Slightly OT: How long have you been a Ford or Mustang person?

I had Chevies for a long time. partly because I didn't like the "feel" of Fords. In 92 I bought an Explorer and then a used 88 LX then added a 99 GT. I don't have a strong preference really but most of the GM products I just don't like the looks of. My "newest" car is a 69 Firebird 400 that I'm restoring.

1980 my first car, a 66 Comet with a 289. Then in 82 I bought a 70 Roadrunner 383, 4 speed and Dana 60 for $800.00. Traded straight across for a 66 Impala :( Built a 68 302 and dropped it in a 70 Maverick, very fun car! Got a loan for an 86 Mustang GT hatch with a 5 speed and from there bought my new 2000 Mustang GT. I guess I should have learned from the old Comet, the blue runs through my vains.

Of a total in the 30s,

1949 Ford Tudor, in 1954 - 1956 (totalled) 1953 Ford convertible, in 1962 (traded on a 1955 Austin-Healey) 1962 Ford Falcon Ranchero, in 1982 or so (doubled my money) 2006 Mustang convertible, Oct 2006 - present 2009 Mustang GT/CS, Sept 2008 - present

For various reasons I'd like to have each of the 30-something different cars back, but the ones that I REALLY wish I still had are the 1966 Lotus Elan S2 (about 1970-1978) and the Ranchero (about 1982-1989).

The others were an eclectic mix of foreign and domestic sporty cars, vans, pickups, and a racy Vega or two.

1974 (age 20), I bought my first car - a purple 1972 Pinto hatchback. That lasted about one year, then I traded it up for a 1974 Mustang II coupe with manual transmission.

I currently own my 4th and 6th Mustangs. I guess that means that I've had Mustangs virtually throughout my adult life.

And ain't NOTHING wrong with that!

dwight

I only bought my Mustang GT because I worked for Ford at the time and it just seemed stupid to pay dealer mark up for a GM when I could buy a new Ford (88 Mustang GT convertible.) at below cost. 21 years 307,000 miles later it is still my preferred way of going anywhere and the wife feels that way too. Since the Mustang I bought a 90 Ford escort,(almost 100,000 miles before it was lost in a roll over accident, no injuries BTW) and a 95 Mercury Tracer, (174,000 miles.) The last GM car I owned was a 1978 Pontiac Trans AM which lost an engine at 100,000 miles. I assume that in the intervening 30 years GM has upped the quality control a little bit but from my perspective. "Why chance it?"

"Dick R." wrote in news:4tmdnf7aQKMqOO7UnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@posted.visi:

I've owned GM, Ford, and Chrysler products with a few Mazdas along the way. I'm not brand-loyal, as each brand has had their ups and downs through the years.

Interestingly, several times I've bought the same model twice in a row. I've owned two Opel Kadettes in a row (first and second cars respectively), two Corvairs in a row (the most fun cars ever), two Bronco IIs in a row (4x4s), and two Dakota R/Ts in a row (torquemonster toys).

The only true Ford product I've owned was my '93 LX 5.0 hatch, which I bought new and kept until last year. The Mustang has also been the vehicle which I've driven the most - 144,000 give or take.

Currently, I've got an '03 Dakota R/T and a '96 Mazda MPV. The Dak is lots of fun, as it handles extremely well for a truck and it has gobs of torque (5.9L). It's also very useful simply because it's a truck. The MPV is just about the only minivan ever done right IMO (RWD, 4 doors, all 4 windows go down, dual A/C, super comfy, seats 8) except it lacks power.

You Asked For It.

Cars I've had.....not exotic, but surely eclectic:

Bought Used: PACKARD (1956,1957), THUNDERBIRD (1962,1965,1967,1970), STUDEBAKER (Hawks: 1957,1962), CHECKER (1967), OLDSMOBILE (1975,1977), ALFA-ROMEO ("2000" Spyder: 1959), CHRYSLER (LHS: 1996), CHEVETTE (1990), VOLVO (1967), AVANTI (1979),

Bought New: SUNBEAM (Alpine: 1967), AMC (1973 Gremlin X, Levi's, V8.....the one I should have kept....it was junk, but worth something now), MGB (1973), JEEP (1992), CHEVY (1979 Camaro), FORD (2008 Taurus), MUSTANG (1985,2004,2006)

WORST: hands down, the 1979 Camaro.....was like all the pieces were sent to the Tribant factory for assembly.....piece of crap.

