoil mechanism from working properly, which can be quite annoying. Other than that, everything has been great.
General comments?
This is quite a fun car to drive. Even though I "just" have the V6 I never find it lacking. When I first got the car, my first thought was that it just doesn't flinch going around corners. The exhaust does not have that gorgeous throaty growl of the V8/GT, nor its push-you-into-the-seats as the light turns green acceleration, but its not wimpy either. I am referring to the automatic version- the manual I hear has significantly better acceleration.
This car is not good in snow. at all. If it was not for the traction control, I'm sure I would be dead. This car wants to be down at the beach with a fresh coat of wax, not commuting home through a snow storm. As a plus to practicality, it gets good mileage. You can fit 4 people if you are driving around town, though don't plan on taking more than one person on a road trip.
The interior is quite nice. The seats have a bit of a cheap look and feel to them if you look at them closely, but the first thought when entering the car is usually somewhere along the lines of "wow". The interior is actually what convinced me of buying this car over the Camaro and the used Z3 (shockingly crappy interior for a "luxury" car- reminded me of an 80's corolla) I was also considering.
The sound system is incredible. I blew the wad on the $1000 upgrade Mach 1000 system, and while I cannot say it was really worth it (I mean in retrospect how can a $1000 stereo ever be worth it?), it really kicks some arse. 1000 watts, 2 subs, 6 Cd's in dash, fully integrated into the natural feel of the interior, it can't be beat. It does kill a lot of the already scarce trunk room though.
You know what the Mustang looks like, but you probably do not realize what a head turner this car is. I've had a guy slow down in the right lane on the freeway and wave me on just to check out the car, and have had many people roll down their window at a light and say "damn, that's a nice car." You are not going to get that in an Altima, or even a 3 series BMW.
Recommended reviews
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| Lemons--cheap, shoddy vehicles--do not buy.. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 2002 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Standard 3.8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 17000 miles |
| Previous car | Oldsmobile Cutlass |
| Date of Entry | 5th February, 2004 |