Faults:

- Leaks oil from the crankshaft seal.

- Radiator cracked & started leaking coolant.

- Airbag light recently stopped coming on, and now the car emits audible tones while driving. (horn also stopped working).

General Comments:

This is my second 94 Mustang. I had one back in '05 when I was in college, but it was the 3.8L V6. I got that one with 123000 miles on the dash, and by 130000 the automatic transmission had been rebuilt, and the passenger side head gasket started leaking.

I love this bodystyle of the Mustang, and even though the first one I had gave me problems, I loved the way it looked and the possible mods that you can do to it.

So when I came across an older guy selling a 94 5.0 with a 5 speed with only 67xxx original miles, I jumped all over it. And already within the first one thousand miles it's given me typical problems that help it live up to the FORD phrase Found On Road Dead. Granted the car sat a lot so I'm not too mad about the radiator or the crankshaft seal, but the airbag thing really upset me because it's so random.

I still own my 2000 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor with the modular 4.6 in it, and that thing picks up and goes. But the 5.0 is a motor that FORD got right; its performance and durability is second to none. This car will soon be a collectors edition, and it will be garage kept for years to come.

Faults:

The transmission whines, but still shifts great.

Front brake rotors are warped from constant hitting of the pedal.

Needs new front brakes and rotors, maybe a transmission soon.

This is the second engine of the Mustang's lifetime.

General Comments:

If you buy a 3.8 Mustang, I suggest replacing every thing critical with performance parts and it will last longer. If not it (might) not last over 100,000 miles.

My Mustang has over 218,000 miles.

The car has an after market high performance fuel pump, which makes a problem when trying to idle low.

Has after market fuel rails and injectors, which is a must with the high volume fuel pump.

Has high performance air intake, but still begs for air.

Has headers into flow-master with straight pipes, which causes problems with police.

Interior is great, but could use more room.

As long as you don't floor, it gets decent gas mileage and traction.

It's a very fast car if you can hold it on the road.

Faults:

Has a bad habit of loosening the sparks plugs.

Interior paint will fade/chip very quickly.

Very very easy to put dents on the fenders; put your hand on it and you have a dent to pop out.

If you bought used like I did (1500), then brakes might be a issue, do you have ABS? I didn't know until I had to slam on the brakes thanks to a dumb ass, and locked up.

Hood latch won't hold unless you force the lever back out then in, then go close the hood.

General Comments:

With 145 (127 wheel power) and 215 (187 wheel torque) the little six shooter will scoot after you get out of 1st gear. 2nd gear will reach 65/70 mph, though with a exhaust it will sound like it's gonna blow.

Pros: Comfortable, the 5.0 sound alike (with dual flow masters) may not whip on the 3.4 F body's, but your average ricer is no problem at all. Responds to mods quite well, dual exhaust, air filter, silencer delete, I have a estimated 132 wheel power, give or take.

Cons: Shifter placement, road noise, constantly down shifting due to tall gear ratios. Weak when shifting from 5th to 4th at wot. What traction when it's little wet out of on a gravel/dirt road.