Out With The Old - In With The New

[MAT1955]

I am doing my level best to keep the Mustang production line humming. In 2024 I got an amazing deal on a Vapor Blue Metallic GT Premium Convertible. Fast forward to 2026. I checked-out a 2026. Got lucky twice with a great offer on trading-in my 2024. Ended up with a 2026 Mustang premium convertible (401A high package), molten magenta metallic tri-color, space gray interior, Bose 12 spkr + sub, 20 inch premium rims, spare tire and active valve exhaust. Note: as good as the "regular" 5.0 Coyote sounds I agree with all who have posted that the active valve is a whole new level of Mustang Bad! Bought the 2026 from a dealer 300 miles away so I flat bedded the 2024 to them and returned with the 2026 on the same flat bed. Used race ramps to avoid front end damage, soft slings to gently load it and wheel basket straps to protect suspension while underway. Next on my list: Corrosion Free oil underspray, convertible top detailing with Auto Glym and full paint correction with ceramic coating, then reinstall my Roush clear top air boxes with AFE red oil less engine air filters. This will be my third Mustang in 10 years. Fifth in my life and second in the last two years. Just want to make sure Ford keeps making them. Ha Ha I'll try to attach pics of the flat bed rides.

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[Wiley Marmot]

Man! The MM color looks great!

 

[Paul's stable]

I am doing my level best to keep the Mustang production line humming. In 2024 I got an amazing deal on a Vapor Blue Metallic GT Premium Convertible. Fast forward to 2026. I checked-out a 2026. Got lucky twice with a great offer on trading-in my 2024. Ended up with a 2026 Mustang premium convertible (401A high package), molten magenta metallic tri-color, space gray interior, Bose 12 spkr + sub, 20 inch premium rims, spare tire and active valve exhaust. Note: as good as the "regular" 5.0 Coyote sounds I agree with all who have posted that the active valve is a whole new level of Mustang Bad! Bought the 2026 from a dealer 300 miles away so I flat bedded the 2024 to them and returned with the 2026 on the same flat bed. Used race ramps to avoid front end damage, soft slings to gently load it and wheel basket straps to protect suspension while underway. Next on my list: Corrosion Free oil underspray, convertible top detailing with Auto Glym and full paint correction with ceramic coating, then reinstall my Roush clear top air boxes with AFE red oil less engine air filters. This will be my third Mustang in 10 years. Fifth in my life and second in the last two years. Just want to make sure Ford keeps making them. Ha Ha I'll try to attach pics of the flat bed rides.

I would have driven the 300 miles.

 

[topdawg4ever]

Congrats. Beautiful car.

I am doing my level best to keep the Mustang production line humming. In 2024 I got an amazing deal on a Vapor Blue Metallic GT Premium Convertible. Fast forward to 2026. I checked-out a 2026. Got lucky twice with a great offer on trading-in my 2024. Ended up with a 2026 Mustang premium convertible (401A high package), molten magenta metallic tri-color, space gray interior, Bose 12 spkr + sub, 20 inch premium rims, spare tire and active valve exhaust. Note: as good as the "regular" 5.0 Coyote sounds I agree with all who have posted that the active valve is a whole new level of Mustang Bad! Bought the 2026 from a dealer 300 miles away so I flat bedded the 2024 to them and returned with the 2026 on the same flat bed. Used race ramps to avoid front end damage, soft slings to gently load it and wheel basket straps to protect suspension while underway. Next on my list: Corrosion Free oil underspray, convertible top detailing with Auto Glym and full paint correction with ceramic coating, then reinstall my Roush clear top air boxes with AFE red oil less engine air filters. This will be my third Mustang in 10 years. Fifth in my life and second in the last two years. Just want to make sure Ford keeps making them. Ha Ha I'll try to attach pics of the flat bed rides.

