Fareed's Ford Mustang 2011 GT 5.0

Watching your dad fix his motorbike got you into all things wheels didn’t it? Yes, I used to love watching him clean it and do minor repairs to it when I was a kid. I loved to help him and he’d teach me lots of things about it. Also, my uncle would often buy a car, do it up and have fun driving it, then sell it for a profit. I realised it was a great way of fulfilling a dream to drive different kinds of cars. That’s why one of your previous jobs here was working for a car-rental company… Back then, I had a choice to work for a reputable oil company or a car-rental place and chose the latter because it gave me the opportunity to get behind the wheel of many luxury cars — every guy’s dream! While I was there, I drove all sorts of things including the BMW 3, 5 and 7 Series and Mercedes C, E and S Class. But I really admired the 7 Series, especially the 1999 740iL with that 4.4-litre V8. Most people’s first car is a battered old hatch but yours was a classic 1971 Dodge Dart! Tell us more about it… My parents bought that for me. It was a four-door saloon with a V8 and a steering-mounted three-speed automatic. It needed major repairs, which cost us almost the same amount as we paid for it. We overhauled the engine, replaced the shocks and radiator and painted it black. Bet you couldn’t wait to start driving that around… I was desperate for it to be completed and would visit the garage every other day on my bicycle to see how it was coming along. I wasn’t even old enough to have a driver’s licence then but the plan was for my dad to teach me how to drive in the Dart. One day, I visited the garage and was told by the foreman to tell my father to collect the car since it was ready. But I lied, telling them my father had asked me to come and pick it up and bring it home, and I convinced them! So, I put my bicycle in the trunk, which was enormous, and took the car away. How did you cope? I mean, it’s a pretty big step up from a bicycle… It was a large vehicle with a long bonnet and required good judgement on turns. Somehow I got it home and surprised my entire family. My mum was a little angry but my father asked me to take him for a spin so he could see if I could handle a big car. We went for a drive and he was convinced. The only trouble was it didn’t have power steering and my arms would ache for weeks. I finally got my driver’s licence and the Dart made me quite popular because it was the only American car in our area. I kept it for almost nine years and it would have been longer but we had to sell it when we moved to the UAE. But now you have this lovely Ford Mustang GT 5.0. You really dig big American V8s don’t you… That’s for sure! I don’t think I will ever regret buying this car. That 5.0 V8 pins you back to your seat when you floor the throttle and it handles unbelievably well, despite what people say about American muscle cars. A friend of mine owned a Mustang and that’s what got me into these cars. This particular 2011 model is pretty good looking and has more than enough grunt to scare most other cars on the road. I plan to keep it for a while and will be looking to do some modifications in the future — when my pocket permits me. I’d like to add a set of deep-dish rims on it and I am desperately waiting for my cold air induction kit to arrive from the US. It’ll improve the fuel economy, throttle response and unleash up to 8bhp, making 420 in total. Isn’t that awesome? The more ponies a Mustang has, the better! I love the hood scoop on this… It’s bigger than on the previous models and looks much better and gives it an aggressive look. I decided to add the side scoops and window louvres which make my ride look even broader and dare I say, hotter. Recently, I installed a full Roush Exhaust system, which has made the stereo redundant. The roar coming from the tips when the car takes off is music to my ears! You toyed with a few other options before buying this, right? What were they? I had three others in my mind; a 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT-8, Chevrolet Camaro SS and a Mustang GT 500. I decided to buy this 5.0 but was told by the sales team at Al Tayer that I’d have to wait for six months for the white exterior and Red Brick Cashmere interior colour combination that I’d requested. Fortunately, I had a call from the showroom a month later telling me that a car like this was now available. It had been ordered by someone else but he couldn’t buy it for some reason. I rushed out to see it, loved it and bought it. You have maintained it very well… I try my best and always make sure to buy genuine parts for it. I never compromise on quality. It’s always better to spend a little extra and get the dealer to work on it rather than a shabby garage. It gives you peace of mind and you get better customer service. All the mods I’ve had done to my Mustang have been done by the guys at Al Tayer who are very helpful and professional. Well, it’s a head-turner alright… People have always appreciated my rides for their looks and performance and the way I lovingly maintain them. In fact, I’ve become known as the ‘Mustang man’ thanks to this car! It’s an awesome feeling every time I turn the key and head to work. Merging onto the highway and putting my foot down always brings a smile to my face. What’s your dream car? This and a BMW X5 xDrive50i with the M Sport Package. The good news is I will be getting one soon.