Base vs Premium?

[113]

Definitely test drive everything, preferably multiple times before making a decision. I made my decision after I got to test drove a PP and a non-PP back2back; which was the second time I test drove the PP.

I made the right decision. I thought I'd absolutely hate the 3.73 gearing, and I definitely find myself needing to shift more than I'd like. But as soon as the car starts to pull I instantly forget that stuff. From gears 1-5 the car pulls like nothing I've ever experienced. Love this thing, and I'm still in break-in period so haven't even gotten close to WOT yet.

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[ManBearPig]

I ordered my car with the idea that I didn't want any fluff. If it doesn't make the car go faster, stop quicker, or handle better, I didn't want it. If roll up windows and manual locks would have been available, I'd have gotten that too. 300A with performance pkg and cloth Recaros feels more "race car". Premium model with nav, leather, and fancy lights feels more "gentlemans sports car".

 

[Rough Hollow Man]

Great Looks on the Cheap!

Agreed... However, the best bang-for the buck has to be the base 6cyl. The beauty of the Mustang is you can option/mod it to great extremes to make it what you want. :ford:

Traded in a 2013 GT Premium vert for a 2015 Cyclone convertible and couldn't be happier.:love: Got the great looking S550 convertible with all the available options available for $28,700. Replaced the nice cloth seats with very custom Katzskins for $1,200 installed. So for $29,900 I have a great looking, economical, 300HP convertible that has a "bullet-proof" engine. My purple/gold leather interior is a real crowd pleaser at car meet ups and auto shows. I haven't really noticed or missed the "My Little Pony Lights"...:lol::tsk:addle:

 

[113]

I ordered my car with the idea that I didn't want any fluff. If it doesn't make the car go faster, stop quicker, or handle better, I didn't want it. If roll up windows and manual locks would have been available, I'd have gotten that too. 300A with performance pkg and cloth Recaros feels more "race car". Premium model with nav, leather, and fancy lights feels more "gentlemans sports car".

I agree with you, there is an almost indescribable appeal of just a barebones musclecar. I would have been pretty happy with a base GT with PP. But since this is my one and only car, my daily, I needed an infotainment system that could meet those demands. Unfortunately you can't get SYNC3 with the base model. If it had been a standalone option for base that would have been what I bought. Ford is smart is how they option out the 'Stang; definitely separated me from more of my money.

 

[Emt1581]

I searched through the threads to find a Base w PP vs Premium PP thread, this seemed to be the closest. Seems like those with the Premium say it's definitely nice, but other than the driving modes, doesn't do much capability/performance-wise. A couple have even said the driving modes are not needed if you are careful (sounded specific to the Wet/Snow mode).

But throughout the thread I really didn't get much of an impression for the frequency of use of all the bells/whistles/doo-dads. Is it that the Premier seats are always amazing but the only time driving modes are used is at the track? Does anyone use their toggles more than once a week (if not seeing the track)?

The more I research the more I feel I'm in the group that really could care less about MOST of the jazz with the premium (other than possibly the modes and Premier seats...because after reading what I have, no way I'd get a car with standard leather!)...because none of my past cars had anything close to those features. I just want the premium for the seats mostly. And I figured this thread was old enough that no one would get their dander up about a temp. hi-jack. But if so...my appologies.

Thanks!

-Emt1581

 

[bluebeastsrt]

Get their dander up? Hell they ought to be impressed you went to all the trouble of digging up a 3 month old thread. So you could offer your extensive opinion.

 

[Endokendal]

Get what you want and make your own decision! I personally LOVE all the fluff and bells/whistles of the premium package and do not regret getting it. Is it worth the cost? Completely subjective! Is a mustang with $40K? Again, completely subjective. I also do not regret NOT getting PP... But I don't track the car at all, just DD. The extra performance parts and pieces would have been wasted on me. IMO The car drives fantasticly without the increased performance suspension, bigger radiator, bigger brakes, summer tires, etc., and I really don't like the black PP wheels, so it was a no brainier for me. But get what YOU want and can afford!

 

[MaskedRacerX]

I searched through the threads to find a Base w PP vs Premium PP thread, this seemed to be the closest. Seems like those with the Premium say it's definitely nice, but other than the driving modes, doesn't do much capability/performance-wise. A couple have even said the driving modes are not needed if you are careful (sounded specific to the Wet/Snow mode).

