@pinkshinyalan: I think it's that good. The intake on the 2010 models is the Ford Racing Performance Products air intake previously only available on the Bullitt and frequently purchased as an aftermarket replacement itself for 2009 and older cars (tho the C&L or the JLT intake in use with the SCT tuner seem to be the preferred combo meal). The stock exhaust is pretty free flowing, and most only replace it for the sound; hp gains from changing the exhaust is like three horsepower. But sound matters too ;) #mustang
@PotbellyJoe - As seen on I-287:
Alright, now see this? This is a four-way road, okay? And dead in the center is a crisp, new, hundred dollar bill. Now, at the end of each of these streets are four vehicles, okay? You following?
Good. Over here, we have a non-stickered, dealer installed, with factory warranty intact Mustang drifter. Down here, we have a stickered to all hell poorly accessorized Asian import drifter. Over here, we got Santa’s sleigh, and up here the Mach5. Which one is going to get to the hundred dollar bill first?
This is a serious exercise. It's like an SAT question. Which one is going to get to the hundred dollar bill first the non-stickered drifter, the stickered drifter, Santa’s sleigh, or the Mach5? #mustang
@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: Yes, there are certainly worse (and less cost-effective) upgrades to be had. You know, like adding carbon fiber parts to a car that wasn't designed around carbon fiber structural bits. Fiberglass is cheaper and lighter, but less bling, I guess. #mustang
@stevecmh: Front splitters are a functional thing almost exclusively so if it happens to look like a racecar (even if it is NASCAR) then it's doing its job. #mustang
@mr_dude: Only if they are for performance parts, your car is an Impala, Fuzion, Avenger or Camry and you're as drunk as the average NASCAR fan. #mustang
Next month my girlfriend and I will be taking a 2 week, 6000 mile road trip from San Diego to Chicago and back, starting in the north (going to Yellowstone, Glacier NP, etc) and then back via Route 66.
As much as the romance of taking my RWD V8 American muscle car on the trip is appealing, the utility and better gas mileage of my g/f's Toyota Highlander Hybrid is hard to deny.
It gets 25 mpg no matter how you drive it, will hold all our camping gear (and an air mattress if necessary), and has ground clearance to get to some of the more remote places we plan to visit. The bitchin' Pioneer stereo/GPS is nice to have too.
I'm tellin' ya. As someone who has been to the 49 NA states and ten Canadian provinces by wheel in the last five years, the only way to do it is in a six-wheel diesel-pusher motorhome.
Nothing like driving your own apartment, and honestly, it's not like driving an apartment, either. It's very, very similar to driving a very long & wide version of a 1985 Fleetwood RWD with the 4.1L. Slow, Pole Position-esque steering & brake feel, but you have ABS, a diesel which returns double-digit MPG, 90 gallons of fuel, an in-motion satellite dish, microwave, fridge with an icemaker...camping, it's not.
1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza convertible. Just watch out for those fan belts and rear wheel bearings. And mind that air-cooled engine while trundling through the desert southwest. White towels over the black vinyl seats aren't optional.
I can tell you this ain't the vehicle to do it in. Cross Country trips and aluminum heads don't mix. In fact, they warped...TWICE. Not to mention that an Isuzu Trooper is about as comfortable as a straight axle tractor on a rock pile.
I was thinking about picking up an all black Crown Vic Police Interceptor for my CA-NY trip, would get you empty lanes on the freeway and pretty cool for an ex-pat Brit.
Probably going to be a 500SL now though as I saw sense.
Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet promoted this comment
brc is never late, because of his v8 was starred
brc is never late, because of his v8 was unstarred
A 1997-2006 Jeep TJ would make a great vehicle for a cross country trip as long as you enjoy that wind in the hair and bugs in the teeth kind of feeling. But beware, these SWB SUVs are tight on space so only take your closest friend or significant other and leave the rest of the crew behind. You will need the space in the back to stash the doors and parts to the top which will be down most of the trip.
11/02/09
Is Ford's stock intake and exhaust just that good, or is the 9 hp number wrong? #mustang
11/03/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
Alright, now see this? This is a four-way road, okay? And dead in the center is a crisp, new, hundred dollar bill. Now, at the end of each of these streets are four vehicles, okay? You following?
Good. Over here, we have a non-stickered, dealer installed, with factory warranty intact Mustang drifter. Down here, we have a stickered to all hell poorly accessorized Asian import drifter. Over here, we got Santa’s sleigh, and up here the Mach5. Which one is going to get to the hundred dollar bill first?
This is a serious exercise. It's like an SAT question. Which one is going to get to the hundred dollar bill first the non-stickered drifter, the stickered drifter, Santa’s sleigh, or the Mach5? #mustang
11/03/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
11/02/09
I think I'd rather spend the money on this RTR #mustang
11/02/09
Bonus, good one. #mustang
09/14/09
08/20/09
As much as the romance of taking my RWD V8 American muscle car on the trip is appealing, the utility and better gas mileage of my g/f's Toyota Highlander Hybrid is hard to deny.
It gets 25 mpg no matter how you drive it, will hold all our camping gear (and an air mattress if necessary), and has ground clearance to get to some of the more remote places we plan to visit. The bitchin' Pioneer stereo/GPS is nice to have too.
08/20/09
Nothing like driving your own apartment, and honestly, it's not like driving an apartment, either. It's very, very similar to driving a very long & wide version of a 1985 Fleetwood RWD with the 4.1L. Slow, Pole Position-esque steering & brake feel, but you have ABS, a diesel which returns double-digit MPG, 90 gallons of fuel, an in-motion satellite dish, microwave, fridge with an icemaker...camping, it's not.
08/20/09
08/20/09
I can tell you this ain't the vehicle to do it in. Cross Country trips and aluminum heads don't mix. In fact, they warped...TWICE. Not to mention that an Isuzu Trooper is about as comfortable as a straight axle tractor on a rock pile.
08/20/09
The Long, Long Trailer is perfect.
08/20/09
Probably going to be a 500SL now though as I saw sense.
08/20/09
Hey, this is what I did it in. 12,000 milles, 38 states, a whole tanker of gas.
08/19/09
A 1997-2006 Jeep TJ would make a great vehicle for a cross country trip as long as you enjoy that wind in the hair and bugs in the teeth kind of feeling. But beware, these SWB SUVs are tight on space so only take your closest friend or significant other and leave the rest of the crew behind. You will need the space in the back to stash the doors and parts to the top which will be down most of the trip.
08/20/09
08/20/09
My XJ and me did over 60,000 miles between Jersey and Kentucky between 2002 and 2005. I can drive I 79 in West Virginia with my eyes closed.