Help me buy my 11' GT!!

[ganador01]

I am going back and forth between the ford brochure and I am having all sorts of troubles deciding on my options for my 11' GT.

First question:

Base or Premium:


Premium Pros:
The leather is nice. The lumbar could probably come in handy. The interior looks worlds better in the premium IMO. The shaker system is good enough that I won't need to upgrade. Steering wheel controls are always fun.

Premium Cons:
3 grand for a bunch of features that are maybes on my list
I will probably never use sync.
2 extra useless gauges.
Leather gets hot in texas.
Resale value will probably end up being worth 700-800 after 3 years vs initial 3000 cost today.

Brembo Package Pro:
Totally worth every penny.

Cons:
No spare. Very Very big CON for me. I drive 20k a year.

Gear upgrade Pros:
Performance

Cons:
Gas mileage on the highway? 70% of my miles are highway.


So people who have purchased the above kits and what not. Do you feel the same way about me on these issues or are there other reasons you have picked some options that maybe I'm missing?

 

[stanmckinney]

The sync is great for the iPod, phone and everything else. I use it all the time. I would not want a car without it.

 

[cdog1157]

I got a Premium 2011 Sterling GT with manual tranny, 3.55 gears, security pack, accessory pack 4, HID's, 19" nickel luster wheels.

If you've got a garage then the interior won't be hot when you get in, If not then get the windows tinted and an interior windshield cover and that helps alot - what I use at work.

I didn't think I'd ever use SYNC either, but it's really cool. Once you connect your phone then everytime you start your car it auto connects. When your phone rings it comes thru the speakers and shows who's calling you on the radio (name or number depending if it's in your contacts on your phone) and uses the ringtones of your phone. All you have to do is push a button on the wheel to answer or ignore, you don't don't even have to look at your phone. To call someone all you have to do is push the button and say call "a name in your contacts" and it works perfectly. If you're in the middle of a phone call and enter or exit your car then it automatically transfers it to the car audio or back to your phone. If you have a media player on your phone then it's the same deal. Just set your radio to SYNC bluetooth audio and say play artist or play song and it plays it! It's very cool and I find myself using it more and more.

I didn't want to get the Brembos with summer only tires cuz it ices here a few times a year and didn't want to fool with getting another set of wheels or tires for that. The 19" nickel luster wheels look great and everyone has liked them so far.

My car did come with a spare so I was pleasantly surprised.

The gears won't make a huge difference on the highway in mpg, maybe 2-4mpg difference between 3.31 and 3.73 depending on how you drive it. I decided to split the difference and get the 3.55 and I'm happy with it. I usually start off in 2nd gear and it has no problems at all. I have about a 34 mile round trip to work and 30 of it is interstate. I'm averaging 18mpg but I've been taking everyone for a ride and getting on it alot so it'll go up some hopefully. Most people that get a lower gear always wish they'd have gotten a higher one and the fun factor will definately make you forget about the few mpg you'll lose.

The HID's are great. I've never had them before and now I wish I had them on all my vehicles, they really light up the road.

No matter what you decide to order then you'll be very happy with this car because it is awesome!!

 

[ganador01]

I got a Premium 2011 Sterling GT with manual tranny, 3.55 gears, security pack, accessory pack 4, HID's, 19" nickel luster wheels.

If you've got a garage then the interior won't be hot when you get in, If not then get the windows tinted and an interior windshield cover and that helps alot - what I use at work.

I didn't think I'd ever use SYNC either, but it's really cool. Once you connect your phone then everytime you start your car it auto connects. When your phone rings it comes thru the speakers and shows who's calling you on the radio (name or number depending if it's in your contacts on your phone) and uses the ringtones of your phone. All you have to do is push a button on the wheel to answer or ignore, you don't don't even have to look at your phone. To call someone all you have to do is push the button and say call "a name in your contacts" and it works perfectly. If you're in the middle of a phone call and enter or exit your car then it automatically transfers it to the car audio or back to your phone. If you have a media player on your phone then it's the same deal. Just set your radio to SYNC bluetooth audio and say play artist or play song and it plays it! It's very cool and I find myself using it more and more.

I didn't want to get the Brembos with summer only tires cuz it ices here a few times a year and didn't want to fool with getting another set of wheels or tires for that. The 19" nickel luster wheels look great and everyone has liked them so far.

My car did come with a spare so I was pleasantly surprised.

The gears won't make a huge difference on the highway in mpg, maybe 2-4mpg difference between 3.31 and 3.73 depending on how you drive it. I decided to split the difference and get the 3.55 and I'm happy with it. I usually start off in 2nd gear and it has no problems at all. I have about a 34 mile round trip to work and 30 of it is interstate. I'm averaging 18mpg but I've been taking everyone for a ride and getting on it alot so it'll go up some hopefully. Most people that get a lower gear always wish they'd have gotten a higher one and the fun factor will definately make you forget about the few mpg you'll lose.

