Mustang GT
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I test drove one, considering a replacement for my heavily modified 2004 Pontiac GTO that gets 440HP and magically 31mpg. The Mustang only gets great economy with the highest gear ratio, the EPA allows different configurations for the MPG test. Furthermore, the wheels are massive. Which is great, until you replace them. The steering wheel doesn't telescope and while the steering wheel on my GTO doesn't telescope either, it isn't bolted straight to the dash. The interior is bleh, the really cool interior colors are limited to lame exterior colors. A fully loaded GT will set you back $43k and there is a mustang EVERYWHERE! My neighbor has 3 late model mustangs in his driveway. As for reliability, which is your question, it is Ford. Ford makes millions of cars I wouldn't be too concerned with getting a lemon. Build quality ... well, lets just say the Ford Emblem on my truck got replaced under warranty twice and you could cut your hand on the plastic in my 02 GT. Apples to Oranges yes but sit in a 3-series and sit in a GT and you will be amazed at the difference in interior quality. Of course, don't be fooled by the BMW, they seem to be maintenance nightmares. In my 6 months of research I decided to just keep the Goat until the wheels fall off. There is not a new car out there worth the money in my opinion right now except some of the sub 20 econo boxes ... but then is 20k an econo box? My 2002 Mustang GT fully loaded cost 21k out the door with an Automatic Transmission. (No comments, the GTO does have a proper gear box, however). If I were to truly do anything about my current car situation I would buy an off-lease. Unfortunately, for you that means no Mustang since the new 5.0 is only one model year old!. A 1-series BMW with a DCT is fast but maintenance PITA and the dealer's are proud of them if you know what I mean. I would say get a GTO but, well, hear is the dirty secret, KBB is 7k, most dealers want 18k and they are very expensive to replace parts on (high insurance too).
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
In my 6 months of research I decided to just keep the Goat until the wheels fall off.
Ahem... This is a "Goat":http://www.flickr.com/photos/appleman64/279835672/[^] This is merely a gto: http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/tech/0607htp_2004_pontiac_gto_header_installation/photo_01.html[^]
There is no failure only feedback
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Get the coupe. Convertibles weigh more, and that damn top WILL decay on you (and leak when it rains). This is the Mustang I used to have: 302, dual-qual, toploader 4-speed, 9-inch rear with gusseted axle tubes 31-spline axles, staggered shocks [^] beauty shot[^] I wasn't about chrome - I was about performance. All of the removable body panels were maded of fiberglass (including the rear bumper), side windws were lexan, fiberglass racing seats bolted to the floor 9as opposed to being adjustable), no back seat, 4-point roll cage, 5-point racing harness, and no carpeting. If it wasn't structurally required or a speed part, it wasn't on the car. That was my daily driver, too. :)
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997modified on Thursday, May 19, 2011 4:16 PM
long since have had no pics of my old one , but this is almost identical in looks to mine. My powertrain and chassis were custom though so had a lot more oomph than the one in this add.
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning.
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So my current car is starting to show its age. I've been thinking about setting some money on fire and buying a Mustang GT Convertible. Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun. And according to my girlfriend "chicks dig it." Anyone own a Mustang they would care to share their thoughts on? I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
thrakazog wrote:
Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun.
Yeah 400 hp in a straight line maybe, don't take it for a cruise on a twisty highway though or you'll be disapointed. Honestly unless you take it to a track where are you going to really get a chance to open it up that is both straight and flat enough and with a lack of police to get any kind of fun out of it. These are the kind of cars that you invest in, as in a classic from the late 60's early 70's and you take it out once in a while, have fun with it but you certainly don't drive it every day. Modern ones are just a pale shade of the original.
thrakazog wrote:
I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
You don't buy a sports car for the build quality and reliability. If that's your thinking go buy a Honda Civic instead. That being said if you want a truly well built car that is fun to drive, sporty, and won't attract the police like ants to honey then get something like a high end Subaru Imprezza or Mitsubishi Evo instead.
