Potential purchase advise please, GT base vs PP

[TheHydro]

I had a hard time finding a base GT with performance package. I stuck it out and got exactly what I wanted. I considered buying just a base GT but after pricing out everything to make it equivalent to a performance package it became non negotiable in my search.

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[Blk2015GT]

Who cares about EBs? The OP asked about the GT with and without the performance pack. Not what engine you prefer and why. OP I like the idea of getting a lot for not a lot so the PP makes sense to me.

I think it more comes down to: will you actually use it? I posted in the other PP thread but it has no value at any price if you don't push the car honestly. It's like supersizing in fast food mentality. Oh it's that much bigger for $.50 why not? But most people never drink/eat that additional amount and truthfully waste the money on nothing at the end of the day.

It's cool to have to say you have it, but if the car isn't pushed the 4 piston calipers and stock GT setup are perfectly ok for a daily driver. It's the same setup the previous 682hp GT500 and Boss used so I'm sure it's more than ok.

And you still have money to do some lowering springs, sway bars and a few upgrades (exhaust, tint etc). Can buy the strut tower brace, did so on my auto GT for a whopping $189 with the K brace.

It depends how the purchaser intends to use the car truthfully.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

I think it more comes down to: will you actually use it? I posted in the other PP thread but it has no value at any price if you don't push the car honestly. It's like supersizing in fast food mentality. Oh it's that much bigger for $.50 why not? But most people never drink/eat that additional amount and truthfully waste the money on nothing at the end of the day.

It's cool to have to say you have it, but if the car isn't pushed the 4 piston calipers and stock GT setup are perfectly ok for a daily driver. It's the same setup the previous 682hp GT500 and Boss used so I'm sure it's more than ok.

And you still have money to do some lowering springs, sway bars and a few upgrades (exhaust, tint etc).

It depends how the purchaser intends to use the car truthfully.

I had brembos on the car I traded in for this GT and the Brembos are that good! Some times the difference between a bad rear end accident and a near miss is only a few feet. Those brembos are going to get you those few extra feet every time. Skimping on brakes is like skimping on tires to me. Some of the parts on your car you really want the best you can get. Get the cloth seats and the base radio but don't ever skimp on brakes and tires.

 

[Blk2015GT]

I had brembos on the car I traded in for this GT and the Brembos are that good! Some times the difference between a bad rear end accident and a near miss is only a few feet. Those brembos are going to get you those few extra feet every time. Skimping on brakes is like skimping on tires to me. Some of the parts on your car you really want the best you can get. Get the cloth seats and the base radio but don't ever skimp on brakes and tires.

Well of course. Remember that the current "base" GT brakes are the 4 piston upgraded Brembos from prior years; just branded as a Ford Motor part now. They're more than adequate for daily driving and even some light track use.

 

[Asharus]

from what i've read, the stock GT brakes have the same stopping distance as the brembos. the brembos are only good for heat dissipation on the track.

with that said, i'd still want all the goodies in the performance package, regardless. there are many items that are not part of the package list that are different from a stock GT. the belly pan and various braces/suspension bits are more robust.

 

[Blk2015GT]

with that said, i'd still want all the goodies in the performance package, regardless. there are many items that are not part of the package list that are different from a stock GT. the belly pan and various braces/suspension bits are more robust.

Of course, but first do the math and see what the parts themselves would cost too.

I got the K brace/strut tower brace for $180; a few bolts to swap it in.

Springs can be gotten aftermarket that are better than the PP and lower the car a bit. Same with sway bars people still upgrade them even from the PP.

The belly pan is $275 or so and the front PP splitter can be had for $80; only a few screws to swap it out.

I think each person needs to do their own analysis if it's worth it to them for their driving habits, or its better to put that $2,500 to building it more custom with a few better parts in the aftermarket.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

from what i've read, the stock GT brakes have the same stopping distance as the brembos. the brembos are only good for heat dissipation on the track.

