Moving to California from Scotland! Help!
 

Hellllo all,

Been a while since I was on here, hope your all well and that greg has rebuilt his car that made out with a pole! I graduated in May, sold my car and moved back to Scotland - sad times! HOWEVER on the 29th I am moving to California to start full time work out there - I can't wait!!!

Proper job = proper salary = proper car. Here is where I need help. I really loved my 2000 V6 even with all its inadequicies (word?) it just had so much character. I'm think of spending about 20K on a new car. Can that get me a good shape 05 GT? I still love the old shape but for resale etc. I'm guessing it would be more sensible to ge the newer one.

My main fear is (pleeease dont laugh!) gas milage! I know the value Ford state is reasonable but is it true that most people get only abouot 16mpg? I desperately want another mustang but in my price range there are definitely other fun cars that have milages up in the mid to late 20's even when you drive them hard. The 20K I'm spending on a car is at my upper limit so hundreds more dollars on fuel each month would be bad news.

Are there a lot of OC mustang owners on the boards? If so Helllo!

I guess I didnt actually ask a direct question in the post above...I'm basically just poking around to see if you think I should stretch my money to get the 05 and be very careful about gas or mibbe save some and get a great condition 03 or 04... thanks all

gas if ur buying a v8..gas milage shouldnt be a concern cause there isnt much MPG

for 20k, it would be hard to find a nice looking, low milage 05 GT. around me they are around 25k-28k depending on the trim level and what toys it has on it. a good web site is cars.com, put in the area code where you will live and look up the car you want. this will give a real good idea how much they are in that area.

Cars generally cost more in California than most other parts of the Country....cause we pretty much get screwed on the price of everything....anyway, mustangs in Cali are like a dime-a-dozen so you won't have problems finding either style. I'm not sure what a used 05 GT is going for these days, but you could find an 03/04 Mach 1 for $20-23k and LOTS of nice 03/04 GT's for $15+K.

If you like the 05+ style then be patient and find one you like in your price range. I haven't been a huge fan of the new style, but after having some seat time in an 05 GT I can tell you they are very cool cars with nice power and respond very well to mods.

Where in Cali are you moving to? I think someone mentioned the OC? Your going to be happier that a pig in sh** in Cali...and if you are living in the OC you'll be even happier.....the weather is freaking tropical compared to Scotland.

Thanks for the info! Moving to near Irvine/Laguna area. I'm starting work with Oakley - I CANNOT wait. It's going to be really tough but a lot of fun. I'm annoyed that I'm missing out on the chearer cars - I lived in SC for a little and everything is cheaper there! I bought a pristine 2000 V6 for 6000 and sold it for over 7! It doesnt get better than that. I have a feeling thats going to be hard to come by in Cali!

Oh your one lucky dude to be living close Laguna....that is one of the most amazing places in Cali. Good luck and congrats on your new job with Oakley

good luck...

uh... dude just buy a GT... Make sure its a stick...

I got 21mpg on my mustang with a 302... (thats city miles)(not highway)(:D)

just drive it easy and ya'll go further... and headers and losin cats help as well as a tune and intake...

i would personally get a 03/04 mach 1...average price is around 20k

lol and if u want a nice 04 auto v6 with low miles...well i got the one for you :breakdancesmilie:

Thanks for the best wishes - I can't wait to go! A few of you are suggesting Mach 1's ..I don't really know much about them - was/is it a really good car with different suspension etc. from the GT? I plan on taking whatever car I get up into the mountains - It will get a workout. I'm going to miss the curvy roads in Scotland!

JACK THE RIPPER has a nice stang 04 he has a child on the way he was talking about selling . give him a shout!

I P.M'd him...if he bites my head off its your fault!:nunu:

I would defanitely look into getting a 03/03 MAch 1. Hell for a few thousand more you might even be able to find your self an 03 cobra. Either way you'll be living in the OC where there is a ridiculous amount of hot women.Mostly bitches, but damn hot. Are you working at the Oakley there in Mission Viejo? If so, I've driven by there many times. Congrats on whatever you get and remember to go with black.

LOL..... my car would get tons of bitches in cali. lol.

i sent you a PM

nah he won't do that...

unless yer a prostitute... If ya have sex for money then yer a goner

Damn right, then mah strang'lin hands take over!!!!!!!!!!:nunu:

oof I have a lot to reply to - no im not a prostitute (tho im sure there are some pretty rich Cali housewives who wouldn't mind a guy in a kilt!)

Secondly luckily I'm actually not trying to impress the ladies with the car - I have a fantastically wonderful fiancee moving there with me (She's American, 4 years in and apparently not bored of the accent!). Though yes they are SMOKING hot in california - I'm worried about walking into lamp posts becasue of staring at wee tight butts. The car therefore is solely for celebrating the fact that I have a serious love of a stick shift on a curvy road and a V8 in a straight line!!

I really appreciate the help, I forgot how neat a place this forum is. I'm still really interested in the 05 Gt - I have a pinger for the 3D Carbon kit and they are about 10 mins from me. BUT I just can't help the fact that I loved the shape of my 2000 and was so sad to see it go. A "collector" car like a Mach would be v cool! Aghhhh life is tough ha! Dont even get me started on the fact I drove a friends 350Z and have to say I didnt want to like it, but shit its good.

Sorry that was a big message - haha you can tell I'm into this. Have a great thanksgiving guys!

I love the fact that we are COMPLETELY off the fact that this thread started with my fear of how bad the Mpg of the GT's is. I think I might have to get an apt near work and cycle every day

LOL, well, my car might not be for you then, She's an auto, then again, maybe that is a good idea in california traffic. :silvercup:

he's a puss... thats why he can only kill women... men would kick his butt

Haha sh1t sorry Jack..I didn't realize that (not the killing women part, the auto) Yeahhhh well you broached another topic there. I REFUSE having grown up with stick shifts to have an auto but I'm sure I'm going to eat my words one day stuck in a 50 mile traffic jam. It's not so bad over here, u know, just stop for sheep every so often ;D

N1ftyneil, I forgot to mention that my friends dad might be selling his 03 Mach 1 pretty soon. If he finally decides to get a 06 vette then he will sell it for sure. Let me know if its something you might be considering. He is located in Diamond Bar, like 30-40 minutes from you.

No biggie. once i sell the stang and get a 5.0, you bet yer ass it is gonna be a manual :t:

good lad!

what year are you going to get?? hard top or convt.

hahah great now we're on to helping him! :argue: hehe just kiddin!