Whatever Happened to Our Long-Term 2005 Ford Mustang GT

Sweet ride. When I was 17 I had a 4 cylinder S10. I made some pretty bad decisions in that truck. Like thinkng I was a rally driver and driving wide open down gravel roads to do big ugly powerslides (the 4 cylinder was so underpowered the gravel was the only place I could get it to rotate any at all). I can only imagine what would have happened if I would have had the beast I just read about. I probably wouldn't be alive.

Nice to know that an IL car is now prowling the streets of Finland. How about a follow up on some of the other cars? I'm curious how many of them are on their 3rd or 4th transmission for example. Yes, I'm talking about you Camaro and GT-R.

Good post, but this made me laugh:

"Being 17 now they agreed to help me purchase the GT while I found a buyer for my V6 Mustang."

Implying that being 17, instead of 16, makes someone more "able" to handle a powerful vehicle...lol

No offense intended to the writer, but I would say this about anyone at that age. I had a 1992 Dodge Colt at that age and sometimes it still went too fast. Teenagers can be idiots.

Donna, here's a great idea: Reenact the "Bullitt" road chase. First, you get San Francisco to shut down certain streets for about a half hour, then you find a nice Bullitt Mustang and race it against a new 2011 Charger. Guns are optional-- but the gas station blowing up is mandatory.

Yes, an interesting post.

hey guys im Daniel

Dougtheeng- I certainly know teenagers can be idiots lol lots of friends have wrecked their cars. Basically I was just trying to say that they definitely wouldnt let me have a GT500 killer without having time to prove I was a safe driver.

"Basically I was just trying to say that they definitely wouldnt let me have a GT500 killer without having time to prove I was a safe driver."

Sounds reasonable to me. I'm glad you ended up getting the car in the end - much more fun then my old Dodge Colt.

I really hate to be "that guy", but this really freaked me out:

"I spent a lot of time up in Decker Canyon off Pacific Coast Highway getting to know the cars limits."

Canyon roads are not that great of a place for a new-ish driver to be testing their car's limits! Yikes.

Wow! I was just thinking about this car yesterday.....wondering where it was now.

I had the idea that I would take vacation, fly out to CA and buy it from Edmund's and then road trip it back to Jersey. The timing wasn't right nor the circumstances for me to do it when it was up for sale.....bummer.

I'm glad to see and hear the update though.....I really liked this car and the mods that were done to it.

I'm glad you had a good time owning it, Daniel.

felonious- still here today ;) the car handled like a dream.

rick8365- I never even heard of edmunds before I saw the car for sale. But when I saw it and checked out Insideline I thought it would be awesome to own a piece of Edmunds history. I have a lot of regrets about selling it but I think I'll get over that once I finish the recreation with the 2011.

Nice car and sounds great but just not my type. I tend to have slightly different tastes compared to people my age (17 soon to be 18). I prefer little hatchbacks but unfortunately they are somewhat non existent but now it seems like they are coming back. Wonderful car overall.

silverstang/Daniel - Good luck with the new project!

Maybe when you get it together you can send the pics and details to Donna to post as a follow up?

thanks rick :) I will definitly be keeping in touch with Insideline. My car is currently with Vortech having the black kit installed. I already go the Reverbs, and found a hood very similar to the one they used on the 05.

Wow.

Irresponsible parents, coupled with a spendthrift child. And where exactly does a teen/very young adult get the money to buy a 2011 GT AND deck it out with aftermarket parts? From the parents? Again? Or is the bulk of his paycheck being sacrificed to make him "car-poor?"

The best part of all this is that Daniel will enjoy a fast, powerful, fun car.

The worst part of this is that he won't understand the value of a dollar or the importance of savings, which has far worse potential consequences.

God help you in this economy, Daniel.

Wow.

Assuming a lot there man. First off, I got this car with the help of my parents only until I sold my V6. The 2011 is 100% mine, no cosigner or any help from my parents. I work for my cars and the parts I put on them, I am the first one at work and the last to leave. I save all my money and live basically like Im poor to be able to afford all the car parts and to have the cars that I have. I dont blow it all on drugs and alcohol like most people my age. Thats how you afford badass cars, work your ass off and save as much money as you can.

My brother and I were both raised the same way. He has a 2010 Mustang and hes modding it, spending most of his paychecks on his car too.

Next time you comment dont assume you know someone. Im doing fine, dont worry about me. Ive been doing fine in this economy ;)

@ akitadog
Seriously.

