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I've driven and enjoyed Mustangs since I was 17. In 2005, I finally took delivery of the "Big 3" on a 2006 Mustang GT - V8, manual transmission, and convertible top. That was (and is) the perfect combination for me.
Fast forward to 2020. She has been terrific. I've owned her longer than any other Mustang. But I knew it was time to start looking. As I watched the adventure Houtex embarked on with his timing chains and tensioners, I knew that was coming for me as well. She has been a daily driver, and with over 200,000 miles on the odometer, I knew it was time. Unlike Houtex, I have neither skillset, tools, or time to pull off the excellent job he did.
So been looking, hoping to find a minimum of two out of the Big 3. I knew I wanted an S550, but figured it would be an Ecoboost manual convertible - a GT version was hard to come by and still expensive. Then this appeared yesterday and happened today.
She is a "Big 3" car - a 2015 in terrific shape with low miles at a price we could work with. Did a great deal today, and drove her home - after driving three hours to buy her.
After 15 years, I close the book on the S197 - a design that really, I believe, revived the Mustang like it had not been in a while. And I will still hang out here some - after all, I have been and will still be a fan of the 197s. But now you'll also find me hanging out in the S550 world too.
Now, it's time to update the signature. What a fortunate man I am.
My friend, it's like night and day. Several things contribute, not just the IRS, although that is a significant improvement. Some are big; as much as a step up as the S197s were for unibody stiffness, the engineers kept learning and applied that knowledge to the S550s. But it's also small things. You get much more side bolstering in the seats, for example. You feel more secured in the car. Even in normal mode, steering is precise with out being twitchy at all. Shifting feels more crisp. It all contributes to feeling much more "plugged in" while driving.
I am going to have to work on a different approach to rev-matched downshifting; the throttle/brake pedal positioning isn't ideal for that. I'll figure something out though. Practice, practice, practice!
My friend, it's like night and day. Several things contribute, not just the IRS, although that is a significant improvement. Some are big; as much as a step up as the S197s were for unibody stiffness, the engineers kept learning and applied that knowledge to the S550s. But it's also small things. You get much more side bolstering in the seats, for example. You feel more secured in the car. Even in normal mode, steering is precise with out being twitchy at all. Shifting feels more crisp. It all contributes to deeling much more "plugged in" while driving.
I am going to have to work on a different approach to rev-matched downshifting; the throttle/brake pedal positioning isn't ideal for that. I'll figure something out though. Practice, practice, practice!
First. congrats on 15 great years with the S197 and for also reaching the 200k milestone. Hopefully you'll also be enjoying your new to you "15" S550 GT for many great years to come as well. Meanwhile, thanks for sharing images of your now past and present rides and also once again, congrats
Aw, dang. I'm sorry I sorta kinda pushed you away from that beautiful beast with my stubborn silliness, but hey, look at what you wound up with instead! Congrats on your new ride!
/I know someone's gonna get a really nice '06 GT 'vertible as well! If only...
/..."skill set"...?
Thanks, my friend. You didn't "push me" - that's not on you. But I had not realized the well-known issue with the 5.4 and 5.8 engines also existed on the 3V 4.6 as well. And it is an expensive repair - the very reason you tackled it to maintain and keep Awesome. Kudos to you, brother!
For me, it's that tipping point where the repair costs approach or exceed the sale value if the car. Several other expensive jobs (evap core replacement, other cooling system repairs, convertible top replacement) were really beginning to wear. And replacing batteries. Our '06 was one of those S197s. I've put eight batteries in her over the years. This, combined with the reality that these cars are daily drivers for me, meant, well, it was time.
I grew deeply fond of her over the years, almost as much as the '69 that was my first. Now the '69 - THAT was a car I could do the work on!
But the 2015 - wow. What a great job Ford has done making the Mustang truly ready for the international market. Truly a remarkable design upgrade, as opposed to a mere update.
With all that said, I will certainly, with great fondness remember the great hours of driving the '06. She'll be a good experience for someone else for a while now.
5/28/20, 08:56 PM
I'm sorry I sorta kinda pushed you away from that beautiful beast with my stubborn silliness, but hey, look at what you wound up with instead! 
