charliemike

Driving to Florida. Can't wait.

Yumcha

That should be a wonderful drive.

Yumcha

I know it's really far but if you ever have a strange need to visit Canada, making a bee-line for the Banff-Jasper National Park in Alberta is VERY worthwhile...the driving there is just...heavenly.

And if you decide to head west-bound...the mountainous route into the province of BC is just as fun. Lots of twisting roads...and the view is breath-taking. Anyhow, FYI.

1killercls

Its warmer down here.

Yumcha

That's what she said.

charliemike

Well, I-95 is a big pile of poo but it'll be the first vacation I've had since June and of course Florida is definitely warmer.

Plus I'll be hooking up the Cobb AccessPort before I go

charliemike

Decided to drive the Mustang to the office today, which meant taking the Capitol Beltway.

Within about a mile of each other, I saw a truck have a blowout and then someone dropped drywall on the road.

Fortunately, I didn't hit either of them (luck must be improving). But I may have to avoid that road from now on in the Mustang. The amount of incompetence/ignorance of people driving around is still baffling. The truck tire was totally bald from what I could tell and properly secured drywall doesn't fall off a truck like that.

Just like the long nylon strap that I hit in the Focus that screwed up the clear bra I had put on ... Maybe we need to make negligence more punitive.

Yumcha

First time taking the Beltway in your new Accord and all of that shenanigans? Maybe it's a sign.

Anyhow, glad your car made it unscathed. Your blood pressure, probably not so much.

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Good God that's quite the obstacle course on your first commute in the 'Stang! Hope the commute home goes smoother lol.

charliemike

The Cobb tune has made quite a difference. Really should have been 360lb-ft off the lot, at least.

RPhilMan1

How's the comfort and driveability for DDing the Mustang compared to the Focus?

Yumcha

Fixed.

oonowindoo

duh, Accord DD > Focus DD

charliemike

I think the clutch and transmission on the Mustang is much better. The driver aids I have like BLIS, radar cruise, cross-traffic alert really help make up for the decreased visibility.

The Mustang's MPG in city driving is worse. I'm averaging about 3-4mpg less than the Focus ... Only at 500 miles so we'll see what happens. On the highway they're comparable.

The trunk is huge so there's not a lot lost in terms of cargo space. Although it's not going to take a large box like the Focus for obvious reasons.

The damping of the Mustang is a little harsh (non-PP). There seems to be a narrower compression and rebound margin and I'm not sure if it's the damping or the springs. It's not annoying but over some roads it's a little jouncy.

I like the car and I don't regret trading the Focus. The Mustang is a big car though and I've been driving smaller cars for a long time so it's taken some getting used to ...

BlueAc

iTrader: (2)

I hate that road. I just stay on 95 anytime I'm heading South.

charliemike

Just over 27mpg on the way down over 850 miles. Somewhat disappointing to be honest. I'm going to pull the tune for the drive back. I can't believe it, but maybe to 20s are costing me 5 mpg? I know the engine needs to break in so we will see.

Radar cruise ... God. Best thing ever. Except when I'm behind someone going slow and forgot about the cruise so I'm going slow for no reason

So nice for all the slowing down/speeding up on the highway. Works fantastically. Seats were comfortable over the thirteen hours on the car. Not as nice as the Recaros in the ST but will probably last longer because of the different leather.

The Mustang is a big car. It's a nice GT tourer. I miss the nimble ST sometimes but the Mustang is a good car for the money. I would have been looking at 2010 A5s or stripped 228i loaners for what I paid for the Mustang.

Aman

That's cool you like the radar cruise. I've wonder what they're like IRL.

Interested to see what your MPG is like on the way home. Is the drive relatively flat? Glad to hear the drive was otherwise good. No tire fragments or drywall, I presume?

ttribe

27mpg sounds pretty good to me. What was the terrain like?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

27mpg sounds cool. Post some more pics man!

charliemike

It's flat from Fayetteville, NC to Florida. Some light rolling hills in Southern VA.

No real issues with road debris, thankfully!

charliemike

Looks like I will hit 3,000 miles by the time I get home.

I don't know why but I'm not excited by this car. I don't think it is the engine. The car is great. It checks every box I could want. But it is big and honestly I think I might be missing the smaller Focus sized car.

Could just be stress at work is preventing me from enjoying much these days too.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

OMG not again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Do you even drive bro!?

charliemike

Well, a long road trip here and back and some local driving is all I have done.

To be honest, if I had the money I might be looking to trade it

But I don't soooooo ...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Trade what?

Yumcha

Methinks charliemike here saw the Ford Focus RS and went "great googly-moogly hory fark fark shet" and sekritly wants that now.


NO BUYER'S REMORSE!


Your Ford Accord EB is JUST FINE...gosh, why you so picky? When we were little, we had no cars...had to go through 12 feet of snow and and uphill BOFE WAYS! You have a nice car and still complaining.

Kids these days.

charliemike

Haha, no Yummy. I wouldn't have traded for the RS. Frankly, I'm spoiled by how good cars are these days. So I don't think anything would have been special.

I'm not having remorse. It's a good car. I probably just need to drive it more to appreciate it as a Mustang and not just another car.

Yumcha

Well, what you need is good weather...open, windy roads...

Your car truly is a fine vehicle and you could have done a pile worse. Just wondering out loud here though: Is it possible that you're more attuned to European/import-sporty cars and am not quite yet fully used to a NA-tuned sports car?

Cuz, IMO...they do feel quite different.

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Trade it for the GTI. It's supposed to give you the warm fuzzies you're missing with the Accord, er, Stang.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

You should have pre-ordered the Golf R

I would stick it out a bit longer to see if your love for it grows. I really hope it does

Yumcha

At this moment, I would say the Focus RS > Golf R...

Yumcha

What charliemike really needs to do is this: sell his house. Sell his significant other. Sell his possessions.

MOVE INTO A PORSCHE 911 GT3. We'll never hear him complain again. Evar.

Yumcha

Or if he wants to keep his significant other, SELL HIS HOUSE. And buy that new Cayman GT4. Hubba. Hubba.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I can't argue with that. The RS is really impressive.

GT3

But...GT3

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I wonder if you'd feel the same way if you'd have gotten the 5.0...

SamDoe1

Umm...why don't you wait until summer time to re-evaluate the Mustang. Figuring out how much you like a RWD muscle car (minus muscle car engine ) in the winter is like figuring out how much you like chicken while eating in a vegetarian restaurant.

oonowindoo

You should have gotten the 228 M sport.... You just can't describe the power of BMW.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

If you can't describe it, it's probably not that impressive

oonowindoo

Or it could be so impressive that you can't describe it.

Don't underestimate the materialistic nature of human beings.

Aman

I agree with SD, wait at least until the summer before deciding... winter makes all cars a little more of an appliance and less of whatever fun they may be.

Plus you can go to the track in the summer!

He needs the Mustang to carry his dogs, it's the Accord we're talking about.

SamDoe1

This is the motto of BMW's sales force.