2007 Mustang Interior

Synopsis:

• Interior of a Mustang with the Pony Package
• Future interior modifications
• In-dash touch screen navigation

When I first test drove a Mustang, a 2006 I believe, I enjoyed the look of the interior. When I purchased mine with the Pony Package, it came with heated leather seats, a carbon fibre look to the dash, as well as the upgraded sound system.

While I still enjoy it, I would like to modify my Mustang's interior by removing the current 6-CD player with a touch screen navigation. I love having 6 CD's, especially when they're all MP3 CD's, but now it's all through iPod's, or built-in hard drives. So I found a few, but I am more particular with Pioneer and their systems. The AVIC-X710BT looks like a solid navigation system, and it's dimensions would fit perfectly in my Mustang's console. Though the price is slightly high, it is very comparable to others on the market, but that will be later-on when I have some spare change.

As-is, below is the picture of my Mustang's interior, I can't remember the last time it's been so clean! Well now that winter is over, I'll be able to do a good top-to-bottom cleaning, it has been a while.

2007 Mustang interior w/ carbon fibre dash, Shaker500 sound system, and heated leather seats.

-Serge

Mustang Rims

After searching through a stack of pictures on an external drive, I discovered a few more from the earlier days with my Mustang. The following pictures are from when I received my chrome FR500 rims at the end of April in 2008.

Again, these were ordered from 2KoolPerformance in Prescott, Ontario, who is an authorized dealer for American Muscle, which is where I initially found the rims. The picture below shows one out of the box, and you can see my stock Mustang Bullitt rims, while on the other side is my dad's Lincoln LS.

Ouuhhh shinny!

This one shows the width difference between stock and new rubbers, it makes the car look wider, and more aggressive. Oh, and behind is my previous ride, a 1997 Thunderbird with a V8 engine that my dad lent me while I was in school. I guess you can say that I got accustomed to the rear wheel drive system and power from it, having driven a few Taurus' before then.

Tire width comparison.

A few days after receiving my rims, I finally had time to install them. Words couldn't describe how I was feeling, it was a great day, that's all I could say.

Mustang with rims installed.

Here's a better shot of my wheels installed and car cleaned up.

Bam!

Next post will be about interior!

-Serge

Camping Mustang

Who needs an SUV or family vehicle to go camping when good ol' Mustang muscle can do. While going through pictures, I came across one that was taken while I was camping with my friends (see below).

Mustang out camping during wet weather.

That lead me to contacting my friends in order to find more photos, and below are a few more.

2007 V6 Mustang and 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Our campsite.

That's right, a Mustang and an Eclipse out camping, hahaha. I was able to fit three of us, along with a couple of tents, sleeping bags, food coolers, and a few other necessities. Needless to say, it was cramped, but was a success. Oh, the camping itself? Well it could have went slightly better, but was still fun!
-Serge

V6 Mustang Sleeper

Synopsis:

• Mustang sleeper
• Mustang cop car

During one of my posts I mentioned how great a V6 Mustang would be a sleeper car with proper performance upgrades under the hood, and a stock-look to it. This has always been in the back of my head, instead of trying to add tacky bumpers, stickers advertising who-knows-what, and pop-can exhausts... oye... in anycase, I am not here to start a feud.

Though one of my passions was back when I was taking time off from school and working full-time, I wasn't completely set on my future endeavours, and was bouncing the idea of becoming a police officer. This career choice went back a very long time ago actually, but was never 100% set on it, so I'm finishing my current studies and will determine then on.

Now where was I, oh right, policeman. While thinking about this career, I also imagined how neat it would be if I were able to transform my car into a police cruiser. I actually drew up a few sketches, see below, some are nifty. These pictures include the Roush front fascia for the Mustang, which added the extra lights. I know it's unlikely, but I personally would enjoy seeing a Mustang police car.



Simple design, no GT or V6 fog lights.



Added the police lights on top, as well as in the grill.



Based on my V6 Mustang with Pony Package fog lights!



Going back to a V6 Mustang sleeper, that would definitely be worthwhile.

