Used Ford for Sale in Phoenix

Character

The S197 returned the Mustang to its classic proportions and gave Ford a platform it could develop through two distinct powertrain eras - the pre-2011 4.6L three-valve cars are honest performers with a loyal following, but the 2011+ 5.0L Coyote cars are genuinely transformative. The Coyote's 412-420 hp from a naturally aspirated 5.0L, combined with a responsive chassis and solid rear axle that provides excellent traction on corner exits, makes it one of the most satisfying American sports cars of its era. Bullitt and Boss 302 variants pushed the S197 to its logical conclusion - 444 hp, suspension tuning borrowed from development drivers, and an exhaust note that's among the best of any production car.

What to Look For

Pre-2011 4.6L GT cars are underwhelming by modern standards and their appeal is largely nostalgic - the power output is modest at 300-315 hp and the platform feels dated compared to 2011+ examples. Solid rear axle clunks and bushing wear are the most common inspection items on higher-mileage S197s - push and pull the rear axle during inspection and listen for play in the differential mounts and lower control arm bushings. Cooling system maintenance history matters on Coyote cars that have seen hard use, as the cylinder head bolts and gaskets are a known concern on high-heat examples.

Modification Notes

The Coyote V8 in the 2011-2014 S197 is one of the most supercharger-friendly engines Ford has ever produced - a Roush, Whipple, or ProCharger kit on a stock-bottom Coyote reliably delivers 600-700 rwhp with excellent street manners and proven reliability. Naturally aspirated builds with cam upgrades, ported heads, and long-tube headers produce 450-480 rwhp and maintain the engine's already excellent high-rpm character. The solid rear axle is actually an asset for drag strip builds - 3.73 or 4.10 gear swaps combined with sticky tires give the S197 excellent 60-foot times that independent rear cars can't always match.

Character

The S550 Mustang is the car that finally made the platform fully competitive with European sports cars on a road course - the independent rear suspension transformed the Mustang's handling from adequate to genuinely impressive, and subsequent iterations with the Performance Package and active exhaust made the GT a well-rounded sports car rather than just a straight-line machine. The Mach 1 and Bullitt variants use a modified 5.0L Coyote producing 480 hp with improved breathing and intake work, and combined with the Performance Pack Level 2 suspension and Brembo brakes, they represent the best naturally aspirated Mustang money could buy before the S650 arrived. Track-focused buyers should seek examples with the GT350 front suspension or Handling Package, which includes MagneRide dampers and a front splitter that dramatically improves high-speed stability.

What to Look For

The 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission exhibits shift quality variance across early production examples - some units shift crisply across the range while others feel hesitant or confused in spirited driving. Test drive any automatic S550 in multiple drive modes and pay attention to downshift quality under load before deciding. Independent rear suspension bushing wear is an inspection point on tracked S550s - the rear knuckle bushings and subframe mounts can deteriorate with repeated high-load cornering, and proper inspection requires a lift and visual confirmation. Active exhaust valve actuators can fail on high-mileage examples, presenting as a stuck-open exhaust that's noticeably louder than normal - minor but worth knowing about.

Modification Notes

The S550 Coyote is extraordinarily tolerant of power adders - Whipple and Roush supercharger kits on the stock GT engine routinely deliver 600-700 rwhp with proven reliability on the stock bottom end, and E85 fuel pushes that ceiling higher. Naturally aspirated builds with GT350 intake manifolds, aftermarket cams, and long-tube headers can approach 500 rwhp while maintaining excellent street driveability. The S550's chassis is well-supported by aftermarket coilover suppliers, and a proper alignment with adjustable rear toe links transforms the already competent factory handling into something genuinely precise - these cars respond exceptionally well to chassis work.

Character

The S650 is the most technically capable Mustang ever built from the factory - Ford carried forward the best elements of the S550 and refined them significantly, adding more power, improved chassis tuning, and the new Dark Horse trim that sits between a standard GT and a full Shelby in capability. The Dark Horse's 500 hp Coyote uses intake and camshaft work borrowed from the GT350 program, and combined with its standard MagneRide suspension, front splitter, and Brembo brakes, it's a genuine track car with daily-driver functionality. The updated exterior design is more assertive and modern than the S550 while retaining the Mustang's classic proportions.

What to Look For

The S650 is early in its production life and major reliability patterns have not yet fully established - this is both a reason for confidence in factory freshness and a reason to maintain proper service intervals carefully. Early production examples should have any outstanding technical service bulletins addressed before purchase, and it's worth confirming with the selling dealer that Ford's standard software updates have been applied. The 10-speed automatic continues from the S550 and carries the same shift quality considerations - seek a manual car if engaging transmission behavior is a priority.

Modification Notes

The S650 aftermarket is still establishing itself compared to the deep bench available for S550 and S197 cars, but the Coyote platform's compatibility with proven forced induction hardware means existing supercharger kits are being adapted quickly. Pulley and tune work on the Dark Horse's high-output Coyote shows early promise, and the same naturally aspirated build path proven on the S550 - cams, intake manifold, headers - applies here. Buyers getting into an S650 now are positioned well as the aftermarket matures - the platform's connection to established Coyote tuning means development is accelerating rapidly.

