Ah, yes... the great ol' 3 on the tree! You reminded me of my Dad's old 1968 F100 that had a big block 390ci 4bbl V8 and the 3-speed manual on the steering column. Thanks for the trip down my memory lane! I just looked it up and they are going for north of $25k now.I always missed the column shifte.r
I even remember driving Three on the Tree back in the day.
As for the wipers, muscle memory is still competing, I had several cars with the wipe/wash on the turn stalk, so it is coming back.
The lack of a dial shifter, the glovebox cosplaying as a frunk, and the multi function stalks are the among the forefront of reasons I haven’t seriously looked at new mme’s.After all these years with the dial on the center console, I still hate the dial. I think the stalk on the steering column is likely better from a functional standpoint. I am not willing to give up my frunk for it. I chill in the frunk more often than I drive super-hard.
While i genuinely prefer the OG frunk and use it regularly, there are some things to consider. First, the diminished capacity frunk came as about as result of two significant changes: a heat pump, and a larger radiator. I couldn’t possibly care less about the former — needless complexity and minimal real world benefit (YMMV). The latter, though, is a real benefit. Second, it’s still bigger than a lot of frunks on new BEVs, but I won’t mention BMW by name.
I live in Central Coast California, so the heat pump probably isn't going to make a huge difference for me. The larger radiator is a good thing. Although I'll miss the larger frunk, I don't really store anything in there of size. Of course, to get a frunk AT ALL, I'll have to buy a '25. I'm not keen on paying $500 extra for the tiny frunk option on a '26. But I was looking at a '25 anyway. The color combo that I think works best for me with the GT "grill" is Eruption Green with the Bronze Appearance Package, and the bronze was discontinued in '26.
It is far too easy to miss your target click because the detects are pitifully vague. If you drive at 98% like I sometimes/often do you don’t have time to carefully braille your way into another gear selection. Give me the stick that came with my T/A that can be set to give you one gear position change while hammering corners, braking, using the go pedal, etc. for an automatic any day of the week over the abomination that Ford foisted upon us. Yes, I can use the rotary shifter and regularly do without looking at it (who said I had to look at it?), but it’s an effort that I would rather spend driving than trying to figure out. It just does not belong in the GT.
What is the benefit of a larger radiator (other than as a component of the heat pump)?
