Another question about Base vs Premium

[smitty]

I went through this thought process as well and decided on the base car. The premium interior is beautiful, but I have the mft in an escape and wasn't all that enamored. I've had lots of mustangs and a 50th year car will be my last one. I'll be keeping it for my coffin ;)
The basic car is such an improvement over previous year cars in so many fundamental ways. If I wanted a BMW or an AUDI I'd buy one. This car for me has always represented a certain value and fun-to-drive factor that few other cars rival. Plus it's just beautiful.
I kinda like the toggle switches and even the pony projectors, but if you can live without that crap (I can) the base car is a far better value for me and my priorities. Hell, the dash is still real aluminum (and more attractive than the brushed aluminum in the premium IMO) and I don't even listen to the radio because I love the engine note so much. If your priority is the driving experience, it's the same. If you like the premium stuff, it's way better than years past too. No wrong answers here

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[AR306]

The only thing I really wish I had from the premium trim is the Nav/Screen/Stereo upgrade.. I find the base stereo extremely disappointing.. worse still, guys who sprung for the upgraded shaker system say even that system is underwhelming but I'm sure it's infinitely better than the base system.

I too plan on trading in my car for a GT.. however I screwed up and ended paying 5k more than what I had planned for something I didn't even want.. Lol.

I still plan on trading it in.. I'm thinking 2 years, pay down over 50% (put down over 20% on a 6 year term) and try for the 0% financing special offer from ford credit.

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

That doesn't ring true. Sure, there is a slight "premium" on your resale price, but it doesn't come close to recouping the additional up front cost. So you're actually losing more money than if you bought a base vehicle. That said, it's not even a money thing for me. If I want to drive a luxury car, I'll drive my A8L. If I want a truck, I'll drive my truck. If I want a simple and fun to drive sports car, I hop in the Mustang. Springing for the extra bling doesn't do anything for me in a pony car, but I understand that others might feel differently.

Best,

All depends on what you pay for it. Sure, if you paid 40k or close to the sticker, You're gonna lose out on a lot. Which is said for any car. I Bought my 2011 GT Premium for 28K back in 2012, turned around and sold it for 24K w/ some slight mods and 49k miles in September. I had the same experience when I sold my 2005 GT Premium a few years ago.

 

[zillah]

I thought the Premium was silly at first too, but now I think I would rather have the Premium over the V8, if I had the choice.

The fact of the matter is, the car just looks so much better on the inside with the premium than without it. Most of the time spent with the car is on the inside, the entire time, I don't see how people don't understand the value to that.

Now paying extra for a color, or the red line trim, or black out package? I could see why that wouldn't' be worth the money to some and is a matter of personal taste, but you give up a lot more than just leather seats and fancy lights.

The inside doesn't look cheap. It looks well put together and close to luxury as you will ever get with a Ford. The sound system is better. The touch screen is much more usable. Sync 3 is a huge improvement and its potential for upgrade is available (Android Auto/Apple Auto) Drive modes. Heated and cooled seats. You have to go premium if you want the extra features such as NAV, 401A or Adaptive Cruise Control.

For a track car, you don't want all that. For a Daily Driver, you wouldn't think you'd want them until you did and then you would realize why you want them

 

[AR306]

I thought the Premium was silly at first too, but now I think I would rather have the Premium over the V8, if I had the choice.

The fact of the matter is, the car just looks so much better on the inside with the premium than without it. Most of the time spent with the car is on the inside, the entire time, I don't see how people don't understand the value to that.

I would take a base coyote over a specced out ecoboost or v6 any day of the week and twice on Sunday. This car is about the looks and drivetrain more than anything.. if you're looking at Ford for Luxury, your money would be better spent elsewhere. If however you have the juice and can swing the extra coin for the fancy stuff without thinking twice then by all means indulge.. but personally there is no way in hell I'd trade the coyote for leather seats and nav, to me that sounds ridiculous. :doh:

 

[Moddiction]

Yeah even the premium interior isn't very good. If it was my daily driver car I may have gone for premium. I have a 15 MDX tech for the luxury and nice interior etc.
The Mustang I got for the performance. Interior wise though besides the screen and leather they are very similar.
If ford offered leather option on base or screen option that would be more enticing to many. The premium package just adds so much useless stuff (to me) that it is a complete waste of money. Pony lights, interior adjustable color lighting, heated/cooled seats etc all just jack the price way up.
I wound up finding the perfect car I was looking for. 16 GT base 6 speed manual with performance pack for under 33k out the door new.

