Drove a new GT today

As is a wonderful perk of my job (running the valet at a country club full of Big Three execs), I finally got to drive a new GT tonight.

First of all, anyone concerned about the shifter position, put your worries to rest right now. Not only do you not bang your fingers into the console, the position is PERFECT, no reaching whatsoever. The throws are not as short as you'd expect when you see the knob is set close to the opening in the console, but it's VERY slick to drive, I don't think many people will be complaining. Clutch I can't really say either way, I have a King Cobra in my '01 so anything feels too light to me. The car hauls, doesn't honestly feel as fast as my Cobra, but I'm sure smoothness detracts from the fact that it is pretty damn quick.

I remember when I got my Cobra it took a little while to get comfortable driving it and my confidence in pushing it and sliding around corners and whatnot came sort of slowly. You get in this car and you feel like you've owned it for years after a half a mile, VERY confidence-inspiring. Plenty of 300hp live axle fun, but also not frightening and dance-aroundish.

The build quality and fit and finish, as far as I can tell, is fantastic. Looks like Ford really spent some time getting everything right and bringing the fight to the rest of the quality cars in the world. The chassis feels light years ahead of my Cobra (as it should), even with the solid rear axle. Much like the LS it's borrowed from, nice and tight, very well poised in corners and quick manuveurs. I hate to throw out the default comparison, but as a big BMW fan, it's excitingly much closer to the feel of a 3 series.

The one I drove was loaded up, including the color changing dash. I was under the impression the ENTIRE dash and console, including radio and climate controls changed, but it's only the main instrument cluster. It is cool and makes you say "Wow, how'd they do THAT?". Not sure if I'd check it on the options list or not, but it's worth a look for sure. The red interior is pretty sweet, especially against the black exterior and aluminum accents inside, all around a visually impressive package.

Can't help but notice that even the biggest wheels still look too small to me on this car. Like any Mustang it needs to be dropped and have bigger shoes fitted. With that done this car will probably look mean as hell. The front is old school and killer, I wouldn't change a thing.

All in all, I've been a big fan of this car since I first saw pictures, and I like it even more than I imagined I would. More than anything, now that I'm relieved to know it completely lives up to the hype and hopes, I'm totally psyched to get my hands on the hotter versions... Cobras and Shelbys and whatever there is to come. This car is going to be THE car to have at 400+ hp and some performance upgrades, no question. So if you haven't had this pleasure yet, take it from me, it's worth the wait.

:nice:

-Chris
 
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KidTwist51 said:
As is a wonderful perk of my job (running the valet at a country club full of Big Three execs), I finally got to drive a new GT tonight.

First of all, anyone concerned about the shifter position, put your worries to rest right now. Not only do you not bang your fingers into the console, the position is PERFECT, no reaching whatsoever. The throws are not as short as you'd expect when you see the knob is set close to the opening in the console, but it's VERY slick to drive, I don't think many people will be complaining. Clutch I can't really say either way, I have a King Cobra in my '01 so anything feels too light to me. The car hauls, doesn't honestly feel as fast as my Cobra, but I'm sure smoothness detracts from the fact that it is pretty damn quick.

I remember when I got my Cobra it took a little while to get comfortable driving it and my confidence in pushing it and sliding around corners and whatnot came sort of slowly. You get in this car and you feel like you've owned it for years after a half a mile, VERY confidence-inspiring. Plenty of 300hp live axle fun, but also not frightening and dance-aroundish.

The build quality and fit and finish, as far as I can tell, is fantastic. Looks like Ford really spent some time getting everything right and bringing the fight to the rest of the quality cars in the world. The chassis feels light years ahead of my Cobra (as it should), even with the solid rear axle. Much like the LS it's borrowed from, nice and tight, very well poised in corners and quick manuveurs. I hate to throw out the default comparison, but as a big BMW fan, it's excitingly much closer to the feel of a 3 series.

The one I drove was loaded up, including the color changing dash. I was under the impression the ENTIRE dash and console, including radio and climate controls changed, but it's only the main instrument cluster. It is cool and makes you say "Wow, how'd they do THAT?". Not sure if I'd check it on the options list or not, but it's worth a look for sure. The red interior is pretty sweet, especially against the black exterior and aluminum accents inside, all around a visually impressive package.

Can't help but notice that even the biggest wheels still look too small to me on this car. Like any Mustang it needs to be dropped and have bigger shoes fitted. With that done this car will probably look mean as hell. The front is old school and killer, I wouldn't change a thing.

All in all, I've been a big fan of this car since I first saw pictures, and I like it even more than I imagined I would. More than anything, now that I'm relieved to know it completely lives up to the hype and hopes, I'm totally psyched to get my hands on the hotter versions... Cobras and Shelbys and whatever there is to come. This car is going to be THE car to have at 400+ hp and some performance upgrades, no question. So if you haven't had this pleasure yet, take it from me, it's worth the wait.

:nice:

-Chris


You got to park this car? Or were you alllowed to test drive it?
 
