The 2014 Ford Mustang GT -California Special edition. -original post date 3/28/2013
A couple days ago, I headed over to Superior Ford in Plymouth to meet
up with Sales Guy Staz (Stas Manchik, 763-519-6348, email:
smanchik@superiorford.com -give him a call
or email if you're in the market for a car, he's a good guy and knows
his stuff pretty well). I sat down at the desk with him and explained
that I wasn't there to buy that day, but I wanted to take out two
specific cars, one of which was this Mustang. I purposely picked what I
recalled to be a slow portion of the workday and workweek to do this,
as I sure don't want Stas to miss out on any sales while I'm keeping him
busy playing with cars. Stas was very hospitable and obliging, and so
off we went.
Those who know me or have looked at pictures I've posted have probably gathered that I already own a Mustang GT, although not a 2014 model, and certainly not a 5.0. I had very specific reasons for buying my Mustang and would never dream of selling it, but that's not for this post.
Lets nail down some specs on this car. It's powered by the 5L V8 (you'll sometimes hear this engine referred to as the "Coyote" or "Five-Point-Oh") that gives you 420 horses to ride, and 390 lb ft of torque. This Sterling Gray Metallic example in particular, we grabbed off the lot because Stas thought it had the most gas in it (he was wrong, and we had to put a few gallons in after we started out). I ended up with the 6 speed automatic instead of a stick shift (this is not the end of the world, and actually makes owning a Mustang as a primary driver easier, as trading vehicles for a day with a friend who has a truck or van when you need to haul something is simpler and you don't have to worry about them grinding your gears).
Aaaanywhoooo, The California Special package changes the outward look of the GT, replacing the grille that usually features some prominent fog lights with a cleaner, more elegant looking back bar grille with the pony badge off to one side. It also includes subtle fade hood stripes, fade rocker stripes, side scoops, and a pedestal deck lid spoiler along with 19" rims. Other attributes of this pony included LED sequential tail lights, HID (high intensity discharge) projector headlamps, stainless steel dual exhausts, heated leather seats, and an engine block heater (it is Minnesota, after all).
My rule of thumb in terms of driving enthusiasm is this: any full sized or smaller passenger vehicle with around 200 horsepower is capable of giving you just enough of a little tickle to make you smile when you put the pedal to the floor. So, take that 200 HP, double it, sprinkle on an extra 20, then drop the hammer, and you'll be more than tickled... I'm talking about fits of joy here. A car like this can thrill you, embolden you, and scare you all at once.
I blasted this Mustang round the cloverleaf and onto the highway, letting the engine roar as the car swept me along, thrusting me back into the driver's seat like I'd just been launched out of a catapult. The 5.0 and its dual exhausts sing to you in a throaty baritone, and even when there's snow on the ground, you'll be tempted to roll down the windows to get a better listen. There was just a split second of feeling like I was flying by the seat of my pants as the car frog hopped slightly over a bump in the pavement. This is something I'm used to though, because my Mustang has a live rear axle instead of independent rear suspension as well. Frog hopping (where the back end of the car feels like it kicks up a bit and bumps sideways as you take a curve that has some uneven pavement) can be unsettling, but if you don't completely freak out and do something crazy like yanking the wheel one way or the other, you'll maintain control of the car and stay on course.
When you get behind the wheel of a Mustang, it melds to you and becomes an extension of self. Suddenly, you're wicked fast, crazy powerful, and can cause a ruckus like a herd of stampeding horses wherever you go. Let it go to your head, because it's a phenomenal experience, and it's not one that's out of reach for most people, either. Mustangs aren't just a car; they're an American icon, possessed of pounding mechanical heart and soul, and steeped in history and tradition. They're tweeked and tuned, embellished and even stripped down. They can rise to most any challenge when plied with the effort and ingenuity of the people who have them. These are solid yet nimble automobiles that could never be mistaken for an appliance or mere device of transport. If you can get your hands on one, new or used,do it -and try to make it the 5.0.
Those who know me or have looked at pictures I've posted have probably gathered that I already own a Mustang GT, although not a 2014 model, and certainly not a 5.0. I had very specific reasons for buying my Mustang and would never dream of selling it, but that's not for this post.
Lets nail down some specs on this car. It's powered by the 5L V8 (you'll sometimes hear this engine referred to as the "Coyote" or "Five-Point-Oh") that gives you 420 horses to ride, and 390 lb ft of torque. This Sterling Gray Metallic example in particular, we grabbed off the lot because Stas thought it had the most gas in it (he was wrong, and we had to put a few gallons in after we started out). I ended up with the 6 speed automatic instead of a stick shift (this is not the end of the world, and actually makes owning a Mustang as a primary driver easier, as trading vehicles for a day with a friend who has a truck or van when you need to haul something is simpler and you don't have to worry about them grinding your gears).
Aaaanywhoooo, The California Special package changes the outward look of the GT, replacing the grille that usually features some prominent fog lights with a cleaner, more elegant looking back bar grille with the pony badge off to one side. It also includes subtle fade hood stripes, fade rocker stripes, side scoops, and a pedestal deck lid spoiler along with 19" rims. Other attributes of this pony included LED sequential tail lights, HID (high intensity discharge) projector headlamps, stainless steel dual exhausts, heated leather seats, and an engine block heater (it is Minnesota, after all).
My rule of thumb in terms of driving enthusiasm is this: any full sized or smaller passenger vehicle with around 200 horsepower is capable of giving you just enough of a little tickle to make you smile when you put the pedal to the floor. So, take that 200 HP, double it, sprinkle on an extra 20, then drop the hammer, and you'll be more than tickled... I'm talking about fits of joy here. A car like this can thrill you, embolden you, and scare you all at once.
I blasted this Mustang round the cloverleaf and onto the highway, letting the engine roar as the car swept me along, thrusting me back into the driver's seat like I'd just been launched out of a catapult. The 5.0 and its dual exhausts sing to you in a throaty baritone, and even when there's snow on the ground, you'll be tempted to roll down the windows to get a better listen. There was just a split second of feeling like I was flying by the seat of my pants as the car frog hopped slightly over a bump in the pavement. This is something I'm used to though, because my Mustang has a live rear axle instead of independent rear suspension as well. Frog hopping (where the back end of the car feels like it kicks up a bit and bumps sideways as you take a curve that has some uneven pavement) can be unsettling, but if you don't completely freak out and do something crazy like yanking the wheel one way or the other, you'll maintain control of the car and stay on course.
When you get behind the wheel of a Mustang, it melds to you and becomes an extension of self. Suddenly, you're wicked fast, crazy powerful, and can cause a ruckus like a herd of stampeding horses wherever you go. Let it go to your head, because it's a phenomenal experience, and it's not one that's out of reach for most people, either. Mustangs aren't just a car; they're an American icon, possessed of pounding mechanical heart and soul, and steeped in history and tradition. They're tweeked and tuned, embellished and even stripped down. They can rise to most any challenge when plied with the effort and ingenuity of the people who have them. These are solid yet nimble automobiles that could never be mistaken for an appliance or mere device of transport. If you can get your hands on one, new or used,do it -and try to make it the 5.0.
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