-Serge

Mustang Supercharger

Synopsis:

• Mustang's sleeper potential
• Choices between V6 superchargers:
• Vortech superchargers
• X-Charger
• ProCharger

Alright, time to get to the heart of the Mustang, the engine. I have seen many supercharged Mustang GT's, but not so with the V6 group. I believe supercharging a V6 Mustang would make a terrific sleeper. Stock exterior, single exhaust (providing slight modifications for best output), and a best under the hood, creeping to a light and simply unleashing it all when the light turns green. The sheer thought of the howl from the engine makes me grin.

Though it's slightly uncommon to find a supercharger for V6 Mustang, it is possible. Vortech offers a few supercharger system for the 4.0L Mustangs, a standard bumps up the horsepower to 290, while the torque is increased to 294 lb/ft, while a high output system goes beyond the 300 mark to 330hp, and 337 lb/ft of torque. All of these figures were based on Vortech's tests to the rear wheel.

The X-Charger superchager system for the S197 Mustangs increase the horsepower output to 330 as well, but does not list the added torque, though I can imagine it's a similar increase to that of Vortech's.

One last manufacturer that I found was ProCharger, who offers the 4.0L V6 Mustangs gains of 55 to 65% in horsepower, resulting from 325 to 346 depending on the supercharger. ProCharger also offers a 3 year warranty on their intercooled superchargers, which indicates that they back their product.

I would love to supercharge my Mustang, but I will wait it out at least one more year so that I can finish paying off both the vehicle and school.

Take care,

-Serge

Mustang Cold Air Intake

Synopsis:

• Proper air flow to the engine
• Many CAI's to choose from:
• Ford Racing
• BBK
• K&N

Last post was about the exhaust system for my Mustang, and the follow-up subject is about the air intake. Being one of the critical components in a car, allowing it to breathe properly, the current stock intake on a Mustang is slightly restrictive. Many companies have developed great Mustang air intakes to increase air flow and able to increase engine horsepower, so the following are a few that I am looking at installing.

Ford Racing Cold Air Intake kit with tuner. Though the most expensive choice, the inclusion of a tuner is ideal for customizing the Mustang's performance for the day, whether it's going to the race strip or for a daily drive.

BBK Cold Air Intake. With this intake, no tuning is required, which could be less of a hassle. Not only is this air intake a simple switch, but the filter is reusable, a win-win for saving money and gaining power.

K&N Cold Air Intake. This is another intake that I was looking at, which is similar to BBK's as it does not require any tuning. Though this is a slightly more expensive alternative than the BBK's, and does not specify if the filter is reusable.

As it stands, I believe I would go for the Ford Racing CAI with the tuner. It is an expensive choice, but being able to customize the tune for the day can help reduce fuel costs. What do you think, what do you believe is the best cold air intake for a S197 V6 Mustang, or, what have you installed in yours?

Later all,

-Serge

Exhaust System

Synopsis:

• Looking for more rumble
• Single exhaust switch from Flowmaster
• Mustang's dual exhaust conversion kit
• Magnaflow
• Pypes
• Ford Racing

Last week I went through exterior modifications for my 2007 Mustang, while mentioning possible solutions for exhaust systems to be discussed this week. While I love the idea of having dual side exhausts, the cost and man-hours behind it would be my greatest concerns.

I definitely want a greater rumble coming from my Mustang's rear-end, and for that, there are a few alternatives. I can either stick with the single pipe, but change the muffler with a Flowmaster, for example. This would require the least amount of work, and also a lot less in cash.

The other alternative is to purchase a V6 dual conversion kit, which, obviously, splits the exhaust. As for which conversion kit is best for the V6 Mustang, well that can be debated. There are a few types of kits available from well-known manufacturers, Magnaflow has a kit which comes with a Y pipe, while Pypes' comes with an X pipe. Ford Racing also offers a kit, which includes an X pipe as well.

Guaranteed, if I were to upgrade the exhaust system, I would leave the current bumper as-is, and (hopefully) make a clean cut for the second tip.

The follow-up to this post will be in regards of air intakes.

Thanks!

-Serge

Future Styling

Synopsis:

• Mustang's future modifications
• Cervini's concept hood
• Debate between Mustang body kits
• Front grille for V6 Mustang with Pony Package

So another week has gone by, and doesn't look like there will be an opportunity this week to change my tires to my summer set. Not a big deal, will give me more time to plan my future expenses. Which brings me to today's blog, future modifications for my Mustang.