 

[RitzGT]

Yeah even the premium interior isn't very good. If it was my daily driver car I may have gone for premium. I have a 15 MDX tech for the luxury and nice interior etc.
The Mustang I got for the performance. Interior wise though besides the screen and leather they are very similar.
If ford offered leather option on base or screen option that would be more enticing to many. The premium package just adds so much useless stuff (to me) that it is a complete waste of money. Pony lights, interior adjustable color lighting, heated/cooled seats etc all just jack the price way up.
I wound up finding the perfect car I was looking for. 16 GT base 6 speed manual with performance pack for under 33k out the door new.

I'm with ya. Makes no sense to me either....especially the mood lighting and other pure bling items. *shrug*

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

Yeah even the premium interior isn't very good. If it was my daily driver car I may have gone for premium. I have a 15 MDX tech for the luxury and nice interior etc.
The Mustang I got for the performance. Interior wise though besides the screen and leather they are very similar.
If ford offered leather option on base or screen option that would be more enticing to many. The premium package just adds so much useless stuff (to me) that it is a complete waste of money. Pony lights, interior adjustable color lighting, heated/cooled seats etc all just jack the price way up.
I wound up finding the perfect car I was looking for. 16 GT base 6 speed manual with performance pack for under 33k out the door new.

What do you mean by isn't very good lol? I can see not wanting a premium simply for finances or you just don't care for all the extras, it's all in what you want but you gotta give credit where it's due man lol. Standard touch screen, standard heated/cooled seats and not to mention the best vinyl leather I've ever seen/felt in a Ford. Door panels aren't plastic etc. :shrug:

 

[Moddiction]

Compared to cars that actually have higher end interiors. My Acura MDX interior quality blows the Mustang premium out of the water. That is what I mean. It's great for a Ford but over all it is not a very high end interior still.

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

Compared to cars that actually have higher end interiors. My Acura MDX interior quality blows the Mustang premium out of the water. That is what I mean. It's great for a Ford but over all it is not a very high end interior still.

You're comparing a 36k Mustang interior to a starting at 43k Luxury SUV Interior.. lol? Of course it's going to be better lol. :shrug:

 

[Moddiction]

That's all I'm saying. It is a big step up from previous generation Mustang but still can tell parts of it were done very cheaply.

 

[Spartan]

You're comparing a 36k Mustang interior to a starting at 43k Luxury SUV Interior.. lol? Of course it's going to be better lol. :shrug:

Mustang premium optioned out can hit like 45K so they are pretty similar in price. At the 40K range the Mustang interior could be a tad nicer. They cut some corners in quality. I mean look up under your wheel at the way they trim the carpet...

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

Mustang premium optioned out can hit like 45K so they are pretty similar in price. At the 40K range the Mustang interior could be a tad nicer. They cut some corners in quality. I mean look up under your wheel at the way they trim the carpet...

At 36k there is not much more to improve interior wise. 401A, Premier trim and navi are about $3000 in options so at max interior wise you're talking 39K. Let's fully load the MDX and you're close to 50K lol..

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

I'm not trying to justify my spending and say I have a better car than those with base. I simply got what I wanted and others will get what they want. But to not give credit where it's due on a 36k Mustang Interior to me is a little out there. That's all I'm trying to say.

 

[RitzGT]

It's not even a money thing...it's a value thing. To be frank, I could buy a GT pretty much monthly and not impact my life at all. But I just don't see the value in optioning up a Mustang. Very much a personal choice and we all have different things that are important to us. There are folks out there that are all about their ride. That's cool...but I just want a basic GT. I'll supercharge it and maybe add a couple of small things here and there, but it would just bug the crap out to me to know that I'd paid for "mood lighting" or a light to project a mustang onto the street, etc. I prefer to be "anonymous" and drive it without attracting attention and cops. Different strokes. I guess I'm just getting old.

Best,

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