Owner:
Casey (black_97mustang)

Basics:
1997 V6 Mustang
Black with gray interior

Tranny:
Automatic with a B&M "Shift Plus" shift kit

Wheels:
Stock 2002 GT "Takeoffs" Wheels wrapped in 245/45/ZR17 Goodyear Eagle Tires, slowed down by zinc-plated cross-drilled and slotted rotors

Exhaust:
MAC dual exhaust system (using stock Y-pipe)

Performance:
-Cold Air Intake
-Crank Underdrive Pulley

For the Future:
-Upgrade headlights (soon)
-3.73 gears with trac-lok
-Leather seats
-Lowering Springs
-High flow cats
-LT's
-Possibly a Saleen/Stalker bodykit

Background:
The last car I had was a Red 1995 Dodge Neon. It was a great little get-around car that got almost 30 miles to the gallon in the city and about 38 on the highway. I went the ricer route and put a full Wings West bodykit on it, as well as a Terminator 2 spoiler. It was straight-piped coming out of a single side dual-outlet exhaust tip and sounded more or less like a dying cow now that I look back on it. It was a fun car to drive and was a lot of fun to build, but with time comes change and it was time for a change in January of 2004.

I was on my way to the bank when I first saw the car. It was sitting out in an open field with the number "$4000" written on the windshield. It was completely stock, but in emaculate condition. I looked it over and ended up taking it for a test drive after calling the owner. Evidentally he only bought and sold repossesed cars (he was a certified dealer, working out of his home). The car had terrible acceleration during the test drive; I could tell it was bogged down, but I fell in love with it. When I got back I asked the dealer what his bottom dollar was, and he told me $3,750. That seemed like a lot to a guy who paid for his own insurance and gas and was working for $6.10/hour, so I told him I'd call him back.

After thinking it over, I decided one day that I would simply buy it and stop thinking about if everything would work out. I went to the bank with my parents and got a cosigner loan spread out over 3 years, making the payments $64/month. I told the guy I'd give him $3,700 cash for it, and he took it. Easy.

The first thing I did (before even legalizing the car!) was buy a K&N air filter for it. After fitting it correctly, I started it up and took it for a spin around the block (a quick spin...it wasn't street legal without plates/insurance) I could tell an immediate power difference. The stock air filter was filthy, so this really opened the car up. After seeing this large power increase, I decided that I would not be making as drastic of "show" modifications as I did to the Neon, and work more towards "go" mods.

I added wheels and tires a few weeks after buying the car, because I couldn't stand the look of the stock V6 wheels (especially since one of them was missing a center cap). From there came window tint for my birthday, cold air induction, MAC dual exhaust, underdrive pulleys, and cross-drilled and slotted rotors. I've become addicted to mods and I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon.

What the future holds for this car I am not sure of. I had problems with it recently (which is what made this article delayed) so I'm not sure how much longer the engine is going to hold out. I'm still debating on whether I'll drop another V6 in it or go with a V8. Either way I plan on keeping the car until this engine dies out, because the body is still in such great condition. But if not, I might have to get a 99+ and see what kind of fun that brings...