Thought it would be fun to chronical the history and adventures of my daily driven 2021 base model. I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m not sure how this might play out, but we’re gonna give it a go! I plan on capturing MPG info, maintenance, mods, driving impressions, driving adventures and who knows what else – we shall see. Here goes!
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Placed my order on 2/4/21 with Liberty Ford outside of Cleveland OH at MSRP. Chip shortage and other covid supply chain issues caused delays but the plant restarted and fortunately mine was in the queue for production. Here are some assembly line pics on 6/21 and 6/22 of the beast coming together! Chassis M1198 lives!
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It was delivered to the dealer on 7/8/21. Of course, this was a day before we left for a week-long vacation so it took some additional time before it got to me in GA (had it shipped down). Here's some pics of it arriving at the dealership, and a video and some pics of it coming off the showroom floor and being loaded into the transporter.
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I had it delivered straight to the shop (Glasslife) doing the PPF, ceramic and tint. Here are some pics and vids I took of the delivery at 12:30am on 7/25/21. Huge shout out to Glasslife for accepting delivery after hours on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. My oldest son didn’t want to miss all the excitement, so he came with me. I gave him the honor of pushing the START button for the first time. I think he liked it!
It is now Sunday evening, 7/25. Glasslife should be done w/ the car by the end of this week, so with any luck, I'll actually be driving my car next weekend. Woohoo!!!
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It is now Sunday evening, 7/25. Glasslife should be done w/ the car by the end of this week, so with any luck, I'll actually be driving my car next weekend. Woohoo!!!
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Congrats! You have a lot more patience than I do. I would have had to have it a day or 2 and get it "broke in." 🤪
Wow, Kris! That first start-up in the trailer was woody time! When I picked up my GT350, it was in the showroom. When they started it to take it outside...same experience! Car looks and sounds great! Hope to see it at TTOTD this fall! I bet you are stoked!
Very nice --- I forgot how yellow the backup light is -- I really need to put the white LED upgrade on my list 
Looking forward to your updates and impressions --- almost 12k in on mine and still loving it.
Looking forward to your updates and impressions --- almost 12k in on mine and still loving it.
Wow, beautiful car! My favorite color stripe combo. Is the dealership you picked it up from located in Aurora, Ohio? I live minutes from there. Liberty has several dealerships in NE Ohio. Am going to bring my 09 to a car show there on the 31st of July.
Well, gentlemen, it is FINALLY home! Me and my oldest son picked it up yesterday afternoon from the shop doing the PPF, ceramic and tint. As we rounded the corner to the shop, we could see it parked out front, absolutely gleaming in the sun. This was me...
To say I was excited is, well...I'll let this short video of me sitting in it for the first time and starting it up for the first time speak for itself. Turn up the volume!
A few visuals of my feelings at that moment!!!
To say I was excited is, well...I'll let this short video of me sitting in it for the first time and starting it up for the first time speak for itself. Turn up the volume!
A few visuals of my feelings at that moment!!!
About a 14 mile drive home from the shop...my first time behind the wheel of this beast. Funny thing...when I was getting ready to leave the shop, I sat there adjusting the mirrors, seats, etc.. When it came time to drive/pull out, my left hand was on the top of the wheel and my right hand naturally went looking for the stick! I honestly think memories of my 2011 GT500 played a part in that, as the new GT500 immediately felt familiar and right.
Initial driving impression on the 14 mile drive --- very easy to drive and comfortable. Felt a bit big / heavy. Doesn't drive / feel like something that has 760hp. Was mindful of 100 mile break in so didn't take it up past 3-4k rpm, but was able to get some acceleration going -- the shifts are super quick and smooth. Worked the paddles a bit -- light, easy, quick.
Got it home, ate dinner and then me and my oldest installed the ZL1 Addons jacking pads, got it up on the Quickjacks and spent the next 3 hours on our backs getting the front splitter and splitter wickers installed. Finished up at 11pm last night. Soaked to the bone with sweat.
THANK YOU, Tim ( @Goose17 ) for your video! The written instructions are freaking pathetic -- your video saved us a lot of time and avoided a bunch (not all!) of profanity.
