Used 1990 Ford Mustang Convertible Consumer Reviews
Used Mustang for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
5.0
isaias5885, 02/13/2009
1990 Ford Mustang LX 2dr Convertible
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This was supposed to my project car. I own a 2005 Scion Tc also. Since I bought the Mustang I haven't driven the Tc. This 5.0 is amazing. Just a full tune up and I was having the time of my life. I'm never selling this car.
I currently own a 1985
ThatGuy, 08/26/2015
1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 2dr Convertible
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I am the second owner of a 47K mile 1985 5.0 LX vert. I love this car, i have a chevy Volt i drive daily and have this as a weekend nice weather cruiser. The car has a bunch of upgrades and a few things removed, because at this point it is a classic and will never have to be smogged again. The car by today's standards is horribly inefficient, extremely unsafe, and the fit and finish from day one was terrible. They rusted the day you left the lot, and there are not many left that are either original cars, or were looked after there entire life. The convertibles suffer from chassis twist due to torque, and there are quite a bunch of them out there that are permanently bent. What makes these cars great is the simplicity, anyone can pick up a cheap set of tools and wrench on these cars, the parts are cheap, and with less than 1000.00 you can put together a junk yard 500+HP build. Mechanically they are pretty well bulletproof, and are very simple to fix when they break. These however are not cars you buy to daily drive any longer, unless you are a kid, who has the time to work on them weekly to fix things, and does not care about safety or fuel costs. All this being said, the sound of the old small block 5.0 is intoxicating, the grunt when you lift off the clutch and the gear engages, and the RPM's rise is what draws the motor heads to these cars, and the reason mine will be mine until i die. Here is a brief list for anyone checking reviews for a Fox body mustang they want to buy.. 1. They rust, but the worst places are generally at the lower portions of the strut towers where the weld is to the frame rails in the engine bay. If they are rusted, unless this is a low number car like an original Saleen, i would just walk away. 2. The Rear main seals are notorious to leak, this is a cheap part, but you have to take the tranny off to get it out, so be prepared for a new clutch, and all the additional parts that will likely need to be replaced.. 3. Valve cover gaskets were cork, they are probably shot too.. 4. Intake manifold gaskets leak out of the rear, generally leak down the rear of the engine and look like a rear main seal, when they probably aren't they are cheap and easy to fix for even a novice. 5. Oil pan gaskets leak, these are not fun to change.. Generally have to lift the engine about 3in to clear the cross member, and you don't want it to continue to leak, it will burn off the collectors off the exhaust.. 6. Every vacuum line under the hood is likely dry rotted by now, you will likely have to re-plumb every line, or make the choice to go carb and get rid of all the clutter of lines. 7. Body rust, if it is a vert, keep in mind that doors are nearly impossible to find, so if there is rust in the doors, i would just walk away. 8. electrical.. Most of these cars if they are stock have a solid electrical system. 9. exhausts, although they were stainless, they are likely also shot by now, i needed to replace mine, and it ran me about 1100.00 to do it the right way. 10. Convertible tops are 1200.00 11. Convertibles should have frame connectors installed, this will stop the flex, and the rattling.. It's worth doing. 12. suspension, most of the parts for the suspension are cheap, easy to find, and easy to replace. Aside from the listed items above, anyone looking to buy one of these should check the forums first as they generally have classifieds of these for sale, and most of them listed on those sites have been well taken care of.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Noisy top
mustang_1990, 05/22/2011
1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The convertible frame it rattles as the car gets into bumpy roads. I know it is a 21 y/o car, but is there something I can do without getting the whole frame replaced?
Love My Car
sds1433, 03/12/2004
1990 Ford Mustang GT 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have been driving this car for years now and the only time it is serviced is for oil changes and tune ups. For eight years of driving and 126,000 miles I couldn't ask for a more reliable automobile!!! Never had any problem with the convertible top either. Still does not leak.
<3 my Fox
Amy, 09/19/2016
1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My 1990 LX convertible is my baby; I've had her for about 4 years now. I get about 9 miles to the gallon with the top down (about 21-25 with it up). She needs constant cajoling and almost weekly repairs, but I have been able to do most of them with no training and very few tools, and there's nothing better than putzing on a car in the afternoon. I swear I've replaced half that car by now, but parts are cheap and the repairs are usually easy (quarter windows are miserable, avoid at all costs). There are no atheists driving her in the rain, I've skidded sideways through more lanes than I can count. The one airbag is a nice thought. The engine is so big it barely charges the battery during city driving, and I have to get her on the highway at 60MPH once a week for a 10-30 minutes to recharge her just so she starts up every morning .... I know, poor me. Compared to modern cars, the controls are spartan - and this is the LX, with cruise, power windows, mirrors and locks. But every time I start that 5.0 up and hear that roar I smile. Every time I leave jerks driving Hondas in the dust when the light turns green light I grin. Handling that car is epic (as long as the pavement is dry) and the sound and feel of that engine is amazing. I can't ever imagine driving something else, because this car makes me so happy. Fox 4 for life. Some tips for future owners: keep water and oil in the trunk ALWAYS, and learn how to check everything. ALWAYS get the car out on the highway for a little while a week; they just behave themselves better if you do that. Be prepared to replace pieces often. And enjoy that thing!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
My toy
Gene, 02/23/2007
1990 Ford Mustang GT 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought new and kept that way with less than 35,000 miles on Jan 1 2007. Expect to maintain new status at least 15 more years. Driven by a now 'age- challenged' man, never wrecked nor even scratched. Style lines very much reminiscent of 66 / 67 Mustang. Elegant and functional. Next outing Easter, then the July 4 parade (as usual). I fight off the offers for the car. After all it's not broken in good - yet. All its original parts still produce the Mustang sound. They hear me coming!
m
Woody, 05/01/2002
1990 Ford Mustang GT 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
it is an excellent car with precision handling and a real nice sounding engine, very comfortable
Fun but not Comfortable
SpeedOne, 05/16/2003
1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great car to drive short distances, but the poor suspension and lack of good seats make long drives difficult. The sound system is good, but you can't hear it without blasting when you drive over 45 miles per hour (and in this car, the fun begins much faster than that!).
Mostly bark and little bite
streets, 01/09/2009
1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 2dr Convertible
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
We've owned this car for over 15 years and despite the great expense and poor performance, my husband wouldn't get rid of it until a truck totaled it while parked (thank you truck driver). Very loud car. Due to the convertible pillars, vision was lousy. The car could not drive in any little bit of snow, and was even pretty unsafe in the rain. We experienced the overall quality of early 1990's Ford cars, which is to say expensive to maintain with many quality control issues.
m
woody, 05/01/2002
1990 Ford Mustang GT 2dr Convertible
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
it is an excellent car with precision handling and a real nice sounding engine, very comfortable