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RaiderJatt02's GT350 story, first 1000 miles and beyond...

raiderjatt02

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Hey everyone! I finally went over 1000 miles today. 1000.5 miles to be exact and this car is more than I ever could have imagined...

First off I'd like to start with a little background. I've been a fan of Mustang's since the day I was born. My dad's first Mustang was a 1971 Mach 1 that he built up when he was in his 20's. He had to sell it when my mom was pregnant with me because it was too rough and it was their only car. They special ordered a brand new 25th Anniversary 1989 GT 5.0 which went on to be the car that I grew up in. They still have it to this day but growing up over the years we've acquired had a few other Mustangs. One of which is a 1965 Fastback that my dad and I are slowly building up.

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He also has a 1966 coupe with an inline 6 and a 3spd manual. It's a hell of a cruiser. My sister's first car was a 1992 GT 5.0 that she still has to this day. So when I turned 16, I was dead set on finding myself a clean Fox Body to continue the family tradition...

I did a complete 180 and came across a 1991 300ZX Twin-Turbo for a price that I couldn't pass up. Within a week of driving it, the thought of owning a Mustang was completely out of my mind. I absolutely loved the way it drove, the way it looked, just everything about it. Once I started going to college my Z started getting to the end of it's life pushing 180k miles. I needed a new DD but I will never get rid of my Z.

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This is where I came back into the Mustang world. I found a great deal on a used 1995 Saleen Clone. It was mildly built up but nothing crazy. I'd be lucky if it was even pushing 300hp but it drove great, had less than 100k miles, and was available for a great price. It's just a GT at heart but it looks good, sounds good, and drives pretty damn nice.

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Over my college years the DD miles on my '95 started to pile on and the lack of power was starting to show. I graduated college, got a decent paying job and my mind started thinking of what I should do...get my Z back on the road with a rebuilt motor/transmission? Coyote swap the '95? I started saving up money over the last few years and started planning BOTH. I researched and budgeted like crazy for a year. I saved up enough and was ready put it all down between both cars to get the parts I needed. Coyote swapped SN95 and a reliable 350hp Z32TT. The thing is, if I was going to be building 2 cars, I would need another DD right?

Enter my 1998 Escort ZX2, 115k miles, bought for less than $1000. Completely manual everything. Perfect.

Before I plopped down all of my saved up cash on parts for my builds, Ford revealed the GT350...Now, as nice as the S550 was, I never really wanted a new Mustang. UNTIL I saw the GT350. It was love at first sight and I knew I just had to have one. I put the other 2 projects on hold and focused on saving up as much as I could for a down payment and set my sights 100% on finding myself a brand new GT350. I started looking all over California for a dealership that would allow me to order one exactly how I wanted it. This is my first brand new purchase since starting my career and the first brand new car I ever bought. Also the first car I've ever spent more than $5000 on so I wasn't going to settle for a color or option I didn't want. I wanted it to be perfect. Nearly every dealership I called either already ordered a stock order with a Tech Pack or the wrong color Track Pack. Nearly a hundred calls/emails/waiting lists later I was about to give up until, with the help of my dad, we found a dealership close by with an order that wasn't pulled by Ford yet. They were willing to negotiate ADM and willing to let me take over the order and order it exactly to my specs. FINALLY! We settled at $8k ADM, which for the Bay Area wasn't too bad at the beginning of the year. I put down my deposit the weekend of my 28th birthday and the waiting game began.

It only took a couple of weeks before I got a VIN # so I started calling FP every 2 days checking for updates. I know I'm in the extreme minority here because I only had to wait a month and a half before my car arrived. I warned my supervisor and coworkers to let them know that as soon as I get the phone call about my car, I'm running straight out the door and taking the next 2 days off. The phone call finally came and I ran out the door like my building was on fire.

When I arrived at the dealership they had my car up on the lift for the pre delivery inspection. I informed them beforehand don't wash it, don't take any stickers/plastic off, don't install anything on it, and I want to be there for each step of the way. As soon as I saw it, I went speechless, my hands started shaking and my eyes started tearing up. I couldn't believe that beautiful car on the lift was actually mine. Even writing this out and thinking about that moment, it still doesn't seem real. This is how she looked the first time I saw her.

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My first time sitting in the driver's seat.
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I never would have gotten this if it wasn't for my dad's help so of course he was with me when I picked it up!
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As I was signing the papers they pulled it around to the front and handed me the keys...one of the best feelings of my life.
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First fill up, courtesy of the dealership
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Annnd the first picture of it when I got home before all the neighbors poured out to take a look.
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Okay, NOW to the first 1000 miles...

