This is what I do on vehicles when I look for them for other people- I am normally really excited about a vehicle and my knowledge just flys out the window, why I say what I look for on other peoples purchases.
Take the throttle body open the throttle and feel your finger in the intake a little. Little crude o.k., your scooping out look more.
Number one cylinder pop the spark plug off. looks good, then o.k. maybe someone has just done maintenance.
Look underneath, check the cross members for scuffs and scratches. I know I beat the crap out of my 86 civic and the underneath was done. ahhh its just a deep puddle, go faster.
You look at your oil, not only the oil your looking at, your looking at the actual dipstick. heat scoring, signs of previous crud build up.
The rear differential- signs of leaking from pumpkin? seriously how often do people check the rear oil level? I know me I change it once a year. evo is 5k miles or every other oil change for transfer case, tranny and such. If the rear shows signs of leaking then the differential is probably going to be done in not to long. gear meshing doesnt hold up without lubrication.
Transmission, take a minute to check the level. I had my 95 gt running barely any oil for 2 days because, like I said my knowledge goes out the window when I am looking at a car myself.
Body spots for rust and bondo. Paint smoother in spots? This may be a damn good accident repair, like my boys 5k mile dodge ram he bought. car fax didnt show any accidents, I borrowed the truck and noticed his rear door was not aligned. I buffed out his paint, it was perfect on the misaligned side, and well it looked factory paint on the other side. Dugg more into it, we suspect an accident that never made it on record.
Not familar with the prone spots on a 94-98 mustang. but would think the normal spots wheel wheels, door jams and such.
Oh details look into the door jams, your looking at the hinges. do they look like they have been greased recently or consistenly?
Do the power door panel areas pop out? are all the panel hold downs in place? give a little feel on the door panels ensuring the plastic pieces most people pop off are there.
Going back to the motor, its a bitch to do this check. The first gen 4.6L in the mustangs are prone to starving themselves for oil on the number 7 cylinder. Its nearly identical as the 351C oil issue. So check the cams for wear on that side for gritting and such.
does the timing chain cover leak? If the underside is disgustingly caked with oil then that MAYBE a reason for that. You may also have a worn out front main seal though too.
The 4.6L also have a cooling issue. Ford had actually admitted to the possible radiators not being able to cool efficiently. So the radiator may have been replaced.
Exhaust pipes and wires dont mix well. So take a look at any wiring near the passenger side headers. especially since there are headers on it now. Headers may cause more heat in the compartment. If the headers are not wrapped aske the question of why not? Something of a response to didnt feel like it makes me want to slap someone.
Yeah I go overboard some may think because I pull the starter on cars to check the flywheel teeth too. Alternator readings, pcv (its a regularly changed maintenance item), O2 sensors you can take one off if possible to check the looks of it for heat scoring and crud build up.
Brake fluid looks (should be clear brand new, little brown o.k. looks like your 8am turd your not wanting) power steering reservoir fluid looks- that is also a clear fluid new.
Oh a good one- fuel filter. does it look factory? may want to slap someone if it is. that can increase your gas mileage if its regularly changed, also if your having the trouble of getting it to start on the first try and have to retry it and it fires right up maybe a fuel filter problem.
6k sounds high, 4k sounds high to me. Depends on what you want to spend and what they want to. They want to make the wife happy. Sell yourself to the wife, not in a gigalo way, but in a manner way. Works everytime for me. I sold my bike for 500 more than what I bought it for and the price I was asking all because the husband was on the verge of it, and I had my girl get her some ice tea sit down at the table rattle on for 3 minutes and the wife told her husband to stop being such a procrastinator and get the bike before it was sold to someone else. I sold it before the girlfriend got hurt on it like I did.
I got my f150 for 500 because the wife wanted the truck gone and the husband was asking 1200. he didnt want to budge on the price till she came into play. just get rid of the f'n thing and get back to the list!
Also show up in the best vehicle you have. I show up with my truck and dont get as good of a deal as I do pulling up with a evo, or a turbo 4runner. Its all about selling your side of the purchase, why one should sell you the item for what your offering.
Ownership too is a biggggg thing on me. no vehicles of mine have more than 3 owners, including myself. I have bought more than one at being the 10th owner and it sucks back tracking people and the history and such on the vehicle.I am normall lost at the 5th owner. Even my 86 civic I was the 4th owner.
Hope this novel helps.