KidTwist51 said:
No I wouldn't have written all that if I had just parked it, lol. I got to drive it by myself and gave it a decent workout. Sorry, should have mentioned this was a Mustang GT and not the GT, didn't even occur to me.

-Chris

and no pics and usually :rolleyes:

kirkyg
 
KidTwist51 said:
As is a wonderful perk of my job (running the valet at a country club full of Big Three execs), I finally got to drive a new GT tonight.

First of all, anyone concerned about the shifter position, put your worries to rest right now. Not only do you not bang your fingers into the console, the position is PERFECT, no reaching whatsoever. The throws are not as short as you'd expect when you see the knob is set close to the opening in the console, but it's VERY slick to drive, I don't think many people will be complaining.

-Chris



The manual transmission is carried over from the pre-gen models, so I am not surprised the throws are all that different...
 
KidTwist, I just wanted to say your review was excellent - i.e. very well written and thought out. :nice:

It's amazing how much praise there is for the chassis / suspension.... how much different it is from the previous generation.

I can only imagine the improvement this platform has over my foxbody... :banana:
 
Don't usually have a camera at work, and I wouldn't subject you all to the pain of suffering of the shots my camera-phone takes.
Don't sweat it. I swear people, are we all expected to carry friggin cameras swinging around our necks like a busload of Japanese tourists at Disney??? My camera sits at home in a drawer unless I'm going somewhere that I think, ahead of time, I might want to memorialize. I think most people fall into that catagory. Yet every time somebody here says they saw something or did something, there's always this, "what, no pictures??" I don't get it...
 
KidTwist51 said:
As is a wonderful perk of my job (running the valet at a country club full of Big Three execs), I finally got to drive a new GT tonight.

First of all, anyone concerned about the shifter position, put your worries to rest right now. Not only do you not bang your fingers into the console, the position is PERFECT, no reaching whatsoever. The throws are not as short as you'd expect when you see the knob is set close to the opening in the console, but it's VERY slick to drive, I don't think many people will be complaining. Clutch I can't really say either way, I have a King Cobra in my '01 so anything feels too light to me. The car hauls, doesn't honestly feel as fast as my Cobra, but I'm sure smoothness detracts from the fact that it is pretty damn quick.

I remember when I got my Cobra it took a little while to get comfortable driving it and my confidence in pushing it and sliding around corners and whatnot came sort of slowly. You get in this car and you feel like you've owned it for years after a half a mile, VERY confidence-inspiring. Plenty of 300hp live axle fun, but also not frightening and dance-aroundish.

The build quality and fit and finish, as far as I can tell, is fantastic. Looks like Ford really spent some time getting everything right and bringing the fight to the rest of the quality cars in the world. The chassis feels light years ahead of my Cobra (as it should), even with the solid rear axle. Much like the LS it's borrowed from, nice and tight, very well poised in corners and quick manuveurs. I hate to throw out the default comparison, but as a big BMW fan, it's excitingly much closer to the feel of a 3 series.

The one I drove was loaded up, including the color changing dash. I was under the impression the ENTIRE dash and console, including radio and climate controls changed, but it's only the main instrument cluster. It is cool and makes you say "Wow, how'd they do THAT?". Not sure if I'd check it on the options list or not, but it's worth a look for sure. The red interior is pretty sweet, especially against the black exterior and aluminum accents inside, all around a visually impressive package.

Can't help but notice that even the biggest wheels still look too small to me on this car. Like any Mustang it needs to be dropped and have bigger shoes fitted. With that done this car will probably look mean as hell. The front is old school and killer, I wouldn't change a thing.

All in all, I've been a big fan of this car since I first saw pictures, and I like it even more than I imagined I would. More than anything, now that I'm relieved to know it completely lives up to the hype and hopes, I'm totally psyched to get my hands on the hotter versions... Cobras and Shelbys and whatever there is to come. This car is going to be THE car to have at 400+ hp and some performance upgrades, no question. So if you haven't had this pleasure yet, take it from me, it's worth the wait.

:nice:

-Chris

Do not belief this guy, he is nothing but a good story teller that is all. You see I work for one of the largest Ford Dealers and the 05 Mustang has not been released to the public yet. In fact the first 05s' to be released to the public will be the 6 cylinder model with the GT to soon follow, scheduled release is set for October 2. Their are only about 10 actual Mustangs that have been released to the public and all of these went to Car shows and Magazine editors like Car and Driver and Motor trend. The only way this guy could have driven one was if this was one of the Demo cars sent out. I find that a bit of a stretch. Also as a valet you do not get to test drive the car or "put it through it's paces". You would be fired quick. This person sounds like a kid who read one of the many reviews out their about the new 05 Mustang.
 
