4 Years and 4 Months


AtomicGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Apr 12, 2006
3,032
Los Angeles
Well, it has been 4 years and 4 months since I drove off the West LA Ford dealership lot with my new Tungsten 2006 FGT. First run was up Pacific Coast Highway to Neptune's Net. Overcast day, could not believe the quality and excitement of owning this incredible machine. Promptly on trying to get it into my driveway I scraped the front spoiler and nearly went crazy. I have figured out a way to get it in and out of my drive way, after replacing the front spoiler several times, also having a pristine untouched backkup spoiler. Since then I have had the following reflections.

Have met some incredible owners especially in the local area. KJRGT, SteveA, Mid Nite Blu, Woboose, Apollo & Monica, AlohaGT and wife, Ralphie, etc...... Have had most excellent rallies, including several with the legendary "bony". Overnighters to Palm Desert, 400 mile runs out to the So Cal deserts and back. A thrill to drive it, complete babe magnet car. Anywhere it is parked it draws a crowd. Driving down the road with people taking pictrues from the next lane.

Have attended 2/4 national rallies. Newport and Vegas. Upcoming rally is not on the radar screen as work related travel is at the same time. Have enjoyed this Forum immensely. Still remember the West LA run to the Rally III up the I-15 to Baker, California. Had 10 FGTs line up in front of the Mad Greek's Restaurant in Baker to witness the entire restaurant empty to take pictures of these cars. Then spent about an hour trying to catch up with the other FGTs in Pahrump. Great memories.

Now keep it more as a garage queen, I guess. Can't get out of my driveway without trailer ramps, so lining them up everytime I want to take a run is work. Traffic in West LA is enough to keep this off the road during the week. FGT has a better life than I do. Never maxed out, never tracked. But I will never part with it. It has no price (Shelby Elite, no price! :biggrin). Awe inspiring shape and beauty. The angled silouette view of the rear sloping quarter panel over the rear tire, says it all.

Have a desire to keep the mileage low, for what reason I don't know (currently 4000 miles), but also have the desire to take it out more frequently. Need to plan another So Cal FGT rally this late summer or fall. KJRGT???

200% satisfied with ownership, have had no major issues. FGT runs perfectly, all service up to date. Could not be happier with this super car.

The Pride of Ownership is an enjoyable feeling! :thumbsup
Just some thoughts after 4+ years of ownership.
 
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Apollo

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Aug 5, 2006
2,512
Pahrump, NV
Well said! I only wish I had pulled the trigger sooner on getting mine. Amazing car, wonderful people!
Let's do a local run soon.
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,900
Renton, Washington
Atomic--couldn't agree with you more.

I remember clearly my Day One - March 15,2006. 3.2 on the odometer. Taking 5 minutes for traffic to totally clear before driving off the dealers lot. Took a deep breath & life has been good ever since "that moment" of actually owning a GT.

200% Satisfied. Pride of ownership! Meeting the other GT owner's, and truly enjoying their wit, wisdom and humor. The brillliance of the modding being done. The life long involvement of the those that designed, tested and built the GT. Rally's 1 through 5, Indy, Bony and Chip's dinners. Cheering from a far all those that are racing our Ford GT's. Go Blu!

14 major road trips. 72,000 miles. Mechanically reliable. Just routine service. 5 sets of rear tires. (still with Original front tires!). 1 windshied. Quite a few shares of $1.55 "F" stock now at $14.

Life is good and having a GT makes it better.



1/2 hour gas stops. Thousands of on the highway pictures taken. Hundred of kid's that sat behind the wheel, so their folks could take a picture of them in a real Ford Supercar.
 

TwoSeatsOrLess

New member
May 4, 2010
3
PL510*Jeff - You have 72,000 miles on the GT?!?! Fantastic! Any other reflections or notes in all those miles?
 

tmcphail

GT Owner/Vendor
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 24, 2006
4,103
St Augustine, Florida
PL510*Jeff - You have 72,000 miles on the GT?!?! Fantastic! Any other reflections or notes in all those miles?

Drive the GT more right Jeff ?
 

skyrex

FORD GT OWNER
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 11, 2008
2,115
Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, NV
Great post. Like Apollo I wish I would have bought mine sooner as well. :cheers
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,900
Renton, Washington
Drive the GT more right Jeff ?

You got that right Torrie. I don't let it grow dust in the garage.

TwoSeatsOrLess - I'm not much into reflection. Everyday is a good one, however some are better than others.

Any day driving in the GT is Great. And driving the GT on a race track is the real frosting on the cake.

Only met one person who didn't like riding in the GT. A friends wife thought it was too rough, and suggested I get a Bentley.

And when taking people for track rides, two asked me to stop early. Coincedence is that the are both truck drivers and didn't have anything to do with their hands.