There is no failure only feedback
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Alternatively you could buy something good. Yank Cars are terrible at corners, shodily built and underpowered for the engine size. Better off with a Jaguar, BMW or Audi. Well engineered and reliable, and with more class than the 'Look at me' vulgarity of the GT.
------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]
Dalek Dave wrote:
Better off with a Jaguar,
I agree. My Jaguar is very reliable and fun to drive. And Ford fixed the nagging problems that plagued previous Jags.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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thrakazog wrote:
Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun.
Yeah 400 hp in a straight line maybe, don't take it for a cruise on a twisty highway though or you'll be disapointed. Honestly unless you take it to a track where are you going to really get a chance to open it up that is both straight and flat enough and with a lack of police to get any kind of fun out of it. These are the kind of cars that you invest in, as in a classic from the late 60's early 70's and you take it out once in a while, have fun with it but you certainly don't drive it every day. Modern ones are just a pale shade of the original.
thrakazog wrote:
I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
You don't buy a sports car for the build quality and reliability. If that's your thinking go buy a Honda Civic instead. That being said if you want a truly well built car that is fun to drive, sporty, and won't attract the police like ants to honey then get something like a high end Subaru Imprezza or Mitsubishi Evo instead.
There is no failure only feedback
John C wrote:
You don't buy a sports car for the build quality and reliability
My concern there is that sometimes things are done poorly or overlooked. An example being a suburban my dad owns. The paint had to be stripped and redone because a poor grade was used. The dashboard also had a problem of disintegrating when exposed to sunlight. A Nissan I had was built with a computer issue where the car wouldn't start if it was below freezing. A Hyundai I own had a problem of the door handle coating flaking off in razer sharp chunks. Things like that are what I want to avoid. In any car really.
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So my current car is starting to show its age. I've been thinking about setting some money on fire and buying a Mustang GT Convertible. Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun. And according to my girlfriend "chicks dig it." Anyone own a Mustang they would care to share their thoughts on? I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
I have owned two and I think they are great cars. I bought a new Mustang GT about a year after I graduated college. This was of the 260hp generation. It was a hardtop with a 5-speed. I ran this car down the 1/4-mile drag strip over 90 times, and the only thing I ever broke was the gas pedal (replaced under warranty). Eventually, I was able to wring some really impressive times out of the car: sub-14 seconds in the quarter mile and 5.3s 0-60mph. This was done without modifying the vehicle in any way. Those cars are much faster than their reputation would indicate. Later on, I bought a 1995 Mustang GT. This was the last year of the 5.0L motor. It was also a hardtop with a 5-speed. I really loved this car as well. It did not have the power of my 4.6L, or even the torque, but it was exceptionally comfortable, and easy to work on. It was kind of a piece of junk when I bought it and I did a lot of detail work on it (clearing the Check Engine light, fixing the trip odometer, fixing vacuum leaks, etc.) I don't know a whole lot about the latest version of the Mustang GT, except that it's fairly large and has very good power.
modified on Thursday, May 19, 2011 6:55 PM
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So my current car is starting to show its age. I've been thinking about setting some money on fire and buying a Mustang GT Convertible. Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun. And according to my girlfriend "chicks dig it." Anyone own a Mustang they would care to share their thoughts on? I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
I hear you. Get the Mustang, I'd have one for myself, but I don't know why the only sell them here with the meters in white background...looks too cheap for me!
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--either way, you are right." — Henry Ford
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Hardly, I have owned several jags and driven American cars. They are tacky inside, cheap materials and barely nailed together. Mind you, I did enjoy driving the Pontiac Grand Prix once I figured out the sport option on the gearbox.
------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]
Dalek Dave wrote:
They are tacky inside, cheap materials and barely nailed together.Mind you, I did enjoy driving the Pontiac Grand Prix once I figured out the sport option on the gearbox.
