2000 Ford Mustang V6 Convertible review from North America

Seeing as I've only had this car for a month, I cannot accurately speak for it's long term reliability.

However (while not nearly as bad as my friend's 1997 V8 Thunderbird), I notice several minor quality issues such as a wrinkle in the convertible top, some wear on the weather seals between the front and back windows and something causing the top passenger vent to stick, making it hard to move up and down. Despite the low miles, though, it's hard not to expect a few minor quibbles on a 5 year old car.

Aside from the aforementioned issues, though, all vital components and accessories work as intended, and the solid 3.8L engine feels like it should last for a good long time.

I bought this car from a private owner just in time for convertible season! He was a middle aged family man who had kept it garaged and used it for his summer fun car. As such, the miles were quite low for a 2000 and aside from a few nicks and light scratches, it was in very good condition. He had experienced the same plight as me in trying to find a 5-speed V6 convertible with a lot of options so he had ordered it from the factory to his desired specification, Laser Red (with black top) on Charcoal Leather with every option except fog lights and the Mach sound system. I had looked at dealerships and on the internet trying to find a similar car with low miles, but with little success. The fact that I liked the color combo was icing on the cake!

I had not driven a Mustang before buying the car, and the performance ended up exceeding my expectations. The V6 engine, despite being somewhat noisy, has a decent amount of power and, more importantly, excellent low-end toque. The torque is plentiful enough that I shift below 3000 RPM's the vast majority of the time. It's no V8, but I rationalized that the extra power was not worth twice the insurance costs (in NYC for a 20 year old, at least 2000 more a year). I do not regret this decision, but will probably end up getting some mods for more grunt and a more resonous, less mechanical sound. Handling is plenty satisfying as well, about ten times more capable than my 1993 Chevy Caprice and even more tossable than my dad's 2003 Maxima. One thing I really did not want to settle for was front wheel drive, and thankfully I didn't have to. Though the car is not light, it carries about 1000 pounds less than the Caprice, and the weight contributes to a hefty, secure feel on the highway. Steering is relatively quick and accurate (Ford has made incremental improvements in this area since the mid 90's) and the shifter, with all the crud it takes from reviewers, is plenty workable for my amateur hands. The turning circle is also a huge improvement on the Chevy, as well the Maxima.

Styling is subjective, but I've yet to meet anyone who told me the car was unnattractive. Though this generation of Mustang has become pretty commonplace, the ruby red color still draws looks from bystanders, especially with the convertible top down. The interior is a mixed bag. While it has drawn dismal reviews from professional critics, I think the general look is good and all the controls are pretty handy. Material quality is where it falls short. Compared to my dad's Maxima (which has first-rate cloths and plastics), most parts with the exception of the headliner, the carpet and the leather steering wheel feel pretty bargain basement. My Caprice had this problem too though, and it doesn't bother me all that much. I like the power back windows and the convertible top is very easy to operate, plus ergonomics are good and everything is within reach and where it should be.

Note: One of the only negatives of owning a V6 Mustang are the insecure morons who would criticize the car solely because it's a V6. I don't pass judgment on a 323i because it's not an M3, and this car is no different. Luckily, I have yet to run into this phenomenon and take solace in the fact that most of these critics drive a nice car that daddy bought them and don't understand that when you have to work to pay for things, that 5000 dollars a year in NYC insurance costs is simply too outrageous for non-rich people to swallow. Fortunately, the down-to-earth people I associate with see the car for what it is, a sporty sensible stick convertible for people on a budget.

Overall, good looks, above average performance and summertime convertibility make this car a winner in my book. I hope my satisfaction persists as long as I own the car, and if nothing terrible goes wrong in the future, I'm confident it will. Thumbs way up!