I took the plunge and ordered an all-black leather wrapped GT350 wheel from [MENTION=25687]Beith Performance Parts.[/MENTION] Here's my impressions (and some photos) of the new "steering" experience.
Why did I decide to upgrade?
It takes a special type of person to blow hundreds of dollars on a wheel. I was that person for two reasons:
1.) I really hated the stock wheel because the leather quality felt vinyl-like and cheap
2.) I have large hands and the wheel's thinness just didn't gel with the S550's otherwise amazing interior aesthetic.
In a nutshell, the tactile feel of the wheel is really important for me and the stock detracted from the style I wanted. In addition, the wheel is the part of the car I touch and interact with the most so upgrading it (despite the cost) was a no brainer.
Bottom Line: This is the wheel that should have come with the car in the first place. It's the type of wheel that was made to control a car that has 435HP.
What I love about the wheel:
- Great quality leather that makes me wish my seats were wrapped in the same material.
- Solid craftsmanship and very sturdy construction
- Fantastic design. Seriously. Thicker all around the circumference, flat thickened bottom, significantly bolstered at the 10/2 o'clock positions, subtle racing stripe down the top center. Love, love, love every aspect of it. And it doesn't hurt that it looks absolutely sick (already got a compliment this weekend when I had to valet park the car)
- Installation was a breeze.
- Communication with Beith was easy, fast, and professional as you'd expect. I like the exchange program they offer (sending in my OEM wheel for a small refund).
What I dislike about the wheel: - There's a pronounced indentation mark at the 8 o'clock position where the wheel could have been wrapped better. Something hard or metallic is causing the leather to rise and is fairly noticeable in all light situations (I'm hoping a leather conditioning treatment will make it less apparent). It's the only noticeable flaw if you have OCD tendencies (or expect a custom hand-made leather product to be 100% flawless for the price point).
I'll update the thread periodically and report any signs of wear. Overall, glad I took the plunge!
Well, it's been almost a year since I updated this log.
Here's what's I've added in the past year:
- Ford Performance Pack 2 (Shelby GT350 Throttle Body, Cold Air Intake, and a tune)
- Ford Performance Track & Shock Kit
- BMR Cradle Lockout Kit (CB005)
- Steeda Min Drop Springs
- Steeda Rear Billet Shock Mount
- RTR Front/Lower Grille (sans LED lights)
- California Special Chin Splitter
- Ford Performance GT350R Strut Tower + Lower K Brace
- Ford Performance Blue Coil Covers (because they add a solid 1-2hp because of the color)
- Ford Performance Radiator Cover
And I got into an non-offensive accident. That was fun. But it was a good excuse to buy some more parts.
I'll go through and add some notes/impressions on each of the above (especially the suspension overhaul aka the "BmacIL special").
In the meantime, here's some pictures of where we stand.