Sorry about the title, I'm having problems posting this. The real title is "Car is in the shop OR My Mustang Rant"
For the rest of the week, I will have the great pleasure...NO!!!! The THRILL of driving my moms "high horsepower" 4.0 V6 Exploder. Please, please, hold your applause. Yes, I will be forced to drive an underpowered, overweight tank because at 75,000 miles my 2nd gear synchros died a horrible death due to too many 5th gear to 2nd gear downshifts at 55 mph. I am on my second Mustang and this is the second time I've had transmission problems at around 75,000. I've also been blessed with a cracked passenger side exhaust manifold and the "mystery" check engine light. Could it be an oxygen sensor? Or perhaps a bad gas cap? Its potluck!!!
What other problems have I had with my 2002 V6 coupe in its glorious life? Bad IAC valve, bad thermostat, squeaky idler pulley, the throwout bearing has been squealing since 02, the rearend hums at 45mph, the seat belt wouldn't retract/it was fixed/now it won't retract again, the driver side seat eats itself/its been fixed twice/it still eats itself, and a spark plug broke in half last week. I was also blessed with the infamous cracked plastic intake on my first Mustang, a 1996 GT, it ran hot from day one, and as stated previously, the tranny was garbage.
What I am about to say will probably be debated for 5 pages, people will hate me, and then this thread will be locked. But I've got to get this off my chest. I am sick of buying Ford JUNK!! I am tired of having to take my car to get repaired every 5,000-10,000 miles. Thats almost every oil change that I have to lose my car for a few days to a week because Ford can't design a car that is reliable and durable.
I'm not saying I hate Mustangs or that I won't own another one. But it will NOT be my daily driver. After I graduate from LSU and get a full time job, I am going to pay a visit to my local Honda dealership and pick up either an S2000 or an RSX Type S. More reliable, more durable, handles bettter than the Mustang, better gas mileage, and these cars might actually make it to their 110,000 mile scheduled tune up without a major mechanical problem.
Now I know what some of you are going to say. "I you didn't drive your car so hard, it wouldn't break!" You're right, I am hard on my vehicles. But the Mustang is a sports car. Its supposed to be used hard. Ford should take that into consideration when they design and build the damn thing. Don't you think we deserve a better product for our money?
And, yes, a Honda 4 cyl doesn't have the low end torque that a V8 or even my V6 has. But there is more to a car than that. The Mustang has continued to get bigger and heavier and is no longer the kind of car I want. I want a sub-3,000 lb car that can actually pull some serious G's through the corners from the factory, has an interior that actually looks and feels good, and won't break every month. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge don't make this car. Honda does and thats just a few of the reasons while I'll be buying from them next year.
I'll put my helmet and cup on while you guys start picking up rocks to throw at me.
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2008 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 Reg Cab
2.7 4 banger
No mods (yet...)
I don't agree in some aspects. Before I bought my mustang I was driving a 1998 pontiac sunfire and that thing was maybe not the fastest, or best looking car (better looking than a cavalier though!) it ran FOREVER. It had a little 2.2L 4cyl and was well into 190,000 miles when it was rear-ended four times (not a pile-up, one after another) in the HOV lane of our lovely and safe(ha!) I-17 freeway... I didn't have money for another car and my insurance was jerking me around, so I cut off the dangling muffler and the sucker still ran perfect... drove straight too... I have pics If you ever want to see it.
The when I got the money for my car, I was driving a rented (06-07...idk) Chevy Impala LTZ... not the 5.3L V8 but the mid-level 3.9L. That car was suuuuppppeeerr nice. Way nicer than the Lexus my mom used to drive, and even nicer than the Navigator that she drove after it. Plus I raced my friends 98 Mark VIII in it and he beat me by a fender!!! Imagine if it was the 5.3L!
Now, I'll admit that american cars aren't the best looking vehicles on the road... and the chevy aveo and ford focus(base model) cars aren't amazing or durable, but I can't see thinking that American cars aren't nice in comparision to rice.
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1996 Mustang GT 248A
barely any mods, Daily driver
1965 Chevy c-10 350 chevy getting pulled for 402BBC and Th400
1984 Caprice Classic 305 getting pulled for mild 350, hoping for high 14s
I said the same thing after my "possesed" GT... I've never had a Mustang go more than a week without breaking something if it was my daily driver, and I'm not even very hard on the things. I compare my driving to my friends and their LT1 and LS1 F-bodies, and wonder how the hell their cars are still on the road while mine's not. I was all but ready to sign on the dotted line to buy a 2005 F150 a little over a month ago when I changed my mind at the last minute because I was not going to buy another Ford for a daily driver. I bought my Dodge instead and so far, so good.