MOST FUN: the '67 Checker.....327, Cruis-O-Matic, factory air & AM-FM, psteering & brakes, absolutely indestructible......just the standard length, but 12 college kids could get in it !!!!!

MOST RELIABLE: the Mustangs and the Taurus: "zero defect" cars.......everything right when delivered and never had to go back to the dealer for anything. The '85 Mustang might have been the most amazing.......just a 4 cyl hatchback, but loaded........put over 130,000 miles on it: changed the oil, replaced the muffler once and the timing belt around 65,000 miles (before it broke).......nothing ever broke, never had a repair. $7900 tax, title, out-the-door.

DUMBEST DECISION: word got around that there wouldn't be any more Sunbeam roadsters in 1968.....always liked the looks of them, so went to the dealer. They had 2 left, an Alpine and a Tiger. Could have had the Tiger for $200 more than the Alpine.....but I was worried about the insurance so got the Alpine. Penny wise......

Back in the 50s & 60s, GM cars had the reputation as being well-built, i.e. better bodies & assembly than Fords.......but Fords had nicer interiors than Chevy. Still think the '62 Galaxy was one of the prettiest cars of the era......my Dad had been a Mercury guy, but the '62 Monterey was just a Ford - except ugly. So he got a Galaxy 500 4 door Victoria with a 390. Liked it so much, he got my sister a white on white on blue XL convert.......what a sweet ride - wish we had it now!

First car was a1953 ford in 58, then a 56 ford, followed by 61 ford, then

63 chevy ss which I really liked, and to make a long story short Ive have Chevys, Ford, and they were all pretty good, Now I have a 53 and 56 ford restoring. Not much in the way of progress but family car is Chevy Lumina, which works fine for me.

My first car was a 41 Ford Buisness Coupe. Flat head with three on the tree. Bought it for a whopping $10!

First Mustang was a 65 manual top convertible. It was a weird car, had a 289 with a 2 barrel, three speed, with dual exhaust.

My current Mustangs are an 86 with a blown 393 and a C4. And a stock 03. Also have a 79 E250 that's sitting with a bad fuel pump. Like really Ford pickups but somehow ended up with two Dodges, a Chevy and two Isuzu's:) Tomorrow I'm looking at a 59 Ford, 292, three speed on the colum w/OD. Guy wants $1,700 for it.

I've owned a lot of other Fords from F and C 750's to Pinto's.

Al

Bought used.... '64 VW , '64 Olds Jetstar, '65 Bonneville. '65 Chevelle, '66 Mustang, '66 Chevy Van,'67 Caprice, '67 Chevelle, '68 Newport 2dr, '68 GTO, '76 Cordoba, '81 Civic, '88 Taurus 150k miles trans failed, '89 S Blazer 180k miles sold, '94 Taurus 160k miles sold trans failed soon aft, '99 Yukon (current), '00 Sable (current),'01 Malibu (traded for GT)

New....... '79 Dodge Van, 180k miles and the 318 never had a valve cover off, but everything else was changed once. '07 GT , Vista blue, 5sp, 18'' polished, 14k no issues yet.

35 yrs of driving every generation of Econolines on job, over a million miles of seat time. Motorcycles, snowmobiles, boat and PWC taking time up also.

I'm not crazy brand loyal but have been more Ford lately, those trannies in the Bulls almost changed that though, but the Sable is looking the best so far at 146k. Looking to get 200k out of it. Ex wife totalled the '66 Mustang, '65 Bonnie and the GTO. The rest were driven to the scrap yard or sold. VW was the worst of them all, but it made me a mechanic, I could have the motor out in a hour with a floor jack by myself. LOL now but not then.

1963, bought a 1950 Chevy turtleback. (verticle radio with tubes, would run the battery down in about 10 minutes), traded that for a 1962 Pontiac Tempest when I graduated in 1965. Half a 326 "4 banger" with rear transmission.,, UGGGGG!!!

