The importation paperwork and costs will vary from state to state, so you need to check with your home state’s authorities on what’s required. Your chosen shipping company might be able to help you with this, but make sure you check it all out at the Australia Border Force website (abf.gov.au).

While your budget rules out the latest shape Mustangs and the early classic models, you might just find a 1980s Fox-body Mustang or a 1990s model that’s already on the road here. Doing it that way, you stand to wind up with a better car than a cheapie from the States that will swallow several thousands of your budget dollars just to land it here. Which is another way of asking why you’d import something that was already available here?

Even if you still want to import a Mustang, be aware that you’ll be up for costs including (but not limited to) pre-shipment costs (removal of asbestos and steam cleaning) freight and insurance, all government charges and duties, storage charges, customs broker’s fees, wharf and transport charges and processing fees. And that’s before we even get to the modifications you might have to make to the vehicle to make it legal to drive in Australia. And did we mention that, right now, global supply-chain problems are holding up literally thousands of containers on the docks in the US?

Perhaps the one advantage you have is that, as a temporary resident, you can (under some conditions) import a car for a limited time (up to 12 months) without paying duties and taxes.

That's the big question on our lips too John, and I'm afraid we won't be able to answer it until we drive it when the car arrives in June. Given the Mustang's popularity, I'd be very surprised if dealers were willing to deviate much from the recommended price after launch. Perhaps 18 months down the track when demand subsides though! 

Demos are not generally abused; they are mostly driven normally with reasonable care, often under the supervision of a salesman.

You’re worried unnecessarily, and besides, the car will still be covered by Ford’s warranty if it happens to have a problem.