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Category: 2005 Ford GT Ownership Page 11 of 16

All the 2005 Ford GT long-term updates

Ford GT Gets a Nintendo Wii, Plus Track time

In May of 2008 I took the GT on two driving adventures. The first was a local Best Buy adventure, where what started as a purchase run for a Rock Star wireless guitar controller turned into a Nintendo Wii purchase (plus the wireless guitar purchase). When I bought the Wii and wireless guitar, it put the Ford GT’s storage space to test. The other adventure was on the Streets of Willow race track, where I was able to stretch the GT’s legs without changing a thing from its street set-up.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Wii

The Nintendo Wii fit in the GT’s storage area, but I had heat concerns

2005 Ford GT: Wii!!!!!!!

May 5, 2008 at 13,100 miles

What started out as a simple Best Buy run to see if they had any wireless Rock Band guitars for the Xbox 360 turned into a Wii run — all in my Ford GT.

After seeing said wireless guitars on display at the store entrance I casually asked about the availability of a Nintendo Wii. This question has been met with a quick, “Nope, none in stock” over the past 18 months, but on this particular day the store employee said, “Let me check” and returned with hushed instructions to “Go to register 8 and tell them your name.” I think the Wii is still rather hard to get, but an order had apparently just come in. As I was buying mine I saw another guy at the next register getting his.

Ford GT Fuel Gauge, Exhaust System and Fabulous Fords Car Show

In April of 2008 I tested just how optimistic the Ford GT’s fuel gauge is. Turns out it’s pretty optimistic, as it was well below “E” when I finally got to a station and I still only put 15.1 gallons into its 17.5 gallon tank. I also had the factory exhaust system swapped out for the Ford Racing/Borla system by the GT Guys. Then I took it to the Fabulous Fords car show.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Fuel Gauge

Running on empty doesn’t mean you’re out of gas in a Ford GT

April 2008: Ford GT Running Below Empty

By Karl Brauer, April 7, 2008 at 12,454

I’m the worst when it comes to driving with low-fuel lights on. My wife hates it. Ironically, she’s gotten pretty bad (good?) at it herself (I’ve trained her well).

Ford GT Reflections at 12,000 Miles

When my Ford GT crossed 12,000 miles in March of 2008 I took a moment to “reflect” on how the car was performing and holding up. My assessment? Pretty damn well. The car had recently completed a Ford-GT specific “GT School” at Willow Springs with zero mechanical issues (while providing a helluva good time). Given the reputation exotic cars have for being high-maintenance money pits the GT was proving quite the wonderful exception to this rule.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Reflection

After 12,000 miles it was time to “reflect” on my Ford GT ownership experience

March 2008: Ford GT Reflections at 12,000 miles

By Karl Brauer, March 21, 2008 at 12,240 miles

My 2005 Ford GT has crossed 12,000 miles on the odometer. The last 1,000 miles rolled up slowly, as the weather in Southern California for most of January and February wasn’t GT-friendly (seemed like the worst weather showed up Friday afternoons and cleared out Sunday nights for awhile there…).

Ford GT at Sunset, with a Capless Fuel System, and above 150 mph

The wintery weather that was holding up my enjoyment of the Ford GT in December and January finally cleared, a bit, in February of 2008. It set up a great sunset shot along PCH north of Malibu (8 years later this shot remains the background image on my iPhone). I also discussed the convenience of the capless fuel system, the lack of front tire wear, and the tire pressure warning sticker — for driving over 150 mph.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Sunset

A lovely sunset shot on PCH emphasized the Ford GT’s stunning shape

Ford GT at Sunset

February 11, 2008 at 11,710 miles

It was starting to feel like we should gather the animals two-by-two in “sunny” Southern California. But with January now a dreary memory it seems the weather that draws and/or keeps most of us here finally returned last week. While my Ford GT is fully capable of being driven in bad weather, it’s not wise given the car’s traction-challenged nature — even on the driest of days. The mods to the engine that now give it a zero-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds also mean you want warm pavement, warm tires and a prudent right foot…

Ford GT Axle Bolt Recall, That’s Not a Recall

In January of 2008 Ford issued an official “Customer Satisfaction Program” to replace all Ford GT axle shaft bolts, free of charge. This offer applied to original and subsequent Ford GT owners.

The program came after more than a year of back-and-forth between Ford and Ford GT owners, and likely involved quite a bit of reviews and assessments on the customer experience strategy front (you can navigate here to find out more about what that means) for the people at Ford. While the program wasn’t dubbed a “recall” it ultimately amounted to Ford acknowledging the problem. A bit overdue? Yes, but better late than never.

2005 Ford GT Long Term Axle Bolt Recall Notice

Ford announced a “customer satisfaction program” to replace faulty axle bolts

Ford GT’s Axle Bolt Fix — Don’t call it a recall!!

January 7, 2008 at 11,640 miles

After first hearing about axle shaft bolt failures on Ford GTs in October of 2006, and then having them replaced by The Ford GT Guys in August of 2007 (at my own expense) Ford Motor Company is now offering an official “Customer Satisfaction Program” to replace these bolts free of charge. The program offers to replace the axle shaft bolts and washers, even if they’ve already been replaced with aftermarket parts, free of charge. And this offer applies not only to original Ford GT owners but all subsequent owners as well.

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