BTM
Junior Member
Hey everyone. Really good track section in here, I’ve learned a lot about this chassis just lurking for a few weeks. Everyone’s build threads are great, and as always, the development done and information shared by Vorshlag is not only much appreciated, but humbling and motivating.
3 weeks ago I made the jump into the Mustang world with a 2014 GT Coupe with 301A, track, and recaro packages. In an effort to chronologize and organize my thoughts and experience with the chassis, as well as crowd source (if the crowd would be so gracious) I think posting it in here as opposed to other forums (and other sections of this forum) will probably keep everything most on topic.
Here are a few pics of the car the day after I bought it.
My initial impressions with this car were good, but not great. I drove a standard rear end 2013 with base brakes, base seats, and (sucks in) all season(s) rubber, and I did like the car but wasn’t convinced. For the next few months I considered everything from a Focus ST to a 996TT to various generation M3s and M5s. Coming from a BMW Z4 M Coupe I was building into a BSP car (thread here) the base GT I drove had plenty of get up and go but felt boaty on the all season rubber and I really didn’t care for the brakes. With the standard rear end it felt very quick, but not “fast” like I was expecting it, like an E60 M5 for example.
After convincing myself that what I was after was an 04+ E46 M3 with budget for bushings, shocks, and tires, I was getting really fed up with the E46 M3 market. Any clean example commanded high 20s at the least, and despite being a DIYer and proclaimed advocate of letting someone else take the depreciation hit of a new car, I just couldn’t bring myself to pay 28k+ for a 10yr old car with 60k+ on the clock that needed 1-2k in consumables just to bring it up to spec.
That’s when I found a car built (nearly) exactly how I wanted on a dealer lot. Check that, I found three of them, as they had ordered 3 built exactly the same way, in 3 different colors. I had to check it out, and my salesman said “pick your color” so I chose the black one (versus silver and red) and with the upgraded rubber, brakes, seats, and rear end, that’s all she wrote. I drove the car home that day.
Sorry for the novel already, typing things out helps me with my thoughts and I like to get them down, even if it’s only for me to reread them later. These cars are amazingly well documented on forums and at least initially I doubt I will be bringing anything revolutionary or new to the table, but if it helps anyone else out, or at least passes someone’s time at work, I guess that’ll have to do.
Plans for this car are simple (in theory). I like to autocross and would like to get this out on the track. However, as I learned with my Z4MC, I don’t particularly like the AX rulesets provided by SCCA and will instead, with some consideration to Solo rules (but not governed by them), do what I will with the car and drive it where it places. I’m not exceptionally quick, or after national trophies or anything, so why build a car to a ruleset that governs something I don’t really care about winning in the first place? (Well...my local club gives out tshirts as trophies...and everyone always needs more tshirts...)
Suspension will be a major focus on this car. I had AST 4200s on my Z4 and my experience was limited but very good. I’d like to try the 4150s for this car but the budget will take a little while to get there. We’ll see if in the meantime I can deal with the 4x4 stance or buckle and buy springs & adj panhard rod. I plan on thrashing the stock rubber and moving to an 18” setup with some real rubber.
Anyway, thanks for the great subforum, and be gentle on me :/
3 weeks ago I made the jump into the Mustang world with a 2014 GT Coupe with 301A, track, and recaro packages. In an effort to chronologize and organize my thoughts and experience with the chassis, as well as crowd source (if the crowd would be so gracious) I think posting it in here as opposed to other forums (and other sections of this forum) will probably keep everything most on topic.
Here are a few pics of the car the day after I bought it.
My initial impressions with this car were good, but not great. I drove a standard rear end 2013 with base brakes, base seats, and (sucks in) all season(s) rubber, and I did like the car but wasn’t convinced. For the next few months I considered everything from a Focus ST to a 996TT to various generation M3s and M5s. Coming from a BMW Z4 M Coupe I was building into a BSP car (thread here) the base GT I drove had plenty of get up and go but felt boaty on the all season rubber and I really didn’t care for the brakes. With the standard rear end it felt very quick, but not “fast” like I was expecting it, like an E60 M5 for example.
After convincing myself that what I was after was an 04+ E46 M3 with budget for bushings, shocks, and tires, I was getting really fed up with the E46 M3 market. Any clean example commanded high 20s at the least, and despite being a DIYer and proclaimed advocate of letting someone else take the depreciation hit of a new car, I just couldn’t bring myself to pay 28k+ for a 10yr old car with 60k+ on the clock that needed 1-2k in consumables just to bring it up to spec.
That’s when I found a car built (nearly) exactly how I wanted on a dealer lot. Check that, I found three of them, as they had ordered 3 built exactly the same way, in 3 different colors. I had to check it out, and my salesman said “pick your color” so I chose the black one (versus silver and red) and with the upgraded rubber, brakes, seats, and rear end, that’s all she wrote. I drove the car home that day.
Sorry for the novel already, typing things out helps me with my thoughts and I like to get them down, even if it’s only for me to reread them later. These cars are amazingly well documented on forums and at least initially I doubt I will be bringing anything revolutionary or new to the table, but if it helps anyone else out, or at least passes someone’s time at work, I guess that’ll have to do.
Plans for this car are simple (in theory). I like to autocross and would like to get this out on the track. However, as I learned with my Z4MC, I don’t particularly like the AX rulesets provided by SCCA and will instead, with some consideration to Solo rules (but not governed by them), do what I will with the car and drive it where it places. I’m not exceptionally quick, or after national trophies or anything, so why build a car to a ruleset that governs something I don’t really care about winning in the first place? (Well...my local club gives out tshirts as trophies...and everyone always needs more tshirts...)
Suspension will be a major focus on this car. I had AST 4200s on my Z4 and my experience was limited but very good. I’d like to try the 4150s for this car but the budget will take a little while to get there. We’ll see if in the meantime I can deal with the 4x4 stance or buckle and buy springs & adj panhard rod. I plan on thrashing the stock rubber and moving to an 18” setup with some real rubber.
Anyway, thanks for the great subforum, and be gentle on me :/
)
