9th Birthday for my '05
3/22/14, 07:44 PM
#1
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9th Birthday for my '05
Yesterday was the 9th birthday for my 2005 Mustang GT! Easily the best car I have ever owned. I love it just as much now as I ever did. It has basically been trouble-free since Day 1.
This is the first car I have taken to the track. The first time was Nov 2007 at Lime Rock Park. Since then, the GT has been to 5 other track days - Loudon, New Jersey's Thunderbolt course, Watkins Glen (twice), and back to Lime Rock in 2013. The car is essentially stock, and has been great at all the tracks - although there was a scary moment the first time at Watkins Glen when the brake pedal went to the floor at about 110 mph - after that I have switched to ATE Super Blue DOT 4 fluid, and no more brake issues on the track.
The car continues to get compliments to this day. A lot of it is due to the Screaming Yellow paint. It's a polarizing color - people either love it or hate it - but everyone notices it. It's also somewhat rare. Mustangheaven.com has production info on the 2005, and of 160,000 cars, only 8000 (or 5%) were yellow. Breaking it down to manual transmission GT coupes, there were only 1500 in yellow (less than 1%). Screaming Yellow was only around for 2005-06, so who knows - maybe it will be quite easy to sell if I decide to upgrade to a 2015 GT.
http://www.mustangheaven.com/Product...197Mustang.htm
In many regards, I have been super-OCD with this car. It never got a single parking lot ding, despite being a daily driver until this winter, because I always park in an end spot, and only when the spot is large enough to avoid any car that might park next to it. I have done every oil change myself, starting with Mobil 1 Synthetic Blend at 1500 miles, and then Mobil 1 full Synthetic at 3000 miles, and thereafter.
Most importantly, I have kept detailed records for all maintenance and expenses (other than fuel) since Day 1. Total maintenance/expenses has been $3677, which includes 2 sets of tires for $1300. The only non-maintenance expense was $150 to Circuit Board Medics to fix the defective stepper motors behind the gauges in the instrument cluster - those motors are the only issue I've had with this car.
Until this past winter, this car has been my daily driver. I'm talking about New England winters. Yes, the car is terrible in the snow with all-season tires, but I have never gotten stuck with it. I do wash it as much as possible, and probably wax it a dozen times or more per year, so it's usually clean. And this past summer I bought my daughter's 2003 Mini Cooper, so I finally have a winter beater. The Mustang was a garage queen most of this winter, and I have say it's true that "absence makes the heart grow fonder," because it's a real treat now when I take the Mustang out on nice days!
I have never regretted buying this car, despite a lot of opinions that first-year models should be avoided. I loved the exclusivity of it the first couple years. I also love the yellow paint. Like I said, I still get compliments all the time. Whoever gets this car after me is going to get a good one with a detailed history. I am somewhat sure that I will be replacing it with a 2015 GT, but I haven't seen one in person yet, so nothing is certain. In any case, it's been a terrific 9 years! :-)
This is the first car I have taken to the track. The first time was Nov 2007 at Lime Rock Park. Since then, the GT has been to 5 other track days - Loudon, New Jersey's Thunderbolt course, Watkins Glen (twice), and back to Lime Rock in 2013. The car is essentially stock, and has been great at all the tracks - although there was a scary moment the first time at Watkins Glen when the brake pedal went to the floor at about 110 mph - after that I have switched to ATE Super Blue DOT 4 fluid, and no more brake issues on the track.
The car continues to get compliments to this day. A lot of it is due to the Screaming Yellow paint. It's a polarizing color - people either love it or hate it - but everyone notices it. It's also somewhat rare. Mustangheaven.com has production info on the 2005, and of 160,000 cars, only 8000 (or 5%) were yellow. Breaking it down to manual transmission GT coupes, there were only 1500 in yellow (less than 1%). Screaming Yellow was only around for 2005-06, so who knows - maybe it will be quite easy to sell if I decide to upgrade to a 2015 GT.
http://www.mustangheaven.com/Product...197Mustang.htm
In many regards, I have been super-OCD with this car. It never got a single parking lot ding, despite being a daily driver until this winter, because I always park in an end spot, and only when the spot is large enough to avoid any car that might park next to it. I have done every oil change myself, starting with Mobil 1 Synthetic Blend at 1500 miles, and then Mobil 1 full Synthetic at 3000 miles, and thereafter.
Most importantly, I have kept detailed records for all maintenance and expenses (other than fuel) since Day 1. Total maintenance/expenses has been $3677, which includes 2 sets of tires for $1300. The only non-maintenance expense was $150 to Circuit Board Medics to fix the defective stepper motors behind the gauges in the instrument cluster - those motors are the only issue I've had with this car.
Until this past winter, this car has been my daily driver. I'm talking about New England winters. Yes, the car is terrible in the snow with all-season tires, but I have never gotten stuck with it. I do wash it as much as possible, and probably wax it a dozen times or more per year, so it's usually clean. And this past summer I bought my daughter's 2003 Mini Cooper, so I finally have a winter beater. The Mustang was a garage queen most of this winter, and I have say it's true that "absence makes the heart grow fonder," because it's a real treat now when I take the Mustang out on nice days!
