GT>ST

"Notchback88" (notchback88)
04/11/2020 at 06:22 • Filed to: None

Well, I finally made a choice and traded in the ST. Dear god, did I miss having a RWD V8. The price drops that I’d been seeing were too tempting, and we’d been saving for this purchase for quite a while. It was also a fairly painless buy process, other than it taking forever - they were shorthanded due to COVID19 but still busy. Good for them, I guess?

It’s a 2019 GT Premium Manual with 8500 miles that had all the options I was looking for: Safe & Sound Package, Blackout Package, B&O Sound System, and Active Exhaust. Yeah, no Performance Pack, but I plan on upgrading the suspension bits with aftermarket stuff anyway. This is a car I plan to keep for at least 10 years if possible.

My only gripe is I found a 1/4" paint chip AFTER I brought it home. Pissed me off. I would have bought it anyway, but I would have argued for a lower price. And I really tried to be detailed with my inspection - just didn’t see it. There’s also a small dent on the fender I can probably get pulled out fairly cheaply.

This is the 3rd Ford I’ve bought, in a row even. 2010 Mustang GT Premium, 2013 Focus ST(1), and this GT. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, AMA.

Oh and now I have to sell my Fiero. Anybody want an 88 Fiero GT 5 Speed?

DISCUSSION (42)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 06:52

need to do a massive burnout and fishtail into a crowd

Notchback88 > pip bip - choose Corrour
04/11/2020 at 06:56

Nah I fishtailed plenty in my first Fiero (dirt road once, and the second into a guard rail.) I’ve sated that appetite.

Now I just need to earn the ire of the HOA by doing 1/4 mile passes in my subdivision with the exhaust in Track.

dumpsterfire! > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 08:12

nice. enjoy!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 08:25

Kinja'd!!!

“ Dear god, did I miss having a RWD V8"

But your Versa S!

Seriously though, that is a nice car. Congratulations.

Notchback88 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
04/11/2020 at 08:32

That’s the wife’s appliance. She’s owned two cars her entire life: a Toyota Echo and that Versa. I don’t understand it, nor does she understand my need for sports cars, so it evens out.

Plus that Nissan gets 44mpg highway, so I can’t complain all that much.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 08:41

Props to her for only going through two appliances thus far.

BeaterGT > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 09:26

Congrats! Sorry to hear about the paint chip. Maybe you can fill/fix it?

404 - User No Longer Available > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
04/11/2020 at 09:31

*SV

PyramidHat > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 09:33

So the famous mustang issue...is that some design flaw or is that more due to a bad skill to horsepower ratio of the driver? Wondering how these would do on the track...

Notchback88 > BeaterGT
04/11/2020 at 09:33

I’m gonna try, but I’m no body man.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 09:33

I really like the blue brakes for some reason

Notchback88 > PyramidHat
04/11/2020 at 09:36

Usually it’s driver skill, if you’re talking over st ee r into walls and crowds? I’m told the Performance Pack 1 and 2 cars can do quite well, and the GT350/GT350R/GT500 are track monsters .

Notchback88 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
04/11/2020 at 09:37

It was the PO’s mod, but I kinda liked it too. Next year I plan to do a brake upgrade so they’ll eventually go away. Maybe.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 09:45

You could always paint the next one too. It maybe get blue ones from Endless, I do t know if any other company that does blue brake components.

It’s a nice pop of color, and better looking than the typical red, IMO

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 10:10

Congratulations! Enjoy!

AkursedX > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 10:48

Details on the Fiero? I see you recently did some front end work. I often entertain the idea of getting another Fiero. My 3800 turbo Fiero was fun. And I also had 3 other ones through the years.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 11:03

Excellent choice! That 5.0 Coyote sounds so good!

I think a dark tint would go very nicely with the gray, are you planning to?

way2blu does a rev update > AkursedX
04/11/2020 at 12:04

Seconded, would love to hear more about the Fiero. Sounds like an excellent spec.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 12:25

Congrats on the mustang, but I’m interested in the Fiero! I can daily my 85 base and use the 88 on weekends.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 12:58

Great color, love the lack of chrome too. Never been a fan of the refreshed headlights, but I’m getting used to them and the overall design is still quite good to my eyes. Congrats on the kick ass ride!

feather-throttle-not-hair > PyramidHat
04/11/2020 at 13:03

According to my very smart friend, there just isn’t a lot of caster in the front suspension geometry, meaning that when you get less of a “self-steer” effect through the steering wheel when you get sideways. A decent driver won’t have any problems (see: hella people have drifted mustangs successfully) but it could catch someone out if they weren’t good at controlling oversteer in the first place.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 13:07

My parter includes “never own a car” among her life goals. Meanwhile, my life goals include “never own a car...with fewer than 3 pedals”

Notchback88 > AkursedX
04/11/2020 at 14:06

1988 Fiero GT 5 Speed with sunroof, power lumbar, AC that stopped blowing cold a couple years ago. Black but pain has started to oxidize. Finishing up the front end this week hopefully.

The big issue is I think I’ve got a head gasket leak. It’s not catastrophic (yet,) but I do not have the time nor lift/crane to drop the motor. It also definitely needs valve seals.

Notchback88 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
04/11/2020 at 14:07

See my above comment.

ThatShitCrayZ > Notchback88
04/11/2020 at 14:51

You should have never downgraded to a Focus, those are a sad joke and a smear on Ford’s image. Glad you came to your senses and bought a Mustang again.

