Yep, no polar vortex this year. We were spoiled this last week, bright & sunny and up in the 50’s. Was nice when all that rain washed away the majority of the salt. Gave me false hope, tomorrow just reminds ya that the weather in Chicago can flip in an instant.We’ve been pretty lucky this year as far as winters go. Of course I just washed about 10 lbs of salt off my car on Monday and now we’ve got 5” of snow coming tomorrow
Something was always broken.It’s too bad she didn’t take her Supra to work and I hope it wasn’t because of them!
She needed a new driver's seat and I can't remember the other things she mentioned. As awesome as it was that she could work on her own car, she didn't have enough time 'cause she was also raising a young'n.I have a friend living in Chicago, who's originally from Louisiana. She seems to have noticed the winter, too!I’m originally from Chicago so I know how long winter can be up there!
Excellent post and thank you. I'm 77 and I've owned some cool cars including a Superformance Cobra but my 2017 Mustang GT Performance Pack is my favorite. I've had zero issues with the car and I've got lots of mods including a Roush Phase 2 supercharger. I just put new Track suspension and springs in the car and it handles like a go kart. I drag raced last summer and will auto cross this year. Good luck and Yo Go Girl!Life got waaaay too busy for me to sit down and write up my 30 day review as I’d originally intended — but better late than never!
I’ve now had B.B. for nearly two months. In the first month alone, as anticipated, I not only passed the break-in period with ease but doubled it by hitting my first 2,000 miles. My daily commute is roughly 10-15 miles both ways so…yeaaaah there was a decent amount of extra cruising for the sake of bonding with her!
Now that she’s had her PPF, Ceramic coating, Rokblokz, and window tint installed, here are some pretty photos I took today:
I’m gonna post a few lists below since it’s easier to organize my thoughts this way and potentially easier to read! And some of this could definitely be helpful for new and future Mustang owners to know.
My personal new owner notes and lessons learned:
- Break-in warning. I absolutely understand the “your car may drive rough during the break-in period” warning now. I couldn’t believe how tight the wheel was to turn and how herky jerky the brakes and gear shifts were initially — holy crap. There were a few instances where I was concerned something was wrong until I read the forums and found stuff like how the engine often needs 10-15 minutes to warm up and transmission may be a lil twitchy in the mean time. Nearly 2500 miles later and she’s definitely adapted to my driving and —just as important, I realized — I’ve learned how the car likes to be driven. And it’s definitely NOT like how I’d drive my old Civic.
- Insulation. With temps dropping, I’ve noticed she seems really…insulated? I don’t know if that’s just me, but getting in the car at the end of the day or turning off the heat and just sitting there really isn’t that uncomfortable. It almost feels like my body heat or something is better preserved in the cabin…? Not sure why or if anyone else has ever noticed that, but getting into my Civic was like climbing into a freezer lol
- Audio upgrade. I’m personally enjoying the B&O upgrade. As a non-audiophile, it’s just enough bass and sound to fill the whole car and drown out the world. Definitely better than the 9-speaker system available in the ecoboosts I’d driven previously.
- V8 VS radio. With that said, my dealer was absolutely right — if I’m driving around town, I’d rather listen to the V8 purr and roar over the radio, but I like having the music option when I’m doing longer highway drives and cruising!
- Personalization. I didn’t think this would matter to me at all but after reading the manual and playing around with my dash colors, I found I really liked tweaking them to make the car more “personalized” to me. An unexpected but welcome perk! Same with programming/saving my seat seatings, as I’ve let trusted people drive her and it’s nice to be able to put things back to what’s most comfortable just by hitting a button.
