When it comes to American-made cars, very few measure up to the Ford Mustang in terms of recognition, popularity, and longevity. If you want a used Ford Mustang, then this is an ideal time to take advantage of the market. In general, you will likely be looking at a fourth or fifth generation Ford Mustang on the used car market. It is important to note, that some people recognize up to 9 generations of Ford Mustangs because some generations featured major styling changes mid-generation. For example, the fourth generation (1994-2004) featured a major overhaul in 1998. Here is a quick review of both of these Ford Mustangs and what you can expect from them.
Fourth-Generation Ford Mustang Review
This generation of Mustang was released from 1994 to 2004. At the time, it was the first major redesign in 15 years and featured sharper con two words, creases in the body, and larger wheel arches. On average, between 113,000 and 165,000 Ford Mustangs were purchased on a yearly basis during this time. As a used Ford Mustang buyer, this means that you can get great deals on the secondary market because so many of them are available.
One of the biggest changes during this generation took place in 1996 when the 5.0 L V8 was abandoned for the 4.6 L SOHC V8. While it offered the same amount of horsepower, this was the first time that the small block Ford V-8 was not used in more than three decades. The biggest difference you’ll see in the fourth-generation took place in 1999 when the Ford Mustang underwent a serious redesign. There were new creased fenders and revised front end. Additionally, this year marked the first time that a Mustang offered independent rear suspension.
When looking for fourth-generation Ford Mustangs on the secondary market, you will be able to choose from the Bullitt (2001), Convertible (all years), Coupe (all years), Mach 1 Premium (2003-2004), Cobra (2001-2004), Cobra Convertible (1994-2000), and Cobra Coupe (1994-2000)
Fifth-Generation Ford Mustang Review
In 2005, the Ford Mustang underwent another complete redesign. The most notable change was an all-new chassis which ended a 25 year run of the 70s style Fox body platform. Additionally, the ride quality, suspension, and precision handling were vastly improved. It featured either a 4.0 L V-6 or 4.6 L V8 engine. There were also changes made in 2010 with a fresher exterior and higher quality interior materials. There were also small improvements made to the handling through changes to the suspension tuning and additional power.
The fifth-generation Ford Mustang was the first to really stand out in terms of awards since the 1980s. It made the Car and Driver 10 Best List in 2005, 2006, and 2011. In 2005, the Ford Mustang was also named the Canadian Car of the Year and was the runner-up for the North American Car of the Year.
One thing to keep in mind with the fifth-generation is that the sales numbers have declined since 2006. This is more a reflection of the economic issues across the country, rather than an indictment on the quality of vehicle. Either way, the result is that there will be less Ford Mustangs on the secondary market from these years.
