Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site homxb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!homxb!mr From: mr@homxb.UUCP (M.RINDSBERG) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Changing the subject...[excessively long] Message-ID: <1123@homxb.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 08:54:19 EST Article-I.D.: homxb.1123 Posted: Wed Jan 15 08:54:19 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jan-86 00:59:56 EST References: <287@decwrl.DEC.COM> <1115@homxb.UUCP>, <484@eneevax.UUCP> Organization: AT&T - homxb!mr Lines: 104 Keywords: Ford Mustang GT > In article <1115@homxb.UUCP> mr@homxb.UUCP (M.RINDSBERG) writes: > >> Along the lines of good/best sports GT's... > >Talking about value, what about the Ford Mustang GT ? > >I think it is an excellent car for the price it commands. > >comments ? > > > >Mark > >homxb!mr > > I suppose I should let Eli answer for himself, but because I am the one who > talked him into it... > > If the dealer follows through as promised, Eli will receive his car on January > 26, the day before classes begin here at UMd, after waiting 123 days from the > time he ordered it. Although I have seen 2 of them on the road, and both in > only recent days, the '86 GT has an amusing story. > > First, crude specs. > Hot Rod Magazine (among others) quotes the factory as saying the '86 produces > max 200bhp, 285 ft-lbs torque. They also claim that Ford believes the car to > be good for 0-60 in 6.0 flat, a good second ahead of last year's. Reasons? I thought the '85 was good for 6.4 sec. speced. In fact, there have been times in which I have got about 6 sec. but only under favorable road and weather conditions (i.e. 50-70% humidity). The '85 has 210 bhp. and 265 ft-lbs torque. The top speed is somewhere near 140, but the fastest I have ever gone is 125-130. > The '86 is equipped with sequential, multi-point, tuned port injection and > Ford's EEC-IV computer. It now sports true dual exhaust (as opposed to the > fake dual exhaust blowing through a Y constriction) plumbed through four I was under the impression that the '85 had true dual exhaust and last time I looked it has 2 of everything. > low-restriction catalytic converters and two mufflers, with large-diameter > stainless steel tubing and headers. And strangely enough, it also meets > '86 gas mileage requirements, a hefty boost over last year's 16/22 rating. This is very nice, I get very poor mileage (15 mpg last I checked) > As last year, Quadra-shocks load dampers are standard, and it still has the > front-disk/rear-drum combo (yecch, but the reviews say it stops short and sure). > The cyclops pod has been very tastefully integrated into the rear spoiler deck, > is hard to spot from any position except directly behind the car, and is all > but flush with the back. Handling is reportedly good, but not quite in the > class of GM's F-cars. The T-top is unavailable this year, but the sunroof still > is. The T-5 five-speed also has a slightly shorter throw this year, but bigger > clutch plates and a larger differential supposedly make getting the power to > the ground much easier. Marchal fog lamps are standard, as are the carry-over > 225-60VR15 Goodyear gatorback Eagles. > > The GT's advertisements last year also said, "late delivery...see dealer for > details", and needless to say, the dealer had nothing to say. So Eli promptly > ordered a grey one with every option except for 1) auto trans and 2) two-tone > paint. He also talked the dealer into a bargain basement price, connived him > into replacing the stock tires with SVO 225-50VR16 gatorbacks, and made him Good move. > promise to install Ford 140mph speedo to replace the 85mph one. I suppose I Very smart. (necessary) > should mention that he got the car for 12.5k including dealer-installed rust- > proofing; the tires and speedo change are extra. For 12.5k, I personally could > not complain to him. But those are other stories. Read on, avid netter. > > After a few calls, the word comes in: Ford has had some difficulty getting > quality parts from the people who cast their exhaust manifolds, and production > resumes in late November. Eli waits quietly, dreaming of blowing off the > neighborhood 928's, Firebirds, Camaros, Z-cars, and the like. Calling the > dealer, he gets the word: "It'll be in on such-and-such a date." > > Come such-and-such a date (in early December) the dealer says "No car. I don't > know how we could have possibly told you this day. It says here, plainly, that > Ford resumes production the third week of December. It'll be started around > the twentieth. Takes about 4 days." This is very unassuring news, because > Ford employees get a 2 week break for holidays (courtesy UAW) and it will > require an additional 2 weeks to deliver. Eli nervously wonders when his car > will arrive. He considers whether or not it's fast enough to catch a sloppy > Corvette driver. Not really. But it's the trying that counts. Besides, it > costs less than half as much. And finally, last week, the word comes in. > So here we wait, Eli because it's his car, and I, because I talked him into it. > The dealer has claimed that it was started before Christmas, which makes both > of us worry; started by workers waiting for Christmas, sitting on an assembly > line somewhere for 2 weeks, finished by workers probably unhappy about the end > of their break. I dunno guys....we'll let you know if it was worth the wait. > Meanwhile, as we sit around wondering when this wundercar will finally fall > into our hands... > > to be continued- > > -dave > -- > David Hsu Communication & Signal Processing Lab, EE Department > University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 > hsu@eneevax.umd.edu {seismo,allegra}!umcp-cs!eneevax!hsu CF522@UMDD.BITNET > "Vern Vern Vern Vern Vern Vern Vern, you've done it now, buddy..." > -Ernest P. Worrell > > Mark homxb!mr