GT driving experiences

[Luke Warmwater]

After owning a GT for a year I am still amazed at the craziness some people are prone to display when they come upon you. One becomes accustom to the thumbs up, picture taking, and the occasional stoplight conversation but there is another variety of attention that I have lately been experiencing that is a little disconcerting. Yesterday as I was driving along a boulevard a beat up old car up ahead begin to slow after the driver caught sight of me in his mirror. As I pulled along side they had their windows down and three gentleman begin to hoot and hollar. I gave them a courteous nod and tried to continue on. These guys followed me through a couple right turns and a few minutes after our initial encounter pulled up along side again. At this point the driver who was very loud begin to yell something about why does your car backfire. He went on to state it sounds like a POS and that he has 700hp in some vehicle he has and would blow the doors off the GT. I smiled and nodded and tried to ignore then. No luck. He stayed beside for several blocks yelling and screaming about my car running like a POS and that he was a mechanic and should take a look. At one point he was so engrossed at yelling at me he crossed the lane divider and nearly collided with me. At that point I sped up and led them into an intersection at which point I braked hard and made a left turn as they flew past. I can only guess at what they were lit on.

A few weeks ago I had a couple "older" gals that followed me around for a couple miles yelling and screaming out the windows and honking their horn. Mind you this is in heavy city traffic. Eventually at a busy intersection stop light the driver yells over that her friend wants to go for a ride at which point I see the passenger door open and this old Betty is getting out right in the middle of the intersection to come hop in my car. God was looking after me that day because right at that moment the light turned green and I quickly accelerated away and got out of Dodge.

I tell ya there are some crazy people out there. Just another reason why my GT is usually only driven at 6am on the weekends when all the loons are sleeping one off and the crazy soccer moms are still in bed.

 

[david b]

Great story.

I was getting gas the other day and I was filling up the tank and a man walked up and asked "is that a kit car" I politely said no it is a 2005 Ford GT. The man said no way, there is no way that Ford could build something like that. So I explained to him the history etc... and he proceeded to follow me away from the gas station and down to the next light where he gets out of his car, walks in front of mine (yes in the middle of the road) and snaps a picture of the car and gives me a thumbs up. At the same time a local policeman drives by and pulls both of us over at the next intersection. He questions me and the other guy and lets the other guy go ( I don't know what he said) and then proceeds to write me up for a ticket for no front license plate (250 in ohio). After speaking with him at length he agrees to not write the ticket if I will pull up the road to an isolated spot to allow him to take pictures of the car and the engine (I had to open up the clamshell) for his son with his cell phone camera. 15 minutes later and a ton of pictures and dumb questions he lets me go. All the while I am wishing I had my cell phone to take a picture of him taking pictures of my car. I guess it saved me 250 though.

 

[HHGT]

I had a straggler follow me once before about 3 to 5 miles from home - ghetto driver and worse passenger yelling and screaming. I picked up my cell phone and called my local Sheriff buddy and asked him if he was working, lucky me he was. He told me to meet him at a local strip mall and he stayed on the phone me the whole time until I go there. He pulled the guy over and I waited at a distance till he had the 2 morons sitting on the ground - I wondered what they were thinking. I drove by and rolled my window down to greet him and asked him if he will be stopping by later. The look on those two buffoons - priceless !!

 

[Empty Pockets]

"At that point I sped up and led them into an intersection at which point I braked hard and made a left turn as they flew past." - Luke

Odd. I used exactly the same move to ditch 3 guys in THEE biggest hunk-of-junk on wheels I've ever had the misfortune to run across. They too were mouthing off & appeared to be "on something"...and the driver's reactions (I should say LACK of them) seemed to confirm that. (Wifey was a bit unnerved by the whole thing. I, however, only had to change my drawers & clean the driver's seat when we got home...)



"After speaking with him at length he agrees to not write the ticket if I will pull up the road to an isolated spot to allow him to take pictures of the car and the engine (I had to open up the clamshell) for his son with his cell phone camera." - David.

'Clear abuse of power at a minimum.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

I'm a huge car nut. I ogle nice cars and give a thumbs up or a nod of the head and a smile. I've never ever felt the urge to roll down the window and start acting like a jackass.

 

[Kayvan]

Success brings hate.