ThatShitCrayZ > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
04/11/2020 at 14:51

What do you mean? There are tons of companies that make blue brake components.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ThatShitCrayZ
04/11/2020 at 15:28

Just that Endless is the only one I know of.

SmugAardvark > Notchback88
04/12/2020 at 01:06

Niiiiiice. Fun car!

Notchback88 > Notchback88
04/12/2020 at 08:16

Notchback88 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/12/2020 at 08:17

I’d like to, yeah. But I’m probably going to stay legal cause the ST already got me one ticket for tint and I didn’t even install it.

Gripevo1 > Notchback88
04/12/2020 at 11:15

Congrats! I have h ad my 2016 GT(base) PP since new, and I have 60k miles on it now. Been absolutely reliable, even with loads of trackdays and autocross events. They are great cars.

Mine:

Kinja'd!!!

Highly recommend a couple small mods-

The steeda clutch return spring and pedal set make the clutch feel much smoother and make heel toe driving easier.

Exhaust (if you dont already have the factory multi mode exhaust) is great. I have the MBRP street, which is cheap and not too loud.

Tires- since you didnt get the PP, I would recommend finding a set of PP wheels with Pilot Sport4s tires that someone took off to go aftermarket. The pilots are an awesome street/occasional light track duty tire. I have run loads of much more aggressive performance tires(re-71r, star specs etc), but the pilot is fantastic for a street tire and not bad at the track.

Your going to love it!

Gripevo1 > Gripevo1
04/12/2020 at 11:18

Just noticed you got the active exhaust..so no need to go aftermarket then. Also, just noticed your brake calipers are blue. Weird that someone painted them in the first 8500miles...

Notchback88 > Gripevo1
04/12/2020 at 11:33

The guy really liked blue. He also had those tacky blue aluminum stick-on dials for the radio and headlight knobs. Luckily they pulled off. I can’t find any mods anywhere else. I still need to get under it and look for anything different their but I don’t expect to after my “lay on the ground and strain to see” inspection. It even has the stock air filter.

I love the PP wheels and plan to. Also a PP/Ford Racing strut tower brace.

I’d like to do some autocrossing and a track day or two once things get to normal. But I also gotta buy a helmet.

Bob N > Notchback88
04/12/2020 at 15:16

Bro you sound like a whiny girl...you probably did that on the way home(scratch). Be grateful you are able to get a car in these uncertain times and tbh if I were you, I’d my wife a better car than that Versa....those are freaking coffins on wheels and if you want gas mileage and like Ford get a Fusion hyb, Escape Hyb, MKZ Hyb or even a Prius just my .20

Good find...just make sure you get better tires and wheels 275 plus is the way to go otherwise traction sucks a**

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Notchback88
04/12/2020 at 15:28

Congrats! Given your ST, I’m assuming this one is also manual?

Notchback88 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
04/12/2020 at 15:38

Yup! My ‘10 GT was a 5-speed, and I rather enjoy having the even taller 5th and 6th gear in the MT82. I have already discovered that 1st and 2nd really like to step out on me in the mid-to-high rev ranges. Never really had to deal with that in the ST being FWD, and this is 160hp above the 2010. It’ll take a little getting used to the added power and finding the (safe) limits.

Gripevo1 > Notchback88
04/12/2020 at 19:10

Nice! P p wheels can be found pretty easily on mustang6g forums or sometimes fb marketplace. If you can, look for a set with newish pilot sports on them(oe tire for the pp, so they show up pretty often), as a new set of the Michelins are around $1300(welcome to the wonderful world of 19in wheel tires). I managed to find a set of pilot sports last year a couple hours away for $600ish with under 100miles on them.

Autocross wise, your car will be super fun and more than capable enough to run reliably all day as it sits. For a trackday, I would recommend getting a decent set of brake pads, as the stock non pp pads are definitely not up to track duty. Other than that, get a good full face helmet and have fun! You will find that these cars are relatively easy to drive at the limit for a heavy and powerful coupe. If your not completely comfortable with a little power on oversteer, sport will keep the stability control on while still allowing a bit of slip angle. Have fun!

Tareim - V8 powered > Gripevo1
04/13/2020 at 05:19

How does a clutch return spring help with heel toe shifting ?

John > Notchback88
04/13/2020 at 06:02

Have a 2013 Focus ST and a 2013 Mustang Boss 302, they are both keepers and fun I their own unique way!

Notchback88 > John
04/13/2020 at 06:54

I liked my FoST, had it for 5 years. It definitely was a good daily, and being a hatch its utility was great! But I was bit by the V8 bug by my first Mustang GT and never really got it out of my system. I’d have loved to keep both, but my wife isn’t a fan of the growing collection of cars we have as-is lol. How is the 302? They were tempting to look at, though I ended up with the ‘19 partially because of the 3rd Gen Coyote.

Gripevo1 > Tareim - V8 powered
04/13/2020 at 09:53

Badly written sentence on my part. The clutch return spring makes the clutch operation smoother. The pedal set(I just bought the gas pedal, which you can buy separately, and wrapped it in grip tape), makes heel toe downshifting a lot easier. It is possible with the stock pedals, but I found it a bit more difficult then other cars I have owned.

Tareim - V8 powered > Gripevo1
04/13/2020 at 14:50

was going to say that you were doing it wrong if you didn’t mention anything about the gas pedal