 

[MAT1955]

@Paul's stable and @ Kangha ...... I doubt it very much that you guys would have driven. The pic of it going down (Vapor Blue Mustang) was taken before we ran into a winter storm about 80 miles from home - we knew we would. There was snow and ice on the highway and they were spraying brine. The 2024 has never been on winter roads and the 2026 was brand new. The flat bed's cab completely protected both vehicles. On the way to the dealer a sheet of ice slid off an 18 wheeler that the flatbed was passing and it took the hit. The driver called us on our cell phone - we were right behind him - and asked "did you see that?". I said we did and "thanks for taking the hit." Our 2024 arrived looking brand new. They had said the trade was conditional on inspection. As soon as they saw it an employee jumped into it and it was gone into their dealership detailing booth so fast it looked like it disappeared and was listed for sale the next day on their website. The new 2026 arrived at our home in almost show room clean condition and is now sitting in my garage under a custom made 600 percale Egyptian cotton cover. The really generous trade-in I got was for a pristine 2024. Not one with a chipped windshield or dent from ice and stones or with its convertible top covered in sand and brine. Likely the best money I ever spent on the two of them. The driver was so awesome we bought him lunch and dinner and I tipped him an extra $200 for each Mustang. Respect for a caring professional. Ain't nothin' too good for my Mustangs!

Goining to the dealer......

Coming home from dealer. Storm over, sun out but still a $hit load of brine dust on the highway. This pic is in town and doesn't show the $hit condition of the highway.

 

[BrownsReds]

Wait... you followed the flatbed? Why not ride along?

 

[MAT1955]

@BrownsReds ..... good question. The boss was with me and she likes her luxury (and that ain't the middle seat of a flatbed for 600 miles with two guys talking cars the whole way there and back) - and - since she green lighted the 2026 without reservation I was only too happy to agree - you KNOW what I'm talking about, I'm sure!

 

[Yamazuki]

Could have rode in the car.

 

[RDH43]

Check those wheels close.....


Enjoy the new Mustang, love the color.

 

[BimmerDriver]

... soft slings to gently load it and wheel basket straps to protect suspension while underway.

First, congrats. Second, I've never heard of "soft slings" what are those?

 

[fishinrich]

Make a drive that long each way every couple of weeks.

Good luck with the new ride!

 

[Charger68]

That's funny, I did the same: Vapor Blue 2025 AT to Molten Magenta 2025 6 speed. I ordered the first, and bought the 2nd off the lot. Big difference with 20 inch wheels for looks, Brembo's and rear IRS, B&O for at least average sound, and manual for fun.

 

[MAT1955]

@BimmerDriver - Great question. I did a lot of research. As you know the 2024 and newer mustangs have those friggin' belly pans on that cover major frame members so attachment points are scarce. Also, unless you have the perfoprmance package you do not have the attachment points on the front bumper to install tow hooks. Soooo where to pull the car onto the flatbed? I told him if he wanted to pull from a front end frame member I would pay for him to remove the belly pan. he said, "Your call, but I don't need to." Some operators said they would gently use J hooks for front end components NOPE or T hooks for the frame NOPE ....too many horror stories of front end and frame damage doing it that way. The soft slings are short straps that this company (and some others use) to wrap around the front control arm HOUSINGS. That is the KEY. Many tow operators hook-up to the control arms themselves. A Mustang is a opretty hefty car to pull up an incline by its control arms. I mentioned I tipped this guy really well. Why? He understood guys who love their cars and ocd clients (he has a 396 SS in his garage). It was friggin' cold and starting to snow. He crawled under the car after running it up the race ramps a bit, CAREFULLY wrapped the soft canvas slings around the control arm HOUSINGS, then went back under to check a second time before he connected them to the the center pull chain/cable and made sure they would pull to the center keeping all the pull on the housings, which are quite robust. On the way home with the 2026 it had warmed-up enough that he used a pressure washer at the dealer to clean and heat his ramp so there was no frost on it. With a crowd of about 15 techs watching (I couldn't watch), he drove it up the ramp, put the parking brake on it and that was it. He did ask if he could and I said "Is this going to turn into another Mustang fail video where my new Mustang slides sideways off the ramp?" He said nope. He listed all the exotic cars he had done this with and said, "Your car, your call". The boss (aka the wife) said she'd rather that than pulling it on. He did it slick as goose snot. A lot of pictures were taken. Sooo canvas straps wrapped around lower control arm housings installed to pull towards the center of the grill and pull downwards to protect the front skirt. I may have taken a couple of pictures but honestly I was 50% mesmerized and 50% crapping my pants Ha Ha. ........Not the best pic but you can see the canvas strap on the driver's side. there is one on the passenger side too and they are connected to form a Y that is pulled from the main cable to ensure the weight is borne by the housings and that the straps don't slip down onto the control arms.