Its a sad commentary. I have experienced mostly cutt-off sweep lane changes; I have a sense when another vehicle is in my zone, and just crawl to a stop. Somehow these freaks refuse to drive slow, so it works.

On another note, some exotic owners are full of themselves; that Gullwing, I snapped last night had an owner like that, he hopped in making a full of it comment, closed his hatch, then he realized his date was in rain, not knowing how to open/close door. No manners or class.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

cutt-off sweep lane changes

Ah yes, strangely I see that from females more often or not... go figure. It's not a relaxing experience to drive the GT in Denver during normal waking hours. Driving during the week is out of the question for me. People are freakin nuts just to get home five minutes before the car in front of them. It's funny how many nice classic or exotics you see tooling around town at 6:30am on a Sat or Sun morning. I think by 10am everyone has headed back for the barn and put the toys up before the masses come out.

 

[DanQ]

I had an interesting experience the other day driving through a local town well known for its speed trap on the main road. I was sitting at a light in the GT and a police car pulled up right behind me. Light turns green and I creep away keeping the revs low so the stainless works exhaust doesn't bark too much on the way to 35 mph. I'm thinking, I'm going to get pulled over for making too much noise. I watch the cop pull along side and what do I see?


The officer and his passenger making wild hand gestures to get me to floor it and race! I was flabbergasted! We drive along side by side to the next light, roll down the windows and had a neat conversation. Cool experience, and about as different as I could have imagined.

The GT is a rock star. No doubt. I do like that almost every experience is positive, but I still drive a lot a night so I don't get noticed so much...

 

[Neilda]

I've been fortunate to miss most of the barking mad mentalists, however I have been photographed simultaneously from the front, rear and both sides whilst at speed..... not amusing.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Hi Luke, we met at the Cars-n-Coffee at Southlands a few weeks ago. I had the green Cobra.

Everything you say happens to Cobra drivers too. Especially the "kit" question. They also want to beat you at stop lights.

I'm going to get a bumper sticker that says "I let you pass me".

They also get stupid. I was going home last night through some traffic and saw someone on the top of the car behind me - I thought it was someone with an inner tube. What it was that someone had opened the sunroof and was standing up in the car (with hips well above the top of the roof) to get pictures or a movie. He'd have been roadkill if the driver had to do anything. I hope it wasn't the driver.

 

[jaxgt]

FWIW, I generally try to avoid most folks and crowds. My most rewarding drives are 7:00am Sunday mornings when most folks are off the road.

 

[roketman]

The gt is an experience every time you go out in it .What I love is the passion people show for the car .Part of that passion is the fact its a FORD !!!!!
I must say I love that part .I have let over 200plus people sit in my car !( mostly women in skirts !!) I love sharing the passion of the Gt ! (With some more than others !!!)
I have as most Gt owners have tons of stories of how people go nuts over our gals !!I know if I wasn't lucky enough to own one ,I would be just like them !!!
I have a neighbor who said to me ,Boy I have never seen any one who enjoys a car as much as you do with that Ford Gt.Don't you tired of it ?? The question dumbfounded me ! I said How can you ever get tired of the greatest car ever made !
What really amazes me is how special and unique the Gt really is .Even if your not a car guy or gal people love it .
My 82 year old Mom who as been an artist her whole life said "what a pretty car !!She is amazed how people react to the GT .
She finally asked me what it was worth this past weekend .I told her invaluable!!!
I find Prius owners not so keen on the GT.But than again I think people who own Prius don't really like cars anyway!!
Well people are funny even Ford GT owners !!!
ENJOY THE RIDE !!!OFTEN!!
ITS THE ONE ...
Rally on dude !

 

[Shadowman]

Interesting thread

Shadowman

 

[Empty Pockets]

On another note, some exotic owners are full of themselves; that Gullwing, I snapped last night had an owner like that...

A couple yrs back here on The 'Forum I recounted my very 1st experience approaching the owner of an exotic - a Lambo Gallardo owner as it happened. (This was back before it was announced that Ford was going to build the GT, & I was trying to decide between the 360 F-car and the Gallardo, and I thought this would be THEE PERFECT opportunity to get the straight scoop on the Lambo direct from the owner of one.) When I approached, he was 'too good' to even acknowledge my presence let alone roll down the window and answer a question or two ('car was parked). He just turned his head away & ignored me. 'First class arrogant, snobbish J-E-R-K 'far as I was (I AM!) concerned. (I won't mention what I said in a very CLEAR voice as I walked away.) That experience left me wondering if I even wanted to delve into the exotic car segment at all. I darn sure didn't want to be around exotic owners if THAT GUY was representative of the group as a whole.

