Looking at Buying a C5
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Gainesville Georgia
Looking at Buying a C5
Hi, I'm currently the owner of a 1989 C4 6-speed coupe. I love mine to death and never thought I'd sell it but I realized I could afford a C5 if I sell my C4. I test drove a C5 with the 6-speed along with a 5-speed Mustang GT (2005-2009). Deep down I'm a Ford guy and I believe the Mustang GT will be more reliable, practical, and have smoother ride quality at the sacrifice of performance/handling. I have had better experience with Ford products overall and my daily driver is a 2014 F-150. The C5 drove extremely well though and blew the Mustang out of the water completely, but I know that my C4 has had its fair share of problems. At first glance, the C5 is definitely my preference and it comes down to this really: does the C5 have a significantly superior build quality over the C4 and is it a reliable vehicle, or will I be spending almost more time repairing it than driving it like with my C4?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Greensboro Nc
You can't even compare a 3 valve to any corvette since 1984... Personally, I love the 2 valve and 3 valve mustangs. Would absolutely own one, even thought they're complete dogs. However, there is no comparison from a c4, a c5, a c6, or a c7 to a 3 valve.
Its a completely different car with zero benefits besides technically a back seat to a c5. My z06 has turned 103k miles and has been amazing, better than all 3 of my toyotas and my old nissan. The C5 platform is very reliable and very well built. I had mine as my only car for many years, and I still drive it at least 10,000 miles a year.
on a trip down to florida I calculated 31.5 miles per gallon on the way there, and 30.5 on the way back. For a car with well over 400 horsepower N/A in my case, that is absolutely insane. A 3 valve won't get near that even stock, and has over 100 horsepower less. C599 on here got over 500k miles on his c5 before having an engine failure, these cars are awesomely reliable if well maintained.
Unless you just want a mustang, which is fine, the c5 is a better car and will treat you better if well maintained. If you asked me to take mine on a 5000 mile trip tomorrow I would say pack your bags.
Its a completely different car with zero benefits besides technically a back seat to a c5. My z06 has turned 103k miles and has been amazing, better than all 3 of my toyotas and my old nissan. The C5 platform is very reliable and very well built. I had mine as my only car for many years, and I still drive it at least 10,000 miles a year.
on a trip down to florida I calculated 31.5 miles per gallon on the way there, and 30.5 on the way back. For a car with well over 400 horsepower N/A in my case, that is absolutely insane. A 3 valve won't get near that even stock, and has over 100 horsepower less. C599 on here got over 500k miles on his c5 before having an engine failure, these cars are awesomely reliable if well maintained.
Unless you just want a mustang, which is fine, the c5 is a better car and will treat you better if well maintained. If you asked me to take mine on a 5000 mile trip tomorrow I would say pack your bags.
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The C5 is a very reliable car and a blast to drive.
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From: Louisiana
St.. Jude Donor '17-'18
Unless you're buying a low mileage vehicle then odds are somethings gonna be giving you troubles. I got my c5 with 90k miles now with 120k and it only really left me stuck once. But it also had a few common problems that I spent time reparing.
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Gainesville Georgia
You can't even compare a 3 valve to any corvette since 1984... Personally, I love the 2 valve and 3 valve mustangs. Would absolutely own one, even thought they're complete dogs. However, there is no comparison from a c4, a c5, a c6, or a c7 to a 3 valve.
Its a completely different car with zero benefits besides technically a back seat to a c5. My z06 has turned 103k miles and has been amazing, better than all 3 of my toyotas and my old nissan. The C5 platform is very reliable and very well built. I had mine as my only car for many years, and I still drive it at least 10,000 miles a year.
on a trip down to florida I calculated 31.5 miles per gallon on the way there, and 30.5 on the way back. For a car with well over 400 horsepower N/A in my case, that is absolutely insane. A 3 valve won't get near that even stock, and has over 100 horsepower less. C599 on here got over 500k miles on his c5 before having an engine failure, these cars are awesomely reliable if well maintained.
Unless you just want a mustang, which is fine, the c5 is a better car and will treat you better if well maintained. If you asked me to take mine on a 5000 mile trip tomorrow I would say pack your bags.
Its a completely different car with zero benefits besides technically a back seat to a c5. My z06 has turned 103k miles and has been amazing, better than all 3 of my toyotas and my old nissan. The C5 platform is very reliable and very well built. I had mine as my only car for many years, and I still drive it at least 10,000 miles a year.
on a trip down to florida I calculated 31.5 miles per gallon on the way there, and 30.5 on the way back. For a car with well over 400 horsepower N/A in my case, that is absolutely insane. A 3 valve won't get near that even stock, and has over 100 horsepower less. C599 on here got over 500k miles on his c5 before having an engine failure, these cars are awesomely reliable if well maintained.
