Latest Ford GT Long-Term Update

[ENZO BTR]

Hey guys, the latest Ford GT long-term update just posted on Insde Line. You can find it on the home page (it's one of the three "flipper" photos) until Monday afternoon. Or you can go directly to it here:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=107422

There's a mention of the Ford GT forum in the text. Thanks again DBK for setting this up. And thanks to everyone out there for providing excellent information on making the most out of the owning these fabulous cars!! :cheers

P.S. The white car is wonkawonka's. Glad we had a chance to cruise together before that car heads overseas!

 

[Steve T]

Maybe I just missed it...

Are they saying the bubbles/flaws in the paint formed over time or they think they have been there all along? :confused

 

[ENZO BTR]

That is an excellent question. I had washed the car once and never noticed them within a few weeks of getting it, and then I washed it about a month later and did notice them. But they are so small I can't be sure if they were always there or if they "developed" over time. Obviously I'm watching them closely now, but since I spotted them back in November they haven't "changed" at all. I also haven't noticed any new spots...yet.

 

[abolfaz]

How the hell did they get such good MPG? I can't get better than 8 or 9 mpg!

 

[analogdesigner]

Paint flaws and MPG

I am curious to see what percentage of GT owners have this paint issue.

Regarding gas mileage, you should be able to get about 25 to 26 MPG on the highway once the engine has broken in. It's damn hard though to pull this task off, since I am always tempted to "test the torque" on long cruises. The other problem on long cruises is that some guy in a crap-box hotrod tries to mess with you. I only managed 23.6 MPG going to Lake Havasu (5.5 hour drive) during the holiday season because I got stuck in some traffic for about 30 minutes. If I'm driving city only, then my mileage drops to the mid teens. My 2000 NSX has a drive-by-wire which is terrible for throttle response, however; it's excellent gearbox makes up for it. I just wanted to mention the gas mileage issue because I feel that with the GT, you can have your cake and eat it too... Obviously I didn't buy this rig for good gas mileage, as my Honda Insight does that best, >92 MPG, San Clemente to San Diego (about 1 hour drive). BTW, best mileage was in Palm Springs two years ago, 135 1/2 MPG over a 44 mile drive (had one hell of a tail wind).

When I wash the GT this weekend, I'll examine every square inch of the painted surfaces.

Jay

 

[ENZO BTR]

Hey Everyone,

Just a quick call out that the latest Ford GT long-term update is live. I haven't driven much in the past three months because of the crappy L.A. weather (why am I paying these real estate prices again...), but the two recent Ford GT drives are mentioned here. Thanks everyone who went to Paradise Cove, and on the SAAC drive, for giving me something to write about this time!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=107422#5

 

[EasyEric]

I'm averaging about 15.3 MPG in mixed City/Hwy driving and I do "get on it" from time to time.

Car currently has about 1300 miles on the clock.

Eric

 

[ENZO BTR]

Wow, your car is the identical twin to mine. Is it 2005 or 2006?

 

[EasyEric]

EnzoBtr,

I enjoy reading your reviews and updates and I too noticed your car was outfitted identical to mine. I have not noticed any paint flaws but do have a slight clamshell alignment problem...or maybe not. I am a little picky (but not anal as my girlfriend so often opines).

My car is a 2005, VIN 1712. The label on the driver's side door says build date was 8/2005. What about yours?

Eric

 

[Neilda]

Eric, my clamshell was out of whack (can I say that?!) and I had Roush, here in the UK, adjust it. It's a very odd angle - I tested mine by seeing how much of my finger I could get in the gap one side Vs the other.

 

[EasyEric]

Thanks for the Advice Neil. I'll use the "Neil finger" test tonight when I get home.

Eric

 

[ENZO BTR]

My vin is 1456, and it was built right about July 1 (I haven't checked the sticker for the exact date, but I saw it June 29th on the assembly line and it was about to leave SSV and head to Wixom, so it had to be completed within a few days of that).

 

[SLF360]

How the hell did they get such good MPG? I can't get better than 8 or 9 mpg!

tune it, baby !

 

[KJRGT]

ENZO BTR,
I live about a mile from PCH and Sunset. While I did not own my GT when the Paradise Cove day happened, how do I find out about future events??Thanks much.

 

[ENZO BTR]

We usually set up events through this forum, so just keep watching the topics and you'll probably hear about upcoming drives. Do you know about the one this Saturday to Chino? You can learn about it if you read through this thread:

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1341&page=1&pp=10

 

[KJRGT]

Thanks for the reply Enzo BTR. I knew about last weekends Crystal Cove to Chino drive but had made previous arrangements to take by Boss 302 up to Willow Springs. Looking forward to heading down to Crystal Cove on a Saturday in the future. I hear I need to be there about 6:00am....true?