New 2003 GT Advice
07-30-2003, 05:38 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 48
New 2003 GT Advice
Hi folks...
I'm new here and have been enjoying all the interesting stang info I've been picking up from your posts.
I just picked up a new black/dk charcoal 2003 GT premium manual... It was an executive car for 4800 miles at the dealership, so I got a good deal and it's already broken in for me. I still call it new, because technically it's a 'demo' which is still considered a new car, i.e. same warranty, etc.
Anyhow, I'm doing a couple of interior mods first...
white/reverse glow gauges
Aluminum pedals, shift ****, doorhandles, and maybe a few other trim pieces.
Now I'm thinking about performance mods, but here's my deal. I drive around 40 miles each way to work every day, and this is my only car. So... I don't want to make any modifications that are just meant for sparse racing applications.
From what I've been reading, headers, exaust, and a CAI are pretty standard first-mods. I'm kind of drooling at the thought of a s/c too, but am also worried about the mileage thing. Are my worries unfounded?
I also don't want to void my warranty -- any issues there? Obviously my dealer can answer that better than anyone else, but just wanna see if anyone has had problems in that area.
Finally, some people I know who have stangs have been warning me about driving carefully in the rain and saying that I might as well forget about driving in the snow. I'm always cautious when the roads are wet - keeping the speed down, especially around turns, and not putting myself in risky positions on the highway. Is it really that bad in the snow? I had a volvo for a long time that was rwd, and it took a lot of skill in the snow, but I always made it. What do you think? Should I just get some snow tires? Should I get a junker (like that guy's 540i station wagon with 20" wheels *g*) to drive in the snow? ;-)
Thanks for your help.
I'm new here and have been enjoying all the interesting stang info I've been picking up from your posts.
I just picked up a new black/dk charcoal 2003 GT premium manual... It was an executive car for 4800 miles at the dealership, so I got a good deal and it's already broken in for me. I still call it new, because technically it's a 'demo' which is still considered a new car, i.e. same warranty, etc.
Anyhow, I'm doing a couple of interior mods first...
white/reverse glow gauges
Aluminum pedals, shift ****, doorhandles, and maybe a few other trim pieces.
Now I'm thinking about performance mods, but here's my deal. I drive around 40 miles each way to work every day, and this is my only car. So... I don't want to make any modifications that are just meant for sparse racing applications.
From what I've been reading, headers, exaust, and a CAI are pretty standard first-mods. I'm kind of drooling at the thought of a s/c too, but am also worried about the mileage thing. Are my worries unfounded?
I also don't want to void my warranty -- any issues there? Obviously my dealer can answer that better than anyone else, but just wanna see if anyone has had problems in that area.
Finally, some people I know who have stangs have been warning me about driving carefully in the rain and saying that I might as well forget about driving in the snow. I'm always cautious when the roads are wet - keeping the speed down, especially around turns, and not putting myself in risky positions on the highway. Is it really that bad in the snow? I had a volvo for a long time that was rwd, and it took a lot of skill in the snow, but I always made it. What do you think? Should I just get some snow tires? Should I get a junker (like that guy's 540i station wagon with 20" wheels *g*) to drive in the snow? ;-)
Thanks for your help.
07-30-2003, 06:22 PM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 802
New 2003 GT Advice
start with this: headers, exaust, and a CAI are pretty standard first-mods. <> get her breathing good...then a short throw shifter, then maybe gears, and underdrive pulleys. Yes S/C will efect your milage a little2 miles to the gallon I think...Also I have heard that a sc will viod the warrenty so watch out! Yes Get a junker (and old civic) to play with in the snow/rain, only drive the stang on nice days...
07-30-2003, 10:41 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 446
New 2003 GT Advice
DONT BUY THOSE GAUGES, look on ebay and they're like 30 bucks vs that 90... hope u didnt buy them already 
.. and for interior mods, ebay will be your friend hehe.... theres other sites for interior stuff if u need them ask
.. and for interior mods, ebay will be your friend hehe.... theres other sites for interior stuff if u need them ask
07-31-2003, 01:53 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 48
New 2003 GT Advice
Zcpeanut: yeah, I already bought them... I see one set of EL white gauges on ebay..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2425367946
But they're sold..
