firebird1999us's Garage

firebird1999us's Quick Bio

I've loved fast cars all of my life and have managed to own at least two of them in the 10 years I've been driving! Since I turned 16 I've owned a 1978 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that the engine siezed in at 200k+ miles, leased a white 1996 3.8 Firebird, briefly owned a black 1998 Formula, owned a pewter 1999 3.8 Firebird with leather, owned my current 2003 Mach 1 (it's staying!), and my black 2001 2.2 Sunfire that looks like hell, has 117k miles, and I use as my daily driver.

I've always owned Firebirds...but after the accident in July 2003 (a lady ran a red light and tore the front end off.) I wanted to try something different and new. And since they weren't making F-body cars anymore I ended up looking at Mustangs. The Cobra's were still on the to expensive end of things since I was in college at the time and the GTs were kind of a letdown. That's when I came across a Torch Red Mach 1 at Courtesy Ford in Conyers, Georgia sometime in mid July of 2003! The Mach did everything I wanted and more...and I absolutely loved how the clutch felt, how the comfort-weave seats fit like a glove, the functional shaker, and the nasty stock exhaust note! I'd driven a 2001 Bullitt in passing before when they first came out loved them -- I liked the Mach because it felt a lot more powerful than the Bullitt, had a similar exclusivity, and the price was even right too. I just wasn't 100% with the color though..

Actually John Miles Chevorlet still had a NOS, untitled stocker red 2002 A4 Z28 leftover on their lot at about the same time -- so I took that for a spin too just to compare it to the Mach and, well, there was no comparison. The Mach felt much quicker, more stable, and a lot more fun to drive. Like I said I just wasn't sure about the color. Well, that's when I came across a Dark Shadow Grey Mustang at a local dealership. Then on July 17, 2003 my mom came across a DSG Mach at University Ford in Athens, Georgia and, after a test drive, I bought it the next day!

My 2003 Mach 1 is a 5-speed with the IUP (interior upgrade package) born on June 16, 2003 and bought at University Ford in Athens, Georgia on July 18, 2003 with 11 miles on the odometer....5 -6 of which I put on during the test drive! It currently has 21k miles, thanks to my 2001 Sunfire taking the brunt of driving duties since November 2003, and the only things not stock is Royal Purple 5W20 and the K&N air filter! I've lso got an older flat black MGW plate frame that a few people claim adds at least 50hp!haha

I'm keeping the Mach for the long haul, but, being a Firebird guy at heart, I'm kind of scouting around here and there for a 1998-2000 factory WS6, M6 Formula in black or pewter to pick up after the Mach is paid off next year;)