30584 Olde Hawkeye Rd Dyersville, IA 52040-8028
Shopping for a used Ford Mustang is a little different from shopping for most used cars. You’re usually not just trying to get from one place to another. Model year, engine, transmission, body style, performance equipment and even previous modifications can change the personality of the car considerably.
Around Dyersville and eastern Iowa, one Mustang might spend most of its time commuting toward Dubuque or cruising the highway, while another buyer may be looking for a V8, a manual transmission and something that mostly comes out when the weather is good.
That’s why year, mileage and price only tell part of the story. With a Mustang, how it was built and where it sits in the Mustang lineup are a big part of what you’re buying.
Model year matters more on a Mustang than it does on some used vehicles. Changes between generations and mid-cycle updates can affect the chassis, engine output, transmissions, technology and available performance equipment. If two Mustangs are several years apart, it’s worth understanding what changed instead of comparing them on mileage and price alone.
Used Mustangs can cover a pretty wide range. Recent inventory may include turbocharged EcoBoost models, 5.0L V8 GTs and more specialized versions such as the Bullitt, Mach 1, Shelby GT350 or Shelby GT500, depending on model year and availability. Older used inventory may also include V6 Mustangs.
An EcoBoost can make a very good everyday performance car, while a GT gives you the sound and character of the 5.0L V8. Bullitt, Mach 1 and Shelby models go farther with their own combinations of tuning, chassis hardware and performance equipment. The important thing is deciding whether you mainly want the Mustang experience, the V8 experience, or something built with more serious performance in mind.
If shifting gears is part of the appeal, a manual-transmission Mustang can narrow the search quickly. An automatic can make more sense for regular commuting, traffic and drivers who simply prefer it. Neither is the “correct” Mustang. Buy the transmission you’ll actually enjoy driving.
A convertible changes the whole experience and may be exactly why you’re shopping for a Mustang. A fastback gives you the more traditional coupe setup. If you’re considering a convertible, spend time checking the operation and condition of the top instead of treating it like just another feature.
Performance Packages, upgraded brakes, different suspension components, limited-slip differential setups, active exhaust, MagneRide and other equipment have been available in different combinations over the years. If performance matters to you, the trim badge alone may not tell you everything that’s underneath the car.
A Mustang also deserves a little more attention to how it has been used. Tires, brakes, maintenance, modifications and overall condition can matter just as much as mileage. A stock, well-cared-for Mustang with a few more miles may be more appealing than a lower-mile car that has been heavily modified or poorly maintained.
You may find two Mustangs from the same model year with similar mileage and a noticeable difference in price.
Victory Ford works with Mustangs new and used, and our team can help separate the differences that matter from the ones that don’t matter to you.
One may be a GT while another is an EcoBoost. One may have a Performance Package, active exhaust or upgraded interior equipment. One may be a Bullitt or Mach 1 with hardware that goes well beyond appearance. Another may simply be the cleaner, better-cared-for car.
If what you really want is a V8 and a manual, there’s no reason to pay extra for a pile of technology you don’t care about. If this is going to be your everyday car, comfort and convenience features may matter quite a bit after the novelty wears off.
Every Ford vehicle on our site includes access to its original Ford window sticker. With a Mustang, that’s an especially useful place to start because it can show the engine, transmission, major factory packages and options that were on the car when it was built.
But the sticker doesn’t necessarily contain every detail available from Ford’s original ordering information.
If you’re trying to confirm a Performance Package, equipment group, suspension feature or another detail that isn’t obvious, our Internet Manager can dig deeper before you make the trip to Dyersville.
You can also send us two or three Mustangs you’re comparing. We can help explain why they’re priced differently, identify important equipment and narrow down which cars make the most sense for you to see and drive.
And if your request is simply, “I want a V8, I really want active exhaust, and I don’t care about having every luxury feature,” that’s plenty to start with. You don’t need to translate what you want into Ford option codes first.
If you want a fun, relatively efficient Mustang for everyday driving, an EcoBoost is a logical place to start. If the 5.0L V8 sound and traditional muscle-car character are a big part of why you want one, focus on the GT. Shoppers looking for something more specialized may also come across Bullitt, Mach 1, Shelby GT350 or GT500 models, which add different levels of performance hardware, tuning and collectibility. Older used inventory may include V6 Mustangs as well. The best place to start is with the experience you want from the car, then compare model year, equipment, condition and price from there.
Not automatically. A manual is the obvious choice if shifting gears is part of the experience you’re looking for. An automatic may be easier for commuting and can still deliver serious performance. Buy the transmission you’ll actually enjoy rather than the one the internet says you’re supposed to want.
The exact equipment varies by model year and Mustang version, but Performance Packages generally add hardware intended to improve handling, braking and overall performance rather than simply changing appearance. If you’re looking at a particular Mustang, check its Ford window sticker and ask us to verify the exact package content for that car.
It can if the sound of the car matters to you. Ford’s active valve exhaust system allows different exhaust settings on equipped Mustangs, giving the driver more control over how quiet or aggressive the car sounds. If that’s a must-have feature, it’s worth verifying rather than assuming every GT has it.
Start with the original Ford window sticker linked from the vehicle listing. It will show many of the major factory options and packages. If you’re trying to confirm something more specific that isn’t listed there, our Internet Manager can dig further into Ford’s vehicle information.
Condition and previous use deserve extra attention on a performance car. Maintenance history, modifications, tires, brakes and overall condition can tell you things the odometer can’t. A well-maintained Mustang with slightly more miles may be a much better buy than a lower-mile example with questionable modifications or a rougher history.