Winter Shopping in FL for Mustang

The Protege is ten years old and nearing the end of its life.

At the moment, the only car that remotely makes me take note is a Mustang convertible. (I who swore he would never drive a domestic) I am thinking 2007 or later. Nothing under 23k in Canada and that is all V6. V8 cars seem stuck in the 30k+ range

Quick look in the Tampa area finds all kinds if cars in the 15-19k price range. Even with the 2k cost to get her over the boarder, that sounds like a deal. Have Dad shop for the car, fly down for Xmas and drive home.

Anyone with experience care to comment on the car or the plan?

Any reason your cut-off is '07? The S197 bodystyle started with '05, so you've got a few more years you could be looking at.

Other than that, it sounds pretty solid to me.

I would like this project to land in my driveway for 25k or less. I tend to keep cars till they are 10 years old. 07 is already halfway past the life expectancy.

If anything, I would move up a year or two. Just starting to look at the Tampa area market, and since color is not really an issue, there seems to be a lot of choice.

I would have a hard time shopping for a V6 Mustang that wasn't a 3.7 Duratec. I mean 300hp and 30 mpgs on the highway compared to 210 hp and 26 mpg highway. A quick search local to me (WI) and I can find two v6 2011 'stangs for $23-24k, both with premium package. Ones a 'vert with a manual too.

Agreed with RossD.

Can you just drive below the border and buy new? Or did I hear something about that being frowned upon by the Canadian DMV?

Matt B wrote: Agreed with RossD. Can you just drive below the border and buy new? Or did I hear something about that being frowned upon by the Canadian DMV?

Just below the border is salt land. Less likely to find verts and prices are higher since they are closer.

I think I will do better if I take a week at xmas to go visit the parental units in FL and while the women are at the mall, I will be on the hunt for a car.

While the V8 is desirable, never having owned a V8 car, keep in mind that this thing is going to be a "Toaster"; the POS appliance that gets me back and forth to work. During its life I won't be spending a lot of love nor money on it. I have a shop full of British crap that gets all the love and money in exchange for....well, nothing, if I want to be honest.