RideLust

OK, here’s the deal. I’ve been researching and driving just about everything I can get my hands on in the hopes of finding a new daily driver/track car. It’s a tough thing I know, but as it’s really my only hobby, it’s a decision that is not to be taken lightly. The car will probably see anywhere from 10-12 track days per year with a nice 7-day stint running in the 2012 One Lap of America. What that means is that the car in question needs to be comfortable enough for my 6’4″ frame, large enough to carry a weeks worth of luggage and fast enough so that I can potentially keep up with majority of the people that run in the advanced group. Thus far I’ve narrowed it down to two cars; a 2008 or better Chevrolet Corvette or a slightly used BOSS 302 Mustang.

Read More…

The 2013 Camaro ZL1, in topless flavor. Image: GM Corp.

If you thought that the announcement of the 650-horsepower 2013 Shelby GT 500 meant the end of the pony car wars, you’d be wrong. Al Oppenheiser, the chief engineer on the Camaro ZL 1 program, was his normal outspoken self in a a letter to the faithful on the Camaro5 website. Read More…

Ford's Mustang Customizer website. Image: Ford Motor Company

If you’re a Mustang fan, don’t click on Ford’s absurdly addicting Mustang Customizer Website unless you have some serious time to kill. The site lets you build your own Mustang, in V6, GT, Boss 302 or Shelby GT500 trims, changing a surprising number of external appearance items. Want a custom color, not in the Ford catalog? No problem, just mix your own. Want a Mustang GT with a Boss 302 grill and Shelby wheels? it’s just a click of the mouse away. Read More…

There are only a few cars out there that embody true style and performance in the custom world. Some are done well, others… not so much. Vaughn Gittin Jr’s RTR-X 1969 Mustang is one of those rare machines that not only does everything it promises, but helps, in my opinion, to elevate the hobby to the next level. With that being said, if you want to know what “BAD ASS” looks like, just click through for a great video.

Source: Youtube.com
Read More…

The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302. Image: Ford Motor Company

If you missed out on your chance to buy a Boss 302 in 2011 (although rumor has it that there are still some base models in the pipeline), we’ve got good news for you: Mustangs Daily is reporting that the Boss 302 will return for 2013, and will deliver more content for the same money. First up is Ford’s Sync infotainment system, which will allegedly be an available option for 2013 Boss 302 Mustangs. Don’t expect a giant 8-inch display, since the Boss is about going fast, not watching DVDs while parked. Opt for the Sync system and it comes with a 4.2 inch touchscreen LCD display. Read More…

If you want to buy a Mustang to use on track days, the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 won’t disappoint. In fact, if you can get your hands on a (sold out) Laguna Seca edition of the Boss 302, even better: the car’s stiffer suspension generates a surprising amount of grip in the corners, but hanging the back end out is as simple as mashing the gas and turning the wheel. Not only is the Boss 302 Mustang entertaining to drive, it’s also surprisingly capable on the race track. Read More…

Expect the 2013 Ford Mustang to look a lot like the 2012 Shelby GT500. Image: Ford Motor Company

The current Ford Mustang last got a styling refresh in 2010, even though it got new V-6 and new V-8 engines in 2011. It’s not due for a major restyling until 2015, which represents the 50th anniversary of Ford’s pony car. Ford needs to do something to keep the Mustang fresh between now and 2015, but it can’t afford to spend too much on a mid-cycle refresh. When in doubt, add more power and sharpen up the styling.

That’s exactly what Mustangs Daily tells us to expect for the 2013 Mustang, which should debut in concept form at November’s Los Angeles Auto Show. There aren’t any details on how much more power the Mustang will make, but the current Mustang V-6 gives up 18 horsepower to the Camaro, while the current Mustang V-8 has a 14 horsepower deficit compared to the Camaro. It doesn’t matter that the Mustang is lighter, because bragging rights are bragging rights.

Expect to see a more prominent upper grille and smaller lower grille for 2013, along the lines of the current Shelby GT500 Mustang. The angled rear tail lights are on their way out (thankfully), to be replaced again with flush tail lights similar to the 2005 design.

There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, so we’ll call it as “comparable” and “spring of 2012.”

Source: Mustangs Daily

Thumbs Up: Begs to be driven hard, one of the world’s best exhaust notes.

Thumbs Down: No telescoping steering wheel, handbrake designed by Marquis de Sade

Buy This Car If: You want the topless version of the best-handling pony car.

As a journalist, it’s my job to be objective about cars that I drive. Calling something “the best” invariably tells readers that you’ve lost that objectivity, and that a certain make and model has sucked you in with its charms. Such is the case with the Ford Mustang GT, and it’s topless stablemate, the Ford Mustang GT Convertible. There is one reason and one reason only that I don’t have a 2012 Mustang GT parked in my garage by now: it’s more money than I can afford to spend on a car these days. Read More…

Image: Ford Motor Company

This has been a long time coming, but the NHTSA has finally launched an investigation into the manual transmissions used on 2011 and 2012 Ford Mustang models. The agency has received 32 complaints to date, including both 5.0-liter and 3.7-liter equipped cars, but the issue has been well-documented on Mustang internet message boards for nearly a year. There may be 32 official complaints, but there are a lot more dissatisfied owners out there. Read More…

Concerned you’re not doing enough to promote global warming? Do you have carbon credits aplenty, or do you simply like turning meaty rear tires into lingering clouds of mosquito-repelling smoke? If you answered yes to any of those questions, consider buying yourself a Roush Stage 3 Mustang, which displays it’s prowess at leaving expensive black spots on the pavement in the video below. Read More…