TFrog: Wax On...

In 1993, the Mustang community was a-buzz over the upcoming redesign of Ford's pony car. The Mustang had been virtually unchanged between 1979 and 1993 — 15 model years, an eternity for any body design — and Ford was promising an all-new Mustang for 1994.

I, myself, had owned:

a 1974 Mustang II coupe (a sweet little V6 with manual transmission)

a 1978 Mustang II hatchback (V6/automatic), that my wife and I bought shortly before we married, and which served us well for 11 years and 110,000 miles

a used-and-abused 1984 Mustang 5.0 (automatic), which gave me 3 years of heartache before I sold it off to the first person who had $3,000.00...

Obviously, the OPEC crisis of 1973 had much to do with the crash to earth that was the Mustang II, while concurrently the Big Three were rife with quality control issues. (This was well before the Japanese auto makers would have such an impact on the domestic automobile manufacturing paradigm.) At the time, I thought my Mustang II's were fun yet utilitarian, quick but not overly powerful. The '84 5.0 opened my eyes a bit, even though the Mustang still in 1984 was rather anemic, rated at (I believe) a mere 175hp.

The "Fox" Mustangs started out with a 5-liter V8 in 1979 that put out all of 125hp. By the late '80s, that same engine hit its peak at 225hp (rating a best-bang-for-the-buck label), before Ford changed the way it calculated the horsepower ratings, and the 1993 model was downrated to 205hp.

Right: In preparation for the launch of the new Mustang design (the "SN95" body style), Ford was showing off a concept vehicle called the Mustang Mach III (photo taken at the Philadelphia Auto Show). We all knew that this thing would never be built, but it was a great example of what the Mustang "could" be. In 1993, I read everything I could get my hands on about the upcoming 1994 Mustang, and couldn't wait to see them in person.

In September 1993, with the opportunity to buy a new Mustang off the showroom floor, I started haunting local Ford dealers, checking out every new delivery. And I came to realize that I just didn't care for the new look. Perhaps seeing the same design for 15 years made the new model appear foreign to me, perhaps the idea that the new Mustang had the same engine (with the same output) in a heavier chassis, I decided to stick with the Fox Mustang that I loved, and set about trying to find a 1993 leftover. What I really wanted was a coupe ("notchback"), but they were not to be found at that late date. Eventually, my choices came down to two LX hatchbacks (manual transmission was a must) - a teal and a black. I bought the black one.

TFrog was an incredible car, right from the start. This was the first car that moved me to try my luck at the 1/4-mile track (15.162 was my best time - anyone else could have had TFrog in the 14's). It was without question my pride and joy, and I became famous in the neighborhood for washing and waxxing the car at any hour of the day or night. There was no place that I would rather be than in that driver's seat.

I signed up with AOL shortly after buying my 1993 TFrog, and took the screen name "TFrog93". By 1995, I had discovered internet newsgroups, public access discussion groups, and one of my favorites naturally was rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang ("ramfm"). Although we rarely met in person, I enjoyed talking about my vehicular passions with like-minded friends, most of whom also owned Mustangs and all of whom knew exactly what I was talking about.

When I left AOL some years later, I kept "TFrog93" as my user name wherever I went: @home.com, @netzero.net, etc. etc. etc. I began putting up websites - my last one with Comcast quickly overran the (at the time) allotment of 26MB of storage per screen name, so I bought the domain tfrog93.com and set up my own site. TFrog.com became available recently (I'd been keeping an eye on it for years), and I swooped it up.

I still haven't been able to really put my finger on what it is about this car that has so captured me. Yes, it's still an absolute joy to drive, yes, I still think the body design is perfect, and, of course, after 213,000 miles, the seat fits my butt like a glove. There are better cars out there (including, of course, the latest generation of Mustangs), but I still have no thought of selling off TFrog.

Herewith, some of my writings on RAMFM over the years...

Mustangs ARE special

From: tfrog93@aol.com (TFrog93)
Date: Nov 15 1997, 4:00 am
Subject: Mustangs ARE special
To: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang

In article <19971114134301.IAA13...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,

nooptio...@aol.com (NoOption5L) writes:
>>did they make you park the stang out back, or what?

