About 4 months ago I started my hunt for my new daily driver. Requirements - great handling, good pick-up, good braking, clean, simple, fun daily driver. I have a 02 Focus SVT that I race. This car did not need to fill any racing shoes.
I wont run down my thoughts and feelings on all of these cars listed. I drove 370z, 350z, Camaro, G37, base v6 Mustang, California Special 5.0 Mustang, and a few others. Evo X and Ralliart where on the maybe list, but never driven (I've been in quiet a few of them...). At the end of my furry of car test drives I had nothing that I was head-over-heals for. Until I heard about the performance package Mustang from my good friend otter. Did some research. And on paper, was really impressed with the Frankenstein car that Ford SVO had cooked up. Told my local dealer that if they had one show up, call me. Sure enough a base version showed up a few weeks later. Drove the pants off of the car. Instant grin. I was sold. And for the last 2 months I have been pretty hush-hush on my new car.
And neat factoid -- Ford still allows custom ordering of cars. Just like the COPO cars of the 60's. Working with my dealer, we sat down and drew out my one-off package. My name is even on the window sheet and build ticket. Very cool.
She was delivered early this week to my dealer. Dressed up and parked center stage on their showroom floor. The Sales Manager and my Salesman both kept joking with me on how many people came in and asked how much to buy my car. Even with the sold sticker in the window. Even when I went to pick up my car -- 2 guys where standing over her oogling every bit.
I have been traveling heavily for work. Flew back this weekend special to take charge of my new car.
2011 Mustang 200A 67B "Performance Package"
-Performance White with Saddle/Black Leather
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF1426sm.jpg
200A
-305 hp / 280 tq
-3.7l v6 with Ti-VCT Intake and Exhaust
-7000 redline
-6sp (shared with GT)
-No rear wing
-Shaker sound system
-Leather interior
67B "Performance Package"
-A 3.31 rear axle ratio
-Mustang GT coupe front and rear stabilizer bars
-Mustang GT front struts and rear shocks/springs
-Shelby GT500 rear lower control arm
-19-inch wheels
-Pirelli Extreme Summer 255/40/19 tires
-Mustang GT front and rear brake calipers with Performance Friction pads
-A strut tower brace for increased body rigidity
-Unique electronic stability control calibration with Sport mode for performance driving
-Unique badging (I ordered without badging or stripes).
Impressions
Absolutely awesome! I have put on about 175 miles at this point. Car goes like stink. And I still have half a tank of gas left. Nimble feeling for being a bigger car. Engine sound is great at the upper band. Brakes are fantastic. Lots of driver feedback. Positive feel. Steering is precise and direct. Very easy to drive the car. I am still getting used to the dimensions. It is much like being back in my 1976 Corvette. Driver position is low and there is a bit more hood in front of you. The Evo and my SVTF both have very different seating postions. SVTF is much higher up for view and the Evo was in-between where the Mustang is and SVTF is.
Few points that I'll be addressing. When I was building it was that I could not get the factory HIDs without the full Navigational Package. 113-118mph limiter. Not enough in-car exhaust note.
My fixes - 4300k HID kit sitting on my work bench. ECU Programmer (~20 hp gain, no rev limiter, adjust fuel curves, 2-step launch program, etc.), and axle-back exhaust system.
EBC graciously shipped me over a set of BlueStuff pads for testing. And I am working a suspension company to develop some new parts very soon.
The Goods
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF1418.jpg
20% tint all around
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF1410.jpg
The desktop wallpaper
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF0067.jpg
Interior
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF0028.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF0026.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF1407.jpg
Gratuitous Shots
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF0034.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF0062.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/smikeevo/DSCF0022-1.jpg
2000 mile update. Rocking out 24 ave mpg and 30-31 highway ave. And I am still not trying to get good mpg. If I can hold myself to hypermiling one of these long trips, Ill report on it.
HIDs installed - awesome night driving. Very clear, not blinding others.
MRT sold the exhaust they had put aside for me to pick up. Annoyed with their lack of organization and ability to remember orders. Cancelled and drove over to Summit Racing. Got the Flowmaster Force II Axle-back. Could not be happier. Easy install. Great sound. Not annoying in cabin - just the right note for the engine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QATBnB5YhgA
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
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