I hope I don’t catch too much heat for asking this after already buying the car, but here goes…
I’m 29 and this is my first time owning a nice car or financing one. For years, I’ve dreamt of having a Honda Accord for its reliability, but a Mustang has always been my ultimate dream ride.
So, I was browsing Carvana, and I thought, “Why not? Life’s too short.” I applied for a Mustang, got approved, and now it’s sitting pretty in my driveway. I’ve never had a car this nice or sporty before.
One of the big reasons I went for this Mustang was because I’ll be moving far from my family soon. I wanted something with a bit of extra power for those long drives home during the holidays. And let me tell you, this Mustang has power to spare!
Before this, I was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla. I’ve got a full week to decide if this Mustang is the right fit for me, and I can return it and switch for something else if needed.
I absolutely love this car, it’s everything I’ve dreamed of. But I’m concerned about its long-term reliability. Will it last me for the next 10 years or more? I’m looking for some honest feedback on its long-term durability. Any thoughts on this?
I had a 2012 for a decade. The only problem I faced before an accident was a faulty water pump. After the accident, I dealt with issues like the auto transmission leaking, lines leaking, and radiator problems, which led to shifting issues. If you got your car from Carvana, it should be accident-free, so that’s a positive aspect to consider.
You can use your own financing, but my credit wasn’t the best, so I went with them. Honestly, it seems like almost anyone can get approved through Carvana. I’m self-employed, and many dealers don’t want to work with me, but Carvana made it super easy. I’d recommend them, but be sure to choose your car carefully and consider refinancing or buying it outright. Financing through them isn’t ideal for the long term due to their high interest rates, but getting a car with them is a breeze.
I noticed you didn’t mention the mileage on the car. Both the mileage and the transmission type are important factors here.
If it’s an automatic and has been well-maintained, it should be good for over 200,000 miles.
For a manual transmission, it’s a bit more variable. Some people push the MT-82 to its limits without issues, while others might have problems after just a few hard shifts. My ‘11 GT’s manual was quite notchy before I changed the transmission fluid, and it made whining noises from about 11,000 miles. I think the ‘12 models came with a gear coating to reduce that noise.
If it’s an automatic, I wouldn’t rely solely on Carvana or the previous owner’s assurances. It’s a good idea to change all the fluids, including the transmission fluid and filter, as well as the differential fluid.
For a manual, switch the transmission fluid to a full synthetic like Redline or Royal Purple Synchromesh, and consider adding an aftermarket shifter like the MGW to help protect against synchro damage and high rpm lockout.
I’ve noticed that many sporty cars have low mileage, and I understand why, since I own a Mustang myself. To be honest, I prefer not to drive it much. People who own cars like these often try to keep them in pristine condition, so they might drive them less frequently or only for short trips. If I had another vehicle, I’d use it for commuting and only drive my Mustang on weekends or days off. Don’t worry too much about the low mileage. I was recently looking at a 2001 Camaro with just 8,000 miles, some folks just use these cars as weekend toys.
There’s no need to trade it in, why do you want to? My Mustang drives beautifully, and I haven’t had any issues with it. A coworker of mine has a 2013 Mustang V6 with 130,000 miles and hasn’t had major problems, even though she doesn’t maintain it perfectly. Mustangs are as reliable as any other car; just keep up with oil changes and regular tune-ups, and it should be fine. It sounds like you might be experiencing a bit of buyer’s remorse, which is completely normal. It can feel like a lot of pressure to own a sports car, but they’re good vehicles. Everyone I know who owns one (and I know three others personally) absolutely loves theirs and uses them as their daily drivers, just like I do. If Mustangs were unreliable, people wouldn’t be buying them so frequently. Try not to stress about things that might never happen or might not be true. If the car is running well, there’s no need to worry.
Thanks, man. You’ve definitely helped calm my nerves a bit! I was worried because I just don’t want anything to go wrong with it and I want it to last. I’m planning to get a full inspection this week and will do my best to take great care of it and stay on top of maintenance, just like you suggested. I just need to relax a bit.
Hey @Dolph, I totally get where you’re coming from. I felt the same way when I bought mine. It felt like a huge responsibility, worrying about whether something might be wrong with it or if it’s not a good car. I also had some buyer’s remorse; it’s normal when you’ve got a car that’s seen as a bit of a toy. But remember, just because it’s called a “toy” doesn’t mean it’s bad, toys are supposed to be fun. It’s a great car, and you’ll have it for a long time. This feeling will pass, I promise. I’m really happy with mine, and everyone loves it. I’m sure people will love yours too. That inspection will definitely help ease your worries.
Hey man! Just wanted to give you an update, I got the inspection done, and everything is looking GREAT! The only thing I need to replace are the shocks, but that’s about it. The mechanics were amazed that I found a 2012 with only 12,000 miles; it seems like I really hit the jackpot. I’m definitely keeping this baby.
Great to hear that. I just needed a little reassurance, . Honestly, Mustangs are solid cars, and these days, most cars are pretty reliable. Technology has come a long way.
