1988 Ford Mustang Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a review
After the significant restyling the Ford Mustang received in 1987, the 1988 appeared with few changes, engines were still the 2.3-liter I4 with 88 horsepower, and the 5.0-liter V8 HO with 225 horses. The GTs and Saleens remained available, but once again, neither of these showed much change from 1987.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1988 Ford Mustang
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Anonymous
May 05, 2015
I love my stang easy to fix if ever needs any replacing items, super cheap to repair, best part of car is loud, fast, fun, attracts peoples attention. 15 miles a gallon not bad for an 1988 5.0 block engineMay 05, 2015
by Anonymous
Oct 18, 2014
This is one of the cheaper and easy cars to turn into a real muscle car. The factory interior is above normal and conforable. Do not plan in hauling to much the trunk has limit space. Almost no issues at with the car.Oct 18, 2014
by Donovan K
Sep 11, 2014
This mustang got around! It ran, and ran, and ran, even with most of it falling apart! It was a fun girls convertible. It handled extremely good, but was greatly under powered. The car won;t get you into trouble, but you will find it thinking you have a "mustang".Sep 11, 2014
User rating:
by Anonymous
May 05, 2015
I love my stang easy to fix if ever needs any replacing items, super cheap to repair, best part of car is loud, fast, fun, attracts peoples attention. 15 miles a gallon not bad for an 1988 5.0 block engineMay 05, 2015
by Anonymous
Oct 18, 2014
This is one of the cheaper and easy cars to turn into a real muscle car. The factory interior is above normal and conforable. Do not plan in hauling to much the trunk has limit space. Almost no issues at with the car.Oct 18, 2014
by Donovan K
Sep 11, 2014
This mustang got around! It ran, and ran, and ran, even with most of it falling apart! It was a fun girls convertible. It handled extremely good, but was greatly under powered. The car won;t get you into trouble, but you will find it thinking you have a "mustang".Sep 11, 2014
by Colin R
Jul 02, 2012
this car was light weight and had lots of power.it looked good and drove great.it had a std trans.black on black and dark tinted glass.great performance and great handling.a ton of great after market parts available for this stang.it was a tuff car has well.Jul 02, 2012
by Paul B
Feb 24, 2012
Ridiculously fun with the taller gears. Traction is hard to get until 3rd gear.
The cam really helps to get it going.
Needs a lot of cosmetic work-little bit of body work and paint, some interior re
install, but hey, it's a project car.
Feb 24, 2012
by Tyler M
Feb 22, 2012
Performance: For a 2.3L Engine, it has great pick up.
Build Quality: For the most part the car holds up very well, The body has 355,000km on it and could probably double that.
Appearance: Not quite as muscle looking as other mustangs, but still a great looking car.
Cost of Ownership: Mileage isn't great, but it's a mustang...don't expect much. Otherwise, parts are cheap to get for this car.
Fun Factor: Go to an empty parking lot and punch the gas and you'll find out.Feb 22, 2012
by Anonymous
Nov 27, 2011
Driving it for 20 years. Soon after purchase it received underdrive pulleys, aftermarket shifter, good tires, 65mm throttle body, subframe connectors, a brake system upgrade, and a centerforce II clutch. That is what it takes, in my opinion, to make it a good car. Been pretty happy with it since!Nov 27, 2011
by Dave E
Nov 19, 2011
Performance - not alot of parts and still alot of power
Build Quality - very reliable still have had no problems
Appearance - interior is spotless and exterior needs paint
Cost of Ownership - gas mileage is ok, next to nothing for maintenance
Upgrades - 3.73 gears, shift kit, underdrive pullys, cold air intake, ignition, smog pump delete, throttle body, mass air flow conversionNov 19, 2011
by Dustin H
Nov 07, 2011
It may not be the prettiest ride in some respects, but is overall mechanically sound with superb fuel economy. I was never really fond of the fox body style before buying this but it is definitely growing on me. I can't wait to get a set of custom wheels on it, I think it'll make all the difference in my present cosmetic opinion.Nov 07, 2011
by Jesse C
Nov 05, 2011
all new back suspension and brakes and needed a ball joint front driverside. it only has a 4 cylinder with a 3 speed auto so thats a huge downfall but i still can bag it around cause im waiting for a good reason to put a 351 windsor in it with a 4 speedNov 05, 2011
by Thomas L
May 15, 2011
Cons: It gets terrible gas mileage, only has one seat, Windshield wipers, heater, A/C, speedometer, do not work, starting to rust around the sunroof, and its pretty loud to drive on the street so it gets lots of attention from the local authorities.
