I doubt gas caps,window mouldings and badges are gonna keep a mustang on the road.Mechanical parts are readily available or easily replaced with aftermarket, so your statement is a little far fetched.
Lessee, no mouldings, no bumpers, no grilles, no parking lights, no taillights, no backup lights, no door handles, no dash panels, no seat trim…
Yeah, that's it, we'll all drive rat rods.
When I see people willingly, happily, paying $100 for door handles, and $900 for bumpers, and $675 for mufflers, I'll complain about SD "quality".
BTW, that muffler price is real, and it's a beauty, but people aren't exactly blowing out the internet to order them.
People talk on the 'net about "I'd pay triple for decent quality!" I just think about the times I've heard people whine about the price. I've heard people whine about $50 for a gas gap. OK, would you pay $200? A friend of mine did a '75 Mercedes once, the four door handles totaled $900. Would you pay that?
As for the gas caps that are a big part of this thread, were they Scott Drake? I find it hard to believe anyone would have a 6-month-old gas cap go bad and Drake refuse to replace it. Seriously. I've talked to these people, and they're just not like that.