Character

The S197 GT500 is a classic American brute - massive power, traditional solid rear axle, manual-only transmission, and a character that rewards smooth, committed driving rather than electronic intervention. The 2007-2012 cars with the 5.4L supercharged engine are impressive performers, but the 2013-2014 Trinity-engined cars are on another level entirely - 662 hp from a 5.8L with improved airflow throughout, making them faster than contemporary Ferraris and Lamborghinis at a fraction of the price. The GT500's manual gearbox-only policy gives it a distinctly analog character that feels intentional, and the heavy weight (3,850 lbs) is well-managed by the improved Brembo brake package on later examples.

What to Look For

Supercharger pulley condition and belt wear are the primary inspection items on high-mileage or modified S197 GT500s - look for cracking or glazing on the belt and confirm the pulley spins true. Clutch wear is significant on examples that have seen spirited driving, and replacement on a GT500 is a more involved job than a standard Mustang - budget accordingly if pedal feel is soft or engagement is high. Trinity-engined 2013-2014 cars are substantially more desirable and command a meaningful price premium over 2007-2012 examples, so verify model year and confirm the 5.8L engine before paying Trinity pricing.

Modification Notes

The S197 GT500 pulley-and-intercooler swap is one of the most famous and proven modification paths in modern American performance - a smaller supercharger pulley, upgraded heat exchanger, and E85 tune on the 5.4L regularly hits 650-700 rwhp while the Trinity 5.8L can push 750+ rwhp on the same recipe. Lower-pulley builds on the Trinity engine combined with methanol injection and supporting fuel work can reach 850 rwhp on the stock shortblock with careful tuning - these cars respond to modifications in a nearly linear fashion that makes incremental building very satisfying. The solid rear axle is an advantage for drag applications, and traction bar kits plus sticky drag radials allow the GT500 to put its full power down consistently.

Character

The S550 GT500 is in an entirely different category from its S197 predecessor - 760 hp, a 7-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission, and a chassis that can actually use all of that power thanks to the S550's independent rear suspension and electronic chassis systems. The flat-plane crank Predator V8 has a mechanical drama to it that few production engines match, and combined with the DCT's lightning-fast shifts, it produces acceleration that blurs the line between muscle car and hypercar. Carbon Fiber Track Pack examples add carbon ceramic brakes, unique aero, and revised suspension tuning that make the GT500 genuinely competitive on road course lap times with cars costing twice as much.

What to Look For

The S550 GT500 is recent enough that major long-term reliability patterns are still establishing - this is generally good news for buyers, as most factory warranty work has been handled and manufacturing quality was high. DCT clutch pack wear is the primary thing to verify on high-mileage or heavily driven examples - look for any slipping, hesitation, or unusual behavior during launch and during rapid sequential shifts. Carbon Fiber Track Pack cars are significantly more desirable and valuable - verify the specific options through the window sticker or Ford VIN decoder rather than relying on seller descriptions alone.

Modification Notes

The Predator V8 in the S550 GT500 responds dramatically to a simple pulley swap plus tune - reducing supercharger drive ratio by 10-15% and adding E85 fuel regularly delivers 850-900 rwhp on the stock engine with proven reliability on properly prepared cars. Full bolt-on builds combining lower pulley, upgraded heat exchanger, cold air intake, and E85 tune have pushed output past 900 rwhp while remaining street-driven daily vehicles. The DCT transmission is extremely strong in stock form and handles modified power levels well, making the S550 GT500 one of the cleanest high-power Mustang builds available - modifications go on the engine and the drivetrain just follows.

Character

The Voodoo engine is the GT350's defining feature and the primary reason to own one - a 5.2L naturally aspirated V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft borrowed from Ferrari and McLaren engineering, an 8,250 rpm redline, and an exhaust note at full song that has no equivalent in any American production car. That engine sits in a chassis tuned with MagneRide suspension, massive Brembo brakes front and rear, and optional GT350R carbon fiber wheels that reduce unsprung mass dramatically - the result is a Mustang that genuinely handles like a proper sports car rather than a muscle car that happens to have corners. The GT350 is manual-only, and that requirement is a feature rather than a limitation - it forces driver engagement that makes every back road or track day a proper event.

What to Look For

Early 2016 model year GT350s have a documented oil consumption issue on a subset of production engines - elevated consumption between changes is the symptom, and Ford addressed it under warranty with updated piston rings and valve seals on affected cars. Verify any 2015-2016 example has either had the relevant TSB applied or can demonstrate normal oil consumption through service records. Clutch wear is normal on any GT350 with significant enthusiast use - feel for engagement point consistency and any slipping under load, and budget for a clutch replacement on high-mileage examples. GT350R examples command a significant premium and the carbon fiber wheels are desirable but expensive to repair if damaged - inspect all four corners carefully.

Modification Notes

The Voodoo engine's flat-plane architecture limits the traditional American forced induction approach - the high-revving naturally aspirated design is not optimally suited to bolt-on supercharger kits the way a pushrod or cross-plane Coyote is, and the aftermarket reflects that reality. Suspension and aero modifications are where GT350 builds really come alive - a proper alignment, adjustable rear toe links, upgraded front sway bar, and quality coilovers transform an already capable car into something that can challenge purpose-built track cars at AX and HPDE events. Exhaust work and air intake upgrades are the most popular engine modifications, delivering improved sound and modest power gains while preserving the Voodoo's character - most serious GT350 owners prioritize chassis work over chasing horsepower.