Pros: Goes very fast for very very cheapMay 15, 2011
by Jesse R
May 10, 2011
I love this Stang! I love this my baby so much I tatted 5.0 on my arm. Been on 4 road trips with me and never misbehaved. Nothing to complain about. She's fast, fun, not overwieght, still turns heads, reliable with 195k on the odometer and still running strong! May 10, 2011
by Aaron T. S
Jan 28, 2011
Performance - my gosh. 120mph in 3rd is good enough for me around town.
Build Quality - really good
Appearance - both interior and exterior styling are amazing with some help
Cost of Ownership - gas mileage 23mpg around town, maintenance really easy to
work on your self
Fun Factor - is this car fun to drive? heck yes.. and it kills most everyone around
town..Jan 28, 2011
by James F
Sep 10, 2010
few mods nothing special. needs a rebuild one day. fun to drive.rust is a problem. but is being takin care of. this is my favorite body style ford has ever built. they got it all right the t5 trans with the 5.0 motor.Sep 10, 2010
by Chris M
May 04, 2010
i love this car its fast, agile, and has great performance all in all it is a great car and in that year is one of the lighter cars. It is alot of fun to drive this car loud fast and just looks awesome May 04, 2010
by Brandon C
Mar 06, 2010
Wiring and electronics updated to 1992 specs with air bags. 2.3L to 5.0 conversion. .512" lift cam, longtube headers, homemade exhaust, 5-speed, gray primer paint, fiberglass hood, black projector headlights, hand crank window doors switched for power window doors, best car i've ever owned.Mar 06, 2010
by Matt B
Mar 05, 2010
5.0 stock t-5 trans fun to drive pretty fast runs great not terrible on gas turns lots of heads.leather seats black and red interior going to paint blue with white stripes and tint windows and put a tremic tko600 trans in it
Mar 05, 2010
by Marc I
Dec 21, 2009
Awesome car, great ride and feel, excellent preformance. Lots of aftermarket goodies to enhance preformance. In Stick form you can get better gas milage, can build the basic engine to over 300 horse power and over a decade of ass kickin fun!Dec 21, 2009
by Brandon E
Dec 08, 2009
Its a fun nice car to drive. the ride is a little bouncy but love the car.it handles great, accelerates quick, stops good. there are a ton of company's you can pick from to customize your cars appearance or performance. a good all around muscle car.Dec 08, 2009
by Shane D
Aug 18, 2009
First off this is a 1988 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 with a 5 Speed manual transmission.... Performance wise it is very quick and handles very well stops quickly and smoothly.... It is a very solid car built well... Needs new paint and new rear bumper it has a small hump in it.... well I just got this car and am just starting the build it is quite fun already but will be better soon Aug 18, 2009
by Megan F
Jul 12, 2009
A GT 5.0 w/ Paxton supercharger, 3/10 gears in the rear, M/T street legal drag radials, black magic electric fan, MSD ignition system and distributor, 16" pony rims, and cobra R hood, custom mixed paint, and the whole engine was rebuilt from bottom up. Jul 12, 2009
by Daniel N
Jun 30, 2009
come on now its a 50 stang whats not to like stock 302 block with gt 40 heads with ford svo roller rockers 202 valves trick flow upper and lower intake manifold bbk headers bbk off road h pipe american thunder exhaust bbk 75 mm throttle body king cobra clutch bbk underdrives bbk cold air intake hurst short throw shifter and soon 373 gears Jun 30, 2009
by Bernie C
May 09, 2009
I built this car myself in my garage. It accelerate a little better than due to some modifications. Since I did not put back sound deadening and insulation to save weight it has kind of an echo but other than that it is very solid. I changed the appearance. changes include 93 Cobra rear spoiler, grill insert, tail lights, fiberglass 1.5" cowl induction hood, 92 pony wheels, 5.0 emblems deleted. The car is very reliable. Never fails to start and is always ready to go. It was getting 20 MPG but now get about 15. It may be time for a tune up. I have a lot of fun driving this car. May 09, 2009
by Matt C
Dec 20, 2008
1988 Mustang LX: TRAVELER
Recently rebuilt 302, bored .30 over, radical racing cam, Edelbrock aluminum racing heads, high compression pistons, high volume pumps, cold air, intake spacer, Roushe suspension upgrade, Flowmaster duel exhaust, posi, alloy wheels, aluminum driveshaft, fiberglass cowl hood, racing seats, short throw shifter, racing wheel, shift light, etc. etc... zoom. PERFECT CONDITION.
