2024-03-30 02:08:10
We had some unresolved matters with Mustang and the United States, so we took a boat to Hawaii to settle matters.
“Wu Baili? Oops, Wu Baili doesn’t have enough milk to leave Texas.” The other party paused for a moment and then added: “Unless the milk is going to Louisiana.” I thought to myself, “Wu Baili has enough milk” actually depends on where you start in Texas. , but in the end decided not to tell it, otherwise it would only become more entangled. After all, the other person is on vacation, so you don’t have to guess where this tourist is from.
I originally thought that walking more than 500 miles on an island that is 44 miles long and 30 miles wide was quite a feat, but Oahu is different from the mainland United States. This small island is even smaller than Houston, but it is eclectic and all-inclusive, so we went to multiple movie shooting locations without hesitation, and experienced Mustang owner gatherings, surfing, crater tours and other activities. Wear silly Hawaiian shirts, take a thrilling gyroplane ride, and even watch an autosolo event. In short, I came here and had a great time, made many friends and then left.
The internal combustion Mustang is running out of road… There happens to be a garage on the right where you can take a rest.
Geography is the biggest factor that brings all of the above together in Hawaii, and our story also has a lot to do with geography. Oh, history is not irrelevant, so let’s start with old things. By the way, in 2014, the British TG magazine only published 263 issues (equivalent to twenty-one human years). We toured the United States in that issue using a Ford Mustang. No, the trip did not cross the United States, but visited every state in the United States. Our idea at the time was this: Since it was the 50th anniversary of Mustang, and the United States consists of fifty states, why not travel to all fifty states to celebrate? So we dispatched four troops and spent 15 days and 32 cylinders of gasoline to cover 11,175 miles (approximately 17,980 kilometers). More specifically, I spent fifteen days with lack of sleep, hallucinations, the smell of the car that still makes me nauseous when I think about it now, and the envy of others because I walked with America’s most popular sports car, the Mustang.
Although that trip covered forty-eight states in the continental United States and the northern state of Alaska, the total was not enough to cover fifty. In fact, we originally planned to arrange for the Mustang to take a boat to Hawaii, but Ford really wanted to send the Mustang with forty-nine state stickers on it to the exhibition stand, so we ran out of time to get back and forth to Hawaii, and ended up traveling to fifty states. This has become a long-cherished wish that has not been realized for many years.
The problem with that epic long march was that although we could get an overview of the country, we didn’t get a deep understanding of individual states. So I wanted to take this opportunity to correct it, but the first thing I saw was red tape. It took a few days for someone to remind me that Hawaii is “first world, but bureaucracy is like the third world.” When transporting Mustang to the local area, especially taking a boat from Michigan to Hawaii, the customs clearance procedures turned out to be very complicated. So on the day Mustang landed, I could only go to the Aloha Stadium to watch an autosolo event as a spectator instead of a participant. Oahu originally had a racing track, but it was closed in 2006, so local racing fans had to make do by setting up an array of ice cream cones in the parking lot. However, their enthusiasm has not diminished, and they still eagerly hope that one day the emperor will pay off. After all, there are many military airports on Oahu that are very suitable for use as race tracks.
“It’s also time to go to some places where Mustang can definitely fit in. What I mean is a gathering that only belongs to Mustang.” Modified Mustangs are quite active in this area.
The next day, I finally got my Mustang back. Equipped with a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8, a manual gearbox and a Bronze Pack upgrade kit, this blue GT is sprayed in Grabber Blue and can be described as the Mustang among Mustangs. Different from the previous long march where I put on the stickers of the previous state after crossing the state border, this time I put the Hawaii stickers on the car as soon as possible in order to make the Mustang blend into this place. It turned out to be just wishful thinking on our part. idea…
Although driving with your head open may hinder your vision, it will help you get a tan.
I must confess a secret here. This plan was originally to arrange for two Mustangs to travel together. The so-called two are the one seen in the picture and the one used in the last American Long March. But the latter’s whereabouts are now unknown, and even the factory does not know his whereabouts. In short, the whereabouts of the Mustang that was supposed to become a collection is now unknown. It may have been lost, sold to someone, or lent to a dealer and then wandered alone in the corner of a backyard in the middle of the United States. If it can participate in this journey, it should be an interesting comparison object, because… to put it bluntly, Mustang has not changed much in the past nine years. When Ford developed the seventh-generation Mustang, it obviously also considered electrification and hybrid technology, but ultimately decided to follow the past practice and install a Coyote V8. After slightly modifying other designs, it clapped its hands and announced, “Yeah, this is it.” It’s Mustang.”
There are actually some changes. For example, the engine power has been increased by 30bhp, and the horsepower has now reached 480bhp. The steering gear ratio has also become faster (from 16:1 to 15.5:1), and the parts where the steering system is installed have become stronger. However, it is not difficult for everyone to tell from the familiar appearance and body proportions that this Mustang uses a steel frame equipped with MacPherson struts and multi-link suspension at the front and rear ends. The GT also gets the $4,995 Performance Pack (which includes suspension tower braces, a Torsen limited-slip differential, wider wheels and tires, and larger Brembo brakes), but not the $1,750 MagneRide. Variable shock absorber.