But throughout the thread I really didn't get much of an impression for the frequency of use of all the bells/whistles/doo-dads. Is it that the Premier seats are always amazing but the only time driving modes are used is at the track? Does anyone use their toggles more than once a week (if not seeing the track)?

I'll repost my original response as a reference (that you might have not seen):

MSRP, the Premium is $4k more than the "base". In either trim, the PP is $2495.

Premium vs. Base, from the Ford website, the Premium has:

Drive modes
Heated and cooled seats
Leather
Dual zone AC
Sync 3 with 8" display and 9 speaker system
Ambient lighting
Premium door trim
Lighted door sills
Universal garage opener
Heated side mirror with turn indicators
Rear diffuser

Plus several options that are only available to the Premium (401a, adaptive cruise control, etc.)

Is the Premium the same "value" as the PP? Depends on your perspective and at the end of the day, Ford establishes the pricing model.

If you want a lower cost drivers car, go PP non-Premium with Recaros, awesome, hard to beat for the price.

:cheers:

It's not really performance related (I suppose the drive modes ...), it's all niceties, convenience, aesthetics - it's the features you find standard in "premium brands".

Some things just kind of fall into your daily flow, like the garage opener and 8" AV system, some thing are very passive, very cool, but easily done without like lighting related features.

I wanted (and got) a fully optioned car, I wanted as much content as I could get.

(FWIW, GT convertibles aren't available in a non-Premium flavor, so while I'm 99% sure I would've gone Premium, it wasn't a choice I had to contend with )

 

[Chameleon]

I agree with you, there is an almost indescribable appeal of just a barebones musclecar.

Yep, love it. Though I will do a cloth to leather cover swap install soon. :ford:

 

[Emt1581]

Yep, love it. Though I will do a cloth to leather cover swap install soon. :ford:

Leather cover?...What brand/model of cover?

Thanks

-Emt1581

 

[rgingo]

The premium package is definitely subjective on value. I have the 50-yr pkg and the premium pkg with auto/turbo and my wife and I LOVE this car as it is exactly. I didn't think I would care about many of the extras, but I've come to appreciate them with use. The fully adjustable electric seats (mine heated/cooled & with memory) are wonderfully comfortable. The drive modes work especially well the the excellent auto tranny.....I use "Normal" in traffic and "Sport" when I want to have sporting fun (yes there is a very noticeable difference: throttle responds quicker, upshifts and downshifts are very sporty and stay in the wide power-band better); "Mud&Snow" does the opposite, taming the beast to keep from losing traction; haven't needed to use "Track" yet .... this is where the traction control nannies get reduced. Either way, a cool comfortable, quiet and pleasant ride..... go with your gut.

 

[Old 5 Oh]

I searched through the threads to find a Base w PP vs Premium PP thread, this seemed to be the closest. Seems like those with the Premium say it's definitely nice, but other than the driving modes, doesn't do much capability/performance-wise.

Premium is probably a small negative performance impact due to slight weight increase. I love mine. It makes the whole car more worth the price for me. I didn't know if I would like MFT but I do, and I suppose Sync 3 is better. I use my nav often since we are in a new city, and it's excellent no matter what C&D says. So much easier to program on the fly, and to see, than even the best phone app. I like the Premier package a lot and wouldn't get premium without it. Overall, the interior looks like upmarket 2015 rather than 2007 Chevy Cavalier. Sorry, that base center stack is ugly. (If that doesn't matter to you, order it anyway. It's your car.)

I did want the snow mode, and I think it helps in slick conditions, though a very steady foot is probably as good. I like the premium rear diffuser, and who can knock the puddle lights and the angry red tachometer face at redline?

Those were my reasons.

 

[foghat]

I switch the driving mode to sport every time I enter the car. The default mode feels like it neuters the car. Throttle response is terrible and the steering feels much to soft.

 

[CEHollier]

Get the premium or you'll regret it

Agree. If you can afford it and don't plan on racing it as another member posted get the premium.

 

[Old 5 Oh]

I switch the driving mode to sport every time I enter the car. The default mode feels like it neuters the car. Throttle response is terrible and the steering feels much to soft.

I like Sport+ mode quite a bit. Being an AT, I have one gripe, and that is that the trans won't go into 6th gear. At all. Can't paddle it into 6th, even. I think that's a little severe. I'd leave it in S+ even more, but when I am cruising at 60+ mph, it really needs to go to 6th gear. So back to Normal I go.

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