Ford Mustang 2013 GT Track Pack

Ford Mustang 2013 GT Track Pack

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unsprung

5,467 posts

124 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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5ohmustang said:
So petrol is at the lowest I have seen it since I moved here. A benefit of the coyote motor is the choice to run it from regular to premium.
What are your thoughts on adding a bottle of fuel-system cleaner / carbon buildup remover, once or twice annually, when filling up?

5ohmustang said:
Also another stupid Virginia law is that you must have a front license plate. As soon as I cross the state line it is coming off.
The tall form factor of the US license plate looks horrid on the front of many cars, especially those with a pointy nose. I decided to drive without it. After many years, I was ticketed only once: a $45 fine and no points.

The front plate is silly, given the massive technology that is deployed now on public roads. This is not just the character-recognition cameras, but also the EZ Pass readers -- including EZ Pass readers that are hidden and unrelated to tolls. It's now a civil liberties issue.

In terms of crossing the state line, will this be immediately to the west of the state of Virginia? Or immediately to the south? Or somewhere else entirely?



DannyScene

6,619 posts

155 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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Awesome car OP and one of my favourite colours for any car! Yours looks far nicer than the white one you posted further up the page

unsprung

5,467 posts

124 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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5ohmustang said:
You just reminded me, I need to add some fuel system cleaner, it has been a while. I'll pick some up next time I am near autozone. Generally I do add it, but I've not done it for at least 6 months. In the past I ran STP and have never had any issues.
Generally I add it, too. Maybe three or four times a year. I use the Techron Fuel System Cleaner by the people at Chevron.

My car has moved into high mileage (recently exceeding 100,000 miles over nine years) and I had the fuel injectors replaced as per schedule. I'd like to keep them as tip-top as possible. I've also noticed that Techron reduces incidence of detonation in extreme summer conditions. I run 93 octane exclusively.

Occasionally, I've managed to get e-coupons from AutoZone that were significant in savings. Something like $20 off any purchase of $40 or more. So... Pick up some fuel system cleaner, some new wiper blades and one or two other things... and pay half price. But I usually find the best price on Techron at Target or Walmart. Same with Mobil 1.

If you're ever passing through the Northeast, the state of Delaware has no sales tax. As a complement to shopping online, it's useful to stock up on things, there. However, if you still have PX / BX shopping privileges, such savings may be moot.


5ohmustang said:
My problem is whenever I drive on base, if you do not have a front plate the gate guards basically tell you to fix it by x no. of days.

It was not worth the hassle so I put it on there.
Agree 100 percent. Federal and military authorities are not to be messed with.


5ohmustang said:
What do you think of the Chevy Cobalt SS or HHR SS? I wouldn't mind one in the future as a daily driver. It seems a lot of people have forgotten about them and prices are falling. Seeing that they used to hold the FWD Nurburgring record a few years ago they can't be bad.
Between these two choices, I would opt for the Cobalt SS. As you noted, it has some serious engineering. Probably forged internals. That turbo for sure has aftermarket support. The front fascia could be more inspiring. I would add a body kit. But tastefully. And I would look to reduce weight and unsprung weight in particular.

The HHR SS... I would choose this only if I had a local business. Get a professional mural or sign painted on the side -- something to dramatize my brand.

For similar money to the Cobalt and HHR, I might also look for rear-wheel drive candidates. For example: the first two generations of the Lexus IS. This can go posh or performance. Either way, there's a large aftermarket community.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Saturday 27th February 2016
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DannyScene said:
Awesome car OP and one of my favourite colours for any car! Yours looks far nicer than the white one you posted further up the page
Thank you. The 1999-2004 new edge mustangs are a great blank canvas to start with, plus the cobras had irs. For a mustang they are relatively light weight, cheap to buy and cheap parts.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Saturday 27th February 2016
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I get 10% military discount at the auto stores so it offsets the sales tax. I have boycotted target as they are not pro second amendment. I do not like Walmart either but most of the time it is the only choice. If I can buy from a mom and pop store I will. Also I usually buy from businesses who provide military discount or online where I do not get charged for sales tax. Walmart do not do military discount but they prices are pretty low.

Yes I have access to the PX and commissary. The PX is ok for basic stuff, but they do not have a wide range of car products. It's mainly electronics, video game systems, toiletries and beef jerky. They can be good for guns depending on what they get in stock, which seems to be random.

The commissary has some good stuff including an international section. They usually have a small British selection. Malt vinegar, tea, digestives... Obviously it is tax free, steaks, fruit and vege is much better quality than walmart.

The downside to the commissary are the baggers, that get pissed off when you tell them that you do not need them to bag your shopping and carry it out to the car.

From experience the Air Force bases are much nicer. I loved the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, it was in a stunning location.

I do not think a cobalt ss could be made to look any better, they look like turd regardless if it's the coupe or sedan, but underneath the metal it is an outstanding car.

I like the first gen lexus IS but the US never got the beams turbo engine like on the jdm's, I don't feel passionate about a lexus to do an engine swap. Ideally it should be fwd and economical as I need a daily driver. However I'd love an ISF.