My dad said the same thing a few months ago... a tree fell in our front yard, and he hooked up his '99 F150 to pull it out of the way... the truck couldn't move it, not only could it not move the tree, but the engine died while trying! I jumped in my '75 Chevy, which was suffering from a pretty nasty misfire because I went a step too cold with the spark plugs and had been too lazy to change them, hooked up to the tree, and BROKE IT IN HALF! I think that weighed pretty heavily on my dad's mind, because he had his choices narrowed down to an Expedition and a Suburban later that month when he was shopping for a new vehicle... he bought the Suburban.
Now I know people who never have a single problem with their Ford... ever... One of the assistant managers at the parts store I worked at has 2002 Mustang GT that has never had the hood up except to check or change fluids. Of course, another coworker had a 1996 GT that he was easier on that I was on my '87, and he's now on his FOURTH engine! They guy with the 2002 had a Harley Edition F150 before that, no problems there either, and it pulled his boat, beat a Z/28 in a burnout contest, and even moved his family across the country.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Mustangs... but I'll never trust one to be my daily driver again... my '75 Chevy's getting up their in years and miles, doesn't give up, but seriously... would you want to see 600,000 miles anytime soon? So I made my choice, the new GMs are too ugly, didn't need a newer Ford, and I needed a half-ton pickup, wanted Air Conditioning and a warranty, and wanted to stay American... so it was Mopar or No-car.
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1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia: 302 with a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Dynomax Blackjack headers, 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super 44s. RJS 11-gallon fuel cell, C4 tranny, chrome 16" pony wheels, fuzzy dice, brown vinyl half-top, and painted in the tackiest color ever (harvest gold, that's why I call it "The Goldenrod").
Also have a 2003 Dodge Ram (lightly modded daily driver/tow rig/office/dining room/home away from home/workshop... I call it "The Big Blue Dawg".)
My dad taught me pretty early-on when I was learning to drive to think about what has to happen inside an engine and transmission when you step on the gas and/or change gears. When I was 13 he made me spend my entire Christmas break from school helping him tear down and rebuild the 351 in the '73 LTD that would become my daily transportation to and from high school until I could afford what I wanted. After that experience I couldn't believe an internal combustion engine could be as durable as it was. All those parts working within unbelievably small tolerances over and over again, thousands of times a minute and doing that for years without any significant problems. Amazing. He wanted me to remember all of that every time I turned the key and hit the accelerator.
"Reliable" doesn't mean "unbreakable."
Oh, and if you think you've got trouble now, just wait until something bad happens inside that VTEC. Good luck.
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"Politicians never accuse you of 'greed' for wanting other people's money---only for wanting to keep your own money." -Joseph Sobran
Hey MB, how about buying a tank? The gas mileage wouldn't be too good, but I hear they are reliable. Okay, on the serious side, some cars are just cursed, and some just run forever. I've had my shares of cursed cars, and it isn't fun. However, it can be the same thing with any car. Go and buy your Honda, just remember that you may be back here complaining that it is a POS a year from now. Yes, you may drive it too hard. Dropping into 2nd from 5th on the highway, and your complaining about synchros? C'mon MB, try that in a Honda and see if your are going to have problems. Get a good warranty.
I'm by no means bashing you, I don't know you, but try those maneuvers in your Honda and see what it would be in a couple years. Better yet, buy a used one knowing that the previous owner did that to it repeatedly before he sold it to you. Feel confident in buying it now? These cars, or any so-called sports cars, when purchased used are "buyer beware" meaning that someone could have beat on them long before you, and you just compounded the problem by doing it some more.
The other things that went have been a PITA, but should be expected. Thermo, idler pulley, seat belt, etc. are to be expected. Tranny and rear end are the end product of beating on it. You cannot blame Ford for that......
I said the same thing after my "possesed" GT... I've never had a Mustang go more than a week without breaking something if it was my daily driver, and I'm not even very hard on the things.
I'd driven my 93 GT for nearly 14 years as a daily driver, including Houston summers and Minneapolis winters. She's got 190,000+ miles and still goes to the park every weekend.
