Base model owners - what do you think?

[Asharus]

^
exactly my point

mine was 32,751. there are a lot of other cars within reach when you fully deck out a GT.

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[Malikona]

I'm paying just over $43K for my Mustang. I could have gotten a similarly equipped M235i through USAA's car-buying service for about $44K -- negligible difference.

I have to believe there are several thousand dollars worth of features on the Mustang at that price that are not on the M235i, but I could be proven wrong! I am looking at BMW's website right now and the BASE retail price of the M235 is $43,100. That is what you would pay for a Mustang with literally all the bells and whistles, including adaptive cruise, BLIS, and all that other stuff. Plus the GT has a 435 HP V8! I'm sorry but in my mind it's just not an apples to apples comparison.

Hell leather seating isn't even included at that price in the BMW, neither is navigation, heated seats, sattelite radio, keyless entry, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rear view camera, bluetooth phone connectivity, ALL of that stuff is optional. When you option a M235i similarly to a loaded GT (and even then it will not have nearly as many features, no adaptive cruise, no BLIS, etc.), you are easily pushing $50K. And if you don't include the features on the Mustang that aren't even available on the M235i, you are coming in just at $40K retail. That's a $10K difference for a similarly optioned car, even without considering the difference in engine, performance pack features, etc. You know that getting 435 HP in a 2-series (M2? won't be 435 but still...), is going to cost you $55K or $60K.

Unless you get non-metallic white paint, literally every other paint color on the 235 is a $550 option, lol. Look I am not trying to knock the BMW, and it is probably 3rd on my shopping list behind the GTI and the Mustang - they're great cars. I am just still not at all convinced that you get what you pay for. Either that or the Mustang is a steal.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Hack]

I just traded my Brembo brake 2011 for a base 2015 GT. I prefer to buy base models because IMO options are typically overpriced on new cars. I wasn't sure if I would buy a 2015. I'm one of the few who didn't want IRS - didn't want the price of the car to go up.

However, Ford made quite a few small improvements:
-repositioning the cup holders
-repositioning the e-brake
-new shifter
-the transmission shifts more smoothly IMO
-I like the new gage cluster and information display better than the old one

Also, there are more options in the base model:
-HID headlights as standard
-SYNC standard
-back up camera standard (not really needed, but appreciated)
-smaller and leather-wrapped steering wheel is nice
-tilt and extending steering wheel helps for taller people like me, although I'd like it to extend a little farther

 

[Asharus]

All of my requirements were met even at the base model. Keyless entry and start, HIDs, and rear view camera. The other options I would expect from a modern car are standard as well, such as Bluetooth, etc.

 

[Old 5 Oh]

I'm one of the few who didn't want IRS - didn't want the price of the car to go up.

However, Ford made quite a few small improvements:
-repositioning the cup holders
-repositioning the e-brake
-new shifter
-the transmission shifts more smoothly IMO
-I like the new gage cluster and information display better than the old one

Also, there are more options in the base model:
-HID headlights as standard
-SYNC standard
-back up camera standard (not really needed, but appreciated)
-smaller and leather-wrapped steering wheel is nice
-tilt and extending steering wheel helps for taller people like me, although I'd like it to extend a little farther

All that extra goodness, AND the IRS, AND the price didn't go up! Can we at least get you to admit that the new car drives a bit better than the old car? You stick-axle guys are stubborn!

 

[Melekith]

I'm eager to hear more from owners of base model cars, GT and EB. When I first started this odyssey I was set on the Premium due to leather, MFT, cool lighting, better stereo, etc., which also more or less limited me to the EB due to cost. The more time goes by the more I think I could live just fine without all that jazz much more easily than I could live with the regret of not getting the V8. (I coulda had a V8! :headbonk Seems like the novelty of most of the Premium extras might wear off after a while anyway, especially once MFT gets replaced/upgraded, etc. And there is always the aftermarket for any particular piece that I really have to have (though I will probably never get aftermarket leather seats, but you never know...).

How are owners of the base models liking them? Do you regret not getting the premium? Do you miss My Ford Touch, or is the base unit and stereo good enough for you? Are the seats quality? How about the dash and the interior lighting, still feel upscale enough? What about the rear bumper/diffuser, are you liking the look of the car without the body color rear diffuser? I should add that I'm also very concerned about the lack of selectable drive modes on the base models (don't really care about the toggle switches), since sport+ mode is supposedly so key for waking the car up, and snow/wet mode is something that I would really rely on. Do you feel like you are basically constrained to permanent 'normal' mode in the base car?

I just registered to this forum and this is my first post. You've basically asked all of the same questions that I have!

I currently have a Sonata 2.0T with all the luxuries. It's my daily driver and the only car I own. Ever since the reveal of the 2015 Mustang I've been itching to get one. I would have to trade in the Sonata to get a Mustang as I can't afford both.

For me I just don't see myself getting an EcoBoost. My Sonata ran the 1/4 in 14.435 @ 97mph. It already has a twin scroll turbo. An EcoBoost Mustang would basically be an even trade with the benefit of a much larger aftermarket (obviously). So I definitely want to get a Mustang GT...which will likely be my daily driver. Unfortunately this means driving it through my winters (I'm in southern Wisconsin / northern Illinois) for at least a couple of years.

In this regard the 'Premium' trim is the most attractive to me as it would, for the most part, replace all of the luxuries that I have in my Sonata while at the same time giving me that V8 that I'm craving. But ahh..those luxuries...are they really needed?