@silverstang1
You might want to choose a career path (if you haven't already) that will allow you the extra income needed for buying and modding cars. No insult intended, just a recommendation from a fellow automotive enthusiast.

I wonder if your dad knows that you're not wearing a helmet?????

Good for you, SilverStang! When I was 14, my parents hated my love of dirt bikes, motocross and all things motorcycle. I got my first job at that point and earned every dollar to support my motorcycle habit. I learned early on that big fun costs big money, that money doesn't fall from trees (or the government) and that a 14 year old kid who shows up to work on time and gives a damn about his job will be able to afford the things he needs and enjoys. 36 years later, I still work hard, have a great family and have graduated from the bikes to cars, an SVT Focus being my current hobby car. Although the economy is not as robust as the past 8 years, I'm still doing fine and find most of the hard working folks I've known throughout the years are as well. The not so hard working, that's a different story. Perhaps the negative posters fall into the "not so hard working" category. Keep workin' hard and burnin' rubber! It made this country great.

For the record!!!!!! As Daniel's father, I've never "handed" my kids anything!!! I've always made them work for what they received from us. Daniel (unlike many other kids his age) always had chores. His allowance was kept to a minimum so as to make him work hard for what he wanted. He always appreciated what he had and took care of what he bought with his money. He wanted a garage for his car, so he moved out at 19. Hey pays his own way. I think I've taught him the value of an earned dollar. Good job Daniel :)

@silverstang1

Nice car, but seriously dude, when you're doing a video of your exhaust note you don't just crank the car and let it idle! Also, don't blip 'blip' the throttle. Ease on the gas and let us hear the whole rev range.

On a side note, I like smaller 4 cyl engines because you can actually 'get on it' to redline for a gear or two without breaking the speed limit, wrapping yourself around a tree or seeing blue lights in the rear-view.

mortal- ya i know, i know lol those were just to show what my parents had to hear every time I left the house. Ill be sure to make some good exhaust videos with a few slow revs on the 2011. :)

Excellent post, Daniel. Please update us on your 2011 Mustang. Good job, Daniel's dad! My folks made me work & save for my car. I learned the value of having goals & working towards them, just like Daniel.

Daniel and snakeoilsam,

Thanks for responding to my comments and questions. I'm glad to hear that you made Daniel work hard for his pride-and-joy. However, I can't agree with you being willing to help fund a very young driver's desire for a powerful sports car. In my opinion, that's asking for trouble. I would have stopped at the V6. In my family, that would have never past muster. No way would my parents have contributed toward what could have helped me end my short life as a testosterone-laden teen. But that's nothing compared to what Daniel has written regarding how he manages to pay for his car.

In fact, Daniel, you've answered my question as to how you pay for your new 2011 GT. You live "like Im poor" to be able to pay for your car, and apparently, so does your brother. So you both ARE, in fact, "car-poor." This speaks to the bigger issue of the "instant gratification" mindset we had in this country for years, and that we are finally suffering withdrawal from, at least some of us.

A Mustang GT is an expensive car to buy and to own. That means high monthly payments (and high interest rates for your demographic), high insurance, high fuel bills, and high repair costs if things go wrong. I don't even know what kind of mods you have or want to have that could risk voiding the warranty. I'm glad to hear that you are paying for it on your own, but do you have any savings left over at the end of the month? Are you putting some away for a rainy day, such as if you wreck the car taking a turn too fast for conditions, or you get laid off due to business drying up? And I hope you're in school or some training at least part-time.

We're in the worst depression since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The economic downturns are when millionaires go bust and the average joe gets rich. This is perhaps the best time, if there ever was any, to look into buying assets such as real estate (money is cheap and prices are low!). Do you own your own place, or want to own one someday? Are you saving with that in mind? Or are you more concerned with getting that carbon-fiber hood or aggressive exhaust?

I think some posters don't understand what "learning the value of a dollar" really means. It means something like being more patient about getting a good deal, or knowing that savings are meant to make your big-ticket purchases a little easier to swallow, no "living poor" is necessary. But maybe that's just my interpretation.

If it were indeed me, I'd first be looking to buy a place of my own, even a fixer-upper, pour some sweat and blood into it and find some reliable roommates. Get THEM to cover the mortgage costs, then I could live for free and save up money for a couple years, enough to get a 6-month emergency cushion, plus 1.5 years worth of a down-payment. THEN buy the Mustang, keep my payments to a minimum (or pay it off early... point is, I'd have that CHOICE), be able to afford to soup it up, AND have savings in the bank.