- The seatbelt strap. Full disclosure that I’m a 5’2” girl and must list this as a highlight. I thought I was going to have to buy a seatbelt cover because it initially ran right across my neck real bad no matter how high the seat was. After reading the manual, I discovered that’s what that little magnetic leather strap is for on the side of your seat!! What a lifesaver and nice nod to ladies and shorter drivers in general from Ford. 🥹
- Gas testing. Fuel efficiency for me has been roughly 270-300 miles per tank. If I’m “less spirited,” it’s higher — more spirited, it’s definitely lowered. I spent a solid week driving her like I used to drive my Civic, no unnecessary cruising (a torturous experience lol), etc. to see how much I could get out of her and it was definitely 300+. And completing a 500+ mile road-trip to Atlanta and only filling up twice was better than I expected for what this car is! But make no mistake, she is 100% still a thirsty b!tch hahaha
- Smooth as silk. These cars are just so, so smooth. Even the horrid roads of coastal South Carolina feel brand new thanks to the magneride dampers. Now that she’s broken in and we’ve adapted to one another, I can feel my stress melt away as soon as I get in the car and pull out onto the road. I had no idea how much that would help me at the end of a long, 12+ hour day at the office; to turn on all her creature comforts (heated steering wheel, heated seats, normal mode, comfort steering…) and some chill, deep house on the radio and just cruise home….ugh. 🤌 What a welcome surprise bonus to buying this car!!
- Trunk space. I have a trip planned for next May and was curious if I’d need to rent a car for more storage. I never had to before with my Civic, so I checked the specs of both cars since I know sportscars are notoriously non-spacious (looking real hard at you, Camaro….). My old Civic had 12.5 cubic ft of space and the Mustang has 13.5 cubic ft. Point goes to B.B.!
- Uncle Ben syndrome lol. A weird one to end on lol but I was initially concerned that people revving at me and trying to race me at lights would trigger my Mario Kart Queen instincts. And yet something odd happened one day when a Jetta full of punks decided to ride my ass and obviously egg me on. With this car, I know I’m fully capable of spanking most that line up with me, so the desire to do so isn’t there? It was a strange mentality shift on my part. When I had my Civic, I always felt like I had something to prove? “With great power comes great responsibility” and if I decide or have to use said power, I know I’ve got it! There’s a level of confidence there that keeps me in check, which I did not expect. Then again, I also did not expect minivans to be the worst offenders in my town when it comes to trying to race me.
Here’s the work I’ve done to her so far:
- tinted all glass: Xpel XR+ film 20% rear and sides, 70% “ultra clear” on windshield (it looks like factory tint tbh, which is good since tinting windshields more than 6 inches is illegal here in Georgia and I primarily wanted the UV-blocking effects).
- Xpel PPF: had her entire front end, front fenders, A-pillars, partial roof, and mirrors done in Xpel Ultimate Plus. I drove all the way to Atlanta to have it done by our state’s #1 installer because why not get the best FOR the best?
Plus, just give me a reason to road-trip this car, please. lol so worth it!
- Ceramic coating: I just picked her up yesterday after having System X MAX ceramic coating applied. She had been there since Monday and it was a serious struggle every time I opened the garage and she wasn’t there…
- Rokblokz (mud flaps): the shop that did my ceramic also installed my new Rokblokz as well to help protect her further. Another thanks to @Farkel for the recommendation!
- License plate: ok this wasn’t work “done to the car” but I sprang for a vanity plate that captures exactly what I said the very first time I took off in a Mustang (and that one was just an ecoboost rental). And yes, I know it’s cliche af but I had to pay homage to the car that started it all!
What’s next to mod/install:
- Hyperformance louvered glass quarter windows. I took advantage of their Black Friday sale and can’t wait to have them installed next year after I resuscitate my wallet lol. I’m still trying to find a local shop willing to tint them so now that I have them in-hand, I’m thinking it might be easier to show them in person? Thankfully, I at least have a confident window installer so that won’t be an issue.
- Kustom Interior seat covers. Another sale I jumped on! Now that I have her back, I’ll be working on installing these to further protect her interior. I have no kids or pets (that are allowed in this car without a crate), so my interiors are always nearly flawless by default. Butts wear down seats, though, so I’m hoping these will help long-term.
- A special vinyl decal for her rear windshield I’ve been planning for months! I’ll share here once it’s finished and applied.
Noticeable issues:
- she’s still new so I don’t want to jinx it. But I am overdue for that 2k first oil change that I’m still debating getting, as I’m nervous that weird “typewriter tick” issue will start once I do? I’ve been reading about that and know for a fact that it would drive me NUTS if it happens...
- I definitely need to swap her tires. I’m starting to understand how “summer only” tires are not ideal with temps dropping; even down here in southern Georgia. I went to make a turn out of a parking lot the other day, accelerated with a little more force than usual (truly, it wasn’t much), and she slid pretty noticeably on the road. I’ve watched enough crowd-killer videos to know what NOT to do, so my foot lifted quick off the gas to straighten her out. Not her fault of course but I’m seeing the value in upgrading her tires to all-seasons soon.