I've been on Ford's build & price tool almost every day doing various configurations...looks like I can build a base GT w/ PP and Recaros for about the same price as a Premium GT. I'm likely not going to track this car beyond the dragstrip a couple of times a year...simply for the enjoyment and not to chase numbers and such. In that regard the PP seems like total overkill, and not to mention that by avoiding the PP I could at least get by with the all seasons through my first winter. I like the idea of just burning up the stock rubber and then using those OEM 18" wheels for winter rubber and picking up a nice set of aftermarket wheels/tires for the other 3 seasons. I'm not partial to the 19's that come with the PP but I've read others say that they 'pop' much better in person.

Ahhh...decisions :headbonk:

 

[Malikona]

I just registered to this forum and this is my first post. You've basically asked all of the same questions that I have!

I currently have a Sonata 2.0T with all the luxuries. It's my daily driver and the only car I own. Ever since the reveal of the 2015 Mustang I've been itching to get one. I would have to trade in the Sonata to get a Mustang as I can't afford both.

For me I just don't see myself getting an EcoBoost. My Sonata ran the 1/4 in 14.435 @ 97mph. It already has a twin scroll turbo. An EcoBoost Mustang would basically be an even trade with the benefit of a much larger aftermarket (obviously). So I definitely want to get a Mustang GT...which will likely be my daily driver. Unfortunately this means driving it through my winters (I'm in southern Wisconsin / northern Illinois) for at least a couple of years.

In this regard the 'Premium' trim is the most attractive to me as it would, for the most part, replace all of the luxuries that I have in my Sonata while at the same time giving me that V8 that I'm craving. But ahh..those luxuries...are they really needed?

I've been on Ford's build & price tool almost every day doing various configurations...looks like I can build a base GT w/ PP and Recaros for about the same price as a Premium GT. I'm likely not going to track this car beyond the dragstrip a couple of times a year...simply for the enjoyment and not to chase numbers and such. In that regard the PP seems like total overkill, and not to mention that by avoiding the PP I could at least get by with the all seasons through my first winter. I like the idea of just burning up the stock rubber and then using those OEM 18" wheels for winter rubber and picking up a nice set of aftermarket wheels/tires for the other 3 seasons. I'm not partial to the 19's that come with the PP but I've read others say that they 'pop' much better in person.

Ahhh...decisions :headbonk:

First off I would say that you need to physically sit in the Recaros (leather or cloth, doesn't matter) before you order them. I sat in them in a showroom recently, and even as a relatively narrow guy, I could tell immediately that they would be way too tight for me in a daily driver. To each their own but I would highly recommend trying them out first.

I go back and forth between EcoBoost and GT in my mind on an almost hourly basis, lol. No doubt that having the GT would be my preference, just such a price premium...

 

[Melekith]

First off I would say that you need to physically sit in the Recaros (leather or cloth, doesn't matter) before you order them. I sat in them in a showroom recently, and even as a relatively narrow guy, I could tell immediately that they would be way too tight for me in a daily driver. To each their own but I would highly recommend trying them out first.

I go back and forth between EcoBoost and GT in my mind on an almost hourly basis, lol. No doubt that having the GT would be my preference, just such a price premium...

No you're absolutely right. If I had a beater or something that I was going to use to get through the winter...I'd be ordering a base GT and then I would think about adding the PP and/or Recaros, but the Premium just has so much more appeal to me on the basis that I'd be in the car year round.

Of course...nothing says this all has to be done in the Spring (like I'd want). I might let the summer run its course and then see what I can find on the used market come fall...and maybe snag something that was basically used for less than a year but will have all those initial price premiums off the price

 

[clubamericalara]

I've had my base ecoboost for about 3 weeks, i love nearly everything about it, i think there is almost no regrets although i was pissed off to find out the base head unit is not SXM compatible especially when there are 2 usb ports, aux and bluetooth available. I will be getting an onyx plus receiver.

 

[Tokyosmash!]

I never intended to get a premium. Got a base GT, performance pack and Recaros. Exactly what I wanted, no stuff I didn't want.

Have almost 3k miles on my car now, love it.

 

[wfpostle]

STAM616,
I have ordered the exact same Mustang as you, color and all, but with one exception - the 3.55 rear end. Add it to your order, I think you'll be pleased.

 

[thehunterooo]

I have been torn on the whole premium vs base for a while but I ended up going with the base. I wish the toggle switches were on all models, but I really wanted the track apps so I am quite happy with just the base. I wonder if there be an aftermarket option for them down the road. I have looked for a little bit, but I wonder what the exact weight difference is between the two?

 

[Malikona]

I have been torn on the whole premium vs base for a while but I ended up going with the base. I wish the toggle switches were on all models, but I really wanted the track apps so I am quite happy with just the base. I wonder if there be an aftermarket option for them down the road. I have looked for a little bit, but I wonder what the exact weight difference is between the two?

I've wondered about that myself, an aftermarket set of toggle switches. The little console they are in looks like it could pretty easily be replaced. Ideally you could put in your own CNC billet aluminum switches (as opposed to the chrome of the Premium ones) and have the 'mode' one map to custom maps from Cobb or Bama or one of those guys to replace the factory driving modes on the Premium.

All told, probably way more trouble than it's worth, but could be cool nonetheless.

 

[Strokerswild]

The only options I want on a GT are the PP and red leather.

It's a shame I have to go with a Premium to get the latter since I don't give a damn about anything else in the Premium package and could do without it all
:tsk:.

 

[gtlaw]

I wish there was an option to get the premium rear diffuser

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