Tell me what you guys know about 05-09 Mustangs

[Rreemo]

You guys that know or have owned these cars, tell me the good, bad and ugly. I've always liked the body style, but never a fan of the drivetrain except for the Shelbys....one of the few gen Mustangs that I haven't owned. Never had one of these, 4th Gen, 5th Gen, or a New Edge.

Long & short - I bought my daughter a 7up Fox from Whiteboy back around Christmas time...he gave me a great deal and it's a real decent car, her first car, but lately we've been realizing it's still an old car for a daily teenager. I stumbled on a pretty screaming deal this week....06' GT Triple black convertible. It has the 3v 4.6 and 5-spd auto, all mechanicals are up to par from everything I've looked over. I drove it about 20 miles on the hwy and in the rain earlier today, and I was kinda surprised how quiet (and dry) it was compared to the old Fox....the shit is night & day honestly. Really tight feeling, low noise inside, and overall the damned thing just feels like so much of a better car. Hell, it even feels peppy compared to that pig 5.0/AOD.

The car is coming from a dealer friend of mine, was picked up at auction as a repo. It has right at 100K miles, Clean title, very good mechanicals, new rubber, new struts, clean non-smoker interior, good top, etc. It has some little issues, but they are all cosmetic...1 broken AC vent, cracked front bumper cover, couple door dings on the passenger side, missing the convertible boot, and he only has 1 key and no key fobs...although he said that he will get me a couple key fobs if I am serious.

Anyways, the price is very right...by comparison, it's less than I could buy a comparable V6 convertible for....like a couple grand less.

So...what should I look for and/or be worried about with one of these cars?

[Shaggin Wagon]

The issue in my 07 is the door panel leather falls down. Yours may fixed by now. I do have the front end shake at 70mph. Online, this seems pretty common, not sure exactly what the issue is. I've read that it may be tie rods or ball joints. The spark plugs seizeing in the heads, but again, this maybe fixed already.

[Rreemo]

The issue in my 07 is the door panel leather falls down. Yours may fixed by now. I do have the front end shake at 70mph. Online, this seems pretty common, not sure exactly what the issue is. I've read that it may be tie rods or ball joints. The spark plugs seizeing in the heads, but again, this maybe fixed already.

Oh hell, I didn't know that they had the plug issues too...you mean the same problem like the 5.4 truck motors?

...and now that you mention it, I did notice that the drivers door panel leather was starting to sag a little at the top edge.

[1carcrazyguy]

Bought an 09 GT, new and had it until about a year and half ago. Only thing that had to be repaired was a leaking pinion seal on the rear end. That was in 2013 and it was covered under warranty. I enjoyed the car and the only complaint I had about it was the seats were not very comfortable for road trips. I really didn't make many road trips but once I started making trips to Amarillo to look at houses. I got rid of the car.

[slowbrick2]

Our 09 has been great. The leather door trim needed to fixed. Putting brakes on it after 60k. And clear coat on the bumpers is starting to fade.

[Trip McNeely]

I hated my 06. It was a piece of junk. It leaked water around the windshield and i would have an inch of water on my floorboard everytime it rained, and water all over the PCM. I'm really surprised it didnt have any lights on the dash go on from that. Transmission was horrible too, it would stutter occasionally on downshifts. It was slower than my Mach 1. (03) Wasn't impressed with it, glad I got rid of it, wouldn't buy again.

[helosailor]

If you get it, I have a spare fob from the '06 i used to have that is yours for the asking.
I also have a lot of spare OE parts that I could make you a smoking deal on just to get them out of the garage.

Oh, and no serious issues of note with mine.

[Rreemo]

I hated my 06. It was a piece of junk. It leaked water around the windshield and i would have an inch of water on my floorboard everytime it rained, and water all over the PCM. I'm really surprised it didnt have any lights on the dash go on from that. Transmission was horrible too, it would stutter occasionally on downshifts. It was slower than my Mach 1. (03) Wasn't impressed with it, glad I got rid of it, wouldn't buy again.

I remember those posts....that was a good looking car too. It must've been a Monday-car! I do remember how happy you were to see it gone....seems I remember a 4-Runner, a Ford truck, and a BMW in some order following that one, no?

If you get it, I have a spare fob from the '06 i used to have that is yours for the asking.
I also have a lot of spare OE parts that I could make you a smoking deal on just to get them out of the garage.

Oh, and no serious issues of note with mine.

Noted - thank you sir. I might be in-touch.

[Trip McNeely]

I remember those posts....that was a good looking car too. It must've been a Monday-car! I do remember how happy you were to see it gone....seems I remember a 4-Runner, a Ford truck, and a BMW in some order following that one, no?

haha yep. After the GT it was Bimmer (totalled), then 4Runner, then Ford F150, and so on... I change minds on cars way too much. I'm on car #12 in 17 years. I think I have owned every category of car out there except a wagon.

[Shaggin Wagon]

Oh hell, I didn't know that they had the plug issues too...you mean the same problem like the 5.4 truck motors?

...and now that you mention it, I did notice that the drivers door panel leather was starting to sag a little at the top edge.

I had a shop do my plugs and it wasn't a problem, but it is a known issue for 07 and back from what I know of.

[JC316]

Cam phasers go out, door panel leather sags, windshield leaks, and the spark plugs seem to be the only issues. All pretty minor stuff if you ask me and if you''re getting it for a few grand less than a V6, you'd be crazy not to get it.

[Gasser64]

only complaint I had about it was the seats were not very comfortable for road trips. I really didn't make many road trips but once I started making trips to Amarillo to look at houses. I got rid of the car.

That's something im not impressed with, in pretty much ALL newer vehicles. All the automakers seem to have gone over to this hard seating bullshit. From the 70's, 80's, and 90's era plush, soft seating. FAIL!!

As for the overall ride quality of the car, that Fox she's driving probably just needs some maintenance/updates. All new bushings and ball joints in the front end, and hell maybe some bags to replace the springs. Its not like its a race car, I doubt she'll be entering in any road races where the bags would be some kind of disadvantage. Dynamat and closed cell foam under the carpet, Spectrum Sludge in the fenderwells and firewall and it will probably ride nicer, and be less road noisy than the newer car. All a lot less costly too. I like a challenge.

[lowthreeohz]

I really liked ours. I have upper and lower black billet grille, SCT xcal2, and a jlt CAI for that car.. Lmk

[BLAKE]

I posted a similar thread a month or two ago.

http://www.dfwmustangs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=60465

The overall consensus was that they are holding up well and common issues are pretty minor. For a good price, I'd go for it.

I really like the 7-up cars but I'd rather have my daughter in a newer, safer S197.

[Rick Modena]

Yup, I posted in that other thread too. I remember going to the FTW GTG in my Black 05 and everyone thought I was Blake. Same car except I had tan cloth interior. I ordered mine in deluxe, only Auto trans and no spoiler options, Bullet style wheels.