The SN95 Ford Mustang continues to be one of the best muscle car bargains out there at the moment, in my opinion. They are cheap and cheerful, and build quality is nothing to write home about, but if you’re just looking for a rear-wheel-drive V8 platform that works, it’s really hard to go wrong. The seller’s car in this case is made even more desirable for being a nearly bone-stock example with just under 20,000 original miles, which makes for a near-new specimen you can drive every day without having to worry about the occasional door ding (though that would be a bummer). The Mustang is listed here on craigslist for $16,500 with the preferred manual gearbox.
The jet black paint appears to be in excellent condition, which is simply a quality that doesn’t exist in high-mileage examples. The seller’s car appears to have been restricted to Sunday-driver duty, which isn’t all that hard to find among muscle cars owned by folks past retirement age. They bought these cars as special-occasion vehicles, and since the SN95 hasn’t exactly taken off in value, that means the second or third owners get a very nice car for not a whole lot of cash. The Mustang remains correct in almost every way, down to the five-spoke GT-spec alloy wheels and rear decklid spoiler.
The interior is equally well-preserved, and while leather is generally preferred, I really dig the tan cloth in this example. In most cases, tan leather never really looks that good all these years later, even in lower-mileage cars. The cloth has a subtle pattern to it that gives it some interesting qualities, and it makes the bolsters more pronounced. The SN95 leather is nothing special, either, so it’s not as if you’re missing out on some high-grade seating material. The carpets are stain-free just like the seats, and lends further evidence to this Mustang clearly having a very careful owner. And of course, it’s always a treat to see the five-speed manual in place.
The GT has been upgraded with Flowmaster mufflers but the original mufflers are included; the only other change is a set of replacement tires. All books and manuals are included and really, there’s not much standing out to me as potential flaws on this low-mileage example. Photos of the trunk show carpeting and mint condition and no evidence of messy mulch pickups from Home Depot. The SN95 may appreciate some day, but right now, you can still buy one of the nicest examples left for well under $20,000 as this example goes to show. Would you haggle or is this already an excellent deal as-is?
Good analysis Jeff. There’s lots to like on this low-mileage low-option GT which shows excellent care. I don’t think the price is out of line; seems to me that clean SN95’s are already showing firming values.
My wife calls these Mustangs the ones with the “Reese’s Cups Interiors.”
These are very much a product of their time. That used to be a big liability but now with Radwood that might not be as bad. I think the price is very optimistic but in the 4 figures? I could see going for it
I’m pleasantly surprised to see the cloth seats, I can dig that. I liked these from day one, this looks like a fine example.
Cloth is a plus, because the cheap wallmart leather Ford used in these would be all worn out after sitting in them 3 or 4 times.
Hard to go wrong w RWD, stick shift anything.
Just before the production SN-95 Mustang hit the streets, Ford arranged for previews with regional Mustang clubs. The Pittsburgh club somehow managed to get none other than SN-95 Chief Engineer John Coletti. We got to see the car and ask questions. Someone asked why there was no 5.8L engine, and John responded, “it would cost $1000 more.” The crowd basically said, “yeah, so?” Mr. Coletti then told us to be thankful the car exists at all, because they had to fight senior management to keep it alive.
I think the SN-95 Mustangs will forever be in the shadow of the Fox-body cars that came before them and the “New Edge” cars that followed. We were so thrilled to finally have a new Mustang, that we didn’t care that it was bigger, heavier, and slower than the cars that came before it.
I know whereof I speak. I owned a ’91 GT convertible, and ’95 GT coupe, and a ’99 35th Anniversary GT convertible.
Ah, but I beg to differ. I believe it was the Mustang ll that kept Mustang alive. I had a ’95 like this, not a GT, a V6 and 5 speed and I can say without reservation, it was the nicest Mustang I had driven, not having driven the new ones. To use your words, it was bigger( my ’88 5.0 LX was awful) it was heavier( the ’88 was heavy in the wrong places) and slower( the 5.0 was too much for that little car) the V6 had plenty of steam and the ’95 was much more civilized. The Texarkana police thought so too, but that’s a subject for another time.
I have heard Art Hyde, who was involved in various engineering and product management roles during a long career at Ford, discuss this same issue during a presentation at a Mustang Club of America national show. He noted that several times Mustang was close to being axed, mainly because it wasn’t making money. In that light, its run which is approaching 60 years is remarkable.
I absolutely love the SN95’s for their refinement over the Fox body. Stock, they are not as fast as the ’87-’89’s in speed density form, but it literally takes nothing more than a day of tweaks without taking off the valve covers to get them running strong.
The 94-04 Mustangs horrendously ugly cars. Best left forgotten. FORD blew it that iteration. Yuck!!!!
I Like Everything About It BUT The Baby $hit Brown Interior.
Nothing really special here but if you’re going to spend this kind of money on an SN95 might as well hold out for a Cobra version.
Shouldn’t anyone that loves Mustangs be thankful that the SN95 exists?
Wasn’t it originally supposed to be the Probe?
The car is just a product of it’s time. The Fox body could not last forever – I’m sure the last few years of that modal were not sales leaders.
The same with the Camaro of the 90’s – model styles need to evolve.