After getting on the saddle, I first headed north, leaving Honolulu and running toward the aboriginal tribe. Hawaii is a vacation destination in the minds of most Americans. They will stay in the big city of Honolulu. They rush out of the city to sightsee in the morning like the tide rises, and rush back to the city in the evening like the tide ebbs. The Hawaiian island chain consists of six main islands. Although Oahu is not the largest among them, it is the most populous and most popular island among tourists. Drifting in the slow traffic, I happened to see Pearl Harbor passing by on the left. I originally had a plan to end this story with Mustang moored next to the bow of the USS Missouri (Japan signed the surrender document on this battleship at the end of World War II), but my trip happened to coincide with the wildfires raging in Maui. , so the navy went to assist in disaster relief. After all, Maui is not very far from Oahu, so it’s no wonder that island residents are worried about being affected by wildfires.
As the Mustang roars northward, the highway follows the rising terrain through the central agricultural and pastoral plains between the island’s two major mountain ranges. Once you reach Waialua, the North Shore comes into view. This is a very popular surfing resort. The coastline facing the northern sea is famous for the huge waves that come from the North Pacific in winter. Its lofty status is like the holy city of Mecca in the minds of surfing enthusiasts around the world.
It’s also time to go to some places where Mustang can definitely fit in. What I’m referring to is gatherings that only belong to Mustang. We made an appointment to meet up in downtown Honolulu at six in the evening. Unfortunately, Magic Island did not have parking facilities, so we borrowed a loading area. But no one minded, because the sun was setting brightly red that day, and every car owner was happy to practice riding. What’s more, the scenery around the meeting point is beautiful. Between the palm trees and Ala Moana beach, you can see the skyscrapers and the colorful sky. Even if it is a bit cliché, it is still intoxicating. Honolulu uses exotic trees to distract you from the concrete jungle and busy traffic, much like Las Vegas.
As far as the Hawaii Aloha Mustang and Shelby Club knows, this Mustang GT should be the first seventh-generation Mustang to appear on the island. No wonder members are pointing around it. They generally appreciate the cabin, especially the clear screens that can change the way the picture is displayed and the new Drift Brake. The latter is an innovative device developed by Ford. It is basically an electric parking switch that needs to be controlled by hand. To open and close it, you only need to pull or push quickly. If you pull it deeper, you can slow down or switch to In Drift mode, you can lock the rear wheels with a quick push of the handle. But I promised the manufacturer not to touch this function, and I really kept my promise!
It was so hot that everyone was going insane, and Ollie was looking forward to the waves hitting him to cool off.
This group of car owners did not make a fuss because the seventh-generation Mustang had not changed much. Instead, they were relieved because the V8 was still alive, even though Terrence Iwamoto, who was wearing a Mustang shirt that day, actually drove a Mach-E to the scene. I asked Lester Hirano what he thought of the Mach-E (he has a very impressive 1986 Mustang), and he made sure Terrence wasn’t around and said, “Well, he’s the president of this car owners association, so we have to It’s hard to accept. But Mach-E is not a Mustang and does not deserve to wear the Mustang badge.” Later, when Terrence announced that he might buy a new aftermarket modified speaker and install it in the rear of the car to make the Mach-E make a V8 sound, the members present seemed to be unable to bear it. Facial twitching.
The Oahu beachfront is lovely, but where are the piers and arcade centers?
The Mustangs brought by this group of owners span multiple generations, ranging from the first generation in 1966 to the 2021 GT500. I asked them a question that I’m always interested in – do you think Mustang is a muscle car? The answers I got were “It’s too small,” “It’s a sports car,” “A muscle car must be a two-door version derived from a four-door sedan,” and so on. To Europeans, this Mustang must be a huge muscle car, but in Hawaii, where residents generally drive small cars (mostly Japanese or Korean cars), Mustang is still regarded as a sports car.
Finally, I asked them where there were interesting roads, and the next day, I headed south to the Cape Koko crater area at first light. The running-in situation of the Mustang seems to be better than yesterday. It is not as unpredictable as before. It has become more mature and stable, with well-controlled suspension and tight steering response. With the MagneRide variable shock absorber by my side, I guess my skills will be more sophisticated. However, based on past experience, at least Mustang will not easily lose power in the extreme state. In fact, they often perform better under the limit, but this is not a suitable place to try it, because there are already tourists here to take selfies ten minutes before sunrise.