There have been a couple hundred built for pilot purposes, testing the assembly process, testing the cars, and it is typical for the top brass to drive them for a period of time so that they can review the product they are ultimately responsible for before it's released. He stated that he valet's at a club "full of Big Three execs". Ummm, DUH, A Ford executive is NOT "the public". Furthermore, most country club members have a friendly relationship with the valet, and it doesn't surprise me at all that a Ford executive would toss the keys to a new '05 GT to a young guy and say "take it for a spin, tell me what you think". It's not far fetched at all, not even close. Ford executives get cars to test out before they are release COMMONLY, all the time, and the pre-production pilot ones all wind up going to the crusher after they're done with them anyways, so the execs really don't give a crap what happens to them, wouldn't sweat a single bead handing the keys to their valet. To a Ford exec, driving a new Mustang is like eating a taco on the job to a Taco Bell manager, they think nothing of it. You work at a dealer. Let me give you a good piece of advice. Your bosses don't know **** about the automotive industry, and how it works, and how cars come to market. Where I work has a branch in Detroit, and the guys that work up there say that they've seen a ton of '05 Mustangs driving around with manufacturer plates on them. Those are engineers and execs driving pre-production pilot cars.
 
RICKS said:
There have been a couple hundred built for pilot purposes, testing the assembly process, testing the cars, and it is typical for the top brass to drive them for a period of time so that they can review the product they are ultimately responsible for before it's released. He stated that he valet's at a club "full of Big Three execs". Ummm, DUH, A Ford executive is NOT "the public". Furthermore, most country club members have a friendly relationship with the valet, and it doesn't surprise me at all that a Ford executive would toss the keys to a new '05 GT to a young guy and say "take it for a spin, tell me what you think". It's not far fetched at all, not even close. Ford executives get cars to test out before they are release COMMONLY, all the time, and the pre-production pilot ones all wind up going to the crusher after they're done with them anyways, so the execs really don't give a crap what happens to them, wouldn't sweat a single bead handing the keys to their valet. To a Ford exec, driving a new Mustang is like eating a taco on the job to a Taco Bell manager, they think nothing of it. You work at a dealer. Let me give you a good piece of advice. Your bosses don't know **** about the automotive industry, and how it works, and how cars come to market. Where I work has a branch in Detroit, and the guys that work up there say that they've seen a ton of '05 Mustangs driving around with manufacturer plates on them. Those are engineers and execs driving pre-production pilot cars.

Ricks,
Where in Detroit do you work. The mustang is not even being built in Detroit. There are 5 assembly plants in the US that the new Mustang will be built in. None are in Detroit by the way.. The dealer ship I work for sells more Mustangs than any dealership in the conutry. We deliver 1200 new fords a month to customers. So I think my bosses do know something about the Mustang. This kid lives in Beverly Hills. So I doubt you will find a Ford executive working have away caross the country and living in Beverky Hills.
 
91StangLX said:
Ricks,
The mustang is not even being built in Detroit. There are 5 assembly plants in the US that the new Mustang will be built in. None are in Detroit by the way.. The dealer ship I work for sells more Mustangs than any dealership in the conutry. We deliver 1200 new fords a month to customers. So I think my bosses do know something about the Mustang. This kid lives in Beverly Hills. So I doubt you will find a Ford executive working have away caross the country and living in Beverky Hills.

The assembly plant is in Flat Rock, MI. It is exactly 23 miles SSW from downtown Detroit. These cars are everywhere. Where do you think all of the pictures on these forums come from? I have seen three personally and I live exactly 225 miles NW of Detoit. Two days ago I saw two GT's. One Legand Lime and the other Screeming yellow. The other one I saw was about a month ago. It was what I call a V6 GT. It had the front fogs (which were lit) and it had the rocker panel mustang logos. Never saw the rear end to see if had dual ex. We passed each other in opposite directions on I-96 near Lansing. They are out west........... search the forums and see the pics.
 
Where in Detroit do you work.
I said that the company I work for has a BRANCH in Detroit, I didn't say I worked there.
The mustang is not even being built in Detroit.
No duh, thanks for the 411 :rolleyes:
There are 5 assembly plants in the US that the new Mustang will be built in.
False. You must have gotten that nugget of wisdom from your bosses, which wouldn't surprise me..
This kid lives in Beverly Hills. So I doubt you will find a Ford executive working have away caross the country and living in Beverky Hills.
Beverly Hills, MICHIGAN :doh: , north of Southfield, west of Royal Oak, 15 miles from downtown Detroit as the crow flies.....

Man, thanks for tossing up all those clay pidgeons for me to blow out of the sky for you.... When you get done picking all the shoe leather out from between your teeth, take another swing. Better yet, huddle with the superior who told you that the Mustang was going to be built in 5 different assembly plants and ask him where you can find a water pump for a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle.
 
"Proof of Build"

This is a copy of the Vehicle status report I picked up at my dealer today. It shows the build date to be 9/08. GT's are going to built next week .Your dealer is giving you the wrong Scoop. My Vin is 100748
 
KidTwist51 said:
Haha I am being accused of lying?

Don't usually have a camera at work, and I wouldn't subject you all to the pain of suffering of the shots my camera-phone takes.

-Chris

I dont doubt your telling the truth its just whats the point in the post unless we can see you in the car and check it out for ourselves.

kirkyg