Colerpa

Thank you for your help.. the car arrived yesterday at the dealership. As luck has I am heading out of town, work never ends, also the my finance agreement shows a 2012 Chevy Tahoe, 2WD. Hmmmmm, well got that corrected, waiting on an addendum for the contract. I took a look at the car yesterday, thank you for your support and the SVT for what looks like a great build. Fit and finish look great, not prepped yet, so only started it up, very sweet sound. Regards, Philip

]We are heading into the 4th of July and hopefully some time with you friends and family. Hopefully you can provide an update status in a few weeks. Thank you for your help. Regards, Philip 2014 Shelby Cobra Window Sticker.pdf

I would really like some feedback in this area. I have always viewed extended service plans as a higher margin on the sale, not a grate value. I can be swayed by facts, not so much by anecdotes, or slick marketing. This also gets back to the reliability of the vehicle, the more reliable the less we need the ESP. This sort of feels like the house always wins. I have not used this in the past with. Dodge D-50 pickup, Nissan Maxima (diesel), Datsun 240 (?), Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Dodge Durango R/T, VW Jetta TDI. Nissan Maxima, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition and Jetta TDI all well over 100,000 miles, Jetta now at 190,000 miles. I don't know in any case if and ESP would have helped much. Recalls and fundamental design issue usually show up sooner than later. There was in issue with first year Ford Expedition that may of us fought (poor head design).... spark plugs blew out. ESP might have help here... know did not get the support from Ford I hoped for. I take delivery of a new Ford in August... does ESP make sense? Feedback is welcome.

DOE a few years back, did a test with a Jetta TDI engine, upped the boost, changed out some hardware (fule delviery), injectors, tapped the glow plug used a spark plug, used engine computer modified from some other VW.. (not sure about this part). The little engine ran great...maybe 400 hp... could have been 300, in any case fantastic performance. I am not promoting ethanol. Just the opposite. Gas and ethanol are not a good mix, the fuels are too different. Building an alcohol engine could be an option.. but add that to gas, diesel, hybrid and electric. Our long haul deliver system relies on trucks only, possibly some rail. Can not transport ethanol through any existing petroleum pipelines, they will be damaged. So the experiment should end, if ethanol can not stand on its own, it does not belong in the market. We are not getting a great deal at the pump. 10-15% or even E85 seems cheaper, and always less efficient. Do not forget we are paying via taxes all the aid to farmers, ethanol producers, and fuel distributors. We pay with our taxes and we pay at the pump. Just eliminate the subsides, use the money someplace else. Also may not be a bad idea to move all vehicle fuel responsibilities under Department of Energy, and strip EPA of all power in this area. EPA can work with DOE. Just think it would be more efficient to have one agency (if any) and if I had to chose one, I pick DOE. We should all get copy of legislation from Florida, and work with our state legislators, and US Senators and Representatives. Times of for the ethanol subsides to end, should also push for sunset provision for all most legislation... under this concept a given statute (law) would expire after a specific amount of time (typically 5 or 10 years). So when we boost some concept with subsidies, we can put a clock on it. When that clock stops.. so does the subsidy. The only thing needed to make it vanish, is do nothing, no vote, no session. Other fuel options are under development.. look much better than ethanol. Whatever the option I do not want the government to force the option on me. We are not addicted to oil, we are addicted to the cheapest fuel source, now that is petroleum, What we know as gasoline, was not available when early engines were built. No one forced the industry to move to gasoline, it was just a better package at a better price. As we move along at some point when petrol does become scarce, it will get even more expensive, others will want to get in to this.. with alternate fuel technology, something that might be underway now. Point is economic forces move our economy, if you try to force a new technology that does not have an obvious (or fantastic marketing)... it will fail. Our great grandchildren may use an engine and fuel we may thing very odd, maybe. In any case there is no hurry. Really, I hope our government does help foster new technology, maybe even help get some out of the gate. Bottom line it is up to us.. to buy what we need, OK sometimes just want and can hopefully afford. We drive the train, not the government, so lets tell them, no more funding for ethanol. Regards, and have a great 4th of July weekend.

Just make sure you watch for the exclusions, not being critical. Ford wants to move on hand inventory. So vehicles that are normally a special order, or high demand are excluded. I did appreciate the effort, could not use on Mustang GT 500, and plan on only buying one car this year. Hope you all have a great 4th weekend.