That's really not a fair comparison. Ford makes some really nice interiors, or at least they have done so in the past. I drove a Corolla (unfortunately) for a while in the early 1990s, and I remember how poor the interior looked compared to my friends' Escorts and Mustangs. Currently I drive a Japanese vehicle and it has a nice, subdued interior, but I still prefer most Fords. I know what you mean, though, about GM cars. What is the point of all that chrome and machismo? It really begs the question of whether they are trying to trick (or at least hypnotize) the prospective buyer.
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So my current car is starting to show its age. I've been thinking about setting some money on fire and buying a Mustang GT Convertible. Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun. And according to my girlfriend "chicks dig it." Anyone own a Mustang they would care to share their thoughts on? I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
thrakazog wrote:
chicks dig it.
Possibly true. Have you thought about the calibre of these alleged chicks, though?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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John C wrote:
You don't buy a sports car for the build quality and reliability
My concern there is that sometimes things are done poorly or overlooked. An example being a suburban my dad owns. The paint had to be stripped and redone because a poor grade was used. The dashboard also had a problem of disintegrating when exposed to sunlight. A Nissan I had was built with a computer issue where the car wouldn't start if it was below freezing. A Hyundai I own had a problem of the door handle coating flaking off in razer sharp chunks. Things like that are what I want to avoid. In any car really.
thrakazog wrote:
sometimes things are done poorly or overlooked
You've just described pretty much any modern U.S. "muscle" car. :) If you want something that is almost guaranteed to not be poorly done or overlooked then you're looking at pretty much any German or Japanese car and ignore the rest.
There is no failure only feedback
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Dalek Dave wrote:
They are tacky inside, cheap materials and barely nailed together.Mind you, I did enjoy driving the Pontiac Grand Prix once I figured out the sport option on the gearbox.
That's really not a fair comparison. Ford makes some really nice interiors, or at least they have done so in the past. I drove a Corolla (unfortunately) for a while in the early 1990s, and I remember how poor the interior looked compared to my friends' Escorts and Mustangs. Currently I drive a Japanese vehicle and it has a nice, subdued interior, but I still prefer most Fords. I know what you mean, though, about GM cars. What is the point of all that chrome and machismo? It really begs the question of whether they are trying to trick (or at least hypnotize) the prospective buyer.
_beauw_ wrote:
I drove a Corolla (unfortunately) for a while in the early 1990s...
Hey, HEY, HEY! I currently drive a 1990 Corolla Hatchback, 1.6 litre with 5 speed manual. This little shitbox has got me from Sydney to Canberra and back 20+ times in the past year and still going (reckon I'm coming down for at least the next 8 weeks having just done the last 8 weeks). Now the fact I own it and it's red, may make it special, but I reckon their near bullet proof.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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thrakazog wrote:
chicks dig it.
Possibly true. Have you thought about the calibre of these alleged chicks, though?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
Possibly true. Have you thought about the calibre of these alleged chicks, though?
Didn't they parade in front of your office in the Toronto SlutWalk a few weeks ago?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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_beauw_ wrote:
I drove a Corolla (unfortunately) for a while in the early 1990s...
Hey, HEY, HEY! I currently drive a 1990 Corolla Hatchback, 1.6 litre with 5 speed manual. This little shitbox has got me from Sydney to Canberra and back 20+ times in the past year and still going (reckon I'm coming down for at least the next 8 weeks having just done the last 8 weeks). Now the fact I own it and it's red, may make it special, but I reckon their near bullet proof.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
Michael Martin wrote:
This little shitbox has got me from Sydney to Canberra and back 20+ times in the past year
That has got to piss you off with no cruise control (assuming a 1990s Corolla does not have it) all those boring expressway Ks and you have to watch the clock! I had one in the mid 90s, took the wife and 2 teenagers for a driving holiday to Melbourne and back, plenty of room and it handled beautifully. :sigh: I liked the Corolla.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Michael Martin wrote:
This little shitbox has got me from Sydney to Canberra and back 20+ times in the past year
That has got to piss you off with no cruise control (assuming a 1990s Corolla does not have it) all those boring expressway Ks and you have to watch the clock! I had one in the mid 90s, took the wife and 2 teenagers for a driving holiday to Melbourne and back, plenty of room and it handled beautifully. :sigh: I liked the Corolla.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Mycroft Holmes wrote:
That has got to piss you off with no cruise control (assuming a 1990s Corolla does not have it) all those boring expressway Ks and you have to watch the clock!