>No, left it parked right out front.

For several weeks now, our local Chrysler/Plymouth dealer has had a red
SN95 on the used car lot, parked right along the street in the corner of
the lot. Everybody knows me to be the Mustang freak, so they all ask if
I've seen it. Seen it? Hell, you can't miss it! First of all, it's red,
and stands out from all the other cars on the lot. Second, it's a Mustang,
and its style alone makes it leap to the eye. Third, it occupies the
premiere spot on the dealer's lot (kind of like the pole position at Indy).
Fourth, if there's a Mustang within a square mile, I've taken note! They
all remark on what a "pretty" car it is, to which I reply, "Yeah, seen it.
It's a six".

Sometimes it seems that the normal Joe looks at a Mustang and sees some
kind of "exotic". Don't they realize that these cars are cheaper than a
nice Taurus and readily available at their local Ford dealer? I've known
for years now that Ford's been saving money in their advertising budget by
NOT promoting the Mustang. Every day, you see commercials and ads for
Taurus, Contour, Escort, Expedition, etc., but a commercial about the
Mustang is a rare exception. Ford seems to think that these cars will sell
themselves, and they may be right.

A neighbor stopped by for a chat, while I was yet again washing my car.
He commented on my '93 LX 5.0 as if it were some rare, mystical beast, a
collector's item. We talked about speed and power, the nice lines, fat
tires and dual exhaust with that marvelous sound, and I tried to tell him
what a sheer joy it was to drive. He walked back to his yard, where his
late-80's Plymouth sedan and newer generic minivan were parked, wishing
that he had a fun car... I was left shaking my head. Ford built literally
millions of Fox-body Mustangs, and there's still a TON of them out there.
This guy could easily go out and buy one tomorrow.

For various reasons, most folks talk themselves OUT of a Mustang. "When
we had kids, we decided we needed a minivan/sport-ute." "We bought a
Camry/Maxima, because it has FWD and we need that for the (3-10) days each
year when there's actually snow on the ground." "Oh, I could never afford
a 'sports car'; I need something more practical." For every guy who's ever
drooled on my hood, there's another bogus excuse why he couldn't get a
Mustang. The vast majority of car buyers (other than about 110,000 each
year) don't consider the Mustang a viable choice, as if it's
unapproachable.....

So, I wash my car. I keep it clean and shiny. Guys yell at me across
lanes of traffic, "NICE CAR!", and then go about their business in their
SUVs. Testosterone filled teenagers stop to ask if I'm willing to sell the
car. (Despite AOLer claims to the contrary, "babes" do not flock to me and
my car, though. Perhaps because I'm old.....) And I smile, I wave my FIVE
sign, I drive off, thinking, "It's only a Mustang".

To guys who know performance cars, my Mustang is nothing special, although
it does have some potential. But to the vast majority, it's a rare breed
with a magical image. Something they've decided they could never aspire
to. And that's a shame.

How many times have we each talked to some old grizzled veteran, who waxes
poetic about a car he used to own? "I used to have a '57 Chevy", or "I
used to have a '63 Corvette", or "I used to have a '68 Mustang", and then
they go on and on about what a great car it was, how much fun it was, the
feats of daring they used to do in that car, the street races....ah, the
street races. And I always ask, "What happened to that car? Why did you
give it up?". The answers are various; setback in finances, got married,
had kids, and the occasional telephone pole (ouch). And they all have that
faraway look of longing in their eyes, as if they're wishing they could
bring that car back for one more ride.....