My story? My wife and I own 2 rental properties that are PAID IN FULL and are paying the mortgage on our new place, and some. We made some smart and timely investments that allowed us to do it that way, allowed us to buy her car new in CASH, and for me to buy my new car with a hefty down payment and pay it off in less than 2 years (it's a GTI, fun, yet practical). Now I'm saving up to buy a used Corvette in a few years, as our rent income will REALLY start working for us in about a year. Yeah, I COULD afford a new Mustang cheaper than a Vette, but that's not what I want.

The point is, that I exercised patience and did not fall into the mindset of wanting to have it NOW. I put what I had into assets and it's given me something that living "car-poor" can never do: more financial freedom. We don't make a whole lot of money in our day jobs (higher income than the area median, but not rich by any means), but we've been patient and AWARE of what's happening around us, and have taken advantage of it. With your work ethic, you have a chance to do the same at an earlier age than when I started (34 now), but you have to be willing to put off the toy lust for a short while.

Some of you are amazing with your assumptions about all young drivers. When I turned 16, I had the keys to a V6 Mustang handed over to me, and I did spend a lot of time driving with both of my parents. As a result, I'd say I became a pretty responsible driver at a rather young age. I had my moments of hoonage (not necessarily on canyon roads or crowded highways), but if you folks call yourselves enthusiasts, you've been there too. If you even watched this guy's video, it seems he's not an irresponsible guy.

Granted, it took me until I was 21 to be entrusted with a 300hp car all to myself, I was driving my parents' more powerful machines pretty much from the time I had my permit. What better way to actually get to know a vehicle than to have some time behind the wheel? Age alone won't fix that.

I'd say some of you 30 and 40 somethings have a little growing up to do yourselves, regarding your attitudes toward drivers who aren't yourselves. And quit watching so much tv.

Regarding the economic comments, to each his own. The kid has sponsors, and he's probably savvy enough to shop online for his parts. What sounds like $5k in parts may not necessarily be.

silverstang1...keep on rollin. I miss mine, and I definitely plan on having a new 5.0 in due time :)

Daniel--Maybe we'll see a a Long Term Guest Blog about your new car one of these days! Maybe you can convince IL to track test your car against a Boss 302! Looking forward to seeing how your car turns out. Keep up the good work!

What astounds me is that a parent would think that 1-2 years of "safe driving" automatically qualifies his kid to drive a V8 ponycar. My son will be attending a Street Survival course as well as the two-day teen driving course at the BMW Performance Center this year alone. Even then he won't be taking anything with 300 bhp out solo for some time.

thanks mustang5507 :)

akitadog- what I mean by "living like im poor" is that I dont waste my money on other things. All my money goes into my car and I am happy living that way. If you love modding cars you would understand where I am coming from. I had the 2011 for a month and I handed my car to Vortech to get the supercharger for way less than half price. I would have waited a year or two but I had the money and you will never get an installed supercharger for the price I am paying. Going without my new car for a month is hard but its worth it to me. You just need to stop pushing your lifestyle on other people man, thats nice if your trying to look out for me but I can handle my car and my money.

roadburner- then youll love my friend(not really a friend but he too has a Mustang). He never drove until he was 18, he graduated high school and his dad buys him a brand new 2009 Mustang GT. The great part is I see him smoking pot and drinking in that car all the time in my neighborhood. And how does he get home? He drives home.

silverstang1- So, what performance driver training have you attended?

i havent attended any yet, though my friend has and he taught me a lot of what he learned. one day when I can take some vacation I will be taking a course or two

This Akitadog is way too judgmental for my taste.

This is an article that my brother would have otherwise been proud of, but all you jealous old guys can't stand that he has a nice car at such a young age. He has never had an accident that was his fault. He has never gotten a ticket for reckless driving. Yet Akitadog, who doesn't know how to spell "passed" correctly, presumes to hand him advice? Why don't you step out from your shroud of "concern" and be honest about why you've posted over and over again, bemoaning his fortune. You're jealous.

Daniel is not "car-poor", unless you count a 20 year-old who has his own car and his own place (in LA county--not the cheapest area of California to reside) as poor. He has plans to pursue a career in auto mechanics, so this car can count as part of his work experience. I am the eldest child of Daniel's father. He taught me thrift as well, and rather than modify my car I left it at mostly stock and instead am supporting myself while I pursue a History degree and plan to be an educator. I hope that provides yet another piece of information regarding my parents' way of raising us. They have three kids who are upstanding members of society. What's more, all three of us have chosen career paths which best suit our potential. Daniel's path is one in car modding.