A friend had an old is300. It handled nice and was decent build quality. It was just too slow.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Saturday 27th February 10:01

unsprung

5,467 posts

124 months

Saturday 27th February 2016
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5ohmustang said:
DannyScene said:
Awesome car OP and one of my favourite colours for any car! Yours looks far nicer than the white one you posted further up the page
Thank you. The 1999-2004 new edge mustangs are a great blank canvas to start with, plus the cobras had irs. For a mustang they are relatively light weight, cheap to buy and cheap parts.

IMHO the principle described in the above is probably the most inspiring thing about this thread. That is: the affordable blank canvas and the opportunity to create a unique motor -- yet still be part of a community.

Looking online for a quality "new edge" Mustang... There's a lot to choose from. For example, these listings, here.

Those listings are only a partial sample (only 2003-2004 and only those with less than 50,000 miles on the odometer). Yet there are decent V8 coupes for around the equivalent of £9000.

I'm not the most skilled with a spanner. Nor do I currently have enough personal garage space to have a weekend project car. But when I do... I'll definitely be looking to older performance cars with affordable costs for acquisition and aftermarket parts.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Saturday 27th February 2016
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There pretty pricey on that link, especially for a regular gt. I'd spend around $10k on a mach, 03 and 04 cobras around $15k, but no more than $5k for a regular gt.

I'd get a high miler if it was the GT as the 2v engine would be replaced with a coyote. The 2V motor is the one that came in the mg zt. It is big and heavy. You can get all kinds of upgrades for them but it takes a lot to get relative decent power out if them. The mach one had the dohc and was much better. The terminator cobras were the best with the dohc and supercharged.

The saleens look the best but were still the sohc and the super charged version really was not that fast.







In hindsight I should have got one of these and it would have saved a ton of money. However I really like the way mine looks, combined with how it comes from the factory, really there is nothing I needed to do (other than improve how the gearbox shifts) to it and it performs exceptional for most people.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Sunday 28th February 2016
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This is what I was talking about. A cobra with IRS being swapped out to a solid rear axle. Contary to most incorrect mustang reviews, the new s550 was not the first mustang with irs, 1999-2001 and 2003-2004 cobras had irs.

I do not like seeing this as it is removing a unique attritube of the cobra. The owner should have started out with a gt or mach one instead of doing this swap.









Edited by 5ohmustang on Sunday 28th February 17:25

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Sunday 28th February 2016
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I had a chance to wash the mustang today with limited supplies, my detailing gear is at home. The paint needs to be claybared badly. The specs do not show up in the picture, as well as stone chips.

Every time I look at her I see the ride height which infuriates me to no end. Soon I will replace the full suspension. I am undecided whether to get the ford racing handling pack which uses struts or go for coilovers and use a watts linkage.

https://youtu.be/DOOS1Clt6KQ





Edited by 5ohmustang on Monday 29th February 00:02

unsprung

5,467 posts

124 months

Thursday 3rd March 2016
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5ohmustang said:
I am undecided whether to get the ford racing handling pack which uses struts or go for coilovers and use a watts linkage.

https://youtu.be/DOOS1Clt6KQ
That video which you posted gives a powerful demonstration of the importance of a well-sorted chassis. The best part of the video begins at 6:45.

The before-and-after comparison of that fifth-generation Mustang is spectacular.

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Saturday 5th March 2016
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Cheers Unsprung, these muscle cars are easy to modify yourself. I'll fit all the suspension upgrades and then take it to a specialist to setup the geometry/alignment.

To date I have owned the car for 17 months. I purchased it used with 34,000 miles. It is now at 58,000 miles.

The maintenance has been extremely low. It has been very reliable. The only issue was a pinion seal leak which was replaced by Ford under warranty.

I purchased a ford extended warranty 125,000 miles for 6 years. This is one of the reasons engine upgrades have not yet begun.

The dealer sheet shows the car was sold to the original owner for $38,500. I paid $24,000. I think that is around 14k quid. Which is the same price I bought a new skoda octavia vrs for back in 2003.

The finance apr was at a good rate as it was through a military bank, however I am sick of being a debt slave. The past 6 months I've been frantically paying everything off. I am maximizing the use of my income while minimizing my outgoing monthly bills.

So 17 months in, of a 72 month car loan, today I fully paid it off.

I am done. I'll state my words here, I will not buy another car again unless it is in cash.

I am content with the mustang and will keep it. Other than a 13/14 GT500 or a c6/c7 Z06 there is nothing else I fancy. When I read about lot of cars on here, I have far more respect for the owner who buys an ep3 type r in cash, than someone that buys an m power or amg with a car loan. I don't want to sound like I am finance guru like Dave Ramsey but I have learned my lesson. So if your contemplating taking out a loan do not do it.

