2005 Sonic Blue Mustang GT - New Parts Installed

[Chris B.]

After my 2008 Mustang GT met an untimely demise on NJMP's Lightning circuit in the rain at a track day in April and was declared totaled in May, I started shopping for a replacement car. After researching and test driving different cars, looking at the cost of maintenance, upkeep and preparation for track day events, and other things, I decided to get another '05'-09 S197 Mustang GT.

I bought this one locally and found it on Autotrader. It is a 2005 Sonic Blue Mustang GT with Dark Charcoal interior and 39,000 miles on the odometer.

The car was owned by a local small town police officer, however, he had a few issues with owning it. Every time he floored it, there would be calls to the local police station about one of its officers driving like a nut, so he had to drive it around like he was driving Miss Daisy. When he was wearing his belt with holster, cuffs, and other items, he didn't fit comfortably in the seat because things on his belt would hit the center console and door. Also, its a car that is easy to recognize, so he wasn't comfortable with leaving it parked somewhere because he thought that someone he arrested or gave a citation to may vandalize the car.

I purchased it with the following modifications already installed:

• 4.10 ring & pinion which replaced the stock 3.55 ring & pinion
• Hurst short throw shifter
• cold air intake
• Bassani X-pipe
• SLP stainless steel exhaust
• CMCV butterfly valve delete plates
• Comp Cams Stage II NSR cams 127200
• Steeda underdrive pullies
• SCT Xcal3 tuner with custom tunes
• Nitto 555 Tires 25540-17 front 275/40-17 rear on stock 17x8" wheels
• Tubular rear lower control arms
• Tokiko front struts

It also feels like it has an aftermarket clutch, but the person I'm buying it from is the second owner and he doesn't know what clutch the first owner put in the car.
The previous owner also removed his FOP sticker from the window before he sold it.

Planned modifications are:

• FRPP Front hubs with ARP wheel studs - Purchased & Installed
• ARP rear wheel studs - Purchased & Installed
• open ended lug nuts - Purchased & Installed
• Koni Sport(Yellow) shocks - Purchased & Installed
• Steeda Competition springs - Purchased & Installed
• Steeda Camber plates - Purchased & Installed
• DBA 4000 series brake rotors - Purchased & Installed
• Lambert Automotive brake cooling ducts
• Carbotech XP10 Front brake pads - Purchased & Installed
• Carbotech XP8 rear brake pads - Purchased & Installed
• Kooks custom stainless steel headers with high flow cats and X pipe - Purchased & Installed
• Replace the Hurst short shifter with a MGW short shifter - Purchased & Installed
• Speed Bleeders - Purchased & Installed
• Prothane Motor Mounts to replace the stock worn motor mounts - Purchased & Installed
• Pypes mandrel bent over axle pipes - Purchased & Installed
• Maximum motorsports 4 point roll bar with removable harness bar
• Detroit Truetrac Differential
• 6 point harnesses
• Aluminum driveshaft
• Driveshaft safety loop
• 18x10" wheels with 265/35-18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires for dry track use - Already have
• 18x8.5" wheels with 255/45-18 Continental DWS tires for street use and rain use on the track - Already have

Production data for this car's model year shows the following:
Its 1 of 9,094 Sonic Blue Mustangs made in 2005 and one of 1,920 manual transmission Mustangs GT's made in Sonic Blue for 2005. Sonic blue was only available in 2005 on that body style Mustang.

As a side note, Ford announced they are bringing back Sonic Blue as an optional color for Mustangs in the 2012 model year due to paint supply problems from Japan. Because of everything that happened in Japan, the Black with metal flake is not available for 2012.