And if I can be mushy and real here just for a second and speak to anyone unsure of owning one of these cars…
I love this car more than anything I’ve ever owned and am definitely an official Mustang Girl now. I’m dead serious and it’s ridiculous, I know lol. I have yet to get tired of seeing her out in the parking lot or chilling in my garage waiting for me. Hearing her start up and drive down the road is amazing and something I’ll also never get tired of. In fact, I had to get a ride home in a Sentra after I dropped her off on Monday and…I couldn’t even tell the car was running!! It was so eerily silent even a we started moving lol. So B.B. has officially ruined what I believe a car should sound like now lol
I’m always tickled when I can catch her reflection in shop windows or the shiny parts of trucks when I drive by, as it’s a reminder I actually pulled the trigger on something I’ve wanted for a while now and knew I wouldn’t regret if I followed through.
And I still don’t.
I’ve said it before but I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to own one of these beautiful cars and experience the V8 engine in all its glory while I still can. I was able to catch a glimpse of what will likely be our eerily silent future today when I stopped for gas and…it just made me love my car even more haha (no hate to EVs, I’m just not ready to embrace them yet):
I also realized this is the first time in my life that I’ve actually been HAPPY to pay a bill that’s come due! Never thought I’d see that day but it makes senseI’ll do whatever it takes to keep B.B. in my life indefinitely. Heck, even if I won the lottery, I’d just pay her off and stash enough away to keep her going forever. One day, she’ll be my retired garage queen for sure but until then…we’ve got a lot of road to cover and sights to see.
As an unexpected bonus, she’s also inspired me to create some designs I’d love to have printed for myself for fun someday. Good Mustang merch is surprisingly hard to find, so I thought…why not make my own?? Never thought I’d be drawing “fanart” of my car but here we are LOL
Just figured I’d share some rough concepts below to end this novella of a review, as I know you all would appreciate it more than my non-Mustang friends!
Great post. Love hearing from newbies. My cars a 2017 GT PP with Roush Phase 2 supercharger and lots of other mods. It's the best car I've ever owned and I've had some cool cars including a Superformance Cobra. I drag raced last year and will auto cross this year. Best of luck and enjoy your baby. Bye the way, I'm 77. Puberty is hell.Life got waaaay too busy for me to sit down and write up my 30 day review as I’d originally intended — but better late than never!
I’ve now had B.B. for nearly two months. In the first month alone, as anticipated, I not only passed the break-in period with ease but doubled it by hitting my first 2,000 miles. My daily commute is roughly 10-15 miles both ways so…yeaaaah there was a decent amount of extra cruising for the sake of bonding with her!
Now that she’s had her PPF, Ceramic coating, Rokblokz, and window tint installed, here are some pretty photos I took today:
I’m gonna post a few lists below since it’s easier to organize my thoughts this way and potentially easier to read! And some of this could definitely be helpful for new and future Mustang owners to know.
My personal new owner notes and lessons learned:
- Break-in warning. I absolutely understand the “your car may drive rough during the break-in period” warning now. I couldn’t believe how tight the wheel was to turn and how herky jerky the brakes and gear shifts were initially — holy crap. There were a few instances where I was concerned something was wrong until I read the forums and found stuff like how the engine often needs 10-15 minutes to warm up and transmission may be a lil twitchy in the mean time. Nearly 2500 miles later and she’s definitely adapted to my driving and —just as important, I realized — I’ve learned how the car likes to be driven. And it’s definitely NOT like how I’d drive my old Civic.
- Insulation. With temps dropping, I’ve noticed she seems really…insulated? I don’t know if that’s just me, but getting in the car at the end of the day or turning off the heat and just sitting there really isn’t that uncomfortable. It almost feels like my body heat or something is better preserved in the cabin…? Not sure why or if anyone else has ever noticed that, but getting into my Civic was like climbing into a freezer lol
- Audio upgrade. I’m personally enjoying the B&O upgrade. As a non-audiophile, it’s just enough bass and sound to fill the whole car and drown out the world. Definitely better than the 9-speaker system available in the ecoboosts I’d driven previously.