All of you who think you can criticize Daniel's upbringing, take a look at yourselves. Would you want another parent telling you that you are doing it incorrectly? My parents were wonderful parents, and I am grateful they raised me the way that they did. They blended common sense, critical thinking, and good old fashioned hard work and respect into a philosophy that we have inherited. Don't worry about Daniel's economic situation or his safety, because I trust him to make wise decisions.

"Daniel is not "car-poor", unless you count a 20 year-old who has his own car and his own place (in LA county--not the cheapest area of California to reside) as poor. He has plans to pursue a career in auto mechanics" - so I guess everyone will wonder now, where DOES Daniel work ...

In shipping for an online business

Why is it any of anyone's business where he works? This article was to show off the car, not to dissect a young man's budget or lifestyle. Stop gossiping about Daniel. If you can't admire the car for what it's worth, then move on.

kristiek (and others who care too much about my opinion),

Sorry I spelled "passed" wrong. We all know that, on the interwebz, that means none of my other points are valid.

You and other commentators that have responded to me have had a lot to say, but you're not really addressing my points. I never argued that Daniel had a bad upbringing, or was a hoon, or is some wasted teen doing drugs or partying. You all are arguing points that I'm not making. Quit projecting. I expressed my opinion that I didn't agree with his father's actions in aiding him in buying a car that's a handful for most people, let alone a teenager. Overall, I'm sure he's learned how to fend for himself and make his own way, but to help him buy a 300 hp sports car at, what, 17, while still living under his parents' roof? That's irresponsible in anyone's book. I stand by my opinion on that.

And, yes, Daniel IS car-poor. He said himself that he puts all his money into his car, therefore he is car-poor. I don't see where that can be argued. And having your own car and your own place means nothing, other than debt and rent. Tell that to the millions who bought McMansions and bought luxury cars with their home ATMs and who are now in foreclosure because it got to be more than they can handle. However, for a while, they were certainly stylin'!

As for the green-eyed monster... please... No jealousy coming from this commentator. I'm VERY pleased with how my life has turned out. I'm simply lamenting out loud at how, even after things have started going to sh!t in this country, there are still those out there with their money burning a hole in their pockets, especially at such a young age. Three Mustangs in what, 3 or 4 years? Where's the wise decision-making there? I'm commenting out of concern for his future AND for mine. A million Daniels and their champagne tastes being paid for with beer money means potentially my tax dollars propping them up if/when the sh!t hits their fans. How do you think we came to get into this depression we're in, anyway? Or were you not paying attention?

I offered my advice on how Daniel can take his independent streak one step further (and one solid way a parent could help their children financially), but I can't force him to do anything. It's his life, and for all the effort he puts into his car, I hope he enjoys the hell out of it. I just hope he's willing to deal with the potential consequences of having all his money tied up in his car, and because of that, how one bad event can take it all away.

I'm done with commenting on this post. It looks like I hurt the family's feelings, I guess. Daniel seems to be the one with the thickest skin, though. Maybe he'll do alright.

@ kristiek

Agreed. Dare I say this is starting to get worse than some of the comments left behind in the Regal thread. This is a site about cars, performance, etc. Not to dissect the life of one young adult who wanted to tell us about his car. @ akitadog, good for you, but please before you make judgments about people try to walk a mile in their shoes.

@roadburner, I agree on the performance driver training stuff, but not everyone can afford to (financially or otherwise) go to such a program. Sure, maybe his parent's shouldn't have let him get the car in your opinion, but I think his parents know him much better than all of us. And seeing as he's still around and the Mustang wasn't totaled, I'd commend him on his skills/restraint/or just being smart and taking care of the car and knowing his limits rather than wrapping it around a tree.

Just sayin'

@ akitadog

All arguable points, however perhaps buying real-estate isn't for him. As someone who is successful in life, I am sure there were some things that made others financially successful but wasn't the right option for you. I will say, with zero experience in terms of repairing a house, buying a fixer upper, or getting a rental property as you have would certainly be a money pit for me. And he never stated he spent all his money on his car, just that he didn't spend his money any other discretionary items.

Not saying anything one way or another, just saying that one should consider the person's individual situation before making judgments or jumping to conclusions.

I meant to say one more thing before I call it quits.

Thank you kristiek, for your desire to go into education as a career. Our neglected educational system is one reason for this country slipping into also-ran status. My wife is an educator and you all are not appreciated nearly enough.

What an upgrade to go from a V6 to that monster?! We can definitely expect great things from Daniel!

