Need opinions QUICK 2001 GT 'vert 5 speed

vtvette · Oct 8, 2012

Hello all, 1st post here on SN95Forums. I'm a long time Corvette owner (7 C4's over the past 16 years!) looking for my first Mustang. I've decided on a sn95 for my 60 mile/day interstate commute to and from work. I've had several friends with sn95's and have always liked this model 'stang.

I found a 2001 GT Convertible 5 speed black which fills all my prerequisites. The pic's look excellent. Through Emails owner reports the car runs and drives excellent. The car appears bone stock and has 151,000 highway miles. High mileage doesn't scare me as long as the car is not been abused or beat on which this car appears neither.I'm going to check the car out tomorrow.

Book says it's worth around $7,000 but I know how book values go. The owners original add said he was looking to trade for a motorcycle and had no price. I emailed and asked how much he'd sell the car for. He came back with $5,000. I'd love to hear the opinions on the forum here. Sounds reasonable to me but, I'm no 'stang expert.

SO - is $5,000 fair for a 2001 'vert 5 speed bone stock body/top/interior in very good to excellent condition with 151,000 miles? I may offer a bit less and see how that goes. The car is in the SouthWest so, rust is not an issue. I've been working in motorsports/restoration my entire adult life and do all my own mechanical and body work.

Thanks,

John Nich · Oct 8, 2012

5000 is a fair price for those miles if it drives well, But don't talk money untill you drive it. My convertible drove like a tin can full of nuts before I replaced pretty much all the suspension components at 13x,xxx, ....but then it drove like a benz! also be sure to check that the top doesn't leak. it's a pain in the a$$ to replace it. And if it's the original top.. It will probably need to be replaced.

g36 monkey · Oct 8, 2012

sounds like a solid deal

sn95 bullitt · Oct 8, 2012

Sounds like a good deal!

MustangChris · Oct 8, 2012

welcome!! sounds like you're heading in the right direction....

9646gt · Oct 9, 2012

5k soiunds fair, I sold my 01 coupe with 60k and cams and vortech and stuff and had to finally let it go for 9k. I wouldn't spend much more than 5500.

98mstanggt · Oct 9, 2012

I had a convertible and leaks will drive you nuts, nothing like waking up to find out your carpet is soaked. So def make sure keep the top in good shape. I installed a new convertible top on mine by myself it wasn't hard as most say but time consuming needless to say I found out why shops charge so much to install them.

vtvette · Oct 9, 2012

Thanks guys for all the advice. Turns out the car I was interested in sold the night I found it but I found another 2001 GT Convertible Triple Black 5 speed 150,000 miles at a local used car lot for $4999. Looks clean I am going to swing by after work and see if I can get up close.

I used to live in Vermont in which top condition was crucial. Rains every few days there. I now live in Las Vegas where we get rain once every few months

. I have changed out numerous 'vert tops in the past. As one poster mentioned not too bad a job just time consuming. Little tricks like using a heat gun to warm the fabric, let a new top sit out in the sun for a few hours after unboxing, etc make a big difference on the quality of the final install.

My biggest concern is mileage. While this will be my 3rd car after my truck and 'vette 150K seems on the high side. Then again cabs, cruisers, pickups - I've seen tons of high mileage modular V8's out there. The add for this one says it was a 1 owner car and it looks bone stock other than the rims. People here in the west rack up tons of mileage as distances are further here. One nice thing is the roads are silky smooth especially compared to back east. One owner is a bit reassuring.

Anyway thanks for all the advice so far. Will keep you guys posted.

Brian

vtvette · Oct 23, 2012

UPDATE - I bought the 2001 GT Convertible Triple Black 5 speed 150,000 miles at the local used car lot for $4500 out the door. One owner car and looks clean. It's stock other than tinted headlight covers and black Cobra replica wheels. We did the deal this evening and I'm going to pick up the car tomorrow morning (needed my truck tonight and I need a ride tomorrow to pick it up). Thanks for all the advice in this thread. This is my first 'stang but I've had several friends who have had some very nice ones. Can't wait to get out on the road!