Came back from Nam, bought a 68 Barracuda Formula S 383 coupe (loved it I thought) went to Turkey and wound up with a Rambler 440 Cross Country wagon

Back to the states, Volkswagen camper, traded for a dodge PU and camper, then a 75 Blazer 4x4 (found out the dodge 2wd PU would go further with chains than that thing due to courage and a sense of not being able to afford to scratch the Blazer) LOL

Then to Germany, took over a Ford Gran Torino wagon, came back to a Fairmont, then ford trucks, explorers, mountaineers, and in 1998 when my son moved out (that made insurance affordable) bought my first Mustang (a life long dream that I couldn't justify with kids and no back seat) and have had the 98, a 2002 and now the 2005. We're retiring to Michigan in August, plan to make the Mustang a "summer car" up there and use the Escape 4x4 as an "everyday transport"

So, by count: 2 chrysler 2 GM, 1 volkswagen and the rest were fords... I'd say that now, when I go somewhere with someone else, I compare, ride, road noise, comfort with what I drive. Prejudice aside, they're pretty much all about the same, but I'll still pick ford over the rest, just wonder how long we'll have that choice before there's no more to pick and choose from ???

Hey Gill, Way back in the 50s I had a modified 1950 Chev 2dr, but a friend had a 1949 Chev fastback. He was more adventurous than I, and got rid of the original 216 6 cyl engine, transmission, torque tube and rear axle. He installed a 235 6 cyl Corvette engine, Packard OD transmission and a Pontiac rear end. Interesting that when other cars of the time were done shifting, my friend still had a few more gears (including OD) to go.

Dick

That was notme

8)

I am on my first Mustang; A 2008 GT 5 speed in performance white and charcoal interior. (dealer blow out sale) My wife owned a 66 Mustang with the 302 and automatic transmission. We were not married at the time so I only rode as a passenger a few times. Other cars of hers were some giant Plymoth with a 24 gal tank. (where did those big tanks go) A Honda Civic (fwd), A ford (1974ish freemont?) some green turkey with an inline 6. 1986 Buick Skylark V6 FWD.

My previous ride was a 1997 probe gts which I bought new. Almost bought the mustang that year. But the probe seemed like more bang for the buck.

Other rides in my past were. 1968 Chevell 327 and two speed automatic.

1973 FIAT 128 SL 1300 cc and a 4 speed FWD (fix it again tony is appropriate here) which broke me keeping it on the road. Was fast for what it was so long as you drove it around reved up all the time.

1971 Dodge Cornet Wagon with the 318 and automatic tranny.

1977 Jeep Cherokee with the 360 and Quadra Track. Had a blast driving over the stops in parking lots.

1982 Yamaha Vision 550cc for my Class M1 endorsement.

1983 Yamaha Seca 900 (very fun)

1996 Dodge Dakota V-6

2001 Ford Ranger 2.3

The 08 GT is by far the most powerful car I have owned and is proving to be really fun to drive. I am not out burning the expensive tires off in the K-mart parking lot but putting the pass on slower traffic is more fun that the law allows. And I don't miss the torque steer weirdness of the FWD cars at all.

Oh, speaking of more fun than the law allows, one of my best buddies has a 2007 Z-06 Corvette. I have about 10 hours of left seat time. Talk about putting the pass to slower traffic. All I can say is wow!

I have had my 09 GT for almost a month :o) In 67 I bought a Barracuda instead of a Mustang and regretted it for 42 years.

I watch the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction on TV and the Barracudas and Hemi Cudas are apparently very popular with some collectors, but so are the Mustangs. Personally, I'd rather have a 67 Mustang. Take good care of your 09 GT!

Dick

The reason the Barracudas are worth so much is they didn't sell and there are not many of them. I totaled mine six months after I got it.

I have 700 miles on my GT and changed the oil at 500 miles to remove the the metal that comes off a new engine. BTW I only paid 24K; the fastest

1/4 mile dollar for dollar in the world.

I bought a 1966 Formula S BacaRuda in 1966; kept it for about eight months. Other than being ugly and an incurable leak of gasoline fumes into the passenger compartment, it worked good.

That's nice. With a Bamachips tune and a Cooler Air Induction appliance, it's even quicker.

That was the Valiant Barracuda.

I have looked into the air intake mod but don't want to have to use above 87 octane. I might take it to Island Dragway once to see what it can do. The 2010 GT gets 15 more HP with a new air intake. I might look into that.

It's deja vu all over again :-)