First, I am not a car guy. I like to look at them and appreciate them, but I am a motorcycle lover. I am preparing to purchase a 2001 V-6 that was run through a barb wire fence. It has been repainted, new hood, new bumper, thats about it. It sat for 1.5 years. Cosmetically it is beautiful. I had two days to test it, and I notice the power steering was sluggish so I took it to a diagnostic mechanic. The manager, not the mechanic, ran down the car from the beginning. "oh, its a 3.8, I can tell you already you are going to have head gasket problems." After the mechanic went through it, I was right it needs a new power steering pump. The brakes are not great, but fixable. No signs of a problem with the suspension or the computer, as it showed no warnings, etc. So I read the report, and that was about the extent of it. But the office manager said" I highly advise you not to buy this car. I don't get it, it has 47,000 miles on it. Am I overlooking something here? I could use your advise. Thanks.
The show stopper when I read this was that it ran through a barbwire fence. Obviously the car was mistreated so you have no idea what else is going to break on you. I recommend that you keep looking. There are PLENTY other mustangs out there that are buyable. In my situation, when I bought my mustang there were too many of them to choose (There were about 8), so I went with the middle-priced one because it was well taken care of and garaged its whole life. But those are just my thoughts, I hope you take other people's thoughts and your own into consideration as well.
thanks for the help. Please know I saw the car after the accident. very little damage and the inside is immaculate. Further, while I dont know the market, I can buy it for 1500 less the Nada or kelley trade in, with a clear title
its not the fact of the damage that was inflicted on the car that I'm worried about. Its the fact that someone mistreated the car enough to drive it through a barb wire fence. You have no idea what else the owner beat up on, so I recommend you stay away from that car. And the fact that it's $1500 less than kbb, doesn't help its cause either. The owner is holding out on something wrong with the car, like i said, I recommend you just back away from the deal.
First, I am not a car guy. I like to look at them and appreciate them, but I am a motorcycle lover. I am preparing to purchase a 2001 V-6 that was run through a barb wire fence. It has been repainted, new hood, new bumper, thats about it. It sat for 1.5 years. Cosmetically it is beautiful. I had two days to test it, and I notice the power steering was sluggish so I took it to a diagnostic mechanic. The manager, not the mechanic, ran down the car from the beginning. "oh, its a 3.8, I can tell you already you are going to have head gasket problems." After the mechanic went through it, I was right it needs a new power steering pump. The brakes are not great, but fixable. No signs of a problem with the suspension or the computer, as it showed no warnings, etc. So I read the report, and that was about the extent of it. But the office manager said" I highly advise you not to buy this car. I don't get it, it has 47,000 miles on it. Am I overlooking something here? I could use your advise. Thanks.
The 99+ cars don't have head gasket problems.
you need to have the unibody checked.
It's been sitting for a while, so the gaskets have dried, etc., there's a list of stuff to do to revive 'em, but I don't have it any more.
The pump may actually be fine, it jsut hasn't worked in a loooong time.
But you can't start driving it like a regular car, you have to ease it back in to regular driving.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
I would make sure it's still straight and doesn't 'dog walk' and really get the whole car checked out well and Kscoyote is right, the 01'do not have a head gasket problem.
I agree KS. But I also don't think it may be a bad deal either. The car will require mostly going through all the fluids and changing them out. That's where I would start, but I'm a fanatic about maintenance. The pump can possbily be saved. It may be gummed up from sitting, along with the AC, tranny, rear end, oil pump, etc. Let alone the injectors, air sensor, throttle body. If you have the time, we can help you through the entire process.
I agree KS. But I also don't think it may be a bad deal either. The car will require mostly going through all the fluids and changing them out. That's where I would start, but I'm a fanatic about maintenance. The pump can possbily be saved. It may be gummed up from sitting, along with the AC, tranny, rear end, oil pump, etc. Let alone the injectors, air sensor, throttle body. If you have the time, we can help you through the entire process.
My grandad gave me a list of stuff to do when I go tmy 68. I don't know where it is, but he said to pour kerosene in the combustion chamber to clear out any rust 7 contaminants & let it sit for a while, the evaporation of the kerosene would do something to the gaskets, change all the fluids, & hand crank the engine with a breaker bar . . . 7 some other stuff.
Some of it wouldn't apply to an FI engine, I'm sure.
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
2001 Mustang Purchase-I need Advise 
