2005 Ford Mustang GT - Snow Stormer

Horse Sense: Water-methanol injection first hit the high-performance scene in World War II when a 50/50 shot of it hiked a fighter plane's horsepower from 1,776 to 2,240. Today, water meth's magic mixture is still 50/50. All-inclusive systems such as Snow Performance's [(866) 365-2762; www.snowperformance.net] Boost Cooler take all the guesswork out of using the chemical 'cooler on supercharged, turbo-charged, or nitrous-injected 'Stangs.

The collective sum of a Mustang's overall makeup-drivetrain, suspension, interior, exterior, and so on-is something we refer to as the total package. Through-out the years, we've seen rides that have blown us away with their composition and performance.

We come across Ponies in person and through the thousands of e-mails we receive from proud 'Stangbangers worldwide. While they're nothing short of "next level" with off-the-scale horsepower, living-room comfort, dripping-wet paint, and the brightest bling imaginable, we also dig it when we come across Mustangs that have simpler attributes but are done in a manner that gives the car a certain touch to really make it appealing.

Matt Snow, owner of the water-methanol injection company Snow Performance, has the type of 'Stang we're talking about. His '05 GT isn't as flashy as a lot of the cars we've encountered, but with its high-gloss Screaming Yellow paint, custom Boss-style stripes, lowered stance, and chrome dubs (20-inch wheels) on all four corners, the Mustang gracing these pages has a clean, ready-for-action look. As you know, having "the look" alone doesn't necessarily seal a feature deal for an attractive 'Stang. In order for us to be really impressed with Matt's GT, we had to see for ourselves that it has muscle to back up its good looks.

Muscle is something you shouldn't second-guess if it pertains to Matt in any way. As the former owner of several Southern California fitness centers and with a physique that would give the Incredible Hulk a good run, it's easy to see that Matt takes strength seriously. It's also obvious that his attitude on brawn has been applied to his 'Stang, because once you look beyond its bright paint and bigger wheels, you'll find a Three-Valve engine that's just as yoked as Matt is.

The bulk of Matt's 'Stang's modular muscle is derived from an HP Performance [(505) 623-2555; www.hpperformance.com] MaxTurbo turbocharger system for '05-'07 Mustangs and, of course, Snow's water-methanol injection. Together, and in addition to a custom DiabloSport tune, the duo makes twice the amount of rear-wheel horsepower the Pony left Dearborn with, and more than double the torque.

We had the good fortune of being able to check out Matt's Mustang and experience water-meth-injected turbo power from a driver's perspective when he tossed us the keys and let us play with his deceptive GT on the roads of SoCal's San Fernando Valley. We even blasted down the quarter-mile of the Valley's infamous San Fernando Road. At the time, the car was the first turbocharged street S197 we'd seen in person, let alone had a chance to drive. You can imagine how high our hype levels were when we slipped into the driver seat, turned the engine over, and heard the turbo spool for the first time.

We always meet enthusiasts who want street Mustangs with a lot of power, good looks, and matching comfort. By keeping nearly all of his 'Stang's other attributes original-the exceptions being H&R lowering springs, 20-inch Diablo Delta Force wheels, and Goodyear's big tires-Matt built a Mustang that fits this description to a tee.

While we were out on our awesome ride-and-drive experience, we stopped to take these photos for you. Keep reading to learn more about one Mustang that doesn't have the most outrageous combo we've seen, but it uses what it has effectively.

Intercooler? This turbo 'Stang don't need no stinkin' intercooler! Matt's trunk serves as home to a 7-quart reservoir and high-pressure (150-180 psi) pump that feed Snow Performance's Boost Juice forward to the engine. Snow's Boost Cooler system is an alternative to the traditional intercooler for turbocharged, supercharged and nitrous-oxide-fed bullets. Water-methanol injection controls detonation by cooling the inlet-air charge. Water basically cools the intake charge and combustion process. Methanol works as a cooling agent, but also serves as an extremely high-octane fuel. With an oxygen-heavy, denser charge and more ignition timing, horsepower gains can be impressive, thanks to the mist of this simple mixture.