Hey everyone- I'm new to this forum (I've known about it for a while). I have a '65 so I spend most of my time on the Vintage-Mustang forum... Anyway- I've got an '04 Gt- with the 40th PACKAGE- yes, a real one. As you know they don't have spoilers so the 3rd brake lights are exposed to more sunlight. I've had the car since January 2005 and it has the extended (Ford ESP) warranty for 60 months/60000 miles. I've driven the car about 7000 miles only because I didn't drive it much during the first year (wasn't sure whether to keep the miles low or to drive it...). When we bought the car and did a delivery checklist, there were some scratches from sitting on the lot. It also needed to be buffed.. On the checklist the dealer noted that the third brake light was scratched.. When we took it to the bodyshop (at the dealership) they only buffed/polished the third brake light so it did look good the day I picked the car up. Now, after only a year of driving- yes a year (it sat covered in the garage for all of 2005) the brake light looks like cr*p..... I wax the car every other wash and have even tried plastic polish to make the brake light look new- although the light is cracked from the sun- they are not scratches... I've taken the car to the dealership for other warranty repairs (convertible top leak, bad front tire) and they refuse to replace the light. They are telling me that it is SCRATCHED!!!! Haha- the paint on the trunklid is flawless- I use an "Absorber" to dry the car and a sheepskin mitt to wash the car!!! I don't know what to do. Brake lights are about $70 bucks on Ebay and I've got these guys telling me it is scratched. They also say that the delivery checklist is too old to be in effect.. even though the light was supposed to be replaced and all they did was put some wax or polish to make it look good... Sorry for the long post.. I'm getting nowhere at the dealership (they treat me like a kid- I'm 21)...If you guys have ANY suggestions I would appreciate them. I love walking into the service department and having them look at me like I don't even have a driver's license... By the way.. Here is a picture of the '04: And here is my '65. It was featured in Mustang Monthly April 2005 "Kid Rocks".... Thanks, Chris
are you the high school kid w/ that 65? if so, i remember that article and your car your 65 is BEAUTIFUL! for the 3rd brake light, go check some local mustang forums and see if anyone has one you can pick up for cheap. you can also try MPS.com or 50resto.com Oh, drive your 04 GT too. it doesnt matter that its a 40th anniv. edition. its not any more valuable today than a regular GT and we all know how crappy mustang resale value is. who knows what it will be worth down the road...
Yep that's my '65... We just installed 4-wheel SSBC force 10 brakes... I have come to the conclusion to drive it. There are too many people that think they own a 40th model because the fender badge says so. The car is now my daily driver... check out more pictures of my '65 on my website: www.kingkustomstemecula.com
Oh man, I would love an '06 GT- black with red interior to match the '65... I couldn't sell the '04 if I tried... Resale is horrible! Trade-in is about $18k on KBB and $20k on Nada- try getting that from a dealership though!
GTs are worthless somebody would be stupid to even pay that for a GT through a private sale. Hang on to that 65 though
STFU about GTs already SS03 Anyways, check this out it an article on how to repair brake light: http://www.bullittarchive.com/1016.htm
would you like to prove to me that our cars actually hold their value? im sure most of us had high hopes that the S197 would hold their value better than our GTs, but thats starting to fade now too. if you want to use a mustang for an investment or to NOT drive, get a snake, mach, or special edition.
That article is perfect. I am taking it to the dealer to PROVE that i did not scratch the light... Thanks!
The same thing happened to me...no wing, and I did pretty much what was on the bullittarchive, and it worked great. I dont think you have to use a 3 stage platic polish, I just used a plastic scratch remover and it worked. But the first stage of sanding is the longest, just remember that the better you do on that stage, the better it will look.
not many production cars actually hold value...the market is only as good as someone is willing to pay. When i was a kid (late 70's-early 80's) you could pick up any of the popular 60's muscle cars cheap, the ones now selling for 100k plus. In 25 years their may or may not be a demand for SN95 platform but anyone driving one now expecting to retire with the resale is retarded. Cars are one of the worst investments people make.
Just pay $70, and get new light if its that bad of scratch. But i would leave it and spend your $70 on something for your 65 tho... that bubble thing to store your car is awsome!
I would just replace it myself instead of deal with an uncaring dealer that may cause more problems than it's worth while it's in there possession.
werd back on semi-topic....this guys 65 do the real 40th's come w/ a cloth or vinyl top on the verts?
I love the bubble. It's a Car Capsule- about $400... I have had it for over a year and couldn't be happier. We live out the Temecula wine country- LOTS of dust- the paint on my car was getting destroyed even covered! The bubble has a fan (like a computer fan) that pulls are through a filter... Great investment!