- V8 VS radio. With that said, my dealer was absolutely right — if I’m driving around town, I’d rather listen to the V8 purr and roar over the radio, but I like having the music option when I’m doing longer highway drives and cruising!
- Personalization. I didn’t think this would matter to me at all but after reading the manual and playing around with my dash colors, I found I really liked tweaking them to make the car more “personalized” to me. An unexpected but welcome perk! Same with programming/saving my seat seatings, as I’ve let trusted people drive her and it’s nice to be able to put things back to what’s most comfortable just by hitting a button.
- The seatbelt strap. Full disclosure that I’m a 5’2” girl and must list this as a highlight. I thought I was going to have to buy a seatbelt cover because it initially ran right across my neck real bad no matter how high the seat was. After reading the manual, I discovered that’s what that little magnetic leather strap is for on the side of your seat!! What a lifesaver and nice nod to ladies and shorter drivers in general from Ford. 🥹
- Gas testing. Fuel efficiency for me has been roughly 270-300 miles per tank. If I’m “less spirited,” it’s higher — more spirited, it’s definitely lowered. I spent a solid week driving her like I used to drive my Civic, no unnecessary cruising (a torturous experience lol), etc. to see how much I could get out of her and it was definitely 300+. And completing a 500+ mile road-trip to Atlanta and only filling up twice was better than I expected for what this car is! But make no mistake, she is 100% still a thirsty b!tch hahaha
- Smooth as silk. These cars are just so, so smooth. Even the horrid roads of coastal South Carolina feel brand new thanks to the magneride dampers. Now that she’s broken in and we’ve adapted to one another, I can feel my stress melt away as soon as I get in the car and pull out onto the road. I had no idea how much that would help me at the end of a long, 12+ hour day at the office; to turn on all her creature comforts (heated steering wheel, heated seats, normal mode, comfort steering…) and some chill, deep house on the radio and just cruise home….ugh. 🤌 What a welcome surprise bonus to buying this car!!
- Trunk space. I have a trip planned for next May and was curious if I’d need to rent a car for more storage. I never had to before with my Civic, so I checked the specs of both cars since I know sportscars are notoriously non-spacious (looking real hard at you, Camaro….). My old Civic had 12.5 cubic ft of space and the Mustang has 13.5 cubic ft. Point goes to B.B.!
- Uncle Ben syndrome lol. A weird one to end on lol but I was initially concerned that people revving at me and trying to race me at lights would trigger my Mario Kart Queen instincts. And yet something odd happened one day when a Jetta full of punks decided to ride my ass and obviously egg me on. With this car, I know I’m fully capable of spanking most that line up with me, so the desire to do so isn’t there? It was a strange mentality shift on my part. When I had my Civic, I always felt like I had something to prove? “With great power comes great responsibility” and if I decide or have to use said power, I know I’ve got it! There’s a level of confidence there that keeps me in check, which I did not expect. Then again, I also did not expect minivans to be the worst offenders in my town when it comes to trying to race me.
Here’s the work I’ve done to her so far:
- tinted all glass: Xpel XR+ film 20% rear and sides, 70% “ultra clear” on windshield (it looks like factory tint tbh, which is good since tinting windshields more than 6 inches is illegal here in Georgia and I primarily wanted the UV-blocking effects).
- Xpel PPF: had her entire front end, front fenders, A-pillars, partial roof, and mirrors done in Xpel Ultimate Plus. I drove all the way to Atlanta to have it done by our state’s #1 installer because why not get the best FOR the best?
- Ceramic coating: I just picked her up yesterday after having System X MAX ceramic coating applied. She had been there since Monday and it was a serious struggle every time I opened the garage and she wasn’t there…
- Rokblokz (mud flaps): the shop that did my ceramic also installed my new Rokblokz as well to help protect her further. Another thanks to @Farkel for the recommendation!
- License plate: ok this wasn’t work “done to the car” but I sprang for a vanity plate that captures exactly what I said the very first time I took off in a Mustang (and that one was just an ecoboost rental). And yes, I know it’s cliche af but I had to pay homage to the car that started it all!
