Car Talk!

[RobRich]

The Mustang GT is certainly a great ride for the price. However, the Mustang GT in stock trim would garner only mild enthusiasm among the street performance scene in my area. Now if talking about a Mustang GT in aftermarket trim with forced induction, the results would be more inline with the domestic scene here.

It is difficult to single out a specific performance platform for comparison around here. It is not unusual to see 600-800HP DSM and EVO models on the road. Even some of the local Honda guys are rolling at 400-500HP. The Supra community consistently turns out 800-1000HP rides.

I suppose if you truly want a benchmark for a "fast" ride, the baseline Corvette C6 would probably represent a realistic point of comparison, at least from my local perspective.

[The Real Bingo]

Parked the car, went to class, got back and there's a university cop waiting by the car....I thought I broke some kind of law. He says "you're not gonna like it".

Points to the bumper, and my turn signal is hanging by the wires, bumper is cracked, and the fender is dented and bowed out in the middle.

Luckily a guy from our baseball team, which was practicing about 50 yards away, heard the crunch. He went to see what was happening and went up to the team bus driver, who saw the whole thing...they left me a note with the car description and license number and then called the university police.

The prick backed into it (how or why, I don't know) and drove off and parked in a spot across the lot. He looked at his bumper to the damage (so he knew he hit me), then walked on to class.

The damage is not too bad, but it's needing a new bumper, driver side fender, and a turn signal housing...I think I'll go with the Street Scene bumper...hell, may as well turn lemons into lemonade.

Thank God for good Samaritans...they provided me with the goods to get the dick who did it. They left their numbers and I called and immediately thanked them.

[RobRich]

Depressing, but at least it is just cosmetic damage. Certainly annoying, and it is sad the guy had to be tracked down instead of owning up to his responsibility.

Not sure you want to spend the extra cash, but have you considered a basic four-piece body kit?

[The Real Bingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobRich

Depressing, but at least it is just cosmetic damage. Certainly annoying, and it is sad the guy had to be tracked down instead of owning up to his responsibility.

Not sure you want to spend the extra cash, but have you considered a basic four-piece body kit?

I'm not a big fan of body kits, but I obviously need a new bumper and I'm going aftermarket for that.

I like the Roush front fascia, as well as the Street Scene. The latter is obviously a lot cheaper because it's not the Roush brand, but I don't know if I like it as much as the Roush.

The fender will also need to be replaced, but I just found out that Roush makes carbon fiber front fenders. I don't think they'll be cheaper than OEM, but who the hell knows? If they're close in price, and if there is some extra money left over from insurance, maybe I'll get both...but I don't know if some weight savings is worth it.

Weight and bulk is why I don't like body kits...some look good - such as the Roush and Saleen - but I don't go for the "ground effect" stuff. A Roush bumper means Roush mufflers, too. I think I'll just get a front fascia now and later, if I decide, I want to piece it together, I'll go that way. I just need to pick one I like.

[RobRich]

I have seen some nice aftermarket Mustang body mods. However, I have also seen some extremely riced out Mustangs as well, and they can stand out as looking ridiculous.

From my perspective, if you can find a decent balance, you can have something a little unique without looking like a "Fast and the Furious" wannabe. Anyway, body kits are one of those personal choice decisions to make.

The carbon fiber fenders can shave a few pounds. Don't expect dramatic results, but they can add to a cumulative effect assuming you are tempted to later migrate to a cabon fiber hood and carbon fiber trunk.

[The Real Bingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobRich

I have seen some nice aftermarket Mustang body mods. However, I have also seen some extremely riced out Mustangs as well, and they can stand out as looking ridiculous.

Amen...I'm all about tastefulness. I want something contemporary looking without clashing with the retro styling...something subtle, but noticeable.

Quote:

From my perspective, if you can find a decent balance, you can have something a little unique without looking like a "Fast and the Furious" wannabe. Anyway, body kits are one of those personal choice decisions to make.

[hokie64]

Not sure how much experience you have with aftermarket body addons, but just keep in mind that anything non OEM is likely to have fitment issues which can either be ignored, and may be minor enough that you are the only one who sees it; or need to be fixed at the shop.

All i'm saying is that the cost of body kit stuff can go far higher than you may expect or is on your first invoice.

[The Real Bingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hokie64

Not sure how much experience you have with aftermarket body addons, but just keep in mind that anything non OEM is likely to have fitment issues which can either be ignored, and may be minor enough that you are the only one who sees it; or need to be fixed at the shop.

All i'm saying is that the cost of body kit stuff can go far higher than you may expect or is on your first invoice.

Yep, I know all about fit issues...especially as exhausts go.

I think I'm liking this from Saleen. Saleen has to get these to fit on production cars, so I think I'll get a better quality product. It'll probably cost more than the OEM, I just don't know how much.

[RedFury]

If you've got some extra cash and have to have the bumper skin replaced, why not? If you can fit the panels yourself, then all you have to do is have them shoot paint on the parts and you can bolt them on. Few hours on a weekend and you've got an upgraded look for cheap.

On an unrelated note, the riding lawn mower that gave me fits at the end of last year ( lost compression on one cylinder ) has been fixed on the cheap. Ended up not damaging the motor at all, pretty much fixed it with a couple of wrenches and a screw driver. I reused the head gasket to make sure it would still run when I put it back together. I think I'll get a couple of new gaskets, new plugs and a carb rebuild kit and put a little bit of money into it and get myself back into a decent running riding lawn mower again

[The Real Bingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedFury

If you've got some extra cash and have to have the bumper skin replaced, why not? If you can fit the panels yourself, then all you have to do is have them shoot paint on the parts and you can bolt them on. Few hours on a weekend and you've got an upgraded look for cheap.

Yep, that's my thinking...DIY is awesome. Haven't heard anything from Geico yet - I'm wondering how much they say the damage will cost.

Quote:

On an unrelated note, the riding lawn mower that gave me fits at the end of last year ( lost compression on one cylinder ) has been fixed on the cheap. Ended up not damaging the motor at all, pretty much fixed it with a couple of wrenches and a screw driver. I reused the head gasket to make sure it would still run when I put it back together. I think I'll get a couple of new gaskets, new plugs and a carb rebuild kit and put a little bit of money into it and get myself back into a decent running riding lawn mower again