After I bought #1079, I always flashed back to that jerk whenever anyone apporoached ME in a similar situation, and I made it a point to go out of my way to chat & answer whatever questions someone had. I would have done so even without having run into that Lambo yo-yo...but, having had that experience, I wanted to make DARN sure I didn't treat anyone that way - EVER.

(I have no use at all for those who consider themselves "superior" in any way, shape, or form - none. ESPECIALLY those who make it a point to try to illustrate their supposed "superiority" at the expense of another in a public format/situation. There's just no excuse for it.)

Oooooookaaaaaaaay...I'm off my soapbox for today! Carry on, commoners! :biggrin :cheers


Diplomatic Pockets

 

[BlackICE]

...When I approached, he was 'too good' to even acknowledge my presence let alone roll down the window and answer a question or two ('car was parked). He just turned his head away & ignored me...

That is my experience with Fcar sales people, won't even return a phone call.

 

[Not 4N]

I took the GT on an 1100 mile run last weekend to see some family in Saskatchewan and when I filled up in Calgary I had a Prius beside me. I looked over and the guy wouldn't make eye contact so I piped up and said "my car is a hybrid too". This raised his head and when he looked at the car and then at me I said "it burns gas and rubber". Needless too say he never looked back at me again :biggrin:lol

I got the kit car comment in Sask. and the guy was quite adiment about it so I thought why argue. When he said it's just a kit car I replied "yes it is, built by Ford"

The comments you hear are truely amazing and as mentioned the GT is truely a rock star in the automotive world. All I can say is Rock On :thumbsup:thumbsup

I find Prius owners not so keen on the GT.But than again I think people who own Prius don't really like cars anyway!!
Well people are funny even Ford GT owners !!!
ENJOY THE RIDE !!!OFTEN!!
ITS THE ONE ...
Rally on dude !

 

[2112]

My $.02

I am relatively new owner. Some of the Stories above happened to me in the Z8....when it was new. Now it is a Z4 to 99.99% of the public. In some ways it is nice.

The GT though 5 years old, I can go nowhere without recognition, mostly positive. Took it to a driver's skills day sponsored by the Puget Sound Porsche club and it was the Proverbial Rock Star and all these auto-philes were totally positive with their comments. I used to hold a bad stereotype of Porsche owners...not any more.

The bad...Typical Prius driving Lesbian, (overweight, Birkenstocks and all) Stands in front of the car, hands on her manly hips shaking her head negatively as I fill the tank. I tried to ignore her and she stood aside as I left. Oh well, can't please them all. :biggrin

 

[Empty Pockets]

The bad...Typical Prius driving Lesbian, (overweight, Birkenstocks and all) Stands in front of the car, hands on her manly hips shaking her head negatively as I fill the tank. I tried to ignore her and she stood aside as I left.

...did she have a Starbucks somewhere handy too? :lol

 

[KJD]

Oh that is hawt!! Who needs SEMA booth babes when we can have this?

The bad...Typical Prius driving Lesbian, (overweight, Birkenstocks and all) Stands in front of the car, hands on her manly hips shaking her head negatively as I fill the tank. I tried to ignore her and she stood aside as I left. Oh well, can't please them all. :biggrin[/QUOTE]

 

[twobjshelbys]

My $.02

I am relatively new owner. Some of the Stories above happened to me in the Z8....when it was new. Now it is a Z4 to 99.99% of the public. In some ways it is nice.

The GT though 5 years old, I can go nowhere without recognition, mostly positive. Took it to a driver's skills day sponsored by the Puget Sound Porsche club and it was the Proverbial Rock Star and all these auto-philes were totally positive with their comments. I used to hold a bad stereotype of Porsche owners...not any more.

The bad...Typical Prius driving Lesbian, (overweight, Birkenstocks and all) Stands in front of the car, hands on her manly hips shaking her head negatively as I fill the tank. I tried to ignore her and she stood aside as I left. Oh well, can't please them all. :biggrin

I'm guessing she was turned off by the bumper sticker:

Please buy a hybrid. I need your gas.