My girlfriend is really into getting a Mustang. She is looking at getting a 95 or newer tang with probably a V6. She started out wanting a GT ve but at her age 19, insurance not to mention gas would be way too much. So in her search she has found a 95 Mustang 3.8 V6 that has slight front damage and slight frame damage, it has 58k miles. From what she gathered from the lady where the car is that the car need both fenders, headlights, and a hood, plus of course the frame straightened. They want $3850 for the car and off the top of my head I would say that all the body work could be done for under another 3K. Here is where my questions start. First does anybody have any good web address's for body parts. Second how much does it usually cost to sraighten a frame? Third is it worth the time and money to do this? I used KBB and priced the same car with body and frame repair needed and it came out at about 6K, but most that are being sold with no damage are much higher.
Thanks in advance for any help.

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97 Ford F150 XLT 4wd 4.6L auto, Std cab/Long bed 2 tone royal blue w tan bottom, PW,PL, and PM, captian chairs w/arm rests

Current Mods
K&N Filter
Xact Plug Wires- 8mm
Ventshade side window deflectors,read window deflector, bug guard, headlight and taillight blackouts
custom hand painted Ford emblems on door jamb guards and under hood on plastic intake cover
plastic mud guards
custom 4x4 off road graphics
Ford hitch cover and license plate frame
Custom carpet liner (protects factory carpet)
Slyvania Cool Blue Headlight and fog lamp bulbs
Pioneer 6 disc changer
Whistler 1650 radar detector
oh yeah, one custom dent and scratch from a deer the night before deer season

 

If you have to staighten the frame, the car should be free as it is probably totaled out.
Frames are not really straightenable in any reputable insurance Co. books.
Even if the car were free, you might be better off putting the body on a new frame, but the body needs work, so ....
it kills me to say it, but let it rot in their yard, as oposed to yours.

 

I'd do a Carfax report first - see if it was totaled or salvaged. I don't trust frames that are straightened - I've seeen many cars dogtracking down the road & they just aren't as safe. Also, if you have a police officer who is really close to the family, give them the VIN & ask if they can do a more comprehensive report than Carfax. One last tip - see if you can get an Oasis report form a Ford dealer - it gives an idea of work done on the car & whether it was reasonably cared for before the accident. If it wasn't, the frame & body work may be the least of your worries! Hope this helps.

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www.andthensometoo.com/owners/cowlady
Love my truck & PROUD of it! If you can't beat 'em, you're NOT driving a FORD!
Shovies PROVE that FORD'S are #1!!
'97 Black F150 XLT ORP 4X4 Reg Cab/LB
4.6L/auto/3.55 LS/power EVERYTHING,
nerf bars, 17" wheels, fog lights, trailer hitch w/electrical connector, front tow hooks, bed rail caps,
6 CD changer, lumbar support & 3 cow license plates - so far!

 

First off. Whats your e-mail address, it wasn't on the other post. I wouldn't go through trying to straighten the frame unless it didn't harm the suspension and steering. If you decide you need parts let me know and I'll check with my bud that owns a junk yard, he has some pretty good connections. And where in N.KY are you?

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My 2000 F-150

It's A KC Thing....You Wouldn't Understand!!!

 

Do Mustangs really have frames?

At any rate, I'd stay away from it, especially considering that it sounds like it's not even fully repaired yet. I think it's too risky a deal. Once they start work on it, you never know what they'll find. Besides, why didn't the original owner's insurance fix it? Could be, as others have said, the car was totaled by the insurance company.

In one word: WALK

 

This is a general rule I go by, when it's time to go buy:

Never buy someone else's headache.

 

3k for the body work?? with a bent frame, i don't think so frame work usually goes for about 65/hr.. and that's cheap.. but still the car will never be the same again after that.. if it needs both fenders and a hood sounds like it is fairly bad.. estimate fenders are about 150-200 a piece on those, and the hood is 300-400 if you want a stock hood.. then painting it is 35/hr plus supplys unless you wanna do it yourself.. but i'm sure you could find better in a repo yard.. but with all that damage they should be asking $500 to cover a totalled car deductable, or free to good loving home

 

Well, there is no question that after you have bought the car, and then repaired it you would be at the same price (or SLIGHTLY) lower then an undamaged car. Another thing that would concern me would be the engine. I work in a ford dealership and that is without question the engine that has the most problems. I would search to see if the car has recalls, and I would also offer FAR less then what they are asking. Hope it helps.

 

With all the Mustangs out there, you can easily find a fair price on a "uncrunched" one. Pay a few more bucks and save the headaches.

 

I would get another one that is free of damage and leave the pile of junk where it sits.

 

Thanks guys for all you help. She has been on me for a long time now to help her find a new car. Her current car an 86 Honda Accord Lxi has completely had it. When she saw this she thought it might be something she could afford and have fixed up the way she wants it. Thankfully I have talked her out of buying the Mustang with the bent frame, and getting something that is undamaged or slightly damaged (just body damage). After I posted this I thought about the fact that the Mustangs might be unibodied cars (are they?) and the fact why didn't the people who had this just have the car fixed if the insurance didn't total it out (I almost bet that the insurance did total it out). Anyways, thanks again for all the help, just wanted someone else's opinion.

 

No no no! Do anything you can in your power to talk her out of it! It will probably be hard too if she's a stubborn girl like I am.

One thing that might work is telling her something that provokes a lot of thought like "Imagine yourself, a young and attractive female, stranded on the side of the road somewhere because your car is unreliable... not safe!" or how about " if she happens to get in a wreck it might be the end of the car, not to mention herself (you could also add to that that you couldn't live with yourself if you didn't try to talk her out of it and she was injured/died)."

I dunno but yeah try that carfax place... it might cost 10 bucks or whatever but that could save you much much more than that.

Red




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2001 F150 XLT
Toreador Red
Reg Cab, Short Bed
V6 Automatic 4x2
265/75/16 tires
PIAA bright white headlights

 

Avoid that car like the plague!!
You can find a decent Mustang for 6k. An unwrecked early 90's Stang would be better than this one. Unibody cars don't usually survive accidents that well,plus you have no idea how much damage is there until it's blown apart.
I've seen estimates doubled by the time you get into a job(hidden damage)
The 3.8 is known for blowing head gaskets,too.
You can do better,just keep searching,,,,98