You mention you will swear off 1st year run cars.
Isnt the 2006 Mustang GT a new model as well?

 

I think the 2005 is the first for the new gen.

 

Sorry.....but hidden damage from accidents is a reality. I just found out I had a cracked shifter mounting plate in my Vette from a past accident. The shop told me to just take it easy until the part came in.....that was 3 weeks ago and not a word from them yet. I'm gonna knock on their door tomorrow morning and ask where it is. Anyway....it happens, you get it fixed, and move on. Always a good idea to get the absolute best repair shop to work on the car too.....that way hopefully they will catch more of that "hidden" damage before you get the car back. FYI - insurance still covers that hidden damage too....supplementals to the original claim.

 

Sorry to hear your luck, Pico.

On a lighter side, did you see the new Mustang at the Northwood University car show a few months back? Sweet ride. My wife really wants one of those. I want to get the 8, she wants the new Mustang. I think she might win.

 

update...

Well I picked up the car last Thursday and ride home seemed fine. Friday morning I drive to work and as Im gettin off the interstate I slow to 50mph, then lightly accelerate and the tranny drops from fourth to second chirps the tires (1st time in my automatic!) then rights itself. WTF? So I get to work and put it in park, then back into drive and it makes a loud click and jumps a bit. I also notice my heads up display light is out in the neutral position. Great! This car hates me.
So I leave work at noon and ride over to the Mazda dealer who put in the speed sensor. Tranny works great the whole way over. I tell the service advisor what happened and showed him the hard shift from drive to park and no neutral light. Two hours later, the car emerges. They adjusted the linkage which fixed the light and now the shifter is smooth and flawless like new. Yeah! So I get on the road and drive home. Car works great in both auto and manual.
Saturday I drive the car to the store in manual to take this really sweet turn before I get there. As I approach the turn in fourth gear I push up on the stick to drop to third and the wheels chirp. I look down and my HUD reads 2nd. Now I know Im not crazy. I drive the car the rest of the afternoon and everything seems ok.
Yesterday I get in the car to go out with my wife (car shopping none the less). The tranny starts making the same click and jump when I put in reverse from park. Great! This car really hates me!
So I wake up early this AM to drive the car back to Mazda again and the car works flawless. I no longer know what to think. I cant tell if this is a mechanical problem since it misses 3rd and drops to second, or an electrical problem since it is electronically controlled. I guess I will drive it till it will drive no more.

 

My insurance company works like this. Take it to a place they do buisness with, and everything is paid for and repairs are warranteed. Take it to a place of my choice, I pay they reimburse, no gaurentee. Since no Mazda dealer was on the list....which makes me wonder....I picked a chevy dealer who has a sister Mazda dealership. Next best thing IMO.

 

Unfortunatly, my wife has made this the perfect opportunity to pick her mommy car. We are in the 25-30k market looking at the Accord EX, TSX, Highlander, and 4runner new. We also checked out some used RX300s. I personnaly like the TSX for a sedan. Well built and you keep a bit of the sport in sedan. As for a SUV, that RX300 was sweet. It drove very well and was extremly comfortable. I was kidding about the 06 mustang. I do like the look of the car but Ill wait for a test drive. I might also wait till 2008 so my ponies will be 40 years apart.