Models · Ford
Ford Mustang S197 buying guide
The fifth-generation Mustang was built from 2005 to 2014 with V6 and V8 engines, including the 5.0 Coyote from 2011, as a fastback and convertible. Ford never sold it officially in the UK, so cars here are imports, almost all left-hand drive.
The versions
- 4.0 V6, 207bhp, and 4.6 V8, 296bhp (311bhp in the GT from 2009)
- From 2011: 3.7 V6, 301bhp, and 5.0 V8 Coyote, 406bhp (414bhp from 2013)
- Boss 302 (438bhp) and supercharged Shelby GT500 (5.4 V8, 542bhp; 5.8 V8, 653bhp from 2013)
- Manual or automatic; fastback and convertible
- Not built in right-hand drive; some cars have been converted
What to check on a S197 Mustang
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Import modifications to lights and cruise control
What to look for: Check every light works, including the brake lights, and that the cruise control works. Look for LED brake bulbs swapped for ordinary bulbs, and ask for the import paperwork, including the C386 customs form on cars imported when more than four years old.
Why it matters: Some imported cars were modified to pass the UK IVA or SVA test, and poor work causes trouble because the lights are computer controlled. Cruise control can be disabled by a cut brake light wire. The customs form shows the car was imported properly.
Spark plugs on early V8s
What to look for: On a 2005 to 2008 V8, ask whether the spark plugs have been changed and by whom, and look for receipts.
Why it matters: The original plugs on these engines are in two sections and can snap when removed, especially from cold, needing a special extraction tool. Some low-mileage early cars may still have their original plugs, so it's worth knowing before the job comes due.
Second gear crunch
What to look for: On a manual, drive the car from cold and change into second gear several times. Note any crunch.
Why it matters: Worn synchromesh can cause a crunch into second gear when the gearbox is cold.
Also in the full guide
- Rear axle pinion seal
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the S197 Mustang
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Ford.