Hermans, I took a look at 68 GT500 KTR, wow... I would have bought the car also. How is it looking now that you have had it for a while. I think you need to visit the Ford Show in Carlisle, PA next summer, 50th anniversary for Mustang. Bring the KTR, I will buy the beer and hot wings one night. Regards, Philip

A few things moved me to purchase a 2014 Shelby GT 500. Last year on current platform, incremental improvements kept making this car more and more incredible. I read all the reviews, drove most of the competition, all the numbers aside, it just feels right. Also need new wheels and decided on something fun after turning over my Jetta TDI to my son. The GT 500 is a tough act to follow. No matter where Ford goes it will be interesting to see what happens, so many influences... lead designer on this project has my up most respect. Who knows maybe that person will be in Carlisle, PA next summer with 50th anniversary.

This would be fun, not too sure about driving from PA to CA, then turn around and drive back east. If I could take more time off of work, and travel with just my wife.... maybe. Otherwise time is limited, would need to ship car to California, not sure about cost, and trust issues for shipping. Guess I could fly out to CA and meet the truck.

I was reading Car and Driver or Motor Trend recently. There was an article on a company that does fully articulated chassis/suspension testing. Race teams and manufactures use there system. Sort of a bottom line note is that they have not found any strut tower braces to provide any measurable effect.

Good conversation, any significant changes from 2011?

Good point on power stroke. Seems that chip updates work best on turbo/blown engines. Then you have a way to create more boots (if unit is not maxed out), may need new pulley on blower. You can get more air, that may mean new injectors if they can not handle the addition flow of fuel. For normally aspirated engines seems like a lot more work to get gain. To get more air into the engine, may need improved exhaust, different cam profile for valves, maybe air induction, lower restriction air filter and gains will be modest. That is not all bad, odds are the drive-train and suspension can handle what it gets. If a blower is added.... can see significant power gains..can put engine at risk (if not built to handle the power and heat), need to upgrade brakes, suspension, clutch/transmission, drive shaft, rear end (stronger unit, different ratios), additional cooling capability... Seems like many folks have gone down this road, just understand scope of undertaking, gain wisdom from other folks experiences, and have your checkbook ready.

Dealer provided the VIN today, reviewed the window sticker, configuration looks good: 2014 Shelby GT500 Coupe, Exterior: Sterling Gray Metallic Interior Char Black, Equipment Group 821A, SVT track package, low gloss black tape strip. After I obtained the VIN from the dealer I called: For SVT orderers only: If you ordered a SVT vehicle such as the Ford Raptor or a Shelby GT500, then you can call Customer Relationship Center at 1-800-392-3673 then select option 4 then 6 then 2.. Very nice woman from south Florida informed me that production started today. Anticipated completion date between August 8th and the 14th. Assembly plant is Flat Rock, these folks are very busy, they crossed the one millionth mustang production point. http://blog.caranddriver.com/fords-flat-rock-facility-births-its-millionth-mustang-mustang-mega-gallery/

Found out today a VIN has been generated, hoped I would get it today. The current ETA is 8 August. So for now all I will take to the dealer is some front mud flaps. Thinking about truecarbon front flaps. http://www.trucarbon.net/2010_2013_Mustang_LG48_Splash_Guard_GT_GT500_p/tc10025-lg48.htm I think I will finance via PenFed, Hope you all have a great week.

Value of Diesels, I can not state how all models hold their value. For Jetta TDI's they hold their value better than any other vehicle in their segment, well after 100,000 miles.. Insurance company recommended that I get liability only, then they checked the value of the vehicle and changed their mind. My Jetta is being passed to my son, will likely go 300,000 or 400,000 miles. Yes some parts do fail, but their seems to be a plethora of VW A4 platform vehicles that have met an early demise (accidents). So many good miscellaneous parts are easily available. I expect Mazda 6 diesel to hold value as well. Trucks are a different beast, have not been able to buy mid size SUV... although a Jeep may be in my future. Hope you all have a great week.

Talked with dealer today, should be pulled for build soon, at least that is the word. No plans to take it out in the snow, but we often have some cool, cold weather with sunny skies, no snow... will be hard to keep it in the garage. Looking at using 19 inch wheels from GT... wider tires (all weather) in the back, may talk with Tire Rack.