I had replied to Les' last post on Friday, attached a picture, and it bounced because my file was too big. So I hit the back button, and it wiped out my post. Hence my silence over the last day or so...these damn computers piss me off sometimes
Les brings up good points on the Ford GT debate, and everybody is entitled to their opinion. Although can I PLEASE let Les and Gloria loose in a dark alley for just a little while???
Bottom line is that I feel the GT is a cool car, well thought out, well built, if not poorly executed in the marketplace like many domestic cars. I do think Ford has learned to step up QUICKLY and try to fix any problems that pop up, and yes, there are problems like with any new car. The newer the car and the more technology, the more potential for problems.
Now, as a GT owner and an honest guy, I do have to give a report on my day with my GT today. I decided it was nice enough here to take mine out for the second time - it had had 39 miles on it this morning. It was cold here today, mid-30's, but sunny and has been dry for days so the roads aren't bad. I heeded the advice of the Ford GT Forum guys and torqued all the bolts, lug nuts, etc. I could get to. All were fine. So I drove the car to my buddy's place, he is a Ferrari guru/mechanic/restorer/life-long friend and gear head, figured he'd like to take a run in the GT with me, as his place is out in the boonies near some good roads. We were out driving around (slightly over the speed limit at times
) and when we switched seats and it was my turn again, I glanced in the rear view to do a cop scan and noticed spray of some sort coming off of the supercharger belt and slinging on the window. I immediately thought of the post I read at
www.fordgtforum.com about coolant hoses blowing off and felt like an idiot for not checking those this morning. At my buddy's place, I tightened the offending hose clamp on the water bypass hose at the t-stat and checked all the others. A couple of turns on a clamp and it was fixed, but, still, a PITA and not very reassuring on a brand new car IMHO.
All the time I was thinking "why am I doing this again?" Don't get me wrong, the car is great, it handles great as far as I can tell so far, it looks cool, does everything right. Except why can I have 40 year old cars that don't leak anything and have a brand new supercar that springs a leak at 75 miles on the odo?
Time will tell if the car gets better, worse, or if this was hopefully a fluke and the rest of the guys building the car weren't as hung over as the hose clamp dude. LOL
I have spoken to Les, and he is aware that I am not going to Mopars at the Strip, so we can't go play that week. Actually, I have a pretty tough race schedule as it is this year in vintage Trans Am / Group 6, plus it looks like more MuscleCar TV segments for me, plus actually working for a living and this writing gig...oh, and I am told I am expected to be home at least a few times a year. You know, to clean the gutters and do chores. LOL. However, I think Les should buy Charley's 65 GT350 clone vintage race car so he can come and race with me where we really have some fun! For example, the SAAC nationals in July at VIR should be good with the Cobra/GT350 vintage race...or?? I am looking at 3 races in May, one in June, three again in July, etc., plenty of time to get your moneys worth out of a race car.
Or I can always rent out the 69 Trans Am race car, she is almost ready, engine just got dyno'ed on Thursday...306 CID small block, 546 HP @ 7200 RPM... engine is built to live at 8k rpm if needed. Should be fun!
As far as idiots crashing Ford GT's and all that, every new supercar that comes out has a large percentage of dumb a##es that thinks because they can afford it they can drive it. Look at the recent news with all the crashed Enzos, and ask Les about all the Carrera GT wrecks and deaths. This is not something exclusive to the Ford GT, as much as some would like others to believe. 'Nuff Said?
Colin