My 05 Mustang GT project

I grew tired of my 2000 Civic SiR and @ 33 it seemed like a bit of a hooligans car - it was lowered with a big exhaust...etc. So I basically decided to buy a new car one day, went out and did it and this is what I got.

base base base - 2005 Mustang GT with 55,000 miles on it. 5spd, owned by (and yes it's true) a lady in her 50's. She was from Calgary Alberta and drove it across Canada to be with her Daughter and new grand daughter. It has all the service records right down to a receipt for every oil change.

I paid $12,000 for it - it came wearing new snow tires and somewhere along the way it got a new windshield. It met my criteria - fast, cheap and not FWD. Being a GM guy @ heart I took a long look @ early 2000's camaro's - but they just don't do it for me.

First thing I did was to swap the snows for Nitto NT555's - Discount tire direct supplied me with a set of 245-40-17's. Then I got a magnaflow cat back - Local speed shop had it in stock for 2 years after ordering it for someone who never paid - was $800 - got it for $350

This all happened in the 1st week of ownership.

Then I decided Stock was boring, and ran across Sam Strano.

Coming back from the border yesterday there was only room for me

What you see:

SVT GT500 Wheels 18X9.5 Hankook RS2's - 285-35-18 Tokico D spec adjustable shocks and struts Steeda Sport springs Hawk HPS pads Goodridge Lines Strano Rear bar

Got rid of the rear spoiler and blacked out the pony

It took about 3 hrs to get everything but the brakes done and what a difference - the car is totally transformed. The motor works so well I don't wanna bother with tuners or intakes, it makes 300hp and runs off of 87. And here in the great state of Ontario gas is the equivalent of $6 a Gallon.

Tomorrow is our first autocross of the season and it's raining :(

AutoXR wrote: I grew tired of my 2000 Civic SiR and @ 33 it seemed like a bit of a hooligans car - so I bought a Mustang.

I has to point out this

That over, looks pretty good.

Needs moar lower!

Just hope you don't have a misfire anytime soon. Those two piece plugs suck ass.

IF my 70 yr old father can still race (successfully) this, then I am allowed to have an old Ford -

Another shot - so much better not in 4x4 mode and spoiler-less

Looks great! I have driven an '05 GT and liked it quite a bit, just a little too big for me.

I like the spoiler personally, but to each their own.

I am jealous of your new toy though.

great looking car. 12k seems like a deal too!

Needs a GRM sticker . . .

I've driven this car -- Autoxr scored big time with it.

Nice job. I'd pick up the tuner anyways though. My SCT came with generic tunes for 87, 91 and 93. It will allow you more flexibility when you ultimately decide to do some engine mods, change the gearing, etc. It also doubles as a code scanner as well.

Seconded on the SCT Tuner. It really makes an unbelievable difference in the driving dynamics and throttle control. If I had to detune mine now, I'm pretty sure I'd sell it. It's a pickup truck without the tune. And it gets better mileage with the tune, no matter which octane you choose.

Look into an adjustable front swaybar. It really lets you dial out the understeer that these are so prone to. I'm running one from BMR Fabrication and have been happy - it's lightweight and reasonably priced.

These are great cars. I usually run in SCCA STX autocross and can be very competitive locally in the same car I drive every day. Much fun to be had.

Looks good. Personally, I'm also a fan of spoiler-delete Mustangs.

I like spoiler delete on just about everything, although I currently own two spoilered cars.

The delete, she's not so easy.

Woody wrote: I like spoiler delete on just about everything, although I currently own two spoilered cars. The delete, she's not so easy.

Unless the said two cars are a Superbird and a Charger Daytona, I say yank 'em... .

In reply to AutoXR:

what'cha gonna do with the stock rims? i'm looking for a set for my Mazda6....

I was originally going for the delete, but since the car I found had every other option I wanted besides the delete, I took it. I actually swapped the stocker for a Steeda Streetwing, which I really like.

Call me crazy, but I can actually tell a slight improvement in stability over 75mph with the Steeda wing over the stock. I never really expected it to be useful, I just liked the look. It really surprised me.

Tuner also gets rid of the throttle averaging those things have that kill blipping the throttle.

SIGNIFICANT thing right there. Heel/toe is nearly impossible on a non-tuned car.

I will look closer @ a tuner - I can def tell the throttle response is crap - I thought my 2002 Mini was bad - but you're right this seems worse. It's odd, occasionally it seems to be ok - othertimes not so much.

When I talked to Sam strano (9 time Nat's winner) he said the rear bar was the biggest difference after the dampers.

Next autocross is on the 31st - then Zoomiata's track day @ shannonville the next day. Excited to try the new setup

Love the project - looking forward to the updates.

Where do you run? Come play in ESP, we could use some participation at tour events. Only two of us at Dixie, only four of us at Atlanta.

AutoXR wrote: I grew tired of my 2000 Civic SiR and @ 33 it seemed like a bit of a hooligans car

<--39 y/o hooligan w/ 99 Si

Will wrote: Where do you run? Come play in ESP, we could use some participation at tour events. Only two of us at Dixie, only four of us at Atlanta.

I believe he said somewhere in canada... it'd be a long commute...

Hey Will - I have run with Dixie a couple times at Spence and once at SGMP, but I always run STX. You guys in ESP are FAAASSSTTTT!!!!

If you want to see Fast ESP cars, go to Detroit Region.

an update.

Took the car to it's first autocross a week ago and Won my class by 2 secs. Still learning to drive the car, but it's shocking how well it works. I have autocrossed a 964 RS america that was setup , C4 vette (well setup) and a 997S and this car is on par with any of them

The day after the autocross I went to a lapping day. The car is predictable, you can drive it like an absolute maniac and it forgives you. I had numerous people come up and say how impressed they were. I started out in the intermediate class and wasn't passed all day, managed to run down some seriously fast drivers in fast cars. The highlight was staying 2 feet off the bumper of an 02 M3 driven by a 1 lap of america winner - I was fortunate to hae a very talented driver coaching me - he told me after that I was his hero for running down expensive cars (haha)

I had a great session with a GT500 - he would walk me in the straights but 1/4 way through the infield I was all over him, I got over excited and spun.

Yesterday night was our "open" autocross - we use a short part of the track that I had done lapping on. FTD was by the driver who had coached me . he turned 66 secs flat in ZooMiata's Elise.. I managed to man handle the mustang to a 68.1 and 4th fastest overall. This was my first even running Sam strano's rear bar...what a difference.

never been so happy with a car, best 12 grand I ever spent