I would'nt try to tell you nothing ever broke, but I went 115K miles without any major breakdown and that was the a/c. Went 161,000 on the original mechanical clutch, and I figured that was a good run. Lately it's been stuff like the turn signals quit blinking and dashboard lights burned out. Pretty normal for 190,000 miles.
All in all I've been satisfied with the Fox GT, and absolutely delighted with the 07 GT.
My first Mustang, I got 32k on a clutch. The second more than 100K.
If you beat any car, it's not going to hold up.
The V6ers do not have the same heavy duty equipment on them as the V8's.
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2006 GT Tungsten Grey 5 spd, Xcal2/Pipeline CAI, Powerhouse tune. Spoiler delete. Front Speakers:Infinity 6812CF;Blaupunkt GTc652. Rear:Infinity Kappa 682.7CF. H/U:Alpine CDA-9885. Alpine MRP-F250 amp. Sequentials. President of the Splash guard registry. On Deck: Motoblue UDP's.
[quote=Monkey Boy]Sorry about the title, I'm having problems posting this. The real title is "Car is in the shop OR My Mustang Rant"
Yes, I will be forced to drive an underpowered, overweight tank because at 75,000 miles my 2nd gear synchros died a horrible death due to too many 5th gear to 2nd gear downshifts at 55 mph. I am on my second Mustang and this is the second time I've had transmission problems at around 75,000. I've also been blessed with a cracked passenger side exhaust manifold and the "mystery" check engine light. Could it be an oxygen sensor? Or perhaps a bad gas cap? Its potluck!!!
What other problems have I had with my 2002 V6 coupe in its glorious life? Bad IAC valve, bad thermostat, squeaky idler pulley, the throwout bearing has been squealing since 02, the rearend hums at 45mph, the seat belt wouldn't retract/it was fixed/now it won't retract again, the driver side seat eats itself/its been fixed twice/it still eats itself, and a spark plug broke in half last week. I was also blessed with the infamous cracked plastic intake on my first Mustang, a 1996 GT, it ran hot from day one, and as stated previously, the tranny was garbage.
I'm not saying I hate Mustangs or that I won't own another one. But it will NOT be my daily driver. After I graduate from LSU and get a full time job, I am going to pay a visit to my local Honda dealership and pick up either an S2000 or an RSX Type S. More reliable, more durable, handles bettter than the Mustang, better gas mileage, and these cars might actually make it to their 110,000 mile scheduled tune up without a major mechanical problem.
Now I know what some of you are going to say. "I you didn't drive your car so hard, it wouldn't break!" You're right, I am hard on my vehicles. But the Mustang is a sports car. Its supposed to be used hard. Ford should take that into consideration when they design and build the damn thing. Don't you think we deserve a better product for our money?
I am willing to bet whatever you decide to buy will have the same result if driven in the same fashion. Why would you down shift from 5th to 2nd at 55mph? Did you not expect something to break? If you drive the Honda or Acura the same way it will only be a matter of time until the next post you submit is titled "Car is in the shop or my Ricer Rant"
Your right about the Mustang being a sports car but every one knows that the factory trannys are junk and any tranny that goes from 5th to 2nd at highway speeds will not last long. I sell Tremec TKO's for a living and even those will not last long if driven that way.
Good luck with whatever you decide to buy....
S2000 6 speed= 3 carbon fiber synchros on 1st and 2nd
I'd put money on the Hondas tranny lasting longer (and I will by buying the thing). Not to mention that Honda trannys are renowned for their smooth, crisp shifts. Honda also offers a 7 year powertrain warranty. You won't see Ford doing something like that.
Guys, I've been studying consumer reports on the net and Toyotas and Hondas are just way more reliable than anything else on the road. If these cars can't handle my driving then I guess nothing will.
I shift from 5th to 2nd when I'm trying to pass someone and I don't have much room to work with. I hate driving slow and despite my efforts to change my driving style, I can't stop driving the way I do. Its just too boring to drive like a papa.
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2008 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 Reg Cab
2.7 4 banger
No mods (yet...)
S2000 6 speed= 3 carbon fiber synchros on 1st and 2nd
I'd put money on the Hondas tranny lasting longer (and I will by buying the thing). Not to mention that Honda trannys are renowned for their smooth, crisp shifts. Honda also offers a 7 year powertrain warranty. You won't see Ford doing something like that.
