Ditto this ^, but I will add that the 2006 and newer models are the best, you may have to go into the archives to find out why, but your research will bear this out. I have one American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster and five MIM's that are 2006 and newer. I like my MIM's equal or better than my my MIA. Having the Stratocaster setup properly is the key to a great playing guitar.

One way to look at the difference between MIM and MIA is that the Mexican Standard Strats are in many ways closer to the original pre-CBS specs than the modern American Standards. In particular, 21 frets and a six-screw bridge, as well as the edges of the fingerboard. In the MIA range you have to go to an (expensive) American Vintage to find those things - which of course matter to some people and not to others.

Regarding consistency, mentioned earlier: my own experience looking at lots of instruments in shops is that they've done a massive amount to improve QC at the Mexican plant over the last decade or so. Shopping hard for a new Strat about eight years ago I couldn't find a MIM that didn't have some little build or finish niggle or other, and I had to buy a MIA to get what I wanted. These days that doesn't seem to be true; I've been amazed at the quality I'm seeing from Ensenada nowadays, which to my eye seems to be giving the American and Japanese factories a hard run for their money. And nuttin' wrong with that!

That's my own subjective experience, obviously. But I think the maxim that there's never been a better time to be buying guitars holds true - at all price points.

Cheers - C

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+1
Well said, brother

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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I cannot speak for all MIM guitars, from all years, but can share my experience of the two I own, both from the same year. I didn't really set out to own a MIM strat, but I bought a loaded '76 scratchplate, all original save for an 'EVH' Mighty Mite Screamer fitted in the bridge, for a price I simply couldn't refuse (£40!). The problem was that I didn't have a guitar to put it in - and I couldn't really afford one at the time - but the price was just too good.

So, I started looking for a guitar which would accept the '76 bits (i) with no mods and (ii) for a decent price. I certainly couldn't afford a genuine '76 body and neck (maybe one day). The first one I came across on the net which fit the bill was a tidy '96 MIM standard, candy apple red with a maple neck. I'd read that although the bodies and necks were nice, the pickups and wiring left something to be desired. This was not going to be a problem for me I reasoned, as I was going to be replacing it all anyway (CTS/switchcraft/oak grigsby/sprague/coil tap): so, I bought it.

Thing is, I then got it home and played it.

I liked the MIM so much before I pulled its guts out that I bought a second one from the same year and left it as-is. I've also put the pickups from the first MIM I bought into an 87 MIJ strat - which some savage had stripped of its heart - because I like how they sound.

I also really like the necks on both my MIM strats, and the finish is decent on the bodies (although they are on the heavy side). Yes, the '76 pickups and upgraded wiring made a big difference to the first MIM I bought, but that's all: a difference. I couldn't, hand on heart, say one ended up sounding 'better' than the other, because I like both of them, albeit for different reasons.

YMMV!

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I am actually very thankful that Fender has the MIM line. It would be a shame if our only options to own a genuine Fender was something with a price tag north of $1000.00

My journey through Fender actually started with a Starcaster. I have to say I grew to be ashamed of this guitar when I started playing with other people who had nice axes with the word Fender on the headstock in big letters. However a very wise and well known man told me at a local open mic "Fender does not put it's name on crap" and my Starcaster said "designed by Fender" on it. I still have that guitar and yes moving to my first Standard Strat was unbelievable in the upgrade in playability and tone, but the truth be told, my Starcaster put up with me learning chords and barre chords, scales and modes. Had it not been for the ability to get started at about $200.00 I might never have started playing guitar.

Now my playing time is split almost evenly between my Standard and American Standard Strats. However every so often I pull out the Starcaster, change her strings, clean and polish her and make sure she is comfortably set up and I play her through all the new pedals and nice amps that I now have.

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2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

man! there was some great stories and advice here! i appreciate everyone who has answered this post. i have a 2002 artic white fender strat and an affinity tele along with a crate amp and i just love the way my mim strat feels and plays. i had ordered it from musicians friend and then the next day i realized that i hadn't played it or anything, soooo..i was on the worried side, but man..when i finally got it and played it..i was hooked!!! that was the day that i will only buy fender guitars....sorry, can't help it!! lol i love fenders!!

I have had a few and overall they have been quality guitars and certainly worth the $400 - $500 dollar investment. As others have said, it really depends on the individual guitar in the end. Some are born to rock and others are never quite right from day 1. If you can I recommend going to a store that has a good stock of MIM Fenders and just trying a bunch that fall within your budget - I wouldn't even get too hung up on whether one has three single coils versus HSS, etc ... Just plug them in and let them sing. If the right one is there for you, you will know it without a doubt. Good luck man.

I have 4 Strats 2 MIA and 2 MIM .Despite what some people say MIM Strats and Fenders in general are consistantly of very high quality.Back in the early to mid 90s there wasn't a consistant QA policy established but since 2000 they have turned out exceptionally good guitars, amps and other products.I have a lefty MIM Strat that I flipped over to right hand for playing Hendrix covers and it is just a great guitar which gives me just the right authentic "Hendrix tone" when played through my Marshall JCM 800,2204 stack.I also have a MIM Jimmie Vaughn Strat and it's an incredible guitar in every category.It sounds so much like my '65 "L" series Strat that it would be very difficult for most people to be able to say which is which in a blindfold test.It's a dream to play and I can bend the strings as far as I want and the pitch of the other strings doesn't waiver.I can also do very aggressive whammy bar cranking and the little darling stays perfectly in tune(as does the lefty BTW).All in all MIM Fender products are way better performing and of higher quality than just about everything in their price bracket and a lot of times they are equal or even better than gear costing hundreds more.Don't believe the urban legend that MIM Fender products are inferior and shoddy,anyone who says so is usually sitting on the orifice that they are speaking through.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.