I'll get the boring part out of the way and just agree with everyone that the sound system isn't that great. I don't even care though because it's almost always turned off. That's that. I'm still surprised by the amount of technology in it even though I didn't get a tech pack. Bluetooth, backup camera, adjustable drive modes, traction control, stabililty control, hill start assist and I don't even need to put a key in the ignition? This was all pretty overwhelming for me as I never really experienced a "new" car. I'm stil getting used to it though and don't even use half of the stuff.

I'm a relatively taller dude but not too heavy and the Recaro seats fit me perfectly, nice and snug. Spirited driving through the bumpy roads around my house and I barely move an inch. Now how does it drive? Most of you already know. This thing is just plain amazing. Even after reading all of the stories posted here I couldn't prepare myself for how much fun this car is. I made a pretty damn big jump because the newest Mustang I've driven or even just sat inside before this Shelby was a 2005 automatic GT. The only real comparison I can make is with my SN95 which feels ancient in every way.

The sounds this thing make can't be compared to any other car out there. To be fair, I cut out my resonators less than a week after I got the car and it's the best modification I could ever have made. When the engine is cold, putt putting around town sounds so good I'm prefectly fine cruising around getting the temps up before really opening her up. All the pops and crackles while engine breaking put a smile on my face every single time. Once everything gets up to operating temps and you take it all the way through the rev range all hell breaks loose. The snaps and pops between shifts, the screaming wail as the RPMs climb never seem to end. And holy hell, if you do this in a tunnel or under an overpass, or even just next to a wall...chills and goosebumps every damn time. There isn't a single video out there that can prepare you for how brutal and raw it sounds in person.

Driving slowly around town is easier than I could have ever imagined. As long as you keep the revs below 3500 it's as docile as my Escort. Smooth, refined, easy. Anything above that and it's an entirely different animal. It's way too easy to get in trouble with the law because before you know it, you're pushing 3 digit speeds in 3rd gear and the adrenaline keeps urging you to push it even more. This car BEGS for a track day. There is no way you can even come close to the limits safely on the streets.

As my car sits, she's showing exactly 1000.5 miles waiting for her first oil change and I have yet to try many of the Track Apps. No Launch Control, no acceleration test, no brakeing tests. That will all come after I change my oil. I'm waiting for my dealership to order a filter since they didn't have one in stock. The only mods I've done are the resonator delete, Steeda clutch spring, and FP oil separators. I have JLT coil covers on order as well as an R steering wheel. This year, I have plans for the Diode Dynamics 4th brake light, JPM alcantara interior pieces, a different coolant expansion tank. Next year I plan to add R calipers and a set of R spec N4S Project6G wheels.

I've always wanted to take my car to a track but never had t he proper opportunity. By the time I had enough funds, the Z started having too many problems. The Saleen is a convertible so I'd need to install a cage before that would ever be allowed. My first experience will be the Track Attack in Utah. I'm signed up for June and I already know that I'll get instantly addicted. I can't wait!

All in all, the GT350 is more than I ever imagined it. It is THE most exciting car I've been around and I can't even fathom the thought of ever selling it. This is the first car I've ever bought brand new and it will stay with me until the day I die.

To end, I absolutely love my Shelby. I'll leave you with a few pictures:
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Kurac

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Congrats! I would say you are going to love it, but it sounds like you already do!
 
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raiderjatt02

raiderjatt02

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Shift

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Great story! Enjoy the car in good health man. Your post gives me an idea of how I'll write mines! :thumbsup:
 

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stanglife

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Ok..... So..... For most of that story, I thought you were a girl..... then....

Dreams
Shattered.

Car looks incredible. Maybe one of the best representations of how RR looks in real life.
 
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raiderjatt02

raiderjatt02

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Oh wow. It's probably how my name is spelled + my sister in the Fastback. I get called "Jessica" a lot through emails...
 

stanglife

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Oh wow. It's probably how my name is spelled + my sister in the Fastback. I get called "Jessica" a lot through emails...
Lol I didn't even see the name - just the girl in the fastback.


Don't get me wrong - it's a great story. It was just better when you were a girl :). Just funnin'!
 

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Soup80

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Ordered my 2017 from the same dealer. Can't wait to take delivery on mine.
 

FPCV8YO

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Love a good father / son story.
 

shelby_r

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I see you and your Dad have the same height ratio as my Dad and I. I passed him up before high school. :D

Congrats! :ford:
 

tdzee

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That RR blows me away. It really pops. Congrats. :cheers:

Juts got mine a few days ago and mostly rain. Cant wait to drive it. :headbang:
 
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raiderjatt02

raiderjatt02

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Ordered my 2017 from the same dealer. Can't wait to take delivery on mine.
Nice! You dealing with Danny? He's a good guy. He probably got annoyed by my emails asking for updates. :D
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