I’m thinking of buying a 3v Mustang with about 20k miles. I’d like to keep it for 10 years or more. I don’t care much about how fast it is, but I love how they sound compared to Coyotes. The thing is… I hear mixed reviews. Some folks say they’re super reliable, while others say they’re junk. What’s the truth?
If it’s stock, they’re reliable. I know someone who’s had one since 2008, and it’s still running strong. It’s when you start adding boost or tuning it that you might run into problems. But even then, it depends on how you treat the car. If reliability is your top priority, I’d stick with stock.
I bought mine brand new, daily drove it for years, and traded it in at 300,000 miles. The only big issue I ever had was a transmission rebuild around 240k. Otherwise, no complaints.
If you keep it unmodded, they’re solid cars. Plenty of people have them with high mileage. If you’re buying one, go for a 2008 or 2009. Those had fewer issues. There were a few recalls to keep in mind, though. Parts are cheap, and there’s a huge aftermarket if you decide to upgrade. One weak spot is the transmission if you’re planning to push over 500 horsepower. Oh, and avoid the 2006 if you can—build quality wasn’t the best. I own one and can confirm it’s not perfect.
@Wynne
For the V6s, the driveshaft is a known weak point if you add more power. But for the 4.6 V8s, it’s not really an issue.
Enrique said:
@Wynne
For the V6s, the driveshaft is a known weak point if you add more power. But for the 4.6 V8s, it’s not really an issue.
You’re right about that, but keep in mind V6s aren’t 3v Mustangs. That’s the 4.6 V8. The solid rear axle on Mustangs does wear on the driveshaft and differential over time, though.
@Wynne
Didn’t know that! I just heard that the V6 driveshafts tend to fail if you push past 200 km/h.
Enrique said:
@Wynne
Didn’t know that! I just heard that the V6 driveshafts tend to fail if you push past 200 km/h.
Yeah, people call these Mustangs ‘3v’ because the 4.6 V8 has three valves per cylinder. The V6s share the same chassis, but they’re not technically 3v engines. By the way, 2010+ V8s got the Coyote motor instead, so they’re different too.
If I found one that clean, I’d be pretty happy.
It’ll last as long as you take care of it. Basic maintenance like oil changes goes a long way. Don’t abuse the engine or transmission, and it’ll treat you well.
I bought mine in 2011 with only 2,000 miles on it. Knocks on wood I haven’t had to fix anything besides standard maintenance.
People who say they’re unreliable probably beat on them hard. Things like revving a cold engine or constantly full-throttling it will wreck any car.
I had mine for five years and never had a single issue. I only added suspension mods and an exhaust.
I’ve got one in my shop right now—first engine was knocking, and now the second one is too. But to be fair, the first owner neglected the car.
On the flip side, my coworker has a 3v with 200k miles. He’s only done oil changes and recently fixed a pinion seal that started leaking. It all comes down to how well you take care of it.
Here’s the thing… if it’s your daily driver, parts will wear out eventually. That’s normal. I don’t get why people freak out when an older car needs work, but they’ll take their fancy BMW to the shop and think it’s no big deal. As long as you maintain it, the Mustang will last.
My ex-girlfriend’s 2005 has 278k miles on it. She’s been racing it and doing burnouts since it hit 150k. Still stock motor and trans, just tuned.
07 Mustang GT unmodified pure stock except for the 20 inch Boss! rims and Perelli‘s! Replace the five speed transmission at 100,000 miles currently 150,000 miles. No issues so far
I had a 2010 GT. It was crazy reliable. I had full bolt-ons, cams, and even a 75-shot of nitrous. At 40k miles, I lost second gear synchro, and the stock clutch wore out, but I drove it hard. After replacing those, I kept driving it to 120k miles with no issues at all.
Here’s how it sounded with cams:
@Kase
That sounds awesome.