7
0
Sporty/performance car; Built in USA
  • 2-door convertible
  • 2-door coupe
  • 2-door hatchback
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $3,400*


1992 Ford Mustang GT 2-door convertible


1993 Ford Mustang GT 2-door hatchback


1990 Ford Mustang 2-door hatchback


1992 Ford Mustang 2-door convertible


1991 Ford Mustang interior

Pros:
  • Acceleration (V8 models)
  • Handling/roadholding
Cons:
  • Acceleration (4-cylinder)
  • Fuel economy (V8)
  • Noise
  • Rear-seat room
  • Ride

To be frank, few other cars offer as much bang for the buck as a Mustang. Only the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird rank as true rivals. Despite high insurance rates and poor gas mileage, Mustangs still deliver good overall value, new or used.

Overview

By 1990, this generation of Ford’s popular rear-drive ponycar was more than a decade old, having been introduced for 1979. Mustangs came in coupe and convertible form, accompanied by a 2-door hatchback coupe. All three body styles were available in LX trim with a standard 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine or optional V8 (dubbed LX 5.0L). The high-performance GT was limited to hatchback and convertible bodies and included the V8 engine. A driver-side airbag arrived for 1990, along with rear shoulder belts.

Yearly Updates

1991 Mustang
Four-cylinder engines gained two spark plugs per cylinder and 15 horsepower, now rated at 105. Convertible tops now folded closer to the body. Automatic transmissions added a brake/shift interlock.
1992 Mustang
Color-keyed bodyside moldings and bumper rub strips decorated LX Mustangs, and all got a new dome lamp. In short, nothing much was new.
1993 Mustang
A limited-edition Cobra emerged in 1993 with a modified 245-horsepower engine. Marketed only with 5-speed manual shift, Cobras also employed an altered suspension for tighter-yet handling, 4-wheel disc brakes, and 245/ZR17 tires (versus 15-inchers for “lesser” Mustangs). Ford had a rounder, redesigned Mustang waiting for debut as a ’94 model.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

Mustangs came with only two engines in 1990: an 88-horsepower, 2.3-liter 4-cylinder for the LX; and a husky 225-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 for the GT and LX 5.0. The V8 whipped out 300 pound-feet of torque, enhancing the Mustang’s muscle-car reputation. Either a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission might be installed. Four-cylinder engines jumped to 105 horsepower for 1992, helped by two spark plugs per cylinder. Ford revised its method of engine measurement in 1993, saying new figures more accurately reflected engine output in on-road conditions. So, the 5.0-liter V8 then rated 205 horsepower (instead of 225) and 275 pound-feet (“down” from 300). Cobras of 1993 carried a 245-horse modification of the regular engine.

ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.3/140
Engine HP 105
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 135
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		22/30
22/29 		19.8
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.0/302
Engine HP 205-225
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 275-300
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		17/24
17/24 		15.3
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.0/302
Engine HP 245
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 320
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual

 NA
ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.3/140
Engine HP 88
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 132
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual

 23/29

Road Test

Best to skip the weak, noisy 4-cylinder engine, with its poor repair record. For reliable and strong performance choose the V8, but watch out for its notorious poor wet-weather traction and dismal fuel economy, especially in town. Four-cylinder models average in the low twenties.

Ride quality is well-controlled on base models. In the GT, you can definitely expect to jiggle and jounce over harsh pavement, courtesy of an admittedly stiff suspension. However, it is that suspension that makes the GT model handle so well, while the base model leans over heavily even in modest turns. Brakes are one of the bigger bugaboos. Front-disc/rear-drum brakes are simply not up to par for a car of this caliber.

Passenger space is fine up front but tight in back. Hatchbacks offer plenty of cargo space with the rear seatback folded down. Convertibles are fun, of course, but bodies are likely to be loose and rattly. Controls are small and some awkwardly placed, but overall better than a Chevy Camaro.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Ford Mustang GT

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 2
20%
Steering/Handling - 7
70%
Quietness - 2
20%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Front - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Rear - 3
30%
Cargo Room - 3
30%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 39

Specifications

2-door convertible
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
100.5 179.6 68.3 52.1
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
6.4 15.4 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.6 37.0 41.7 30.7
2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
100.5 179.6 68.3 52.1
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
10.0 15.4 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.0 35.9 41.7 30.7
2-door hatchback
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
100.5 179.6 68.3 52.1
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
30.0 15.4 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.0 35.7 41.7 30.7
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1993 Mustang 2-door coupe

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 152
Injury 118
Theft 179

Trouble Spots

Blower motor
Description: Squeaking or chirping blower motors are the result of defective brush holders. (1993)
Suspension problems
Description: It may be impossible to align the front end and get the camber correct due to the dimensions of the crossmember across the spring seats. (1990-93)
Vehicle noise
Description: A chattering noise that can be felt coming from the rear during tight turns after highway driving is caused by a lack of friction modifier or over-shimming of the clutch packs in the Traction-Lok differential. (1990-93)
Wipers
Description: Because water commonly seeps past the hood seal onto the wiper motor, the wipers may be erratic or quit working. (1990-93)

Recall History

1990-93
Description: Ignition switch could short-circuit and overheat, causing smoke and possible fire.
1991
Description: Park rod assembly of automatic overdrive transmission may contain a cam with inadequate surface hardness, which could lead to disengagement or nonengagement when lever is placed in “Park” position; with parking brake off, vehicle could then roll away.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 10, 2014.
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