There are truly good cars out there that remain entirely affordable and easy to live with – if you know where to look. The “New Edge” Ford Mustangs are a great example of a model generation that remains very underappreciated and accordingly, quite affordable compare to other fast-appreciation modern enthusiast cars. This 2002 Ford Mustang GT convertible is equipped with the preferred 5-speed manual and is listed here on eBay with bids sitting at $6,100 and the reserve unmet.

Now, don’t let that reserve scare you: I suspect this convertible is set to clear $10,000 before the last bid will take it home, and really, that’s an entirely reasonable number. The design language of this iteration of the Mustang was intended to take the SN95 into the 2000s, and while it wasn’t dramatically different from the Fox body that preceded it, it does look quite a bit more modern. The torque thrust-style wheels work surprisingly well, and are a nice shout-out to the Mustang’s classic connections. The colors here are a bit underwhelming, but you’ll blend into the background quite nicely if you ever run above the posted speed limit.

The one big gripe about the SN95 cars is the rear suspension design, which doesn’t allow for easy modification. In and of itself, this is not a big deal if you don’t plan to tweak the chassis, but it does make this generation less appealing than the later cars like the S197. However, if you do want to modify for both handling and power, some Mustang enthusiasts would likely tell you to buy a 5th generation model given the range of improvements made to the stock platform. However, I suspect this has also played a role in keeping prices on the low side for the New Edge cars, and if you aren’t going to track it, these shortcomings don’t really matter. The interior of this Mustang is excellent for a car with over 85,000 miles.

The 4.6L V8 does the job of sounding great and going decent, and while you will have to step up to some decent upgrades to get huge power, that’s really not the point here. This is an easy-to-live with car that can be used like a daily while clearly checking all of the must-have’s for an enthusiast vehicle. The stock engine should be good for about 260 horsepower and over 300 lb-ft of torque. Combine that with this car’s manual gearbox and you have a ton of fun for your money, with a cold air intake and exhaust livening things up for not much cash. If you can grab this Mustang for anything under $10,000, it looks like a deal to me.