Used Ford Mustang for sale: everything you need to know
Alongside the VW Beetle and the Mini, Mustang must be one of the most famous badges in motoring. The original hit American roads in 1964 and it’s pretty much a wheeled representation of the American Dream, at least to those of us who don’t live there. In 2015, Ford officially began selling the sixth-generation car here in the UK, in right-hand drive, and it’s pretty much unique in the modern market.
The Mustang has been offered in 2.3-litre four-cylinder and 5-litre V8 forms, and you’re likely to find more of the latter on the used market - it was simply a better seller, most buyers understandably wanting the quickest and best-sounding version of a car they’d waited years to get their hands on. The Mustang actually represented pretty good value when new, and while it’s not depreciated as quickly as some contemporaries, there are still some very appealing deals available today on the used market.
Should you buy a Ford Mustang?
There’s nothing quite like the Ford Mustang, and that means if the idea appeals, it’s not really a case of whether you should buy one or not - it’s pretty much the only option. There aren’t many big V8 coupes to begin with, and fewer still that are naturally-aspirated or offer a manual gearbox, and even if you ignore the chunky, retro-inspired styling, that’s enough to make the Mustang stand out.
It’s not a one-trick pony either, if you’ll pardon the pun. The V8 offers ample performance of course, and sounds fantastic, but it’s also just great to drive whether you’re going fast or slowly. Even just rumbling around with other traffic is an event, but pick up the pace and the ‘Stang is surprisingly capable, albeit not as sharp as some smaller, lighter European competitors.
For a big car the interior can feel quite cosy, and the rear seats tend towards occasional use only. But the big front seats are incredibly comfortable - maybe that’s to be expected in a car from a country where big road trips are the norm - and even cooled on some models, which is a blessing in hot weather. Equipment levels are generous too, and while the cabin feels a little cheap in places, we suspect most owners won’t care, as just like the exterior, it looks the part and offers a great view down that long bonnet.
As hinted, there’s nothing really quite like the Mustang. Other big V8 coupes include the Lexus RC F, Mercedes-AMG C63, and older versions of the BMW M3, but all of them have a very different feel to the Ford. Six-cylinder coupes like the Toyota Supra and later BMW M4s are worth a look too, but again - it’s not really the same experience. And for the 2.3-litre Ecoboost Mustang, cars like the four-cylinder Supra, GT86 and GR86, and Audi TT might be an option.
What’s the best used Ford Mustang model to buy?
The V8. Any of them, really, as they all get to the core of what the Mustang is about: the sound, the feel, and the character. The 2.3-litre Ecoboost is plenty quick enough and may cost you a few pennies less to run, but it doesn’t really offer the same experience. We’d also pick the chunky manual gearshift and the Fastback body style, though if you’re more a cruiser than a bruiser then the automatic convertible is worth a look too. Most Mustangs will have been upgraded with option packages when new, but equipment levels were good even in basic form.
Used Ford Mustang fuel economy and performance
- Ford Mustang 2.3 Ecoboost: Available from launch as an alternative to the V8, the 2.3-litre Ecoboost produced 317PS (detuned to 290PS from 2018), with 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds and 35.3mpg combined.
- Ford Mustang 5.0 V8: Five litres and eight cylinders mean this is the ‘proper’ Mustang for a lot of buyers. It made 418PS at launch and in 2018 was upgraded to 450PS, with manual and automatic gearbox options. 0-62mph comes up in 4.6 seconds, and economy is 20mpg combined.
- Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8: A power boost to 460PS reduces the 0-62mph time down to 4.4 seconds in its quickest form, with economy of up to 24.1mpg.
What used Ford Mustang trim levels are available?
- The Ford Mustang GT came in fastback and convertible forms, with 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, and a touchscreen infotainment display, with options including satnav, a B&O sound system and different alloy wheel designs.
- The Ford Mustang GT Shadow Edition arrived in 2017 and got 19-inch black alloy wheels, black exterior detail elements, and black badges, with a Shaker Pro sound system.
- The Ford Mustang Bullitt was offered from 2018, and references the classic Steve McQueen movie and its star car. It came only in dark green paint, with some chrome elements and special alloy wheels. An upgraded intake and exhaust system resulted in 464PS, and it got Brembo brakes too.
- The Ford Mustang 55 celebrated the Mustang’s 55th anniversary in 2019, and came with a bodykit, a black grille, optional rear spoiler, and a black roof, plus 19-inch alloys and a Bang & Olufsen audio system.
- The Ford Mustang GT California Special Convertible is, as the name suggests, convertible-only, with a new design of 19-inch alloy wheel, cooled seats, bespoke badging and suede interior inserts.
- The Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback gets the more powerful variant of the V8 engine, plus a unique bodykit and front grille. MagneRide suspension and Brembo brakes were standard, as were leather sports seats.
- The Ford Mustang Mach Fastback Appearance was an optional appearance package for the Mach 1, with Fighter Jet Grey paintwork, satin black bonnet stripes, and orange accents on the body, the Brembo brakes, and some interior trim elements.
Used Ford Mustang dimensions and boot size
The Ford Mustang’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4789mm
- Width: 1985mm
- Height: 1382mm
- Ground clearance: 137mm
The Ford Mustang’s boot size is:
- 408 litres for the Fastback
- 332 litres for the Convertible
Used Ford Mustang road tax
The Mustang was introduced in the UK in 2015, so the first couple of years of cars are subject to taxation based on their CO2 emissions. As you can imagine, these emissions aren’t insignificant in a big American coupe, with the Ecoboost’s 179g/km attracting a £335 annual bill and the 299g/km GT a maximum £735 per year. Post-2017, you’ll pay less, with cars that came in under £40,000 attracting a fee of just £190 per year (which should be most Ecoboosts and even some earlier GTs), while more expensive models get a surcharge, lifting VED to £600 per year - still less than the pre-2017 rate.
How much is it to insure a Ford Mustang?
Mustang insurance group ratings are probably about where you’d expect of a high-performance coupe. An Ecoboost model in standard trim starts in group 41 and the V8-engined GT in group 43, and the Mach 1 in group 44. That’s actually a little less than some premium rivals - the V8-powered Lexus RC F begins in group 45 for instance - but may still require deep pockets for some buyers.