Sure, I'd like to know some other sites for interior stuff.... whaddaya got?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2425367946
But they're sold..
Sure, I'd like to know some other sites for interior stuff.... whaddaya got?
07-31-2003, 02:31 PM
#5
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 446
New 2003 GT Advice
http://secure.50resto.com/directory.cfm?SID=1this is a damn good site for alot of stuff, so is ebay. Ebay will help alot with about anything heh..., so ya check out that and ebay b4 u go out and buy stuff.., cause a lot of stuff is overpriced :\
07-31-2003, 06:26 PM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 2
New 2003 GT Advice
Redline5th is actually wrong about it voiding the warranty, there is a federal law that states dealerships can NOT void your warranty due to performance modifications, i'll see if I can find it again and i'll post it
08-06-2003, 01:01 AM
#8
Moderating with Angels
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans La
Posts: 4,231
New 2003 GT Advice
ok your mustang has trac control and that will help.. you also probably have abs(i hate) but most like... any car with power is going to be prone to jump out on you in slick driving conditions... my gt was rotten untill i went up 275,35,18 tires on 18 saleen wheels... that stabilized... you have a manual so the thing to remember is that below 2 grand your motor is actually dragging and will help in turns.. my advice find a abandoned parking lot in the rain and learn your ride... find the cars breaking points and learn the vehicle...
08-06-2003, 03:38 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 48
New 2003 GT Advice
Heh.. yeah, I've been learning the limits of the car lately. Seems that it just won't stop raining here in NJ. I've been having some fun turning the trac control off and busting out a few Dukes of Hazzard moves on abandoned roads. It's really not all that bad on wet roads... I've had heavy cars mostly in the past which give you a little more forgiveness on wet surfaces, when going around turns. The stang doesn't do too badly, though... just a matter of learning the limit, like you said.
Also, I'm finding that the traction control is a bit laggy when I do have it on. They still have a bit of work to do there!
Oh, and don't worry... I definitely don't ph33r the power! <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">
wDr187, if you can find something about that federal law you mentioned, I'd sure like to see it. Sorry to doubt you, but that doesn't sound like something the federal government would pass legislation on.
Oh, and on an unrelated note... I had the rear window and rear triangle windows tinted last week. My factory glass has some kind of glare-reducing design around the edges... Edges are completely black, then there are a couple inches of a pattern of black dots that gets lighter toward the center of the glass. (hope this description makes sense... hard to describe). Again, this is on my factory glass, on the rear windshield. So, when I had the tints put on, there was a problem with them not sticking in a certain band where the black dots were. Now I have tints with a lighter area at the top of my rear window.
I had the work done by Mother's Performance Center in Rockaway, NJ. They were highly recommended to me, and when I asked them about the problem, they said there was nothing I could do about it - the tint just won't stick there. Bummer, but at least it's not too noticable, and if I pass you on the highway, you won't be seeing the back of my car for very long, anyway. <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">
Also, I'm finding that the traction control is a bit laggy when I do have it on. They still have a bit of work to do there!
Oh, and don't worry... I definitely don't ph33r the power! <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">
wDr187, if you can find something about that federal law you mentioned, I'd sure like to see it. Sorry to doubt you, but that doesn't sound like something the federal government would pass legislation on.
Oh, and on an unrelated note... I had the rear window and rear triangle windows tinted last week. My factory glass has some kind of glare-reducing design around the edges... Edges are completely black, then there are a couple inches of a pattern of black dots that gets lighter toward the center of the glass. (hope this description makes sense... hard to describe). Again, this is on my factory glass, on the rear windshield. So, when I had the tints put on, there was a problem with them not sticking in a certain band where the black dots were. Now I have tints with a lighter area at the top of my rear window.
I had the work done by Mother's Performance Center in Rockaway, NJ. They were highly recommended to me, and when I asked them about the problem, they said there was nothing I could do about it - the tint just won't stick there. Bummer, but at least it's not too noticable, and if I pass you on the highway, you won't be seeing the back of my car for very long, anyway. <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">