New mustang owner

[enrapture6]

Recent purchased a new left over 2008 dark candy red mustang GT premium manual. The 4500 cash back was to hard to pass up. So far the car is a blast to drive. I am trying hard to break it in nicely and not get a speeding ticket. Unfortunately I have to take it into the dealer for warranty work. The driver side rear quarter window is not mounted correctly and protrudes out. Noticed this while detailing the car last weekend. Other then that the car seems prefect. Only thing I am worried about is driving it in the chicago-land winters in the coming 8 months. Does anyone have any input on driving there 2005+ mustang GT in the winters. Should I start saving up now for winter tires or go as far as a winter beater. lol. Let me know.

[Ambenz]

Greetings Jason and Welcome to Windycitystangs.
I park my pony when the salt gods come out however there are several members who drive year round.
Heck, I avoid rain!!!!
Buying extra rims and snow tires verses buying a beater and transfering insurance is a matter of choice and cash.
If you have a place to store your pony for the winter, I recommend buying a beater to keep your pony clean and safe for events, G2G's and summer fun.
Some people really miss driving there car year round and have gone through withdrawls after buying a beater!!!
Some people give you grief for not driving it year round!
Guess it gonna be your personnal choice....
Would love to see you post up some pictures of your baby, we love pics!!! :banana:

[mot250]

Welcome and good deal on the 2008!

If you must drive it in the winter, a second set of rims (don't go bigger than 17 X 8 like the stock Ford 17s) and a good set of real snow/ice tires (Blizaks would be one of the best). Swap them on in about November and plan to have them off in March-April.

Tire Rack offers the rims and tires and if you get them at the same time, Tire Rack will mount the tires on the rims and balance them before shipping them to you.

[91WhiteGeeTee]

Congrats on the new purchase!

I myself don't drive the Mustang in rain or snow. I have a 91 with only 80k on it and it is not perfect but is in very nice shape for an 18 year old car.

As for a winter beater...I say just get snow tires and drive it and enjoy it year round.

[SonicGT]

Welcome to the site.

Get some Blizzak tires for the winter

[SlickStang]

I would get the Blizzaks to start out with. Spending $1000 that will last you 4 winters is a whole lot cheaper than buying another vehicle w/ ins and maintenance. Blizzaks for Mustangs are always in high demand so if you change your mind and decide to get a beater you could ALWAYS sell them.

[Mustang Shar]

Welcome to WCS! Can't wait to see pics of your new ride and congratulations. : )

Snow....oh man, been there done that. I got a raise and bought an 08 Escape for Winters now.

Yes Blizzack for sure!!!

[enrapture6]

I posted some pics in my profile album. I could not figure out how to attach photos to this comment. Anyhow, check them out if you like. There is nothing special about my mustang except that it is a mustang. As for the winters, I will use the next few months to decide on winter tires of a winter car. Does anyone in the chicago-land ever meet up to do some cruising? If so, when and where? Also, how long is break in. Could not find anything when I skimmed the owners manual except that the first oil change is at 7500 miles. I do not think I am going to wait that long since all I do is stop and go driving. Anyhow, let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

[ford9050]

welcome to the site

[Mustang Shar]

Oil changes every 3000 miles for sure in stop and go traffic, longer if you use the synthetic oil. I never did the synthetic...suppose I could but I know you can't switch back once you commit to synthetic. I got my 06 in Jan 07...so I had a long break in-SPRING. LOL I think it's like the 1st 100 miles??

[SkyPony]

yeah welcome! pretty shiny car! (yeah, that's about all i know, shiny things catch my eye!)

[Badrobot]

Welcome to WCS and if the weather is nice this sunday we are having a WCS BBQ just let me know if your interested and i'll pm you the address

[SC.Vitamin.C]

Welcome to the club.

[mot250]

I never did the synthetic...suppose I could but I know you can't switch back once you commit to synthetic. ??

Huh? You can switch back and forth between synthetic oil and conventional with no problems. I did that all the time on my '99 F250 SD. Synthetic in the winter and hot summer months and conventional in the spring and fall. 180,000 miles (in 7 years) and no problems when I traded it in.

You can even mix synthetic and conventional (but they recommend you use the same brands when mixing) in the engine at the same time.

The old theory is you don't want to switch TO synthetic on an engine that already has a lot of miles on it as the old seals could start to leak as synthetic might sneak past old seals and gaskets.