What’s next to mod/install:
- Hyperformance louvered glass quarter windows. I took advantage of their Black Friday sale and can’t wait to have them installed next year after I resuscitate my wallet lol. I’m still trying to find a local shop willing to tint them so now that I have them in-hand, I’m thinking it might be easier to show them in person? Thankfully, I at least have a confident window installer so that won’t be an issue.
- Kustom Interior seat covers. Another sale I jumped on! Now that I have her back, I’ll be working on installing these to further protect her interior. I have no kids or pets (that are allowed in this car without a crate), so my interiors are always nearly flawless by default. Butts wear down seats, though, so I’m hoping these will help long-term.
- A special vinyl decal for her rear windshield I’ve been planning for months! I’ll share here once it’s finished and applied.
Noticeable issues:
- she’s still new so I don’t want to jinx it. But I am overdue for that 2k first oil change that I’m still debating getting, as I’m nervous that weird “typewriter tick” issue will start once I do? I’ve been reading about that and know for a fact that it would drive me NUTS if it happens...
- I definitely need to swap her tires. I’m starting to understand how “summer only” tires are not ideal with temps dropping; even down here in southern Georgia. I went to make a turn out of a parking lot the other day, accelerated with a little more force than usual (truly, it wasn’t much), and she slid pretty noticeably on the road. I’ve watched enough crowd-killer videos to know what NOT to do, so my foot lifted quick off the gas to straighten her out. Not her fault of course but I’m seeing the value in upgrading her tires to all-seasons soon.
And if I can be mushy and real here just for a second and speak to anyone unsure of owning one of these cars…
I love this car more than anything I’ve ever owned and am definitely an official Mustang Girl now. I’m dead serious and it’s ridiculous, I know lol. I have yet to get tired of seeing her out in the parking lot or chilling in my garage waiting for me. Hearing her start up and drive down the road is amazing and something I’ll also never get tired of. In fact, I had to get a ride home in a Sentra after I dropped her off on Monday and…I couldn’t even tell the car was running!! It was so eerily silent even a we started moving lol. So B.B. has officially ruined what I believe a car should sound like now lol
I’m always tickled when I can catch her reflection in shop windows or the shiny parts of trucks when I drive by, as it’s a reminder I actually pulled the trigger on something I’ve wanted for a while now and knew I wouldn’t regret if I followed through.
And I still don’t.
I’ve said it before but I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to own one of these beautiful cars and experience the V8 engine in all its glory while I still can. I was able to catch a glimpse of what will likely be our eerily silent future today when I stopped for gas and…it just made me love my car even more haha (no hate to EVs, I’m just not ready to embrace them yet):
I also realized this is the first time in my life that I’ve actually been HAPPY to pay a bill that’s come due! Never thought I’d see that day but it makes sense
As an unexpected bonus, she’s also inspired me to create some designs I’d love to have printed for myself for fun someday. Good Mustang merch is surprisingly hard to find, so I thought…why not make my own?? Never thought I’d be drawing “fanart” of my car but here we are LOL
Just figured I’d share some rough concepts below to end this novella of a review, as I know you all would appreciate it more than my non-Mustang friends!
Car looks great still! Glad to hear you’re enjoying it. As one that drives on the Conti ECS, I highly recommend them. Can’t go wrong with the PS4S either. Don’t be a stranger here!Sunday (10/29) marked the one year anniversary of picking up my baby, so I thought I’d drop in to make a quick update to both celebrate and share my experience with my 22 Mustang GT!
Most recent Fall-themed photo of her just for fun and to celebrate the occasion!
As of right now, I’ve put 15,515 miles on my car and I’ve loved every mile. She’s been to Atlanta, Orlando, and most recently road-tripped up to Chicago (from Georgia) to meet family and friends! The trip was a breeze and all the more fun behind the wheel of my beautiful Mustang. I already can’t wait for our next trip together.
For anyone curious, I’ve only encountered a handful of issues over the last year:
So mechanically speaking, so far so good! All my “problems” weren’t something truly related to the stock car itself, which is awesome and reassuring. I do plan to grab Granger’s ESP at some point — probably a bit closer to when my 3 year plan is up.
- an error code that was thrown back in March, along with a CEL that tied to a known issue by Ford that effects the 2022 S550 lineup specifically. A quick trip to the dealership fixed her right up and it never happened again (more info about all that can be found here).
