Hi from a new owner + 2 questions

1003 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by albireo, Feb 10, 2006

ME-jazz

Discussion Starter · Feb 10, 2006

Hello all! I just bought a 2006 Screaming Yellow GT Premium coupe and i am loving it! This is my first Mustang - infact first american car. Yeah, new Mustang is too good to be passed upon. I traded in my 2005 Mazdaspeed Miata for it which was proving very difficult to be used as a daily driver/commute car.

Something bothering me though is that i had driven a 2005 GT and I could roll down its windows by holding down the unlock button on the key-fob for 2 sec - my new 06 does'nt seem to do that and the owner's guide also mentions nothing of it (I vaguely remember reading about it in the 05 manual). I do have the active security system and the upgrade interior package. Also the 05 could roll up the windows if i use the key in driver's door by turning it to the right and holding it for 2 seconds - a related feature.

Secondly, my standard 17" painted alloy wheels looks smaller than the machined 17" ones on the 05. I browsed TireRack and found these 20" Zinik Z18 Minardi wheels for a good price and ordered them with BFG gForce TA KDW2 rubber: http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/Cal...x=15&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=

They weigh 28 lb each so i assume they are not too heavy for GT (any idea how much the original Ford wheels weigh?) Now after browsing this site briefly, i noticed none of you seems to have gone for larger than 18" wheels; do they adversely affect handling/performance? Would i be better off sticking with factory wheels than these?

Thanks in advance for any help!

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Marcus GT

· #2 · Feb 10, 2006

Hey Jazz and welcome to the wonderful world of Mustang ownership.

The window thing is something from the past. It was activated during the early production of the 2005 model year and deactivated after a few months. There had been claims that the car would receive signals that would open the windows with out the owners command. Not a good thing to have happen if you are away or its raining. Some have figured a way to reactivate it the 2005s and I will let them tell you how to do it. I am not sure if Ford removed it from the computer or not for 2006.

As for the wheel/tire combo, I am still running the factory set up for my 05. I personally think that the 20" wheels are a bit big. They border on "Bling." If I were to change the set up, I would run 18s. JM$.02W

Enjoy the ride!!! :laughlitt

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ME-jazz

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 10, 2006

That explains the window thing - i will miss it though, been used to it from my Lexus GS400 and was happy to found it back on Mustang.

I was afraid of turning it into a rice or a bling car but these 20" black wheels seems to look good on my yellow GT and not bling in that they are not chrome. TireRack has already shipped them, i will try them on and will post pics to get you people's opinion. I am more concerned about ride quality though with 35-series tires.

Here are some pics of my GT on the day i bought it: http://www.pbase.com/mejaz/06_mustanggt

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HeiMa

· #4 · Feb 10, 2006

The window thing is cool and I am glad I have an October '04 car so I still have it - it's nice to roll them down on my way out of the office seeing as it's February right now and I had to use the AC today. A little air inside is nice before I get in.

As for the wheels, the link did not work so I could not see them. If they are the Zinik ones on the page with your picture, then the style is quite cool, similar to what I am contemplating, just a smaller size.

I personally would not go over 18" rims for 2 reasons - 1) I don't care for the "big wheel" stlyle on this car - makes sense on a truck, but everyone has their own tastes thankfully so do with it what you like. 2) 20" rims weigh a lot, and is one reason that the first Saleen models were actually slower than a stock GT because of that weight (along with all the other heavy crap they put on). But the performance difference is probably only an issue if you are really into the speed aspect.

FWIW - and my compliments for your excellent taste in cars!!!

Hmmm...maybe you need to talk to my neighbor who has a Miata - he keeps hanging out in my garage looking at my Mustang. I tell him he should buy a "man's car!" :winks

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tw0scoops123

· #5 · Feb 10, 2006

Wow! 28 pounds per wheel?! I think that's a good 5 extra pounds of unsprung weight per wheel. Not very good if you want to keep the performance of the car up. Might wanna look for some lighter 18" Bullits or something. The 18" x 9 deepdish bullits are hot.

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mustangaretuff

· #6 · Feb 10, 2006

Congrats on the new car! Don't have a clue about the window thing, wish it worked on my 2006.... As for wheels,the consensus around most performance circles is that 18 inch, maybe 19, is about as big as you can go without adversly affecting handleing. Try to go as light as you can on the wheels as unsprung rotational weight will change the way a car handles dramatically. I went with SSR as they are known for lightweight wheels that hold up pretty well.

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ninoavila

· #7 · Feb 10, 2006

ME-jazz said:
Something bothering me though is that i had driven a 2005 GT and I could roll down its windows by holding down the unlock button on the key-fob for 2 sec - my new 06 does'nt seem to do that and the owner's guide also mentions nothing of it (I vaguely remember reading about it in the 05 manual). I do have the active security system and the upgrade interior package. Also the 05 could roll up the windows if i use the key in driver's door by turning it to the right and holding it for 2 seconds - a related feature.

I know this sounds cliche, but I remember reading somewhere that you can program your car to do it. I will search around and see if I can't dig it up. You can program your car to honk or not honk when locking it/arming car alarm. There are a few things you can do and the windows rolling down was just one of them. I would think it's still there as a feature, I guess they stopped enabling that feature from the factory. Well, for the 05's at least (i've heard of 05's that don't roll down from fob from factory). If memory serves, you have to have it enabled by a factory programmer (dealership). Again, this was back in January of last year that I read this. I may be really fuzy so excuse if I'm wrong.

ME-jazz said:
They weigh 28 lb each so i assume they are not too heavy for GT (any idea how much the original Ford wheels weigh?) Now after browsing this site briefly, i noticed none of you seems to have gone for larger than 18" wheels; do they adversely affect handling/performance? Would i be better off sticking with factory wheels than these?

Yes, in two ways.
1. They are heavier. Every 100lbs is approx 1 ".10" off your 1/4 mile.
2. By increasing the tire/wheel size, you are making your gear ratio change (performance-wise, for the worst). We're not talking MAJOR changes, but in the 1/4 mile, at higher speeds, that's alot of distance.

Hope that helps.

-N

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Kyle F

· #8 · Feb 10, 2006

COngratulatiosn on your purchase.

Sorry they already mounted the front plate though.

Nice Choice on Color! :eyepoppin

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ME-jazz

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 10, 2006

Thanks for the warm welcome and all the usefull info regarding windows/wheels. Yes the wheels are the same as on my web page. Since TireRack already shipped them, i guess i can try them on before returning. I am not really into street racing - just needed a comfy/safer car with enough power not to be overtaken by mom's mobiles

My main criteria for the new wheels will be comfort and then handling. Will see how it feels/handles once i install them.

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albireo

· #10 · Feb 10, 2006

Congratulations!!

I LOVE mine!!

Best car I've EVER had!

ninoavila, find that reprogram info, would you? Sounds GREAT!

Joe

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