You betcha there's no cruise control. My biggest problem is having to constantly watch the speedo as I'm a revhead at heart and sit on 120 (as I'm sure the speedo registers 5kph higher than actual speed) and there's so many cops and camera's about (they've now got average speed camera's in a couple of places in my trip) and I don't want to pay the government any more cash than I already do. If the bastards would let me 150 all the way I could do it in under 2 hours and I wouldn't have to Stop, Revive, Survive, either.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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So my current car is starting to show its age. I've been thinking about setting some money on fire and buying a Mustang GT Convertible. Something about 400+ horsepower just sounds like a lot of fun. And according to my girlfriend "chicks dig it." Anyone own a Mustang they would care to share their thoughts on? I'd like to hear what people think about the build quality, reliability, etc.
thrakazog wrote:
"chicks dig it."
Not the kind of chicks I dig. My kind of chicks prefer not to pollute and spend the money saved on fuel on spa days.
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thrakazog wrote:
"chicks dig it."
Not the kind of chicks I dig. My kind of chicks prefer not to pollute and spend the money saved on fuel on spa days.
PIEBALDconsult wrote:
Not the kind of chicks I dig. My kind of chicks prefer not to pollute and spend the money saved on fuel on spa days.
Hey it's not for everybody. And I guess some dudes just dig chicks who smell like patchouli oil and have lots of pit hair. Good luck to you sir. :laugh:
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PIEBALDconsult wrote:
Not the kind of chicks I dig. My kind of chicks prefer not to pollute and spend the money saved on fuel on spa days.
Hey it's not for everybody. And I guess some dudes just dig chicks who smell like patchouli oil and have lots of pit hair. Good luck to you sir. :laugh:
thrakazog wrote:
lots of pit hair
Perhaps you don't know what they have done at the spa.
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Dave, please check the "consumers report" from the last three years. It’s an English not American magazine and they make their researches among 1.5 million car owners. The car makers you have listed are on the very bottom of the list for reliability. The most reliable car makers for the last two years are Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, and Nissan in this order. Make some research; you are too intelligent to be a slave of some stereotypes coming from the mid-90s.
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Well said. 5 for you sir. :thumbsup:
-- ** You don't hire a handyman to build a house, you hire a carpenter. ** Jack of all trades and master of none.
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Last trip to Germany it was cheaper to get a car at the hotel than a taxi at the place I was visiting (ten minute walk)- it was a Merc in great condition. A luxury ride doign 150kph on the autobahn. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeowww!
Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^] "Program as if the technical support department is full of serial killers and they know your home address" - Ray Cassick Jr., RIP
Sounds incredible slow to me... I would probably fall asleep :laugh:
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Alternatively you could buy something good. Yank Cars are terrible at corners, shodily built and underpowered for the engine size. Better off with a Jaguar, BMW or Audi. Well engineered and reliable, and with more class than the 'Look at me' vulgarity of the GT.
------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]
The Corvette is rated by Top Gear pretty well. And its cheap. Way cheapeer than European stuff of the same spec. And dont forget the blatant vulgarity of the American Muscle car is part of its appeal. I quite like them in fact. They arent about going fast, but making an impact. Sure an Imprezza or an M3 will clean the floor with it, but who wants to lok like a hoddie from an estate?
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