Category: New Ford GT Ownership Page 1 of 5

What’s it like to own a New Ford GT

First Drive of My New Ford GT: Palomar Mountain

On July 23, 2019

In Ford GT, Ford GT Beauty Shot, Ford GT Carbon Series, New Ford GT, New Ford GT Ownership

It took awhile to get my 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series fully wrapped in paint-protection film, but when it was done I had an easy first drive target: Palomar Mountain.

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Palomar Front

The sun was still shining when I first got to the top of Palomar Mountain

Palomar Mountain is about 80 miles from my house, and depending on the time of day and the day of the week it can be a pain to get there. But the new Ford GT is a very capable track car, which means the only way to really enjoy it on public roads is to find that magic combination of twisty asphalt and minimal traffic. I’ve taken other highly capable cars on this route, making Palomar Mountain an obvious choice on my first free weekend with my new Ford GT.

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Palomar Clouds

The images I captured on Palomar Mountain might be the best I’ll ever get of my Ford GT

The route includes a stretch on Ortega Highway in south Orange County, another potentially worthy road for a Ford GT. But traffic is almost always an issue on Ortega Highway, creating a difficult (though not impossible…) opportunity to exercise the GT. After Ortega highway it’s down through Lake Elsinore, onto the southbound 15 freeway and then exiting at California route 76 going east. Most of this drive has great scenery, but the real fun doesn’t happen until arriving at the base of Palomar Mountain.

2019 Ford GT: Fully Wrapped with Paint Protection Film

By Karl Brauer

On July 22, 2019

In Ford GT, Ford GT Carbon Series, New Ford GT, New Ford GT Ownership

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Fully Wrapped

My 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series after being fully wrapped by Envious Detailing

I’ve discovered the beauty of Paint Protection Film, or PPF, over the past 2 years. As a means to protect paint on specialized cars, like my 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series, paint protection film can eliminate damage from small rocks or flying debris, and even greatly lessen damage from larger items that may impact your vehicle.

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Paint Protection Film Door

Properly adding paint protection film to any car requires care and precision.

Paint protection film also helps avoid the inevitable dings and scratches that occur on every vehicle, even if it sits in a supposedly safe area and isn’t driven regularly. How many times has a belt buckle or a button on a pair of jeans rubbed against a parked car in a garage or at a show?

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Paint Protection Film Wheel Well

Paint protection film wraps around body panels to ensure complete coverage

I try to be very careful with my Ford GT Carbon Series, but I know it’s going to be subjected to everything from excited car fans at the local Cars & Coffee to my family members walking past it in our cramped 3-car garage. Knowing it has PPF helps me relax, a little, when I consider these circumstances. And while a Ford GT is an obvious candidate for this kind of protection, it makes sense for any specialized vehicle with potential long-term value or appreciation.

Ford GT Beauty Shots Series 1

By Karl Brauer

On July 19, 2019

In Ford GT, Ford GT Beauty Shot, Ford GT Carbon Series, New Ford GT, New Ford GT Ownership

2019 Ford GT Palomar Mountain — A drive up Mount Palomar and lucky timing resulted in this

If the image above looks familiar, it’s also the (current) header on my website. This shot came at the end of a drive up Mount Palomar in San Diego County, which was actually my first serious drive in my 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series. I’ll chronicle that experience soon, but it was a gloomy day to be in Ford’s supercar…until I reached the summit and broke through the clouds. Then it was epic.

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series — My Ford GT on Ortega Highway, with some saturated color thrown in

Anyway, when you have a car with stunning design at the level of the new Ford GT it’s impossible to publish too many photographs. So like a super-sized version of Instagram, I’m going to start doing a regular series of posts that simply show off the New Ford GT’s amazing body lines. The photo above shows my Ford GT in Track Mode with the rear wing deployed. Also a bit of color saturation to emphasize its Liquid Blue.

The New Ford GT: How to Fully Appreciate Its Capabilities

By Karl Brauer

On July 18, 2019

In Ford GT, New Ford GT, New Ford GT Ownership

New Ford GT Black Orange Comparison Shoot

The new Ford GT is more capable than most drivers will ever know

I’ve driven a new Ford GT on multiple occasions, including its press introduction in April of 2017 and during the Kelley Blue Book Ford GT comparison test in May of 2018. During that comparison test we took all three generations of Ford GT to Lake Elsinore on Ortega Highway in South Orange County.

New Ford GT Overlook Roadhouse Comparison Shoot

Our shooting location took us out along Ortega Highway for 2 days in a row

Ortega Highway, also known as State Route 74, is like many roadways in Southern California. It’s a twisting two-lane ribbon of pavement that could, theoretically, offer an amazing sports car (or motorcycle) experience. I say theoretically because Ortega Highway, like most California roads, is overrun with traffic congestion most of the day. And night. But after the final day of shooting the Ford GT comparison I drove the new Ford GT back to Irvine on Ortega Highway, and the roadway was uncharacteristically useful…

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Envious Detailing Shop

Ford GT: It Looks Good in So Many Shades of Blue

By Karl Brauer

On July 15, 2019

In Ford GT, New Ford GT, New Ford GT Ownership, Porsche 911

You simply can’t go wrong with a Ford GT in blue, any shade of blue

Blue is one of my favorite colors for cars. Just about any shade of blue on just about any car is okay by me, and from the looks of how many Ford GT buyers are picking this shade I’m not alone in my preference.

2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S Front Miami Blue

A Porsche 911 Turbo S in Miami Blue further proves my point about blue cars

After much consternation I chose Liquid Blue for my Ford GT. I almost went with a custom color, Petty Blue, but with so many other people picking custom blue colors from the medium, non-metallic Porsche blue family (Mexico, Miami, Riviera) I figured everyone would assume I’d also picked one of those. Paying for a custom color only to have it confused with other customer colors didn’t appeal to me.