Karl on Cars

Let's Talk Cars, Motorcycles and Other Life-Changing Events

Month: June 2018 Page 1 of 5

Ford GT Emissions Test

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On June 29, 2018

In 2005 Ford GT Ownership, 2005-2006 Ford GT, Ford GT

2005 Ford GT Long Term Emissions Test

My Ford GT’s first emissions test took place 6 years after purchase

August 2011: My Ford GT’s First Emissions Test

When you buy a new car in the state of California you don’t have to get an emissions test for the first 6 years after purchase. Because I bought my Ford GT in August of 2005 I had to get my first emissions test in August of 2011.

If my car hadn’t been modified I wouldn’t have given the test a second thought. But The GT Guys had swapped out the supercharger pulley and refreshed the ECU in August of 2007. I still hadn’t dyno’d my Ford GT since the modifications were completed, but it was noticeably quicker in both instrumented testing and seat-of-the-pants feel. Would the modifications make it fail the test?

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Ford GT Crosses 20,000 Miles and a Pothole

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On June 28, 2018

In 2005 Ford GT Ownership, 2005-2006 Ford GT, Ford GT

Just over 5 years after getting my Ford GT it hit 20,000 miles. A 4,000-miles-a-year rate for a Ford GT is pretty good, though I was averaging over 5,000 a year during the first 3 years I owned it. The durability of the Ford GT continues to be its single most appealing aspect (except for the gauges, but at this point that aspect hadn’t reared its ugly head…yet). An unexpected durability test of the GT’s suspension strength occurred in West Los Angeles.

2005 Ford GT Long Term 20000 Miles

My Ford GT crossed 20,000 miles after 5 years of ownership

December 2010: Ford GT Takes 20K Lickin’ — Keeps on Tickin’

Is that Timex reference in the title too obscure for 2010?

Okay, then I’ll state it plainly: my Ford GT turned over 20,000 miles on my drive in to work this morning.

Between the “summer that wasn’t” weather in Southern California this past year, and my weekend schedule in recent months, I haven’t driven the car as much as I normally would. In fact, when I went to fill it up in September I noticed the previous fill-up in the fuel log had happened in…April! The odometer has actually been hovering right below 20,000 miles for most of this year, but it finally crossed that milestone today.

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Ford GT versus Dodge Viper

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On June 27, 2018

In 2005 Ford GT Ownership, 2005-2006 Ford GT, Ford GT

How does a 2005 Ford GT stack up against a 2009 Dodge Viper? I had access to both over a weekend and wrote a comparison of the two striped supercars based on performance, ergonomics and the reaction of other drivers. You might be surprised at my final assessment.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Dodge Viper

Dodge Viper battles Ford GT  in this impromtu comparison

September 2010: 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10 versus 2005 Ford GT

September 3, 2010 at 18,843 miles

Between a 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10 and a 2005 Ford GT, which one causes a bigger stir when driving among normal cars. It’s a good question, as both vehicles slot into that narrow field of U.S. exotics produced on a limited basis (relatively speaking in the Viper’s case), and both models are now officially out of production.

They’re also both “stripey!”

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Ford GT at Pacific Palisades Car Show and Ford GT Parts

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On June 26, 2018

In 2005 Ford GT Ownership, 2005-2006 Ford GT, Ford GT

In May of 2009 my Ford GT attended the Pacific Palisades car show, along with my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE. That month I also used a then-new 2009 Ford Flex as a Ford GT parts runner to haul two GT seats, a headlight, a steering wheel and a rear tire about 50 miles. The Flex had room to spare and drove easily with the extra parts in the cargo area.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Pacific Palisades Car Show

Two classic American shapes teamed up at the Pacific Palisades Car Show

May 2009: Ford GT attends Pacific Palisades Car Show

May 17, 2009 at 18,209 miles

On May 17, 2009 I displayed my car at the Pacific Palisades Car Show next to my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE. It was a cool, cloudy day in Southern California, but show turnout was large with plenty of spectators circling the Ford GT and Challenger all day long.

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Ford GT versus Nissan GT-R

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On June 25, 2018

In 2005 Ford GT Ownership, 2005-2006 Ford GT, Ford GT

I was able to get plenty of seat time in a Nissan GT-R shortly after they went on sale in the U.S. The car isn’t really meant to compete with the GT, but comparing the two was an interesting exercise. Both are exceptional in terms of performance, but that’s where the similarities end.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Nissan GT-R

My Ford GT sits next to a then-new 2008 Nissan GT-R

January 2009: Ford GT versus Nissan GT-R — Beyond the Numbers

January 20, 2009 at 17,320 miles

It’s not every weekend I have access to both a Ford GT and a Nissan GT-R . In fact, I’d say it only happens about once a month.

But it did happen this past weekend, and I spent enough time in both vehicles to get a sense of their unique character traits. Thus, what follows is my completely unbiased appraisal of how these two supercars stack up.

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