Christmas came on Saturday

• Handling is beautiful. The car is SO planted when accelerating. No worry jimmy and shake when accelerating hard on an uneven highway ramp. Corners are carved with assurance and without the feel that the back end might bounce loose.
• Clutch and shifter are comfortable ... but I'll show my age and lack of sophistication by saying that 6 speeds feels crowded on a shifter!
• The mirror adjust buttons are too far forward on the door. I have to lean forward (and lose my natural line of sight) to adjust the mirrors.
• Finally! Telescoping steering wheel! Bliss
• Sight lines are a little compromised compared to the S197, which was really clear. The front pillars on the S550 are quite large.
• Electronics, SYNC etc all seem to work better on the S550 than the S197. Faster response, less trouble getting voice recognition to work, quick and seamless with my iPod Classic.
• MUCH better sound from the factory exhaust. The S197 was SILENT. Unfortunately my replacement Roush axelbacks were too loud. Now the S550 has an appropriate burble (without any drone, and without waking the neighbours.)
• Back-up camera. Wow! I am amazed that tech like this is included on a BASE car. I remember when a base car meant no radio, only one side mirror, and painted metal interior! :doh:
• Base stereo. It works great, slicker than the Shaker system in my S197. 6 speakers is OK, but doesn't sound great. It is missing mid-range definition and missing any real bass thump. I just have to remind myself BASE CAR and imagine a one-speaker AM radio
• The wireless keyfob seems overly complex. The "Start" button mimics the original method of starting cars (which high performance cars maintained.) Think back to my Dad's Ford Model A -- the key went into the dash to turn on the electrics, and then you push the start button to crank the engine. That makes sense to me. With wireless, I don't know where to put the fob, and the door locking/unlocking seems to have too many "what if" scenarios. I find myself using the Lock/Unlock buttons on the fob so that I am sure of what the car will do.
• The response to the S550 has been muted. My S197 got a LOT of comments and compliments, several times a week. When driving near kids, they would always look and point. This weekend, even parking at a big tournament full of 6 and 7 year-olds, the S550 didn't get a glance. On the highway, the S197 would get a lot of people driving alongside to look, and lots of thumbs up. Two days of highway driving the S197, and not a glance. I know it's silly and juvenile, but I like having a car that makes people excited and happy. Maybe I should have got Race Red

filmamigo said:

The wireless keyfob seems overly complex. The "Start" button mimics the original method of starting cars (which high performance cars maintained.) Think back to my Dad's Ford Model A -- the key went into the dash to turn on the electrics, and then you push the start button to crank the engine. That makes sense to me. With wireless, I don't know where to put the fob, and the door locking/unlocking seems to have too many "what if" scenarios. I find myself using the Lock/Unlock buttons on the fob so that I am sure of what the car will do.

Click to expand...

filmamigo said:

• The response to the S550 has been muted. My S197 got a LOT of comments and compliments, several times a week. When driving near kids, they would always look and point. This weekend, even parking at a big tournament full of 6 and 7 year-olds, the S550 didn't get a glance. On the highway, the S197 would get a lot of people driving alongside to look, and lots of thumbs up. Two days of highway driving the S197, and not a glance. I know it's silly and juvenile, but I like having a car that makes people excited and happy. Maybe I should have got Race Red

Click to expand...

filmamigo said:

[*]The wireless keyfob seems overly complex. The "Start" button mimics the original method of starting cars (which high performance cars maintained.) Think back to my Dad's Ford Model A -- the key went into the dash to turn on the electrics, and then you push the start button to crank the engine. That makes sense to me. With wireless, I don't know where to put the fob, and the door locking/unlocking seems to have too many "what if" scenarios. I find myself using the Lock/Unlock buttons on the fob so that I am sure of what the car will do.

Click to expand...

filmamigo;612966 [LIST said:

[*]The mirror adjust buttons are too far forward on the door. I have to lean forward (and lose my natural line of sight) to adjust the mirrors.

Click to expand...

filmamigo said:

Khyber: I feel ya on the photos! But it seemed like I picked up my car just in time for a two-day hurricane. Sunshine, wash and wax, then photos!

Barrel: Thanks.

One more question related to the fob ... I can't puzzle out (or find in the manual) how to get the equivalent of putting the keys in the ignition and turning them to Accessory. For example:
- get in the car, and want to roll down the windows? Nope. Guess I'll start the car.
- get in the car, and want to listen to the radio while I wait for someone? Nope. Guess I'll start the car.

Obviously I'm missing something! LOL I can't believe that a 42-year old tech guy is getting stumped by his car... but I suddenly feel OLD AND FEEBLE! Help me out guys!

Click to expand...

filmamigo said:

That makes sense to me. With wireless, I don't know where to put the fob, and the door locking/unlocking seems to have too many "what if" scenarios. I find myself using the Lock/Unlock buttons on the fob so that I am sure of what the car will do.

Click to expand...

filmamigo said:

• Sight lines are a little compromised compared to the S197, which was really clear. The front pillars on the S550 are quite large.

Click to expand...