@Akitadog- It's great that you view yourself as successful and knowledgeable because few others (myself included) will..

thank you teampenske3! exactly! this is about the awesome car that Insideline built that I got to enjoy :)

@ silverstang

If you think this is bad, there was some pretty crazy stuff in the Regal thread. I personally found that stuff quite funny. You're lucky 1487 didn't come and start saying something like "a Cobalt SS will run rings around ur mustang!"

And I forgot to add, glad to hear that Detroit Iron is tearing up those Finnish B-roads!

Ya the new owners a great guy, he also has a Corvette. I heard from him today via Facebook in reply to the blog post. He sent me this:

"This is great Daniel. I really loved to read your article. Knowing the story of the car it is even more worth for me personally now. I wish you good luck with your new car modifications. For your info I received the Mustang on friday last week after 2 months on a container ship. I drove it about 5 miles to my home in snow and -5 F temperature but with a big smile on my face."

"I agree on the performance driver training stuff, but not everyone can afford to (financially or otherwise) go to such a program."

Street Survival is a one day course that costs $75: http://streetsurvival.org/index.php
The Performance Center Teen School is $495 for the one day course and $895 for the two day course- 2 or three car payments.

"Sure, maybe his parent's shouldn't have let him get the car in your opinion, but I think his parents know him much better than all of us. And seeing as he's still around and the Mustang wasn't totaled, I'd commend him on his skills/restraint/or just being smart and taking care of the car and knowing his limits rather than wrapping it around a tree."

I'd just call him very lucky.

Call me what you want but you dont know me ok? You might think it was luck but I know otherwise. You seem to think no teenager could handle this car yet I did and am moving on to something more powerful. Its ok though, my life purpose isnt to prove you or akitadog wrong.

"Its ok though, my life purpose isnt to prove you or akitadog wrong."

Well, since you know everything there is to know about driving a 500 bhp ponycar on both street and track -without any formal training- I have no worries about being proved wrong.

not saying I do, but your opinion doesnt really matter now does it

I'll just add one more thought; I'm virtually certain that you don't know what you don't know- and that is a potentially lethal state of mind.

I just figure Id put my .02 in...But who exactly qualifies to be able to drive a 300 hp car or a 50 hp car? If I may assume, and hopefully assume correctly, than many fatal accidents happen involving cars in the 100-200 hp. A 50 hp car driven hard and fast can be just as dangerous as a 300+ car, so in that sense no one should be driving.

In regards to training, it does help to have training to be able to react correctly in various circumstances. However, there are many experience drivers, both professional and experience who have died. Thats not to say that education is truly important. ;)

This site should be used to talk about cars and share the passion with other petrol heads. Not to push selfish agendas and opinions onto people you dont even know in person. I find it great that people love their makes to death and it does make for some entertaining reading, however berating people because they dont agree is dumb...

Back on topic, Im glad to have read about the adventures of this Mustang :)

PS sorry seems i dont know how to use spaces on this forum :|

Now Daniel's mom will chime in. There are good points being made on both sides, but really, the comments are way off-topic here. This was supposed to be a fun story about an awesome car and it's being used to criticize him and his parents. All five of us have Mustangs or Shelbys and four of us show our cars. All five of us work at the family business and Daniel will likely run it one day. He is dedicated and responsible at work, and all this mom can do, like so many others, is pray for her son's safety and ask him to be careful. While I'd like to see him buy a house rather than another car, he is still young and there is time for that. That being said, Daniel, you'd better be careful in the new car!!

"But who exactly qualifies to be able to drive a 300 hp car or a 50 hp car? If I may assume, and hopefully assume correctly, than[sic] many fatal accidents happen involving cars in the 100-200 hp[sic]. A 50 hp car driven hard and fast can be just as dangerous as a 300+ car, so in that sense no one should be driving."

True driver training is important no matter how powerful your vehicle is. However, as the horsepower and handling capability of a vehicle increases the driver's margin of error decreases dramatically. Couple that with a teenager's inexperience and you have a very dangerous combination.

"In regards to training, it does help to have training to be able to react correctly in various circumstances. However, there are many experience[sic] drivers, both professional and experience[sic] who have died."

What a great idea! Why bother with ANY training, since experienced drivers also die? That makes perfect sense...

"This site should be used to talk about cars and share the passion with other petrol heads. Not to push selfish agendas and opinions onto people you dont[sic] even know in person."

I have simply expressed my belief that parents should ensure their kids get the proper training prior to letting them loose in a 300+ horsepower ponycar. If you consider that to be a selfish agenda that's your problem...