This week will be about exterior styling for the S197 body. After a year with my Mustang, I really wanted to transform my car with the Eleanor body kit, but at the time, there was no point. While approaching four years old, it might be time to consider an exterior lift here and there. Below is a list of what I envision purchasing for my car, please feel free to comment on any concerns or observations.

Hood:                    Cervini's Concept Hood. I find this hood very attractive on the S197 Mustangs, much more than those with the hood scoops. It maintains its sleekness, but also allows for additional air intake.

Body kit:              As mentioned, I really love the Eleanor style body kit, but a few things are to consider. While priced over $1,000, it seems a bit expensive, especially when unpainted. The second is the side exhausts, while very attractive, it would also mean the need to change the exhaust system, which will be covered next week or the following. However, if I opt out of getting a side exhaust system, I also love the Generation 1 body kits from Street Scene, for the V6 Mustang obviously.

Grilles:                  Providing the front fascia does not change the grille shape, I would like to add a billet grille. This would fit perfectly with the stock fog lights and Mustang emblem.

Again, please feel free to leave your input on anything that was discussed. Thanks!

-Serge

Current Modifications

Happy Monday! These weekends go by way too quickly, what's even harder to believe is that my Mustang is approaching is fourth birthday this upcoming June! (based on the purchase date, not the production date)

Synopsis:

• First drive off the lot with my new Mustang
• First modification: Chrome exhaust tip
• Second modification: FR500 rims

I remember driving it off the lot on the very first day of Summer in 2007, bright sunny skies, warm summer air, and the sound of the engine as I hit the highway. I don't think I have ever been so happy in my short life (being 22 at the time), and proud of my purchase.

After a few hand washes, getting closer acquainted, there were minor details that I would have liked to change. The first was the tailpipe, I know it's only a V6, but I still hated the stock exhaust tip. I wasn't going to invest too much on a brand new car, especially converting to a dual exhaust system. So to satisfy my critique, I purchased a chrome exhaust tip. It was a small modification, but still added to the rear end.

My next critique were the rims, don't get me wrong, I love the bullitts, but there were so many on the road already. I wanted mine to stand out, so during the winter months of 2007, I did some shopping. I was always fond of the rims on the Super Snake, forged alloy, ten spoke, and very aggressive. However, these rims came at a very high price, but I was determined to have them... or ones similar.

After searching through many websites, I finally came across the wheels that I wanted at a very reasonable price. The FR500 replica wheels from American Muscle, in chrome, were the closest I could get to the Alcoa rims but were also very attractive on their own. Though seeing as they were in the U.S., I was afraid of the accompanying fees, but found out they have a Canadian link with 2KoolPerformance in Prescott, Ontario. After contacting 2KoolPerformance, my order for my rims and tire package was placed.

Once received, I installed my new set of FR500's with Nitto 555 rubbers, and the overall look of the car dramatically changed. It looked absolutely stunning and was, yet again, proud of my decision.  Below is the picture of my car, which is actually used by American Muscle on its product page for the FR500 rims as the product image!

That's all I have for now, next time I'll try to post about upcoming projects and suggestions.

Until next time!

-Serge

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Serge and this is all about my car, my 2007 V6 Mustang.

Synopsis:

• Ford enthusiast
• Shopped for a "New Edge" Mustang
• Ended up with a 2007 V6 Mustang with the Pony Package

The history:

During my first full-time job, I was on the market for a vehicle, whether new or used, did not matter much to me. I had a great affinity with the Ford Mustang, and coming from a family of Ford enthusiasts, not only did I, but have many family members who know how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise.

The reason I was looking at the Mustang is for its powerful upgrades and exterior styling capabilities. I was first looking for at the 2004 Mustang, as it was depreciating relatively quickly as the 2005+ was the new trend. Then when looking at pricing, I noticed just a few thousand in difference between 2004 and 2005 when used. However, when buying a used car, for those who don't know, the financing rates are much higher than when buying new, and after calculating the difference, the final cost of buying used would have amounted to a new vehicle.

So the final verdict was to buy a new Mustang! Well, back when it was new. I purchased a blue 2007 Mustang with the Pony Package, great car, and I still love it. Now the reason for this blog, I will be posting throughout the weeks on a different portion of the car, from engine to interior, I want suggestions, comments, even stories from everyone regarding the subject. As for this post, feel free to reply with a history of your first Mustang!

Thanks everyone!

-Serge