Does This Stang Make You Want to Drop the Top?

Does this pony scream sweet cruiser, or is it a loser?

How could we forget the New Edge Mustang? The fourth generation Mustang, coded as the SN-95, was produced by Ford from 1994-2004.

The design team behind the 1994 fourth generation could be credited with saving the Mustang. There were originally plans to convert the American Muscle into an economical, 4 cyl, front wheel drive platform. It would have had the legendary car's namesake, and just about nothing else to go along with it.

A team eventually executed plans for a new-and-improved Mustang platform, and the fourth gen was underway. Ford realized the car had potential to bring the Mustang back to its stellar reputation, and ended up allocating $700 million to focus on improving the fox body platform all around.

The SN-95 was born, with the original design lasting from 1994-1998. In 1999, the highly anticipated New Edge design was released. Ford wanted to alter their image during this time, so the "New Edge" team focused on creating sharper contours and eliminating soft lines. The design was modern. It was an aggressive yet subtle look all packaged into one car. The GT featured Ford's 4.6 V8, since the 5.0 was discontinued after the '96 model year and did not resurface till the 2011 model year.

It was not the most powerful Mustang available, but the design was definitely fresh. This 4.6 was higher-output than the older 5.0's, so new technology played a part in its improvement.

This low mileage example of a "New Edge" 2001 Ford Mustang GT seems to sit mechanically solid. Will the body kit resonate with buyers, or has that fad come and gone?

With just under 24,000 miles, this car seems well preserved and sparingly used. With the lack of rust and wear, it seems credible to believe that the car was in fact garage-kept for the majority of its life. This specific model is a convertible, and significantly less convertibles than coupes were sold for this model year in the GT package.

She is also nicely optioned, with leather seats, A/C, a Bose sound system and the desirable 5 speed manual transmission.

As far as modifications go, performance-wise it seems to present the bare minimal. The owner obviously seems concerned with the cosmetics of the car, which is fine when the modifications are done for personal pleasure. An aftermarket back-up camera was also added at some point in its life, a nice touch to keep the body pristine during its rare use.

What makes this ad debatable is the cosmetic touches. These are catered to a very specific car enthusiast, and most of the time, others simply love 'em or hate 'em- there's not much in between. This owner's touches include an engine dress up kit for an extra shiny look under the hood. It also features a bulky body kit, or "Full Ground Effects Professionally installed."

Now, ground effects are great. They add a splash of 'pop' to a plain design, and can really add character when done right. However, there are a wide range of looks and usually, enthusiasts make decisions that cater to them. Unless it's a very specific and generally liked kit (such as a HFP kit for a Honda), it is hard to find a buyer that is not hesitant when they see this kind of work has been done- especially if the original panels are unavailable, something this seller makes no mention of.

He goes on to say it is show quality and would be a stand out at car shows. While it is hard to argue the point about it being a stand out, that does not necessarily mean in a good way.

Don't get me wrong, the car is very clean and seems to be well taken care of... but if it didn't have its quirks, it simply would not be on this page!

So, based on what you know, at $10,500 for this '01 Stang, does this drop top GT tickle your fancy, or would you rather shop around as far as you can see? Let us know, you decide!

View the full ad here.