looking for a 96-97 4.6 Bird

[Ryan A Harris]

Can you guys keep an eye out if one should pop up for sale. My beater is dead and I need a decent daily driver.

This next car CAN'T be a SC, too much in gas alone with filling up on premium gas. I have driven a 3.8 N/A all winter. Like I want another slow car. So the 4.6's don't seem too bad for a good all round car.

[coolhand]

I will keep my eyes open.

[Ryan A Harris]

Thanks Matt.

Can anyone tell me what the differences are between ther 94-95's and the 96-97's. I know of the front bumpers, head lights, and side moldings. But as far as mechanical differences are there any to watch out for?

Are the 94-95' any worse or better or the same as 96-97's?

Thanks for the input guys.

[fturner]

Stay away from the '94/'95 unless you want to swap the 4r7w tranny's as they where the worst. The '96/97's where better.

I'm looking at getting an used '99 from a 3.8 stang for my '94. Of course the 3.8 I have has a couple of more ponies than normal as when it was rebuilt, the guy built it up for racing but decided to stick with a 4 cylinder for his stang (dirt track racing).

At the very least, get a 8.8 trac loc in the rear, as the peg leg was brutal just in the rain, let alone the snow.

[mn12bird]

yeah they improved the trans in late 95 so I think few 95s have the better version depending on build date. also on 94/95s 3.27 and disk brakes in the rear are optional and on 96/97 they are standard. LSD might be also I can't recall. Also the intake was improved for a few extra hp. but its plastic and might crack! if you can find a sport model you will also get SC springs and sway bars. plus 16" SCish looking rims. most have spoiler and sun roof but not all sports do.

[coolhand]

Ryan
The '96/'97's are quicker than the 94/95 http://www.tccoa.com/articles/overall/desc.html Apparently the 96/97 heads breath better. The intake is a composite, and had some issues. But if your using it as a daily driver. I have had no issues with my '95 that were out of the ordinary. The tranny in mine went at about 140K and cost a lot to repair. I beleive they resolved some of the issues in the 96/97. http://www.tccoa.com/articles/tranny/trannies.html
You can get a Sport Option with the 96/97 cars http://www.tccoa.com/articles/overall/sport.html
I have never owned a later model than mine. I have seen a few, and other than subtle body changes, I didnt notice a lot. Appparently there is a difference in the way the seats are built, though I have heard pros and cons for both. Here are road test for the 96
96- http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=44125
I drove my car as a daily driver for 8 yrs, with an open diff and no snows. Just keep your foot out of the throttle. Mine had 4WD with ABS, and now has a TRACLOC from a SC. Makes it feel a lot better, but as a daily driver, IMHO, not required.

[mn12bird]

(reads edmunds road test) "MarkVIII luxury and Mustang performance" Oh Please :rolleyes:

[Ryan A Harris]

Thanks for the tip about those trans. I'm going to take a look at a 95 with 75,000km on it one night this week.