Guys, I've been studying consumer reports on the net and Toyotas and Hondas are just way more reliable than anything else on the road. If these cars can't handle my driving then I guess nothing will.
I shift from 5th to 2nd when I'm trying to pass someone and I don't have much room to work with. I hate driving slow and despite my efforts to change my driving style, I can't stop driving the way I do. Its just too boring to drive like a papa.
Does the power train warranty cover abuse ya think?
__________________
2006 GT Tungsten Grey 5 spd, Xcal2/Pipeline CAI, Powerhouse tune. Spoiler delete. Front Speakers:Infinity 6812CF;Blaupunkt GTc652. Rear:Infinity Kappa 682.7CF. H/U:Alpine CDA-9885. Alpine MRP-F250 amp. Sequentials. President of the Splash guard registry. On Deck: Motoblue UDP's.
S2000 6 speed= 3 carbon fiber synchros on 1st and 2nd
I'd put money on the Hondas tranny lasting longer (and I will by buying the thing). Not to mention that Honda trannys are renowned for their smooth, crisp shifts. Honda also offers a 7 year powertrain warranty. You won't see Ford doing something like that.
Guys, I've been studying consumer reports on the net and Toyotas and Hondas are just way more reliable than anything else on the road. If these cars can't handle my driving then I guess nothing will.
I shift from 5th to 2nd when I'm trying to pass someone and I don't have much room to work with. I hate driving slow and despite my efforts to change my driving style, I can't stop driving the way I do. Its just too boring to drive like a papa.
Actually it is the blocker rings, not syncros, that are carbon fiber and yes it is stronger because of that but it still won't take that kind of abuse. Besides that, the S2000 motor will grenade will repeated downshifting like that. If you can't change your driving style, why don't you consider putting a TKO in the 'stang? I have a TKO-600 in my '90 LX behind a 347 and a TKO-500 in my 2000 GT. I beat on them all the time and have had no issues at all. Of course, I don't down shift from 5th to 2nd either.
Actually it is the blocker rings, not syncros, that are carbon fiber and yes it is stronger because of that but it still won't take that kind of abuse. Besides that, the S2000 motor will grenade will repeated downshifting like that. If you can't change your driving style, why don't you consider putting a TKO in the 'stang? I have a TKO-600 in my '90 LX behind a 347 and a TKO-500 in my 2000 GT. I beat on them all the time and have had no issues at all. Of course, I don't down shift from 5th to 2nd either.
Because I'm sick of stupid **** like cracked intake and exhaust manifolds (Has nothing to do with my driving style, just piss poor design and manufacturing) and all the other little things that I stated above. Its not the tranny that pisses me off as much as all of the little stupid things that break all the time. It just shows how poorly the car is put together. The tranny is just the straw that broke the camels back.
You also have to take into consideration that I'm ready to move on to a different style of car (small, light, two seater). Chevy is the only American company that makes one that I'm interested in (Corvette) but I can't afford it. And I hate the Mustang seats because they have no leg or shoulder support in the corners and the Mustang suspension isn't up to par with the competition anymore and the interiors suck.....I'm just ready for something.....more sophisticated. Something that is more of a pure sports car. The Mustang is a car built to please everyone but I'm ready for a car built to please me.
Thats all I have to say on the subject, I've pretty much made up my mind. But, please, feel free to continue commenting and making suggestions as I will continue to read the post.
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2008 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 Reg Cab
2.7 4 banger
No mods (yet...)
My Mustang Rant 
So I made my choice, the new GMs are too ugly, didn't need a newer Ford, and I needed a half-ton pickup, wanted Air Conditioning and a warranty, and wanted to stay American... so it was Mopar or No-car.
The gas mileage wouldn't be too good, but I hear they are reliable. Okay, on the serious side, some cars are just cursed, and some just run forever. I've had my shares of cursed cars, and it isn't fun. However, it can be the same thing with any car. Go and buy your Honda, just remember that you may be back here complaining that it is a POS a year from now. Yes, you may drive it too hard. Dropping into 2nd from 5th on the highway, and your complaining about synchros? C'mon MB, try that in a Honda and see if your are going to have problems. Get a good warranty. 
Why would you down shift from 5th to 2nd at 55mph? Did you not expect something to break? If you drive the Honda or Acura the same way it will only be a matter of time until the next post you submit is titled "Car is in the shop or my Ricer Rant"