I have never regretted buying this car, despite a lot of opinions that first-year models should be avoided. I loved the exclusivity of it the first couple years. I also love the yellow paint. Like I said, I still get compliments all the time. Whoever gets this car after me is going to get a good one with a detailed history. I am somewhat sure that I will be replacing it with a 2015 GT, but I haven't seen one in person yet, so nothing is certain. In any case, it's been a terrific 9 years! :-)
3/22/14, 07:55 PM
#2
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Congratulations on your car's birthday! mine is coming up soon. I ordered it on 4/9/2005 and received it on July 28th. I have a little over $13000 miles. No maintenance yet except for regular oil changes and wipers. Still on the original tires but I'm on my third battery. the original lasted 5 years and the replacement a little over 3. It died one month after the warranty expired.
Glad you are enjoying your car. I'm hoping to drive mine a bit more this year. The past 3 summers have been very busy with work and family commitments.
Glad you are enjoying your car. I'm hoping to drive mine a bit more this year. The past 3 summers have been very busy with work and family commitments.
3/22/14, 08:37 PM
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Thanks for the replies. Wow Odiaz, only 13,000 miles?! That's really something - I'm guessing yours is close to new condition.
A couple basics I should have mentioned:
-- my car has 75,000 miles
-- the fuel mileage has been pretty much spot-on with the EPA 17/25. On the 3 hour trip to the Loudon track, I got a personal best 27.1 mpg doing 65-70 mph most of the way. Worst was 7.8 on the Watkins Glen track. :-)
A couple basics I should have mentioned:
-- my car has 75,000 miles
-- the fuel mileage has been pretty much spot-on with the EPA 17/25. On the 3 hour trip to the Loudon track, I got a personal best 27.1 mpg doing 65-70 mph most of the way. Worst was 7.8 on the Watkins Glen track. :-)
3/22/14, 10:26 PM
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Beautiful. ..I also have an 2005 she will be nine next month. 53,113 right now but has become my daily driver. No mods aside from axel backs and rims and tinted windows and have only changed a few bulbs, one battery and all scheduled maintenance and oil changed every 3 thousand. First mustang and I will never go back to anything other than Ford. Still a rookie but love ease dropping on all you veteran mustang owners. I learn allot of does and don'ts.
3/24/14, 03:16 PM
#9
Mach 1 Member
I think I might have you beat... 
...
Picked up my car in October of 2004 (I do have the exact day written down somewhere).... presumabily, I would've ordered it sometime in the spring, meaning we're getting really close to a 10th birthday!
...Picked up my car in October of 2004 (I do have the exact day written down somewhere).... presumabily, I would've ordered it sometime in the spring, meaning we're getting really close to a 10th birthday!
3/24/14, 09:21 PM
#10
legacy Tms Member
happy birthday 
hard to believe a decade has rolled by since first seeing the 05's - was definitely love at first sight for me too... my 06 gt manual (picked up 12/17/05) has 60k on it now, still as fun as the day I picked it up... the wife got a 07 pony a yr later, hers is a auto, but she enjoys it.
I stayed up late to see the speed channel '10 reveal, hated the changes so much 8am the next morning called the dealer to order one of the last 09's identical to my 06...its still sitting (with 4.9 miles) undriven in the garage awaiting the sad day when the 06 wears out or otherwise goes away...if the 06 outlasts me, the wife and kids will have a brand new old car to unload- dont think theyd have a hard time getting rid of it.
I cannot imagine a better all around package (looks/performance/durability/price) than the 05-09s, these were wonderful cars- to me the best lookers since 69, but infinitely stronger
Ive got a 69, love the looks, but honestly- it handled like a boat, ran a 15.6 quarter, stopped like Fred Flintstone's car... yes all that can be improved, but I doubt even after tons of work it will be good as the stock 05-09 gt. the plans for it are a 06 PCM on a 429...cam advance/COPs and all...gonna need a new front cover w/oil pump, 2 water pumps, crank trigger, lots of fun...
hard to believe a decade has rolled by since first seeing the 05's - was definitely love at first sight for me too... my 06 gt manual (picked up 12/17/05) has 60k on it now, still as fun as the day I picked it up... the wife got a 07 pony a yr later, hers is a auto, but she enjoys it.
I stayed up late to see the speed channel '10 reveal, hated the changes so much 8am the next morning called the dealer to order one of the last 09's identical to my 06...its still sitting (with 4.9 miles) undriven in the garage awaiting the sad day when the 06 wears out or otherwise goes away...if the 06 outlasts me, the wife and kids will have a brand new old car to unload- dont think theyd have a hard time getting rid of it.
I cannot imagine a better all around package (looks/performance/durability/price) than the 05-09s, these were wonderful cars- to me the best lookers since 69, but infinitely stronger
Ive got a 69, love the looks, but honestly- it handled like a boat, ran a 15.6 quarter, stopped like Fred Flintstone's car... yes all that can be improved, but I doubt even after tons of work it will be good as the stock 05-09 gt. the plans for it are a 06 PCM on a 429...cam advance/COPs and all...gonna need a new front cover w/oil pump, 2 water pumps, crank trigger, lots of fun...
4/21/14, 09:30 PM
#11
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Congrats on getting close to 10 years. My 05 will be 10 this December. Just turned 25,000 miles and it still looks and runs like new. Replaced the 1st battery close to the 6th year, 2nd one a few months ago. Nothing much more done except for cabin filter, fuel filter, reusable air filter. Living in a dry climate and garage storage a big plus in keeping the car looking good. The newer Mustangs have more bells and whistles, plus more power, but growing up with 60's and 70's cars in my youth made the 05 mustang perfect for me with retro styling.
I hope you have many more years of enjoyment with your 05.
I hope you have many more years of enjoyment with your 05.
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