I don't believe that to be the case. The very first Car and Driver tests I checked had the performance pack stopping at 149ft. vs the standard brakes stopping at 157ft. from 70MPH. The Brembos will be worth 6-8 feet in stopping distance.

 

[Asharus]

well i do admit that it was just some post on this forum that advised that stopping distance was the same. i did not actually read it from a test.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

Of course, but first do the math and see what the parts themselves would cost too.

I got the K brace/strut tower brace for $180; a few bolts to swap it in.

Springs can be gotten aftermarket that are better than the PP and lower the car a bit. Same with sway bars people still upgrade them even from the PP.

The belly pan is $275 or so and the front PP splitter can be had for $80; only a few screws to swap it out.

I think each person needs to do their own analysis if it's worth it to them for their driving habits, or its better to put that $2,500 to building it more custom with a few better parts in the aftermarket.

Your leaving out the most expensive parts of the package (Brakes & Wheels) and the cost of installing those aftermarket parts. Most people pay to have their parts put on. Or if your handy like me. The days laying on your back in the drive way with busted knuckles need to come into the equasion. Anyway your a big boy OP. make up your own mind.

 

[Rogues Gambit]

Just to follow up on my post, I ended up getting a great deal on a PP model the dealer had been sitting on for 36 days. It really is a bargain for everything PP gets you for only $2500, the brakes and wheels/tires alone are worth the price and you get updated suspension.

Congrats, and best of luck to you buddy:cheers:

 

[lazarus870]

Same boat. The brakes alone are damn tempting and the black wheels are growing on me.

 

[Blk2015GT]

Your leaving out the most expensive parts of the package (Brakes & Wheels) and the cost of installing those aftermarket parts. Most people pay to have their parts put on. Or if your handy like me. The days laying on your back in the drive way with busted knuckles need to come into the equasion. Anyway your a big boy OP. make up your own mind.

Oh of course, it's a case by case basis really.

I see tons of people dumping the PP wheels because they're heavy and the S550 can handle wider wheels/tires for better traction.

And per a caliper powdercoating thread in another subsection, you can get the PP calipers for $250 a piece from Tasca Ford, then you just need the rotors at $100 each and a set of front brake pads. It's not a HUGE cost per se if you have some mechanical ability. I could upgrade to the 6 piston setup on the front (since the rears are the same) for about $750-800. Not a terrible price if you're willing to do some wrench work. I thought the Brembo parts to upgrade the base GT fronts would be a lot more expensive honestly.

All in all I could have a similar setup on my auto GT with 3.55s- strut tower brace already on ($185), Brembo front upgrade $800, Steeda Springs $300, front/rear sway bars $475. With the know-how it's all in all about $1750; with a better suspension than the PP too using Steeda parts. Still $800 in my pocket too.

It depends on the individual user and willingness to wrench on the car a bit. I personally as a daily driver and no track use have no use for the 6 pistons vs 4 though as 4 were plenty good on the prior year high performance vehicles, but can have an equal handling car for $800-900 and already on 20x10s with 275s.

 

[Tony Alonso]

Well of course. Remember that the current "base" GT brakes are the 4 piston upgraded Brembos from prior years; just branded as a Ford Motor part now. They're more than adequate for daily driving and even some light track use.

They are a new package supplied by Continental according to someone from Ford who posted awhile back. They look similar and they were engineered with the capability of the previous generation Brembos.

 

[hiccup]

Same boat. The brakes alone are damn tempting and the black wheels are growing on me.

The black pp wheels are the most complimented thing on my GT. The folks just love the look and find it hard to believe they are from ford.

 

[madsedan]

Blk2015GT, good points there but for me I'd much rather negotiate a deal and get the PP for not much more than the GT and only have an additional $15 a month on my car payment than to buy a GT and spend $1800 and a couple days of time doing it ;)

I'm an older guy with 3 kids in sports and its hard enough finding a couple hours a week to wash the car, all day or weekend wrenching on it is a luxury I simply don't have.

I basically got the car for x-plan pricing, which is close to invoice price I believe. So in that respect I might have paid less than the $2,500 on the sticker for the PP package.

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