- my louvered glass quarter windows I had installed (baby’s first mod) have all cracked, which led to the company sending me a new set per the warranty. The cracks haven’t worsened or grown, so until they become an actual problem, I won’t be swapping the windows out just yet (this wasn’t an issue with the stock car itself, though).
- I’ve had to have both my rear tires patched within the last six months. I have the worst luck when it comes to things puncturing my tires! 🥲
- for some reason, my car also needs an alignment. Not sure what happened there but the tire wear was unusual and my Pireli P-zeros are shot, performance-wise. They’ve carried me to 15k though so I’m just waiting for Black Friday sales to get them replaced! I have my eye on either the Michelin PS4’s or their Continental equivalents right now
I still look back when I get out of the car and feel this little jolt of glee when I return to her later. To say that buying this car was a life-changing experience is an understatement, as it taught me to take risks and trust myself to know what makes me happy and just “go for it.”
I’ve still never regretted this purchase and hope to keep this car for the rest of my life — even if she one day retires to live her life as my beautiful garage queen! 🩵 I hope you’re all still loving your cars as well
Great heartfelt write-up! These cars tend to grab your soul a little - they're certainly satisfying to own and drive. I got Xpel PPF and ceramic for mine, too and the result is awesome. Two suggestions for you:Life got waaaay too busy for me to sit down and write up my 30 day review as I’d originally intended — but better late than never!
I’ve now had B.B. for nearly two months. In the first month alone, as anticipated, I not only passed the break-in period with ease but doubled it by hitting my first 2,000 miles. My daily commute is roughly 10-15 miles both ways so…yeaaaah there was a decent amount of extra cruising for the sake of bonding with her!
Now that she’s had her PPF, Ceramic coating, Rokblokz, and window tint installed, here are some pretty photos I took today:
I’m gonna post a few lists below since it’s easier to organize my thoughts this way and potentially easier to read! And some of this could definitely be helpful for new and future Mustang owners to know.
My personal new owner notes and lessons learned:
- Break-in warning. I absolutely understand the “your car may drive rough during the break-in period” warning now. I couldn’t believe how tight the wheel was to turn and how herky jerky the brakes and gear shifts were initially — holy crap. There were a few instances where I was concerned something was wrong until I read the forums and found stuff like how the engine often needs 10-15 minutes to warm up and transmission may be a lil twitchy in the mean time. Nearly 2500 miles later and she’s definitely adapted to my driving and —just as important, I realized — I’ve learned how the car likes to be driven. And it’s definitely NOT like how I’d drive my old Civic.
- Insulation. With temps dropping, I’ve noticed she seems really…insulated? I don’t know if that’s just me, but getting in the car at the end of the day or turning off the heat and just sitting there really isn’t that uncomfortable. It almost feels like my body heat or something is better preserved in the cabin…? Not sure why or if anyone else has ever noticed that, but getting into my Civic was like climbing into a freezer lol
- Audio upgrade. I’m personally enjoying the B&O upgrade. As a non-audiophile, it’s just enough bass and sound to fill the whole car and drown out the world. Definitely better than the 9-speaker system available in the ecoboosts I’d driven previously.
- V8 VS radio. With that said, my dealer was absolutely right — if I’m driving around town, I’d rather listen to the V8 purr and roar over the radio, but I like having the music option when I’m doing longer highway drives and cruising!
- Personalization. I didn’t think this would matter to me at all but after reading the manual and playing around with my dash colors, I found I really liked tweaking them to make the car more “personalized” to me. An unexpected but welcome perk! Same with programming/saving my seat seatings, as I’ve let trusted people drive her and it’s nice to be able to put things back to what’s most comfortable just by hitting a button.