The HID's are great. I've never had them before and now I wish I had them on all my vehicles, they really light up the road.

No matter what you decide to order then you'll be very happy with this car because it is awesome!!

Well I understand the gear issue. I had 4.10s on my last mustang so I was at the complete extreme. But, the gas mileage for me is a huge deal as I have to maximize it as much as possible.

I really want the HID's, but its hard to find a car I won't have to order that has them without having a ton of other crap packaged on.

I love the brembo package, but I have to have a spare. Thanks for the response!

 

[94GTLaserRC]

If you are able to make the payments and you plan on keeping it for awhile get whatever options you "LIKE" and dont worry about resale, or 'worth it' or anything like that. Is anything on the car really "worth it".? Im reading that the Brembos are even worth it unless you are going to track the car. That being said, the price for the better rims and brembos that Ford charges is a great bargain. I havent used Sync before, but just reading about it, I already cant live without it (car is on order). Laws are going to be changing to require only hands-free devices soon. I look forward to playing my own music through the stereo and pressing a button to get my phone calls. The shaker system and leather are nice..Im not worrying about "resale" value. My philosophy is..If YOU like and (and can manage paying for it)...GET IT!! the amt divided into the monthly payments is minimal.

I payed 2k for that CS package and 1k for auto. Im getting 'dogged' by a lot of Mustang "purists" but I dont care..that's what I like, Im also spending an extra grand to change out the rims to Steeda 20's...why..I LIKE IT! Do what YOU like (except for what Im telling you.. ) Good Luck!
RC

 

[ganador01]

If you are able to make the payments and you plan on keeping it for awhile get whatever options you "LIKE" and dont worry about resale, or 'worth it' or anything like that. Is anything on the car really "worth it".? Im reading that the Brembos are even worth it unless you are going to track the car. That being said, the price for the better rims and brembos that Ford charges is a great bargain. I havent used Sync before, but just reading about it, I already cant live without it (car is on order). Laws are going to be changing to require only hands-free devices soon. I look forward to playing my own music through the stereo and pressing a button to get my phone calls. The shaker system and leather are nice..Im not worrying about "resale" value. My philosophy is..If YOU like and (and can manage paying for it)...GET IT!! the amt divided into the monthly payments is minimal.

I payed 2k for that CS package and 1k for auto. Im getting 'dogged' by a lot of Mustang "purists" but I dont care..that's what I like, Im also spending an extra grand to change out the rims to Steeda 20's...why..I LIKE IT! Do what YOU like (except for what Im telling you.. ) Good Luck!
RC

Well I can't get the CS package even if i liked it. Driving around a car that says california that's not a ferrari in Texas is liable. As in your liable to get keyed.

Yeah, I will end up going with the premium package and the regular gears. Now I just gotta figure out if running regular gas is gonna help or hurt the gas mileage.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Scott...I think you will be GLAD you got the PRem. pckg. The CS car on says "cs" on it..doesnt say California. Anyway, the gearing in the Auto is supposed to be similar to getting 373's in the manual. Also, you can get the SCT tuner and put a tune that allows you to run regular gas. Just keep looking around and reading different thing and by the time you get your car you will be an expert..let us know when you order and what you get.
RC

 

[jbrillo]

If you have SYNC, I gaurantee you'll use it! It is pretty darn cool as well as useful. You can answer & place calls all using voice commands through your sound system. You never even have to touch your cell phone. There are times I've been driving to or from work talking to my wife and seeing others in their expensive current model Mercedes/Lexus/BMW's and seeing them having to hold a phone to their heads while they drive and think, gee, they should've bought a Ford or Lincoln with SYNC.

You can also use voice commands to control an MP3 player that you connect to it. I haven't used this feature, but I do have an 8GB flash drive plugged in with over 1,200 songs on it and can access & play them all with voice commands using SYNC.

SYNC is very impressive. It is even pretty good at recognizing voice commands with the windows rolled down. Upgrade to the premium & get it. The Shaker 500 & the SYNC are worth it.

I personally love having 3.73's. I've had them in every mustang I've ever owned. I would say you only lose about 1-mpg freeway compared to the 3.31's, but it does depend on how fast you are driving. Hwy driving at 85-90mph in with 3.31's will probably be a lot better than 3.73's, but if you're cruising around 70-75 I would say the difference would be minimal(about 1-mpg). I had 3.73's on my 2010 GT 5-spd and managed 25-mpg on a 700-mile weekend trip from Houston to Austin and back.

Also, I say get the brembos. Better brakes are always better even if you don't plan on tracking the car. Also, if you plan on getting 19-in. wheels, it's even a better bargain to go ahead and get the brembo's. Any 19-in. wheel upgrade is a $995 option. For just $700 more, you get the wheels & the brakes.

These are just my opinions & I hope they help you decide how you want your mustang.

 

[YSUsteven]

Based on the pros and cons you listed you want;

A base model with the brembo package

Then buy a full size spare to put in the trunk like others have done.

If you want good gas milage, you don't buy a mustang...