Unless you just want a mustang, which is fine, the c5 is a better car and will treat you better if well maintained. If you asked me to take mine on a 5000 mile trip tomorrow I would say pack your bags.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
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From: Greensboro Nc
Had to replace a knock sensor, $50 for an oem found here on the classified section
replaced the turn signal stalk because I broke it while trying to clean the connections, $100 for an oem through vettenuts
replaced the steering wheel position sensor for $35 for an oem unit found here on the classified section. Mine was actually just unplugged somehow, but since I already bought the part and had the column pulled through I went ahead and replaced it anyways.
Other than that it was just tires, fluid changes, and mods that have cost me money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: West Virginia
Before I bought my C5 in 1997, I had a 5.0 Mustang LX, bought new in 1988. Utterly reliable. It went to my son at about 80k and he put about the same on it again. Then it got T-boned and my son took the check and sold it to a local guy who repaired and ran it for another 50k or so. Apart from new batteries, the only thing that ever failed (at about 5 years and again at about 10) was the fuel pump.
Nowhere near the sophistication (or complication) of my C5, but much, much more reliable - the C5 having been in the dealer every couple of months during the 3 year warranty period with electrical/electronic problems. I swore I was going to dump it when it came off warranty, but I guess the dealer had finally sorted it, as it's been fairly reliable since - apart from the oil pressure sensor, rocking driver's seat, seat memory failure, HVAC lighting and fobs. Normal C5 stuff, in other words.
We all just need to understand that the more gizmos a vehicle has, the more likely failures become.
Nowhere near the sophistication (or complication) of my C5, but much, much more reliable - the C5 having been in the dealer every couple of months during the 3 year warranty period with electrical/electronic problems. I swore I was going to dump it when it came off warranty, but I guess the dealer had finally sorted it, as it's been fairly reliable since - apart from the oil pressure sensor, rocking driver's seat, seat memory failure, HVAC lighting and fobs. Normal C5 stuff, in other words.
We all just need to understand that the more gizmos a vehicle has, the more likely failures become.
Last edited by jackthelad; Jul 9, 2017 at 07:58 PM.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville Georgia
Had to replace a knock sensor, $50 for an oem found here on the classified section
replaced the turn signal stalk because I broke it while trying to clean the connections, $100 for an oem through vettenuts
replaced the steering wheel position sensor for $35 for an oem unit found here on the classified section. Mine was actually just unplugged somehow, but since I already bought the part and had the column pulled through I went ahead and replaced it anyways.
Other than that it was just tires, fluid changes, and mods that have cost me money.
replaced the turn signal stalk because I broke it while trying to clean the connections, $100 for an oem through vettenuts
replaced the steering wheel position sensor for $35 for an oem unit found here on the classified section. Mine was actually just unplugged somehow, but since I already bought the part and had the column pulled through I went ahead and replaced it anyways.
Other than that it was just tires, fluid changes, and mods that have cost me money.
That's not including the extensive interior restoration from the original interior pieces falling apart! The seats were trashed and the driver's side door panel was loose and flapping around while I drove it.
How does the interior hold up over the years on the C5s?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
Before I bought my C5 in 1997, I had a 5.0 Mustang LX, bought new in 1988. Utterly reliable. It went to my son at about 80k and he put about the same on it again. Then it got T-boned and my son took the check and sold it to a local guy who repaired and ran it for another 50k or so. Apart from new batteries, the only thing that ever failed (at about 5 years and again at about 10) was the fuel pump.
Nowhere near the sophistication (or complication) of my C5, but much, much more reliable - the C5 having been in the dealer every couple of months during the 3 year warranty period with electrical/electronic problems. I swore I was going to dump it when it came off warranty, but I guess the dealer had finally sorted it, as it's been fairly reliable since - apart from the oil pressure sensor, rocking driver's seat, seat memory failure, HVAC lighting and fobs. Normal C5 stuff, in other words.
We all just need to understand that the more gizmos a vehicle has, the more likely failures become.
Nowhere near the sophistication (or complication) of my C5, but much, much more reliable - the C5 having been in the dealer every couple of months during the 3 year warranty period with electrical/electronic problems. I swore I was going to dump it when it came off warranty, but I guess the dealer had finally sorted it, as it's been fairly reliable since - apart from the oil pressure sensor, rocking driver's seat, seat memory failure, HVAC lighting and fobs. Normal C5 stuff, in other words.
We all just need to understand that the more gizmos a vehicle has, the more likely failures become.
All newer cars will have issues with sensors and such. No big deal honestly. I did forget that my HVAC lights are currently dim though.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Greensboro Nc
That's not too bad! I don't mind working on it some but not to the degree of my C4. I've replaced the throttle position sensor + some sensors that probably weren't bad in the first place, coolant temp. sensor for the temp. gauge, distributor cap and rotor, plenum manifold gaskets, some vacuum lines, sun-faded cluster lcd polarized film, and most recently, the driver's side rear u-joints on the half-shaft.
