chasing my tail and it's driving me nuts

[pigfarmer]

Sound advice all around and thanks for the replies, this has been helpful.

It started to dawn on me that the DH might very well be the most direct route to get what I want and up to now I had dismissed it as unnecessary. Seems the drawback is needing a second set of tires but that's not the worst thing in the world.

Oddly enough my wife said about the same thing as many here: go get what you want once and make it a good one. In fact, years ago she's the one that found that 'vette being advertised on CL and literally said to me 'you're either in the game or you're not, go big or get out'. Really ! I love that woman....... Tough to get out of the steel wheel & dog dish hubcap wrench turning mentality after years of it.

That Cutlass has to go first as I literally have nowhere to put another car. It should move relatively quickly (I hope) as it gets a lot of attention and really is a turn key cruiser.

I did find a black on black '26 DH automatic at a nearby dealership that ticks off all the boxes.
I took some screen shots of the ad they have and it's window sticker so I will know that it's been on their lot since at least yesterday and that if it's still there later that's a negotiating point for me. It's probably been there a while already - I have yet to even see a DH in traffic around here and don't think they move off lots that fast.

So thanks again and hopefully I'll be back

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[pigfarmer]

Won't add ponies, but the traction and launch controls make for a better jump off the line

Exactly. In that restomod I mentioned I gave it DA QA1 coilovers in front, UMI Performance CAs in back and Hotchkis big honkin' sway bars front and back and all that means you can effectively use what power you have on tap. It does not drive like a 1968 anything. I'm anxious to see what's that's like on a modern car.

 

[Quarktasche]

if you go for the dh you might think about the getting a manual. the tremec is insanely fun to drive.

 

[lcseds]

On the bottom of the window sticker is an invoice date (below MSRP box). The right most numbers are the invoice date. That date is just a few days prior to the actual build date. Add 3-4 weeks to that date and that's when it landed at the dealer. This will give you an idea of how long they have had it.

 

[jml]

Yes, not being able to adjust it in custom modes is a pain.
But I find the difference from normal to track is significant when the car is pushed while still handling road imperfections with grace. I will take it over the M adaptive in my BMWs.
Worth it to me, but you have to load up the car to get it.

Yes, track mode suspension is great … except that since it’s not modular it comes with the rest of track mode, and specifically a warning that this mode is not suitable for public roads, only track (and I don’t track my car).
Sport mode suspension is better than normal… except that it comes with arguably the worse of the automatic transmission modes, so I only use it in manual mode.
DH has the same issues, and I somehow never got passed the front … bring me back the design of the March1 550 anytime.

 

[pigfarmer]

On the bottom of the window sticker is an invoice date (below MSRP box). The right most numbers are the invoice date. That date is just a few days prior to the actual build date. Add 3-4 weeks to that date and that's when it landed at the dealer. This will give you an idea of how long they have had it.

I never noticed and that was very helpful. Thanks !

 

[lcseds]

If you really want to get detailed, at the top of the sticker, you will see "Blend". Ignore the first number, then you have year, month and day. That is the date, the body met the chassis during production and is the actual build date. In case you're one that worries about Monday and Friday built cars. I don't, but that's me.

 

[pigfarmer]

if you go for the dh you might think about the getting a manual. the tremec is insanely fun to drive.

I have a TKO600 5 speed in that Olds restomod I mentioned in front of a 12 bolt posi 3:73 rear with Yukon gears & axles. RamJet 350 crate engine up front. It's a blast to drive and scoots down the road just fine. The Muncie in my '69 'vette is slick as whale snot and now that I set it up for short throw it's just a flick of the wrist, also fun as hell. Had a Rock Crusher in my '69 SS396 Chevelle and a couple 4.0L Jeeps with 5-speeds. Probably some others I can't think of right now.

When I hop in my F150 even after years of ownership sometimes my foot automatically steps on the nonexistent clutch and I automatically reach for the stick that isn't there

Frankly, as fun as they are I'm looking forward to an auto but who knows I could change my mind. I hadn't expected to even be looking at DHs anyway.

Actually, now that I think about it a manual is an anti-theft device anymore.......

 

[Neggytive]

I got my car when I was 65, I sold my 07 GT ragtop premium and my low mile C4 Corvette to fund the purchase.

I have had fast cars and bikes all my life, foreign and domestic and built my own engines for the cars and bikes.

I bought a 24 401A ragtop and put cash aside to Whipple it.

If you have not driven one of these cars for any distance, I suggest renting one from Hertz and seeing if you can live without all the expensive add ons.

Once I drove mine I decided it had more than enough HP for my style of driving and the Whipple project was abandoned.

