In the first two installments of this series, I told you about the various things I wish I had known when I was shopping for and buying a 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt. Get caught up by reading Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
I knew a lot before I signed the paperwork for a 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt of my own. I knew which movie inspired it (and how great the car chase in it was). I had no doubts my buddies would be impressed. And I was certain the probability of seeing another one out on the road was low.
There were a lot of things I should’ve learned, though – before I stepped foot into the dealership and especially before I made the car mine. My education only continued once the Bullitt was in my driveway. In this installment, I’ll explain the wisdom I gained from driving it daily.
Low Mileage Isn’t Everything
One of the things that made this particular Bullitt so attractive to me was the fact that it only had approximately 25,000 miles on it. When I got the keys, I was proud of myself for getting such a gently used specimen. The flip side of that that I didn’t see was that time – especially in the brutal heat of Arizona – takes its toll on parts no matter how little they’ve been used.
There was a lot of information on the CARFAX report, but I didn’t see anything about the transmission or differential fluid being changed at any point. I decided to play it safe and get those and my oil drained and refilled. When the car was in for service, the technician alerted me that the output shaft seal had dried out and needed to be replaced. One of the reasons I took the car in in the first place was to make sure the transmission stayed in good shape so the idea of driving away with the gearbox leaking was absolutely ridiculous. I added that unpleasant surprise to my service order and ended up with a $1,000 bill.
Thanks to Ford’s modifications, the Bullitt sounded just as badass as it looked. The exhaust was a perfect balance of on-throttle aural aggression and hearing-friendly cruising volume. Unfortunately, my car started making another sound that wasn’t so easy on the ears. I heard a clunking sound from the rear end whenever I turned into my office’s parking lot. I had my mechanic listen to it and he told me the upper control arm had to be replaced. The $350 price tag hurt but given the difficulty he had removing the old part, it was worth it.
What I found the more unpleasant than spending money on those and other updates, including new blend door actuators and rear tires, was the constant dread I began to feel. I could never fully enjoy the car because I knew no matter how many parts I changed, it was only a matter of time until something else wore out. Until then, I’d worry about what it was going to be.
People Who Can Help are All Around
The process of getting the Bullitt mechanically and cosmetically refreshed taught me that I didn’t have to figure out everything on my own. All I had to do was reach out and ask the people around me for recommendations. Two of my buddies directed me to LightStream for financing the loan. My mother-in-law connected me to the great mechanic who put in that new upper control arm. And he told me the guy to go to for getting the door panel inserts (which I mentioned in Part 1) reupholstered.
“Weekend Cars” Still Exist
When I was younger, the term “weekend car” was typically associated with 1980s Italian supercars that were so particular and in semi-constant need of repairs that they were typically only driven on Saturdays and Sundays. Months of driving the Bullitt in Phoenix’s rush-hour traffic five days a week wore me down in more ways than one. But I took it out one Saturday afternoon, free from a schedule and the need to make 30 upshifts and downshifts within a quarter mile of horizon-touching gridlock, and found the Bullitt so much more enjoyable. If only I had waited to make it my second car, not my only car.
A Change is Needed
As much as I loved the idea of the Bullitt, the reality of it wasn’t working out for me or my family. With my long commute and the high price of fuel, I needed a car that got more than a computer-indicated 18-20 miles per gallon. Getting a vehicle that was made in the 2020s or even the 2010s would (possibly) keep me from having to play mechanical whack-a-mole for a while. And given that I was married, and my mother-in-law would be staying with me and my wife indefinitely after my father-in-law unexpectedly passed away, I needed a car with modern safety features and a comfortable back seat.
A little more than a year after getting the Bullitt, I sold it. Even after I parted ways with it, I learned a few more lessons, which I’ll write about in the next and final part of this story.