So I decided to take a break from the limelight and experience the most thrilling road on the island. H3, completed in 1997, is a controversial interstate highway that runs across the island of Oahu, along one of the least visited valleys and up the green mountains. Therefore, it was severely criticized by the locals for destroying nature, not to mention this. The cost of the project is as high as £1 billion. Most of this road uses viaducts to pass through the valley area. Drivers are basically walking on the treetops. The scenery along the way is undoubtedly breathtaking, but it is not difficult to see the damage caused to the environment by the project. I am heading towards Kualoa Ranch at the moment. You may have never heard of this place, but I guarantee you have seen it. Because whenever Hollywood needs to use tropical forests, deserted mountains or uninhabited islands to shoot movies, they will come here to shoot. Jurassic Park, Lost and King Kong movies are the best examples (there are also about 200 movies Was filmed in this private nature reserve). When I left the asphalt road under my guidance, the Mustang looked very strong, and it was easy to adapt to it. It endured more hardships than the ordinary sports cars that you and I know. It was quite solid, and all the controls had a sense of weight when used. Since it’s a Mustang, of course it can’t be light and airy, but the weight is still on point. Putting aside the deliberate effort, when the Mustang climbed up the Magic Mountains and passed the King Kong Skull at low revs with the V8 purring, it didn’t even have a scratch on the bottom of the car or a tire spin.
When it occasionally finds an opportunity to exert its power, this V8 can also roar like a tiger or a dragon. It is quite powerful, but more importantly, the engine is powerful in the high-speed range. It is the first “regular version” Mustang I have driven that can truly be called A model that is very fast and can easily cope with its own weight. However, the engine response is not superb, and the speed will slowly drop back when over-revving. It seems that it is dragged down by the mechanical inertia of the power transmission system.
It’s obvious why Hollywood likes to film here. The scenery here is simply flawless, with vast green valleys lined with towering green rock walls, and most of the time you can only look up at the sky and the earth. Because these hillsides are so steep, not to mention the roads leading to higher places, there are only a few trails up the mountains, making it impossible to view the surrounding scenery from high places. I was actually happy to see that this mountainous area was unspoiled by mountain passes, but soon I came across a great opportunity to overlook the land…
I originally planned to find a venue where Mustang could show off all its abilities, but seeing that all the airports on Oahu are owned by the military, it was definitely not feasible to go to the airport to test the car. So what about taking to the skies in a gyroplane? Okay, okay, it’s more of a ride than a ride, but that’s fine. I say good, because James Alaggio seems to be a trustworthy person, has rich flying experience that others would envy, and has enough knowledge of physics to keep these mechanical ghost spiders in the air.
Flying in a gyrocopter turns out to be the most carefree powered flight in the world. It is the most painful way to fly when it rains. However, watching the world from a height of one kilometer is indeed a different experience. You’ll see how the weather here can be unpredictable, and how the mountains drain the clouds and make the east coast green, while leaving the west coast a barren landscape. From the air, you can see the beaches below, the coral reefs, and the shape of the ocean floor that dominates how huge waves turn into breaking waves, and you can understand that Hawaii, a string of Pacific islands, has very little in common with other states in the United States.
On the way back south, I thought about these thoughts over and over again. The Mustang is a powerful American symbol, which is why it was so popular when it was shipped to Europe in 2016. Buyers were not so much buying a car as they were making a statement holding high the Stars and Stripes. Mustang has another meaning in Hawaii. It represents a gap that exists between the local permanent residents and the native American residents who regard Hawaii as a tourist attraction. It is a psychological distance between closeness and alienation. Since 1959, the United States has A master-slave relationship that has existed since Hawaii was admitted into the Union.
While Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo are either dead or giving way to crossovers, hybrids or electric vehicles in Europe, Mustang continues to be as popular as ever in the United States. Isn’t it intriguing to see the huge difference between the two? What’s more, the seventh-generation Mustang, which emits 300g of carbon dioxide per kilometer, will be sold in Europe next year. The feeling of being wrong is almost like the contrast between the United States and Hawaii. Although there are rumors that this generation of Mustang is just a show, because Ford will Before the end, it is inevitable to succumb to the current situation and embrace hybrid or electric vehicles.
I never thought about turning the wheel. I know that it is a very rational business decision, and Mustang should also be loved by those who already like Mustang in the future. But rather than being the last person to surrender to the electric camp, I would rather Ford take the lead and reimagine Mustang for the new era. If the wise sword cuts off the old love in Texas, Mustang may have a more exciting life on Oahu.
Special thanks to: @Nakedgyro; arakawasurfboards.com; Jarrod Silcox and OhanaMotorsportsFoundation.com; Alohamustang.org; kualoa.com; GoJump Hawaii; Dillingham Airfield; Anna Metcalfe and Savanna Gonzales of Hawaii.gov; Pearl Harbor Force and the USS Missouri
FORD MUSTANG GT PREMIUM Price: $47,015 (£37,057) Engine: 5-liter naturally aspirated V8, 480bhp, 57.4kgm Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Performance: 0-100km/h 4.5 seconds, top speed about 265km/h Fuel efficiency: 13.8L/100km (EPA), carbon dioxide emissions not applicable Weight: 1,736kg
“When Hollywood wants to use an uninhabited tropical island as a background, they go here.” “Since it is a Mustang, it certainly won’t be light and easy to operate.”
Words: Ollie Marriage / PICTURES: James Lipman / Translation: Tony
The original text comes from “Top Gear Speed Magazine” November 2023 Issue 182
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