I honestly think memories of my 2011 GT500 played a part in that, as the new GT500 immediately felt familiar and right.Initial driving impression on the 14 mile drive --- very easy to drive and comfortable. Felt a bit big / heavy. Doesn't drive / feel like something that has 760hp. Was mindful of 100 mile break in so didn't take it up past 3-4k rpm, but was able to get some acceleration going -- the shifts are super quick and smooth. Worked the paddles a bit -- light, easy, quick.
Got it home, ate dinner and then me and my oldest installed the ZL1 Addons jacking pads, got it up on the Quickjacks and spent the next 3 hours on our backs getting the front splitter and splitter wickers installed. Finished up at 11pm last night. Soaked to the bone with sweat.
THANK YOU, Tim ( @Goose17 ) for your video! The written instructions are freaking pathetic -- your video saved us a lot of time and avoided a bunch (not all!) of profanity.
Put some more miles on it today. Up to 75 miles or so now, so getting close to being able to let 'er rip. Getting more and more accustomed to it...and freaking loving it. Drove some of the country roads around here with some twists and turns, and worked the paddles -- so much fun. DCT shifts up and down are quick and smooth -- barely even feel anything. But you sure can hear them...hello glorious exhaust notes/barks!
Oldest son was glad to help the cause this morning.
Oldest son was glad to help the cause this morning.
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Today I broke through the 100 mile break-in barrier! Woohoo!
I had to go in to the office today, so I purposely took the long, painful way with a lot of stoplights, so I could vary the speeds, work through the gears, vary the rpms, etc.. as I knew I would eclipse 100 miles somewhere along the way to work. Once I hit 100 miles, I put it in Sport mode for the last couple of miles to work. Then Normal mode on way home with the exception of the last couple of miles in Sport mode where the roads made sense to do so. Hellooooooooo, Sport Mode! Wow, that was a significant step up/difference in how the car behaves -- loved it! I can't wait to be in Sport mode in the mountain twisties.
No WOT yet -- no clear opportunity yet.
Man, it is SO EASY to go fast in this car. I'm going to have to really pay attention. In the blink of an eye, I'm doing 65 in a 45 and it feels like I'm going 35! And that's just in Normal mode!
I'm very impressed with the daily drivability of this car, which is consistent with what I read, watched and heard. Put in Normal mode, Quiet exhaust and Comfort steering and you've got a 760hp highway cruiser. Base seats are super comfy and the adjustability of the seats and steering wheel really set me up well (I'm 6'3", 200lbs). Great visibility. Alcantra steering wheel is super nice to the touch. The detents in the cup holders that adjust to the size of the cup are a nice touch. And no more cups being in the way of a shifter!
Still getting use to all the tech. Amazing how just a flip a switch or two and the car transforms in to a completely different animal. It is always fast, but the modes change the experience completely. I'm shocked at just how much the tech can change the experience.
I had to go in to the office today, so I purposely took the long, painful way with a lot of stoplights, so I could vary the speeds, work through the gears, vary the rpms, etc.. as I knew I would eclipse 100 miles somewhere along the way to work. Once I hit 100 miles, I put it in Sport mode for the last couple of miles to work. Then Normal mode on way home with the exception of the last couple of miles in Sport mode where the roads made sense to do so. Hellooooooooo, Sport Mode!
Wow, that was a significant step up/difference in how the car behaves -- loved it! I can't wait to be in Sport mode in the mountain twisties.No WOT yet -- no clear opportunity yet.
Man, it is SO EASY to go fast in this car. I'm going to have to really pay attention. In the blink of an eye, I'm doing 65 in a 45 and it feels like I'm going 35! And that's just in Normal mode!
I'm very impressed with the daily drivability of this car, which is consistent with what I read, watched and heard. Put in Normal mode, Quiet exhaust and Comfort steering and you've got a 760hp highway cruiser. Base seats are super comfy and the adjustability of the seats and steering wheel really set me up well (I'm 6'3", 200lbs). Great visibility. Alcantra steering wheel is super nice to the touch. The detents in the cup holders that adjust to the size of the cup are a nice touch. And no more cups being in the way of a shifter!
Still getting use to all the tech. Amazing how just a flip a switch or two and the car transforms in to a completely different animal. It is always fast, but the modes change the experience completely. I'm shocked at just how much the tech can change the experience.
On the way to a dr appt this afternoon, this popped up and I just laughed. 😜 A 50 miles to empty warning light with a third of a tank left!!! 😱😱😱 Oh, lordy, what have I gotten myself in to!!! 😜😜😜
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