That's not including the extensive interior restoration from the original interior pieces falling apart! The seats were trashed and the driver's side door panel was loose and flapping around while I drove it.
How does the interior hold up over the years on the C5s?
That's not including the extensive interior restoration from the original interior pieces falling apart! The seats were trashed and the driver's side door panel was loose and flapping around while I drove it.
How does the interior hold up over the years on the C5s?
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 13,175
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From: Louisiana
St.. Jude Donor '17-'18
I replaced the steering wheel position sensor, resoldered the ebcm, adjusted the parking brake, oil pressure sensor,epoxied the vacuum canister, and patched a hole in the inner fender well. Thats all the problems I had with mine. Not a lot of money for the repairs but did add up in some time. My interior is still good other than the seat has a slight tear and some dash pieces were broke from a previous owner.
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Gainesville Georgia
that very well may be true, but the OP is looking at a much more sophisticated mustang than the one you're talking about. 2 valve and 3 valve 4.6's are very reliable engines, but by no means are they more reliable than an ls1/6.
All newer cars will have issues with sensors and such. No big deal honestly. I did forget that my HVAC lights are currently dim though.
All newer cars will have issues with sensors and such. No big deal honestly. I did forget that my HVAC lights are currently dim though.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
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From: Greensboro Nc
The 4.6 modular v8 is built like a tank, especially the 2 valve. I had one in a 1997 F-150 that lasted for a solid 212k miles before it started having a very minor head gasket leak. Again, I have my current truck as a reliable daily car so as long as the C5 is at least more reliable than my C4, that's fine with me.
Great chassis, great engine, decent transmission (assuming you aren't making big power and slamming gears)
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Gainesville Georgia
You are absolutely right. What I mean by reliability is with parts that affect the drivability/running state of the car. If a few problems pop up with interior gadgets and accessories, that's not that big of a deal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
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From: West Virginia
No reason why they should - more components to fail just means you have to source components with a longer MTBF to compensate. Toyota/Lexus among others seemed to have worked that out. As an example, my wife's 2005 Subaru Legacy GT that we passed on to a relative earlier this year never once had to go into the dealer for any kind of problem, in warranty or out; only recall was the Takata air bag fiasco. Only other thing that needed to be done was the scheduled timing belt change nominally at 105k, but we did it early, at about 95k..
That's how it should be.
That's how it should be.
Last edited by jackthelad; Jul 9, 2017 at 08:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
No reason why they should - more components to fail just means you have to source components with a longer MTBF to compensate. Toyota/Lexus among others seemed to have worked that out. As an example, my wife's 2005 Subaru Legacy GT that we passed on to a relative earlier this year never once had to go into the dealer for any kind of problem, in warranty or out; only recall was the Takata air bag fiasco. Only other thing that needed to be done was the scheduled timing belt change nominally at 105k, but we did it early, at about 95k..
That's how it should be.
That's how it should be.
My old celica (1zz engine, very reliable) blew at 130k miles. Kept turning despite the bad knock for about 15k miles when we put a new engine in. It also had many sensor issues too, and a bad cat.
My toyota truck has been my least reliable vehicle, I've had it cut off on me a couple times and not want to start a couple times. Always got me home though.
My nissan had several sensor issues and threw many codes. Mechanically though, besides 3rd gear grinding (typical from a 350z with 120k miles) it was solid. Had to tow it once because the previous owner put the wrong wheel studs in, then torqued the hell out of the lug nuts causing them to fail on a 300 mile drive.
My point is, aside from petty electrical issues the c5 is amazingly reliable. Get the column lock issue taken care of and nothing will stop you from getting where you're going.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Rocky Mountains
Incidentally, the last car I bought to compliment my motorcycle was a Toyota Tercel. It only had like 110k when I got it. I figured it should be super reliable. I had to replace the starter and the AC compressor. Then @ only 130k miles, it threw a connecting rod and I donated it to charity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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I don't think reliability, or lack thereof, should even be taken into consideration. Just about any car produced since 1997 is going to be reliable, generally speaking. How reliable will be more dependent on how well, or poorly the vehicle was maintained. Buy one that's been taken care of, and more than likely it'll take care of you. Buy one that's been neglected, and well, you know the rest...
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From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I've never owned a Mustang so I can't compare it to a C5. The C5 is light years ahead of the C4, more power, much better looks, and better reliability. I've owned 3 C5s and the only troubles I had were with the 98 but it was heavily modified (767 rwhp). The C5 has some minor problems, column lock for instance but there is a cheap fix.
Basically, if I was choosing between a Mustang and a C5, the choice would be super easy, a C5
Basically, if I was choosing between a Mustang and a C5, the choice would be super easy, a C5