bought a 2011 GT with ~115k miles. Wondering at next steps?

CanadianInAustin

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Hello folks

bought a 2011 GT this past week. Wondering what I ought to do with it from a clean up & maintenance perspective. What should I trial myself as someone not experienced but eager to try, what should I find someone for. I'm in the Austin, TX area if anyone has recommendations for who to go to. Advice, comments welcome

Some of the vehicles particularities
- previous owner had a pretty bad aftermarket audio install. Wiring running by the passenger to the trunk area. Some messy looking wiring for it in the hood. Car did not come with the subwoofer from this.
- rear antenna in poor condition, radio does not work
- Audio install added pioneer unit which doesn't let me connect new bluetooth devices because it doesn't recognize when the parking brake is up.
- parking brake button is missing, parking brake boot material in poor condition
- shifter boot material in poor condition, shifter stick slightly rusty, shifter boot does not clip to handle
- trunk upholstery in poor condition
- steering wheel does not have audio control buttons, cruise control only
- rattling on metal rear louvers while highway driving
- rear GT badge looks spraypainted black, but paint is peeling

I don't have records for the following, so I think it might be time to change
- coolant
- transmission fluid
- sparks

Some of what I'm wondering
- maintenance items : difficulty for doing each myself?
- where does one get parts lists, service manuals?
- audio install - unsure if I should strip it out, or clean it up? How tricky would it be to retrofit a shaker1000 like setup into the car, and where would I get the parts to do so?
- pioneer unit : add parking brake bypass or replace. I like the look of Dynavin N7-MST2010 PRO better than my current center console, keeps some more stock feeling buttons. Ideally would like something that would allow me to pull up torque android app like gauge read outs, don't know what if there is something out there like that.
- steering wheel media buttons : can I just swap in a steering wheel with media buttons (e.g. this kind of guy https://www.americanmuscle.com/boss-steering-wheel-1012.html) , plug it into a media console and expect it to work?
- if i want a parking brake with a working button how much of the assembly & what parts do I need to replace? expect I maybe could figure this out from service manuals / parts lists once I found them
- shifter : do I want a new knob, new knob & boot, or do I want to swap out the assembly?
- trunk upholstery cleanup - is that an autobody or detailer type of task?

Just ordered a new antenna, not sure if it will fix the radio, expect it will at least look better. In general I want to keep things generally somewhat "stock feeling."

And enjoying the car so far. Comically powerful compared to my last vehicle (mazda rx8). Actually having torque is wild.
 
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CanadianInAustin

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manual. i'm finding the fact it can be started rolling just lifting the clutch without touching the accelerator a bit of a trip. making it easy to teach the gf.
 

Juice

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manual. i'm finding the fact it can be started rolling just lifting the clutch without touching the accelerator a bit of a trip. making it easy to teach the gf.
Not liking that comment on a 400 hp car w/stick shift. @110K I start thinking clutch.
How is the shifting? The MT82 has a rep, and a worn clutch will kill it.
Other than that, on any car with that miles and unknown history of maintenance: Plugs, filters, fluids.
 

LarryJM

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I was told all the wiring for the entire car goes through the radio. For sure the steering wheel controls will only work with the original Ford radio. The radio is so touchy, you can't even install a standard to a shaker without issues. I have heard it can be the same with the seats and airbags. New carpet for the trunk is cheap. New carpet everywhere is cheap. When restoring a car, the three cheapest items are carpets, convertible top and seats. The most expensive. A rusted frame rail someplace. Tires and brakes are always replaced first.
 

CanadianInAustin

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Not liking that comment on a 400 hp car w/stick shift. @110K I start thinking clutch.

Eh, starting with just the clutch I don't think should would wear it much. Hard starts, feathering on hills I think are more going to age it.

How is the shifting? The MT82 has a rep, and a worn clutch will kill it.

Shifting is fine, not janky and neither incredibly firm or loose. Clutch seems fine, seems to grab pretty well when let out. Suppose I'll keep an eye on that though if it could break the trans as it wears down.

Overall the car drives beautifully.

Suspension squeaks a bit on speed bumps though.

For sure the steering wheel controls will only work with the original Ford radio.

Dynavin N7-MST2010 PRO install instructions say you can get the steering wheel media buttons working, just requires plugging in the correct cable. Given that I don't have the steering wheel with media buttons I can't quite do that, but I wonder if I did swap out the steering wheel I could.

Tires and brakes are always replaced first.

Tires are good. Brakes I need to get looked at.
 

LarryJM

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My tires on the 2016 Altima that Carfax wants me to replace are about 5 years old. Matters not the tread. Lucky my tires I just purchased Christmas time for the Mustang has a September 2020 date code. I really purchased them to go along with my new 2012/14 GT500 brakes. I found out the GT-500 brakes fit and run perfect under my base wheels and Run Flats. Not sure what I am going to do with my Brembo Wheels and 19 inch tires I have.

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LarryJM

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Then I found out the longer my Mustang GT sits, the more speed bump squeaks it has. Drive it every day even if it's just 10 miles and the squeaks go away.
 

CanadianInAustin

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My tires are from the 42nd week of 2019, so I think they ought to be good for some time longer. Need to buy a spare though, don't have one in the trunk.
 

LarryJM

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My tires are from the 42nd week of 2019, so I think they ought to be good for some time longer. Need to buy a spare though, don't have one in the trunk.
That is why I have 255/45/18 Bridgestone Driveguard Run Flats. Nothing is in the trunk so I can keep it at 3460 lbs 1/4 tank of gas no driver at the Flying J Truck stop.
 

DieHarder

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My tires on the 2016 Altima that Carfax wants me to replace are about 5 years old. Matters not the tread. Lucky my tires I just purchased Christmas time for the Mustang has a September 2020 date code. I really purchased them to go along with my new 2012/14 GT500 brakes. I found out the GT-500 brakes fit and run perfect under my base wheels and Run Flats. Not sure what I am going to do with my Brembo Wheels and 19 inch tires I have.

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Interested in the wheels. PM me. Thanks
 

JEWC_Motorsports

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If you want to go back to the stock head unit i may have mine in my garage, id have to look. You can have it. The reverse is just grounding a wire on the back of the pioneer head unit, thats easy. Im in the middle of doing a complete audio overhaul and im not to far from Austin.
 
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