Well, twenty years from now, I'll pull up to a young guy washing his 2017
Mustang (knock wood), and we'll start talking about his new 525hp, 8-speed
pony car, with its heads-up, windshield display multimedia virtual
entertainment center, and its 124 cupholders, and then, during the
conversation, I'll get all misty-eyed and say, "I used to have a 1993 LX
5.0, and it was the most fun I ever had on four wheels." And I'll pause,
turn around, point to it and say, "And I still do!"

dwight :()

Aggressive Drivers

Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang
From: tfrog93@aol.com (TFrog93)
Date: 1997/08/14
Subject: New Debate: "Aggressive Drivers"

Some background first... I bought a 1993 LX 5.0, and I drive it like it
was meant to be driven. Almost every weekend, I tank it up and go 40 miles
out into the countryside for a romp of three or four hours. I push the car
and myself, and I pride myself on my driving ability and the car's power
and appearance. Most definitely, I did NOT buy this car to drive the speed
limit. I frequently push the car up to 120mph, throw it around the curves,
and generally have a ball out where there's 20 miles between stop signs.
When in traffic around the city and suburbs, however, I am Joe Citizen, Mr.
Rules of the Road. (I'm also a Gemini, which may have something to do with
it.)

Lately, the buzz word "Aggressive Driver" has been bandied about.
Originally, this was used as a label for a Road Rager, a hazard on the
roadways. Now, there's a campaign to change the meaning of the phrase to
reflect a "superior" driver, one more skilled in the handling of his
vehicle, such that he deserves somehow to go faster than others, to cut
others off, to change lanes back and forth, or to cut corners at
stoplights, intersections, or rights-of-way. Under this definition,
"Aggressive Drivers" are self-vindicated for tailgating, flashing their
brights, flashing the finger, or changing lanes at the last moment in front
of another car that's stopping for a red light.

Well, guess what? That car you're tailgating is MY car. And I'm not the
one who's holding you up, either. If you'd look ahead, just a little
further than my rear bumper, you'd see an endless LINE of cars stretching
to the horizon. Tailgating ME is not going to make the entire line go
faster, or move over to allow YOU to pass! Somehow, you believe that YOUR
hurry is more important than MY hurry, and I'm just in the way! Well,
you're wrong.

That car you just cut off, in your wild attempt to be the third car
through after the red came on, that was MY car. I LOVE my car. I go out
of my way NOT to put my car in harm's way. I'm not about to damage it
because of you. If I had a gun.....

That blue-haired old woman in the car in front of you, who DARES to do the
speed limit and nothing more? That's my mother, jerkoff. You just gave my
MOTHER the finger. You'd think nothing of running my wife's car off the
road, so that you'd save TEN LOUSY SECONDS on your commute home. Hey! My
KIDS were in that car!

Now the "Aggressive Drivers" want to spout some new drivel, about how
their "aggressiveness" makes them better drivers, more aware of their
surroundings. BULLSHIT! If you were more aware of your surroundings,
you'd recognize what you're doing for what it is! You're not "better"
drivers. "Better" isn't the word.

Instead of "Aggressive Drivers", let's call it what it really is. How
about "Annoying Drivers", or "Selfish Drivers", or just plain "Rude
Drivers". (Not to mention "Dangerous", "Hazardous", "Me-Generation
Drivers", etc. The list goes on, and it's not pretty.)

Two points I would repeat here: 1.- The majority of drivers don't like
to drive. They're afraid, some of them; they're intimidated, some of them;
they're not paying attention, too many of them. But they're there, and
they have just as much right to be there as do I. I work with them, give
them plenty of room, and really try not to threaten them. I'll get where
I'm going, certainly, and probably no more than a minute or two later, but
I'll be relaxed and civil along the way. Not only are my wife and mother
out there in cars, but YOUR wives and mothers are out there, too. I
wouldn't do anything to endanger their lives, and I won't put up with you
doing so, either.

2.- Over 90% of drivers polled ranked themselves as above average. Well,
either we ALL think we're better than we are, or somebody's really throwing
off the curve! Bob Bondurant is probably above average. That much I can
say. But the very fact that you're aggressive does NOT put you over the
50% mark.

I'm sorry, kids, but you'll find no smiley faces in this post. I just had
another bad commute, almost had some aggressive driver hit me, and I'm
pissed. And when I hear attempts to somehow Glorify or Exhonorate these
people, I get crazy.