With regards to shopping for a cobalt ss I've changed my mind. I don't want to spend $7k on a beater. If I do need a daily driver car later in the year, I have discovered the GM 3800 Supercharged motor. I had no clue these sleepers existed. So I am talking late 90s Buick Regal GS, Park Avenue Ultra, Pontiac Grand Prix GTP and the Bonneville SSEI. Super comfortable, cheesy daily drivers, boosted all for $2000.

In a very short space of time I will be debt free.

Here is another mustang awesomeness vid. https://youtu.be/ZDKrCePER5k

Hope everyone is having a great day. I am smile

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Saturday 12th March 2016
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This morning I went to my local cars and coffee. Coming out of the drive thru I spotted David Patterson / Thatdudeinblue from youtube on his way there. Uploading the ford pictures first.










































































































5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Saturday 12th March 2016
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Here's the GM cars.
































































unsprung

5,467 posts

124 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
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Great photos. Love the centrifugal supercharger on some of those Mustangs. And, as much as I would like the instant, low-end torque of a positive-displacement blower, I believe that the physics of a centrifugal supercharger are more suited to spirited driving. And to less stress on the drivetrain.

Love the Ford GT. Beautiful shape.

The C7 Corvettes look menacing: like weapons splashed with color.

Love the sixth-generation Mustang in the Guard color (is that what it is? the gray-green color). Also looks fabulous in the bright red. Gorgeous. Looks like something that costs twice the price.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Wednesday 16th March 2016
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Everything else:






Stunning 280Z Turbo



















This was the best ep3 civic the US got, the SI. Nothing like a Type R.











I would not mind a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, AWD and the evo motor. Once fast and the furious came out, these cars ended up stolen or wrecked. There hard to find in good condition. For some reason owners do not take care of them. Rarely do they look like this.






Elise's are rare here as they are really expensive compared to the UK.











LS Swapped






























Great looking Dodge Ram, from times when men were men and Bruit aftershave was the cologne of choice.






These are the Buick Regals I was referring to, V6 Supercharged $2-$3k. Great for when you want to drive unnoticed.






































5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Wednesday 16th March 2016
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unsprung said:
Great photos. Love the centrifugal supercharger on some of those Mustangs. And, as much as I would like the instant, low-end torque of a positive-displacement blower, I believe that the physics of a centrifugal supercharger are more suited to spirited driving. And to less stress on the drivetrain.

Love the Ford GT. Beautiful shape.

The C7 Corvettes look menacing: like weapons splashed with color.

Love the sixth-generation Mustang in the Guard color (is that what it is? the gray-green color). Also looks fabulous in the bright red. Gorgeous. Looks like something that costs twice the price.
Thanks. I might change my mind on a procharger. I do not like the idea of extra weight over the front axle, whereas a twin screw carries it weight further back but at a higher center of gravity.

The procharger (not sure about others) comes separated by sections in a large box. They are numbered and packed in order from last to first. So you just work your way assembling one section at a time. No cutting or fabricating is required. I guess non stop it would take a weekend to fit and comes with the tuner for the map.

I'll do the suspension first, but I am used to the 420 bhp now so it needs more power. Very soon I'll be home and be riding my scooter as a daily, so that should make 420bhp feel super fast when I get back in the mustang.

GT's are stunning. It was a shame they did not make them for long. I'd rather have one than most Italian exotics.

The C7's are very nice to sit it, everything feels high quality.

Yes the green is the guard color. It's like the only half decent color on the new f150's at the moment imo.

famfarrow

679 posts

154 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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Haven't been a participant in this thread but just wanted to post to say that I am thoroughly enjoying reading the updates and discussion. Lovely Stang as well by the way-a bit of a dream car for me!

Thanks OP!

bakerstreet

4,761 posts

165 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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5ohmustang said:
Fantastic colour and wheel combination. Actually similar to the Planet X Guru blue colour smile I really do like Mustangs. Wish they had brought them to the UK sooner. Hopefully we will get a larger allocation in the year to come and prices will drop a bit.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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bakerstreet said:
Fantastic colour and wheel combination. Actually similar to the Planet X Guru blue colour smile I really do like Mustangs. Wish they had brought them to the UK sooner. Hopefully we will get a larger allocation in the year to come and prices will drop a bit.

Thank you sir. I don't think I could ride that bike for a reasonable length of time, it looks like a back breaker. If I still lived in the UK, I don't know if I would buy a new one. There fantastic don't get me wrong. I prefer the older mustangs than the 6th gen. There more muscle than sports, like the challenger. Having said that, the 6th gen I drove was an ecoboost.

I just think performance cars in the UK are so much cheaper than the U.S. you are spoilt for choice. You just get raped in petrol and insurance. I really like the VXR8s and monaro vxr's. I don't know what I would buy.

I am a big suzuki fanboy and would love an awd turbo kei car. Maybe a fn2 type r. Try and find a comparable cheap performance car here for the same money, you won't.

You can find old Cadillac's all day long on craigs list for little money though.

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

115 months

Thursday 17th March 2016
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Found some older pics driving across Kansas. It is by far the most boring long distance driving I have done. No hills, fields and grain silos.












Edited by 5ohmustang on Wednesday 15th June 01:33