General Comments:
I paid $1,500 for this car back in October of 2005. It didn't look to hot at first, but after a $370.00 paint job from Maaco, it is a real attention getter. I'm a 17 old male from NJ, and this car is perfect for me.
**Reliability**
Since I bought it, it hasn't broken down once, and it always starts, even on those 20 degree mornings. I have put about $200.00 into it for repairs, but they weren't serious. Neither one really made the car un-driveable, and they were quick one or two hour jobs. There have been a few other things that needed to be replaced, but that was because they were neglected by the previous owner. I had to replace the front brakes and rotors, which did cost a few hundred, but that had nothing to do with the quality of the car. I did some of the easier things myself such as replacing the spark plugs, wires, distribution cap, rotor, and fuel filter. Once again, if the previous owner had replaced these when he was supposed to they wouldn't have been a problem. If I had a mechanic do those things, it would have cost hundreds, but I was able to do them myself (I have never worked on a car before) for less than $100.00. With a car that's over 15 years old, all of these things should be replaced regardless of make or model. Be aware though, if you attempt to change your spark plugs, they are in very awkward places and the job can take all day. I suggest buying a Hayes repair manual for this car. It costs less than $20 and you can find it at any auto parts store. It told me everything I needed to know to do these repairs.
**Style**
I get compliments on this car everywhere I go. With a new paint job, this car looks amazing. Nobody believes me when I tell them I only paid $1,500.00 for it.
**Performance**
This car accelerates really quick up to about 40mph, but lacks torque in the higer gears. One of my friends has a mustang with the same size engine and the same year. I have to admit, his car is much faster than mine. The handling is great on dry days. However, in the rain it is HORRIBLE. I fishtail all over the road. When it snows, my car is nearly un-driveable.
**Overall**
If you include the $200 in repairs and the $370 for a paint job, this car has cost me about $2,000. I don't count the other repairs in the price, because I consider them routine maintenance. For 2,000, I have one of the coolest cars in my school. Even my friends with expensive new cars are jealous. Any other car this cheap is either embarrassing to drive, or in need of expensive repairs. The only bad thing about the car is the gas consumption. Most of my driving is city, and I have never gotten more than 15mpg. This isn't that big of an issue for me, because I don't put that many miles on it. But hey, for a car with a 5 liter v8 that's 15 years old, what do you expect? Considering the age of my car and the amount of miles on it, it is extremely reliable, and I would give it a 10 out of 10.
