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Houstons_Problem -> RE: Bullit verses Shelby GT comparison (5/9/2008 11:15:01 PM)
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Why a Bullitt?
A Bullitt has what few cars have. It comes with an aura. I'm an engineer by profession and I am definitely not given over to 1970's hippie superstitions, but the Bullitt is exactly what I always wanted in a car. Ford provided a car custom designed exactly for me and people like me, only they did a better job than we would have done had we been given a team of designers and engineers at our disposal. I thought the Bullitt was going to be about a paint job and a couple of tack on aluminum bits. I walked past it in the lot and almost didn't give it a second glance.
Then I got to the front of the car and noticed the wheels looked awfully good. Then I noticed something else. This car meant business. There wasn't anything tacked on to it. In fact, anything useless was stripped away. There was nothing left but the essence of a what a Mustang is really all about. A lean car, not overly small, not overly low, with room for an engine up to the job of the business of driving. No flash necessary. This car doesn't brag, it just pulls you in.
We got in. The aura was stronger now. The interior was great. It was dark. The seats were special. I got back out. What did they do to the seats? These aren't the same as the ones in the GT, but that must be some sort of trick. Ford wouldn't put special seats in the car. But they did. I got back in. Yes, that settled it, they did. Then I noticed the shifter. A ball shifter that was in the exact right spot and had exactly the right feel. Now I was wondering. Did Ford put a different gear box in this car? Everything felt right. My wife was in the other seat. She was sort of squeeling with excitement. 15 years of driving Saturns and a 1 ton pickup never felt anything like this. I wanted to find something I didn't like about the car. We started out shopping for a convertible and this was a coup. I made up my mind. I didn't like the dash. It would blind me or distract me or something. But it didn't distract at all. It was part of the aura too. So, big deal, the seats were good and the shifter was fine. I still wanted a convertible. But, no sense in not driving the car. We needed the keys.
I started it. The aura no longer was part of the car, it enveloped me too. The sound was incredible. Not loud, not annoying, just enough to remind you that it was ready when you needed it. I pulled out of the lot and headed down the highway. Wait a minute, I can feel the road. But its not beating me up. Time for some throttle. The car came alive. I passed 3500rpm and I know what the Mustang is all about. It's not a sports car that makes you one with the road. It's not a luxury car that protects you from the road. It's a pony car that let's you escape from all the other people poking around while eating, smoking, talking on the phone, doing anything but driving.
This pony is free! I headed onto a sharp clover leaf ramp. I shifted, I steered, I drove, I tapped the throttle. I double clutched it and down shifted to see what would happen. The aura was complete. I double clutched it again for no reason at all other than to hear the sound. The third time I double clutched it, I traveled back in time. It was 1968 and I was looking for a black Charger. The fourth time I double clutched it, Steve McQueen appeared in the rear view mirror and nodded approval.
I love the Bullitt. I like the stealth. It's exactly the way I want it. The 20 year olds can have the hood scoops and spoilers and plastic. Give me a set of 3.73's, a taught but not harsh suspension, a fine gear box, a perfect shifter, nice seats, and a great sound any day. The Bullitt can sneak up on poking BMW's intent on impeding progress while the owners play with their hair or fiddle with their phone. The Bullitt doesn't attract their attention at all, until you drop it in third and slip in front of them to the freedom you deserve. There's nothing they can do about it either but go back to blocking the progress of other drivers.
This is what the car means to me. It's up to you to figure out what you want. Ford makes a Mustang for all of us. You can get a V-6 convertible, you can get a Bullitt, you can get a Supercharged GT500.
I'm curious about another Bullitt, to sit in the garage for special occasions, maybe add a supercharger, wider tires, the stiffer suspension kit.
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