By owning a 99 Mustang GT and now the making payments on a 2006 Mustang GT has put me in a pretty unique position to review the two vehicles as it regards to CCW and security. Yes, IMHO a car is a piece of gear.

The Mustangs.


Besides the obvious styling changes between the two models, there are a number of carry or security related differences.

Starting in 2005, the 4.6L engine was upgraded from the factory to 300hp and 320 ft/lbs of torque as compared to the last models respectable 260hp or equal to the last models Cobra version. This gives the GT a very respectable 5.1 second 0-60 and sub 14 second quarter mile making it truly a retro muscle car. To put that in perspective, that's a faster rating than the Dodge Charger Hemi R/T by a full second and half a second faster than a BMW Z4. That's some get up and go from the badguys.

Unlike the previous model, Ford totally vamped the suspension to a more stable traditional sportscar suspension with full McPherson, not modified, front end, front and back sway bars, and oversized brakes. In no regard is this suspension retro and the car hugs the curves at speed with the best. The shifter, most frequently changed older model modification, was changed to a closer tighter shift for easier faster accelleration.

Though the styling is retro, it has some distinct security advantages. Those small portal back windows all but eliminate traditional blind spots in cars. The oversized hatch back reminiscent back window gives a major improvement in rear view. 4" larger than the previous model and the largest Mustang since the Boss, the back seat gains 2 cu/ft and the trunk 2 cu/ft taking the little pony car from road only to a vehicle you can haul your guns to the range in. This is especially true with a fold down back seat adding to the hauling space.

The retro interior with metal accented dash and over sized retro gages has some unique advantages. The first is they totally revamped the center console making it deeper with more room. It is now deep enough for a full size 1911 in holster with spare mags and tac light. The oversized retro gauges though a tad different thus taking some adjusting to the size, read more easy than the traditional small recessed gages. Unique to the GT is they are back lit during the day and the color can be changed to over 120 colors at night. This means like a submarine you can run red gages at night saving your night vision. Not relying on your night vision, the two oversized driving lights light up the road like a truck with light bar.

Don Johnson move over, a new vehicle is in town.

Tj

Good reivew man! How about some pics of that center console?

Will do but it may be tonight. The wife took the camera to work.

Forgot to mention, partially thanks to a the variable valve timing the 2006 gets 25 mpg on the highway. Not bad for a 300 hp V8.

Tj

Thats 11 better than my V-6 truck!

I can't afford a new car right now TJ, Stop doing this to me!

Interesting note is that we holding off buying a car for years in the expectation of the Dodge Charger coming out this year. We're old school Mopar from the get go and the concept car had us hooked.

Where Ford listened to their market and finally gave up some wind tunnel for styling, Chrysler totally abandonned their concept car to introduced a warmed over Magnum targeted at the Gangsta lifestyle. The result, Ford can't build the Mustang GT fast enough. Somebody needs to tell the Germans the demographics in this country aren't on TV. We wre geared for a new car and enjoyed the other Mustang so it came down to buy what is hot or not.

The Mustangs are selling so well, I can't recommend them to most people. Availability is very geographic with most of the country charging premiums over sticker and Ford is offering zero incentives from the factory. The largest dealor in E. TN is down the road from me so I could get one without paying a premium.

Of the 180,000 Mustangs Ford will build this year only 30% will be GTs and half of those convertables.

Tj

I saw TJ's ride in person at Neil's house. It is a very nice ride.

Jay

were you peeking in the windows?

No, he opened the door and let me look inside and everything.

Jay

The new ones are cool. But I still have a soft spot for mine:


Here is a pic from the day my Grandmother drove it off the showroom floor:

That's a great car!

Sometimes I wish I had an older model mustang.

Nice pony car Afl!

We recently sold a Charger we restored and are now working on a 69 Charger, even so we tried to buy a 65 Pony car but someone beat us to it.

Actually know where a guy in Columbus has a Shelby 289 car setting in his mom's backyard. It's just setting there but he won't sell.

Tj

Since these cars are fords, do they have any utility other than as holsters?





just kidding. Nice cars

I've got an '88 Mustang(turned GT). I like the Fox-era Mustangs the most, particularly the late 80's.

This post has been edited by DirtyHarryCallahan: November 7th 2005 4:56 AM

Great looking cars TJ & AFL. Yep Ford hit it perfect with the retro Mustang,great
style and price to go with it.The Mustang GT even beats the hemi Charger in
the quarter mile times.I bought a 2005 when they came out and never had so
many compliments on a car in my life.Only one thing wrong,the wifey thinks
its her baby and I'm still stuck with my pickup. O-well maybe when the
supercharged stang comes out next year..........

Nice cars!

BTW-my dad had a 'Stang once, an '86 four-cylinder LX hatch. Good car-till the trans blew up on it.

This post has been edited by deej86: November 11th 2005 6:53 PM

Howdy Deej good to see you on the forum. Getting ready to take the Stang out now to run some errands, grab a bite, and go by the "Drive In" which is a kind of informal muscle car show. Been some late models there lately with some great aftermarket upgrades thing like superchargers etc.

Tj