Handles beautifully. Incredible acceleration. Good old American muscle.Dec 20, 2008
by Andy C
Oct 28, 2008
love my car........306 small block with a vortec blower......trickhflow heads,intake, and cam.....aluminum drive shaft, 373 gears, frame connectors, eibach suspension, cobra rims.....car make 534hp....dyno'd in the spring at DeSilva racing......will be hopefully sending the car to be painted this winter electric blue.....cause I hate black....Oct 28, 2008
by Skyler J
Jun 07, 2008
its has a 5.0 liter with a roush supergharger.the interior is stock and the only thing done to the body is it has been dropped.it has the stock gt body kit. we have put bilistein shocks on it and falken race wheels it has a ford 9 in. it has a 5 speed manual with a tripple disc clutch pack snd psddle shifters Jun 07, 2008
by Cory E
May 14, 2008
1988 Ford Mustang GT T-Top. 1 of 800 made in 1988 according to the records i have found on line. 5.0 with 245 RWHP and 263 FT-LBS. These readings r to the wheels not for the engine.May 14, 2008
by Ross P
Apr 07, 2008
Love the accel and speed of this car.Apr 07, 2008
by Brad F
Mar 19, 2008
It was only $1000, gets 21 miles per gallon in the city, and runs low 15's.Mar 19, 2008
by Adam B
Mar 10, 2008
Performance - 5.0L, cold air intake, headers, high flow cats, 2.5'' exhaust.
Sound System - pioneer deck, kenwood amp, 3 JBL 10'' subs.Mar 10, 2008
by Erik L
Feb 05, 2008
What a quarter mile car. There's nothing like the sound of a 5.0 like this with intake, headers, X-pipe, exhaust, Hurst shifter, and Centerforce clutch. Very tail happy, and the brakes were about useless, but standing on the loud pedal never failed to make me laugh after a rough day at work.Feb 05, 2008
by Cameron M
Jan 26, 2008
The car made good power in 1988 as to todays cars its fast but not as fast as the newer Camaro's and Trans Am's. But the car definetly is a head turner as you dont see many good looking Fox Body Mustang's around. Jan 26, 2008
by Aimee H
Jan 12, 2008
This baby my dad and I restored when I was 14. He is the reason I got into cars and taught me everything I know. This is the love of my life!Jan 12, 2008
by Stéphane C
Jan 04, 2008
Sound and look fits the power!Jan 04, 2008
by Kenny L
Jan 01, 2008
It's a Mustang, I got bored after 1 year of owning it. Pretty fast car in those days. Brakes and steering were horrible. Froze my ass off in the winter with that thin vinyl top and poor heating.
Bottom line: Awesome car for going out and cruising back in those days, and that's about it.
Mods: 3.73 gears, Flowmasters 2.5", high-flow cats, under-drive pulleys, ram-air.
Jan 01, 2008
by Dayna G
Dec 27, 2007
She's solid, dependable and moody. There's always something that needs to be done to improve her but she's fine the way she is!Dec 27, 2007
1988 Ford Mustang Pricing
Original MSRP
$9,209 to $16,984Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Audio System
Equalizer: graphic · AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
Equalizer: graphic · AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
Equalizer: graphic · AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
Equalizer: graphic · AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Convertible roof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
Equalizer: graphic · AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Convertible roof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