- The seatbelt strap. Full disclosure that I’m a 5’2” girl and must list this as a highlight. I thought I was going to have to buy a seatbelt cover because it initially ran right across my neck real bad no matter how high the seat was. After reading the manual, I discovered that’s what that little magnetic leather strap is for on the side of your seat!! What a lifesaver and nice nod to ladies and shorter drivers in general from Ford. 🥹
- Gas testing. Fuel efficiency for me has been roughly 270-300 miles per tank. If I’m “less spirited,” it’s higher — more spirited, it’s definitely lowered. I spent a solid week driving her like I used to drive my Civic, no unnecessary cruising (a torturous experience lol), etc. to see how much I could get out of her and it was definitely 300+. And completing a 500+ mile road-trip to Atlanta and only filling up twice was better than I expected for what this car is! But make no mistake, she is 100% still a thirsty b!tch hahaha
- Smooth as silk. These cars are just so, so smooth. Even the horrid roads of coastal South Carolina feel brand new thanks to the magneride dampers. Now that she’s broken in and we’ve adapted to one another, I can feel my stress melt away as soon as I get in the car and pull out onto the road. I had no idea how much that would help me at the end of a long, 12+ hour day at the office; to turn on all her creature comforts (heated steering wheel, heated seats, normal mode, comfort steering…) and some chill, deep house on the radio and just cruise home….ugh. 🤌 What a welcome surprise bonus to buying this car!!
- Trunk space. I have a trip planned for next May and was curious if I’d need to rent a car for more storage. I never had to before with my Civic, so I checked the specs of both cars since I know sportscars are notoriously non-spacious (looking real hard at you, Camaro….). My old Civic had 12.5 cubic ft of space and the Mustang has 13.5 cubic ft. Point goes to B.B.!
- Uncle Ben syndrome lol. A weird one to end on lol but I was initially concerned that people revving at me and trying to race me at lights would trigger my Mario Kart Queen instincts. And yet something odd happened one day when a Jetta full of punks decided to ride my ass and obviously egg me on. With this car, I know I’m fully capable of spanking most that line up with me, so the desire to do so isn’t there? It was a strange mentality shift on my part. When I had my Civic, I always felt like I had something to prove? “With great power comes great responsibility” and if I decide or have to use said power, I know I’ve got it! There’s a level of confidence there that keeps me in check, which I did not expect. Then again, I also did not expect minivans to be the worst offenders in my town when it comes to trying to race me.
Here’s the work I’ve done to her so far:
- tinted all glass: Xpel XR+ film 20% rear and sides, 70% “ultra clear” on windshield (it looks like factory tint tbh, which is good since tinting windshields more than 6 inches is illegal here in Georgia and I primarily wanted the UV-blocking effects).
- Xpel PPF: had her entire front end, front fenders, A-pillars, partial roof, and mirrors done in Xpel Ultimate Plus. I drove all the way to Atlanta to have it done by our state’s #1 installer because why not get the best FOR the best?
- Ceramic coating: I just picked her up yesterday after having System X MAX ceramic coating applied. She had been there since Monday and it was a serious struggle every time I opened the garage and she wasn’t there…
- Rokblokz (mud flaps): the shop that did my ceramic also installed my new Rokblokz as well to help protect her further. Another thanks to @Farkel for the recommendation!
- License plate: ok this wasn’t work “done to the car” but I sprang for a vanity plate that captures exactly what I said the very first time I took off in a Mustang (and that one was just an ecoboost rental). And yes, I know it’s cliche af but I had to pay homage to the car that started it all!
What’s next to mod/install:
- Hyperformance louvered glass quarter windows. I took advantage of their Black Friday sale and can’t wait to have them installed next year after I resuscitate my wallet lol. I’m still trying to find a local shop willing to tint them so now that I have them in-hand, I’m thinking it might be easier to show them in person? Thankfully, I at least have a confident window installer so that won’t be an issue.
- Kustom Interior seat covers. Another sale I jumped on! Now that I have her back, I’ll be working on installing these to further protect her interior. I have no kids or pets (that are allowed in this car without a crate), so my interiors are always nearly flawless by default. Butts wear down seats, though, so I’m hoping these will help long-term.
- A special vinyl decal for her rear windshield I’ve been planning for months! I’ll share here once it’s finished and applied.
Noticeable issues:
- she’s still new so I don’t want to jinx it. But I am overdue for that 2k first oil change that I’m still debating getting, as I’m nervous that weird “typewriter tick” issue will start once I do? I’ve been reading about that and know for a fact that it would drive me NUTS if it happens...
- I definitely need to swap her tires. I’m starting to understand how “summer only” tires are not ideal with temps dropping; even down here in southern Georgia. I went to make a turn out of a parking lot the other day, accelerated with a little more force than usual (truly, it wasn’t much), and she slid pretty noticeably on the road. I’ve watched enough crowd-killer videos to know what NOT to do, so my foot lifted quick off the gas to straighten her out. Not her fault of course but I’m seeing the value in upgrading her tires to all-seasons soon.