All of the GT perm-a-grins are indelibly ingrained in my memory cells.
 

Apollo

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Aug 5, 2006
2,512
Pahrump, NV
...So when you getting your Bentley? :lol
Good move on the F stock. :thumbsup I wish I could have bought more than I did. Still doing well but cost basis is higher for me.


You got that right Torrie. I don't let it grow dust in the garage.

TwoSeatsOrLess - I'm not much into reflection. Everyday is a good one, however some are better than others.

Any day driving in the GT is Great. And driving the GT on a race track is the real frosting on the cake.

Only met one person who didn't like riding in the GT. A friends wife thought it was too rough, and suggested I get a Bentley.

And when taking people for track rides, two asked me to stop early. Coincedence is that the are both truck drivers and didn't have anything to do with their hands.

All of the GT perm-a-grins are indelibly ingrained in my memory cells.
 
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AtomicGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Apr 12, 2006
3,032
Los Angeles
Task is to keep it on the best condition possible and make it Timeless !
 
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Aug 25, 2006
4,436
What a wonderful shared experience

Thank you

Shadowman
 

GTdrummer

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Mar 13, 2010
2,122
Richmond Virginia
Nearly 9 years between you and 76,000 miles. Gosh, if Jeff would try a little harder you guys might have 100,000.:) Great posts
 

AtomicGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Apr 12, 2006
3,032
Los Angeles
I remember clearly my Day One - March 15,2006. 3.2 on the odometer. Taking 5 minutes for traffic to totally clear before driving off the dealers lot. Took a deep breath & life has been good ever since "that moment" of actually owning a GT.

Mine had 21 miles on it as the "Dealership owner want to make sure it ran correctly before selling it" !
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,900
Renton, Washington
Nearly 9 years between you and 76,000 miles. Gosh, if Jeff would try a little harder you guys might have 100,000.:) Great posts

Road trip #15 to Rally V. Should be about 7,000 miles round trip. Pacific to the Atlantic (almost). Post Rally going north to Maine. Then head towards home. Probably closer to 8k.

100,000 in a GT can be done. Just takes time and some $ for gas & tires.
 

tmcphail

GT Owner/Vendor
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 24, 2006
4,103
St Augustine, Florida
Road trip #15 to Rally V. Should be about 7,000 miles round trip. Pacific to the Atlantic (almost). Post Rally going north to Maine. Then head towards home. Probably closer to 8k.

100,000 in a GT can be done. Just takes time and some $ for gas & tires.

Good for you man. I am still struggling to hit 40k ha !
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,900
Renton, Washington
Task is to keep it on the best condition possible and make it Timeless !

ATomic - for certain my is not as "clean" as yours. But it's always well maintained to a very high level. Jeff
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,900
Renton, Washington
Good for you man. I am still struggling to hit 40k ha !

Heck Torrie, unlike you and a few others, I haven't broken that 200 mark yet. The faster you go, the less dd time avaliable.

How's the sho project?
 

RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
Good for you man. I am still struggling to hit 40k ha !

Hit 40K on my return from vintage races Pacific northwest last week (visiting with Jeff and others). Except for having greater familiarity with her, she drives like she did new from the showroom floor in February, 2007. Not bad for 3¼ summers of driving, as she goes into hibernation at the end of October each year....
 

tmcphail

GT Owner/Vendor
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 24, 2006
4,103
St Augustine, Florida
Heck Torrie, unlike you and a few others, I haven't broken that 200 mark yet. The faster you go, the less dd time avaliable.

How's the sho project?

The Taurus finished R&D awhile back and was replaced by my 540RH Roush. The Taurus program did exactly what I intended it to and it still works out for me quite well day to day.
 

AtomicGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Apr 12, 2006
3,032
Los Angeles
Road trip #15 to Rally V. Should be about 7,000 miles round trip. Pacific to the Atlantic (almost). Post Rally going north to Maine. Then head towards home. Probably closer to 8k.

100,000 in a GT can be done. Just takes time and some $ for gas & tires.

Jeff

You ROCK, livin' the dream!!!

I just work, occasionally get on the road, and am in a plane far more than I am in my cars!

Some day........., Ralphie is my hero! I am going to be the on site director of the Jagermeister Girls Shot Team at Mammoth Lakes for the ski season and work at the Side Door Wine bar at nights. Waiting for summer to get on the road!

You and Ralphie are enjoying life and the car to the maximum.

Stuck in 1st Gear AtomicGT


Does anyone know why there is so much space above each post? Must be related to the "quote" function
 
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AtomicGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Apr 12, 2006
3,032
Los Angeles
Apollo.

At least your wife can drive your FGT. Mine won't even ride in it, afraid she will die in a crash in West LA....... We all have to suffer with these confilcts, I guess......? :biggrin