If you look at any of the posts where I have done the effective gear ratios with the Auto vs stick, with the 10 speed, using only 1 thru 6, there are enough gears to keep the engine in the power band and move it along nicelyi

The only reason the stick cars get the 3.55 gears is the lack of torque multiplication available with the ratios in the manual gearbox.

I have said this before, and now again.

By the time you do all the extras on a GT, active exhaust, DH, PP, Magnaride you are in the same price point as new C8 Corvette, not the really highly optioned ones,but very capable car none the less.

$73K gets a nice Vette.

I know apples and oranges.

But it is worth pointing out.

 

[LouG]

I was annoyed at first that I couldn't get magnaride, but when I found out it's tied to modes I wasn't that fussed about it.
What was/is Ford thinking? The individual mode option on many Euro cars is a must. You can have the sportiest setting for engine, g/box, etc, and a more compliant ride for our crap roads.

 

[lcseds]

Magnaride has some customization. You can set normal mode, sport steering and track exhaust for example. But you can't adjust each magnaride parameters to your liking.

 

[MidwayJ]

I'm 66 and I will get my new 2026 GT Premium in a week or so. Not to be used for any type of racing, just a fun car. It's my first performance car since having a GTO in the 70's. It may be my last car, so I loaded it with the performance package, premium package, active exhaust, B&O and magnaride. I won't use 80% of its capabilities, but I never wanted to think "what if" when it came to options. Oh, in manual too. First manual in decades. I'm going to have some fun before I "get called".

I'm 65 and I have the same options, except mine is an auto. I don't regret getting the premium or the performance options. Love the car. I try not to think about how much I paid for it.

 

[Achlys]

@pigfarmer
Enjoyed reading your thread. I too in my 60’s, pushing 68. I had some preferences from building on Ford’s build site, then the reality of what I really wanted slipped in. I’ve had my knee replaced, back fused, 9 feet+ surgeries and still have lower back issues. Most caused by motorcycle & car issues. Fast forward, I wanted some fun and landed on the Mustang. I ended up with what I consider my perfect car. 3.55 rear, auto, 401a, white with the nite pony. It meets my needs for a daily driver, after adding some splash it works for me. Room for mods down the road and build it my way.
Going by your collection of cars, your future Mustang will meet your personality.

 

[pigfarmer]

By the time you do all the extras on a GT, active exhaust, DH, PP, Magnaride you are in the same price point as new C8 Corvette

I had a good look at C8s and decided against them for a few reasons. Mandatory maintenance requirements & costs seem high and once I hear the phrase 'you don't want to own one out of warranty' it stuck in my head. I do like them a lot but they are an animal of very different stripe.

One thing about them - you can't throw a cat without hitting one around here. The other is I'd make the same old man grunty noises getting in and out of the damned thing as I do my '69.

Recently a man in an SUV literally chased my wife and I down when we were out in the old 'vette one day, he was screaming something at us across traffic. I knew the car was fine and this went on for a few miles before I pulled into a grocery store - he followed us in. Just when I was getting ready for a fight he breathlessly revealed that he just ordered a new C8 and decided I needed to hear all about it. Good grief he startled the crap out of us! OK, so I listened all about it while my wife shopped. He invited me over for wine and cheese - that's when his wife hooked him out of there. I appreciate the enthusiasm and know he's a harmless nitwit.... I like wine, I like cheese but I'm not really a wine & cheese kind of guy. I admit that sort of tainted how I look at C8s for no good reason.

I’ve had my knee replaced, back fused, 9 feet+ surgeries and still have lower back issues.

I hear that. I had total replacement for my left hip recently and will need my left shoulder done before too much longer, I've had all the shots they are going to give me. Just for laughs I also woke up one morning a year ago totally and permanently deaf in my left ear, it's a rare condition called SSHL. I'm also loaded with arthritis everywhere, my right knee is shot, compressed discs in my lower back, yada yada yada - I'm stiffening up like an old pair of shoes left in the closet. At 62 I'm like a taxi or police car, low mileage and not that old but took a serious pounding. SSHL taught me that anything can happen out of the blue to **** with the quality of life.

This is what I get even after being athletic, staying in shape and going to the gym regularly. Maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere....

The two stick shifts I have do become uncomfortable after I've been out in them a while and that is one reason I am thinking about an automatic. New hip is good but just not the same as my real one. I figure I may as well go get something I want while I can fully enjoy it, and what the hell this thread convinced me to look at the DH with the extra goodies. Seems the simplest route to get what I want. If I had the room I'd just go get one but I don't, that Olds has to go first.

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