And if I can be mushy and real here just for a second and speak to anyone unsure of owning one of these cars…
I love this car more than anything I’ve ever owned and am definitely an official Mustang Girl now. I’m dead serious and it’s ridiculous, I know lol. I have yet to get tired of seeing her out in the parking lot or chilling in my garage waiting for me. Hearing her start up and drive down the road is amazing and something I’ll also never get tired of. In fact, I had to get a ride home in a Sentra after I dropped her off on Monday and…I couldn’t even tell the car was running!! It was so eerily silent even a we started moving lol. So B.B. has officially ruined what I believe a car should sound like now lol
I’m always tickled when I can catch her reflection in shop windows or the shiny parts of trucks when I drive by, as it’s a reminder I actually pulled the trigger on something I’ve wanted for a while now and knew I wouldn’t regret if I followed through.
And I still don’t.
I’ve said it before but I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to own one of these beautiful cars and experience the V8 engine in all its glory while I still can. I was able to catch a glimpse of what will likely be our eerily silent future today when I stopped for gas and…it just made me love my car even more haha (no hate to EVs, I’m just not ready to embrace them yet):
I also realized this is the first time in my life that I’ve actually been HAPPY to pay a bill that’s come due! Never thought I’d see that day but it makes sense
As an unexpected bonus, she’s also inspired me to create some designs I’d love to have printed for myself for fun someday. Good Mustang merch is surprisingly hard to find, so I thought…why not make my own?? Never thought I’d be drawing “fanart” of my car but here we are LOL
Just figured I’d share some rough concepts below to end this novella of a review, as I know you all would appreciate it more than my non-Mustang friends!
I keep going back and forth with which set I’d like to upgrade to, so it’s nice to hear from someone that has the Continentals! It may just come down to who has the better deal at the end of the month, since all my research has put them pretty neck-and-neck regarding performance and overall tread-wear.
Your car color matches the sky perfectly...Sunday (10/29) marked the one year anniversary of picking up my baby, so I thought I’d drop in to make a quick update to both celebrate and share my experience with my 22 Mustang GT!
Most recent Fall-themed photo of her just for fun and to celebrate the occasion!
As of right now, I’ve put 15,515 miles on my car and I’ve loved every mile. She’s been to Atlanta, Orlando, and most recently road-tripped up to Chicago (from Georgia) to meet family and friends! The trip was a breeze and all the more fun behind the wheel of my beautiful Mustang. I already can’t wait for our next trip together.
For anyone curious, I’ve only encountered a handful of issues over the last year:
So mechanically speaking, so far so good! All my “problems” weren’t something truly related to the stock car itself, which is awesome and reassuring. I do plan to grab Granger’s ESP at some point — probably a bit closer to when my 3 year plan is up.
- an error code that was thrown back in March, along with a CEL that tied to a known issue by Ford that effects the 2022 S550 lineup specifically. A quick trip to the dealership fixed her right up and it never happened again (more info about all that can be found here).
- my louvered glass quarter windows I had installed (baby’s first mod) have all cracked, which led to the company sending me a new set per the warranty. The cracks haven’t worsened or grown, so until they become an actual problem, I won’t be swapping the windows out just yet (this wasn’t an issue with the stock car itself, though).
- I’ve had to have both my rear tires patched within the last six months. I have the worst luck when it comes to things puncturing my tires! 🥲
- for some reason, my car also needs an alignment. Not sure what happened there but the tire wear was unusual and my Pireli P-zeros are shot, performance-wise. They’ve carried me to 15k though so I’m just waiting for Black Friday sales to get them replaced! I have my eye on either the Michelin PS4’s or their Continental equivalents right now
I still look back when I get out of the car and feel this little jolt of glee when I return to her later. To say that buying this car was a life-changing experience is an understatement, as it taught me to take risks and trust myself to know what makes me happy and just “go for it.”
I’ve still never regretted this purchase and hope to keep this car for the rest of my life — even if she one day retires to live her life as my beautiful garage queen! 🩵 I hope you’re all still loving your cars as well