Maybe I'll just tank up the Mustang, head out to where the roads are well
paved and empty, and work off some steam....

dwight
'93 LX 5.0
with only one scratch (courtesy of my son), and one dent (from a golf ball
doing 80mph across the highway)

(( knock wood ))

125,000 miles

From: "dwight" <tfrog93@home.com>
Date: Aug 26 2001, 2:23 pm
Subject: 125,000 miles
To: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang

Yesterday was another landmark.

My car's birthday (sorry if that sounds sappy) was August 10th. It turned
eight. And yesterday, I rolled past 125,000 miles.

To my eye, it's starting to look every bit of its eight years.

The 5-star pony wheels could use a really good scrubbing. There are stains
that need attention.

The molding, especially the horizontal pieces, are looking old, and could
probably use some attention (or replacement). The grill in front of the
windshield is still cracked and broken from where the tree limb came down
last winter, and the roof still shows dimples from that same branch.

There's that scratch on the left rear, that my son gave me, 'way back when
the car was new.

The front portion of the hood, between the headlights, is pitted in a couple
of places, and never seems to shine, even after a polish and wax. The
headlights are showing signs of glaucoma.

The interior is surprisingly clean (given that my kids were 13 and 11 when I
bought the car), and, except for a cigarette burn on the rear seat, would
look like new with a good rug/upholstery cleaning.

The engine is virtually pristine. I make a halfhearted attempt (read: no
toothbrushes) to clean the engine bay once in a while, but the engine itself
has never been "opened". I'm STILL waiting for the water pump to give out (I
went through three of them in the short time I had my '84), but none of the
components appears to be ailing. It's probably time to replace the
serpentine belt (again), but this engine is just humming along.

And I still grin every time I start it up.

And I'm still pleased that I drive a car that has its own club; its own
newsgroup; and instant recognition. I LIKE giving a high five to passing
Fox-bodies, I LIKE being stopped to talk about my car, I LIKE having one of
the "coolest" cars in the parking lot, and I LIKE the fact that it gets
"cooler" with every passing year.

No one sees the flaws that I see; they only see a Mustang - probably on its
way to becoming a classic. My daughter asked yesterday about my plans for
this car, and it's simple - I will still own this car when I die. I look
forward more and more to the restoration in 2003, and look forward to
bringing it out of the garage on a sunny day for a romp or a trip to the
track. It will no longer be my "daily driver", but it'll still be the
automotive joy of my life.

In 2018, when it's 25 years old and wearing classic tags, I might even show
it.

Not all Mustangs are born to be classics. Many of the Foxes are becoming
parts cars (just ask Tim the Musttanguy); many have been criminally
neglected and died an early death. Many are still running around, but
looking so sad that it's pitiful.

But here, I'm surrounded by a BUNCH of people who take pride in their cars
and do their best to keep them looking like new (or better). People who have
gone in different directions, and willingly share their experiences with
others. People who gladly show off their cars, either at MCA sanctioned
events or by just cruising on a Friday night.

People who know what it means to drive a Mustang.

Happy birthday, TFrog.

dwight
http://netzero.homestead.com/tfrog93

Happy Birthday, Frog

From: "dwight" <dwight@XtfrogX.com>
Date: Aug 28, 9:39 am
Subject: Happy Birthday, Frog
To: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang

August 10th was TFrog's 15th birthday.

There are loose panels in the interior. The power door lock doesn't work on
the driver's side. It still has the original Ford Premium Sound System with
AM/FM Cassette. The center caps are peeling on all four wheels. And the
black paint gets harder and harder to work with every passing year. I dream
of the day when all exterior molding is replaced and the car gets a new
blacker-than-black paint job...

Still, 213000 miles have passed on that clock and TFrog got that second coat
of wax yesterday and looks fantastic.http://www.tfrog.com/tfrog/tfrog.htm

Today, we're going for a romp for a belated birthday celebration. The first
half of vacation week was spent getting the Frogs ready - the second half is
all about enjoying the hell out of 'em.

dwight
(still stuck in 1993)