This is my first post in forum and I suppose I just wanted to say gidday and comment on what I have read over the last few months with regards to your experiences so far with the "T".

I bought mine in September 2004 and was my birthday present and 2nd mid life crisis!! I got the last of the Blue Prints off the line in Victoria but I would have moved "Heaven and Earth" to source one anyway. I was staggered by the amount of power the car had during the first 1000km but soon started to feel that this varied from time to time. I don't know if I'm just getting used to the power, environmental issues or as some of you have noted a change in the ECU mapping etc. I mentioned this to the dealer at the "peace of mind " inspection at 3000km, they "reflashed" the ECU but it hasn't made a huge difference to consistency. There are times when it feels so strong and times when I'm disappointed. The only warranty issue so far was to replace a "lazy" driver's door lock actuator (there is a TSB on this).

I love my baby and will keep it stock to avoid any warranty issues (and financial!). The only thing I will probably do is fit a lower grill, I can't understand why Ford don't fit it as standard! I looked at all the minor mod options such as cold air intakes, high flow filters and even throttle body replacement but have been told by the suppliers that gains are only minimal I.e 10 - 15 kW for approx $1500. I would like to know if any one has applied minor, warranty legal, mods for more noticeable power gains on stock "T's".

Andrew

2004 Blue Print, premium sound, auto, tinted, interior/ exterior protection.

welcome old mate! With your midlife crisis did you replace your missus? I did!!

Gday Andrew.

On the warranty "legal" mods, I was toying with the idea of improving the power:weight ratio by seeing how much weight I could lose on the T. Carbon fibre bonnet, boot?, no rear spoiler, no fogs, light wheels, no spare tyre (spare in a tin)...

Enjoy the car

Hardy

This is my first post in forum and I suppose I just wanted to say gidday and comment on what I have read over the last few months with regards to your experiences so far with the "T".

I bought mine in September 2004 and was my birthday present and 2nd mid life crisis!! I got the last of the Blue Prints off the line in Victoria but I would have moved "Heaven and Earth" to source one anyway. I was staggered by the amount of power the car had during the first 1000km but soon started to feel that this varied from time to time. I don't know if I'm just getting used to the power, environmental issues or as some of you have noted a change in the ECU mapping etc. I mentioned this to the dealer at the "peace of mind " inspection at 3000km, they "reflashed" the ECU but it hasn't made a huge difference to consistency. There are times when it feels so strong and times when I'm disappointed. The only warranty issue so far was to replace a "lazy" driver's door lock actuator (there is a TSB on this).

I love my baby and will keep it stock to avoid any warranty issues (and financial!). The only thing I will probably do is fit a lower grill, I can't understand why Ford don't fit it as standard! I looked at all the minor mod options such as cold air intakes, high flow filters and even throttle body replacement but have been told by the suppliers that gains are only minimal I.e 10 - 15 kW for approx $1500. I would like to know if any one has applied minor, warranty legal, mods for more noticeable power gains on stock "T's".

Andrew

2004 Blue Print, premium sound, auto, tinted, interior/ exterior protection.

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Do a a few searches with headings such as CAI, centre muffler and filter and you will find that all three can be modified for as little as $500 with noticable gains in throttle response

Sorry for all the identical posts, still feeling my way. Thanks for the quick replies guys, will keep reading and asking.

Andrew

Hi Andrew and welcome,

I just had an xr8 snorkel 2nd CAI fitted by a ford dealer for $100 - so its warranty legal. (More cool air isn't going to hurt your warranty he said). So I got a receipt from a Ford dealer for fitting it and it does improve throttle response (More instantaneous grunt!), particularly noticeable in 3rd and 4th.

I've bought my T for my first, premature mid-life crisis.

Enjoy!

Mark

Sorry for all the identical posts, still feeling my way. Thanks for the quick replies guys, will keep reading and asking.

Andrew

Yep, as you were coming into the warmer weather, the T's power drops noticeably. As Jordac said, try a cold air intake approach, they are much good things.

BTW, welcome to the borums, oops, I mean forums.......................

Rob

Andrew, mate, you only live once.

Im a cautious fella just like yourself, but I private msged 6 fellas from this website and determined that getting an after-market chip is the way to go. Best bang for buck you can get and its all stealth. When fitted the turbo boost is increased only a bit and still remains at relatively conservative levels. I highly recommend this mod and after 11,000km Ive had no issues nor any inkling of issues. Remember, engineers always factor in a good margin for tolerances, your drivetrain can handle and extra 40kW in my opinion and suffer no issues. You will only suffer drivetrain issues if you thrash your car (which you dont by the sounds of it) or are ultra unlucky...even then you can have the chip removed and get your drivetrain issue attended to under warranty.

cheers big ears!

Thanks Rob and Turbo Dewd!

Have decided to try cold air intake and high flow filter and judge for myself. More serious power mods will probably signal my next mid-life crisis down the track! I'm cautious about getting too carried away at the moment so will continue to read and take in everyone's progress. By the time I'm ready I'll know the best value mod to do.

Any view's on K&N versus BMC (I think it is) filters, each manufacturer has his own claims.

Rob, did you look at SS inductions or other products before you settled on the XR8 snorkel, apart from the price difference? And excuse me for being ignorant but what does 2nd CAI mean?

Andrew

Mate you are entering well trodden paths here.

Suggest you take an evening off to surf all the past threads and topics and questions that are archived on this site - it is an information rich medium and as good as many of the guys are that subscribe to this forum it gets a bit tiresome at times seeing the same old questions coming up when they have already been done to death.

That will explain why at times you do might not appear able to generate much enthusiasm for debate of your 'issues'.

Warranty is always a vexatious issue which generates much emotion. Modifications per se do not mean that you will lose your warranty cover and there is much discussion on this issue throughout the forum - suggest your read these before making decisions on your way ahead.

Cheers,

Dingah