 

[B229218]

@BimmerDriver - Great question. I did a lot of research. As you know the 2024 and newer mustangs have those friggin' belly pans on that cover major frame members so attachment points are scarce. Also, unless you have the perfoprmance package you do not have the attachment points on the front bumper to install tow hooks. Soooo where to pull the car onto the flatbed? I told him if he wanted to pull from a front end frame member I would pay for him to remove the belly pan. he said, "Your call, but I don't need to." Some operators said they would gently use J hooks for front end components NOPE or T hooks for the frame NOPE ....too many horror stories of front end and frame damage doing it that way. The soft slings are short straps that this company (and some others use) to wrap around the front control arm HOUSINGS. That is the KEY. Many tow operators hook-up to the control arms themselves. A Mustang is a opretty hefty car to pull up an incline by its control arms. I mentioned I tipped this guy really well. Why? He understood guys who love their cars and ocd clients (he has a 396 SS in his garage). It was friggin' cold and starting to snow. He crawled under the car after running it up the race ramps a bit, CAREFULLY wrapped the soft canvas slings around the control arm HOUSINGS, then went back under to check a second time before he connected them to the the center pull chain/cable and made sure they would pull to the center keeping all the pull on the housings, which are quite robust. On the way home with the 2026 it had warmed-up enough that he used a pressure washer at the dealer to clean and heat his ramp so there was no frost on it. With a crowd of about 15 techs watching (I couldn't watch), he drove it up the ramp, put the parking brake on it and that was it. He did ask if he could and I said "Is this going to turn into another Mustang fail video where my new Mustang slides sideways off the ramp?" He said nope. He listed all the exotic cars he had done this with and said, "Your car, your call". The boss (aka the wife) said she'd rather that than pulling it on. He did it slick as goose snot. A lot of pictures were taken. Sooo canvas straps wrapped around lower control arm housings installed to pull towards the center of the grill and pull downwards to protect the front skirt. I may have taken a couple of pictures but honestly I was 50% mesmerized and 50% crapping my pants Ha Ha. ........Not the best pic but you can see the canvas strap on the driver's side. there is one on the passenger side too and they are connected to form a Y that is pulled from the main cable to ensure the weight is borne by the housings and that the straps don't slip down onto the control arms.

Picture of the control, arm,housing you’re speaking of these very informative video. Beautiful new car.

 

[Grumpywizards]

I am doing my level best to keep the Mustang production line humming. In 2024 I got an amazing deal on a Vapor Blue Metallic GT Premium Convertible. Fast forward to 2026. I checked-out a 2026. Got lucky twice with a great offer on trading-in my 2024. Ended up with a 2026 Mustang premium convertible (401A high package), molten magenta metallic tri-color, space gray interior, Bose 12 spkr + sub, 20 inch premium rims, spare tire and active valve exhaust. Note: as good as the "regular" 5.0 Coyote sounds I agree with all who have posted that the active valve is a whole new level of Mustang Bad! Bought the 2026 from a dealer 300 miles away so I flat bedded the 2024 to them and returned with the 2026 on the same flat bed. Used race ramps to avoid front end damage, soft slings to gently load it and wheel basket straps to protect suspension while underway. Next on my list: Corrosion Free oil underspray, convertible top detailing with Auto Glym and full paint correction with ceramic coating, then reinstall my Roush clear top air boxes with AFE red oil less engine air filters. This will be my third Mustang in 10 years. Fifth in my life and second in the last two years. Just want to make sure Ford keeps making them. Ha Ha I'll try to attach pics of the flat bed rides.

I support the color

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