Lightning Blue 5.0 Project

Haven't figured out how to change the thread title yet, but halfway through September some numbskull that was texting and driving hit me while I was sitting at a red light hard enough to push my car forward a few feet and into the trailer hitch of a truck, totaling it out. I took what I could off the car (rear shocks, exhaust, some interior bits and pieces) and went and picked up a lightning blue 17 GT PP 400a, just like my 15, but with nav OTD for 33.5. I test drove an m240i, SS camaro (had to try it out haha), an a 440i with all the M options just for shits and giggles. I honestly liked my mustang more so I went back with another one. I considered borrowing a car from my parents for a month or two until the 18's hit the lots, but I'm not a fan of the front end, just personal preference, and to option one out the way i'd want would be 48k. That 15k difference in the 17's price swayed me, as it was only 1-2 more than low mile used 15's.

So here's how it sits as of now:

wow sorry to hear about the red car. Is the blue car new or used? I ask because 33.5 otd is a crazy good deal for that car new and the price range I would be willing to jump in at.

Kidd said:

wow sorry to hear about the red car. Is the blue car new or used? I ask because 33.5 otd is a crazy good deal for that car new and the price range I would be willing to jump in at.

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it was new!

Akins Ford had it for 34.5 (GT Premium 400a w/ nav and reverse sensing), they gave me 2k for financing through Ford, and 1k for a trade in, although i didn't have one due to it being totaled, they just gave it to me, and another 500 for graduating college within the last 3.5 years. so 34.5 -3500. it was about 2500 with TTL and Georgia taxes so that brought it back up to 33.5.

Chad11491 said:

it was new!

Akins Ford had it for 34.5 (GT Premium 400a w/ nav and reverse sensing), they gave me 2k for financing through Ford, and 1k for a trade in, although i didn't have one due to it being totaled, they just gave it to me, and another 500 for graduating college within the last 3.5 years. so 34.5 -3500. it was about 2500 with TTL and Georgia taxes so that brought it back up to 33.5.

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Wow that’s great. I was trying to deal with them on a ruby red car just like your and couldn’t get them to deal at all, 37.5 otd was as good as they would do.

got the car tuned with PBD. Before is Steeda intake with the restrictor, after is tune + CAI with restrictor removed. TBH the tune drives and feels nice, but not super impressed that it only really picked up power from 6k-6.5k. Everywhere else was less than 1hp gain other than 2.6k-3.4k. I will probably go back to AED as my red car put down better before/after numbers on the same dyno and was noticeably quicker. But hoping it's not just that it was a better engine on that car than the blue one. Also considering jumping on the 18 IM train to pick up some mid-upper rpm power.

took some pics finally of the hyper silver 6gr's mounted on the car. I'm pretty happy with the overall look.

Got the car all cleaned up for Caffeine and Octane yesterday....then forgot to set my alarm for 5am.... But here's some 8pm pics from last night. The light was really yellow, but I kinda liked the look.

Probably my last big mod to the car, as I'm really happy where it is power/ handling wise. I installed the Steeda Ultralite 2 point lower brace I've had sitting in my garage for months finally, and a pair of GT350R sway bars. They're pretty much the same size as aftermarket and you can get the bars, bushings, and brackets for 150 picked up at your dealer if they have good prices, or 180 shipped from White Bear Lake.

Had to do the front bar by myself, which was a hooer and a half.

Overall the brace and the bars really finished off the suspension really well. It tightened up the suspension and gave it the perfect level of control and paired really well with my suspension setup. The car feels like it's part of the road now instead of floating on top of it. I swear the steering feels more direct and I can feel just a bit more through it, but it may be placebo. Overall I'm super happy with it as it sits. If only I didn't have to deal with emissions and could run longtubes lol.

Part numbers for the sway bars, bushings, and brackets for anyone interested:

FR3Z-5482-J: GT350R Front Sway Bar
FR3Z-5484-C: GT350R Front Bushing
FR3Z-5486-A: GT350R Front Bracket
FR3Z-5A772-E: GT350R Rear Sway Bar
F2GZ-5493-C: GT350R Rear Bushing
DG9Z-5B484-A: GT350R Rear Bracket