GT Fastback or GT Convertible? Putting deposit down tomorrow... CANNOT DECIDE!

[Spork3245]

#WhyNotBoth?

Some of you know about my 2018 GT woes - dealer put an order in for me as a dealer-order (nothing down, if I wound up not wanting it or not able to get to the right price, I could walk away), this was back at the end of December, long story short, the order sat at the factory waiting for the build process to begin for nearly 5-6 weeks before finally getting a bounce-back in early April after the dealership contacted Ford to see WTF was going on with it and upped to the priorty code to the highest - the bounce-back was due to the current Magenride constraints on non-PP2 and non-Shelby models (some PP1s still show up with them, but it's seemingly random as to which ones get built with Magneride optioned and which do not). Anyway, when the bounce-back happened, the dealership contacted me immediately and offered to re-do my order as a 2019 GT with the highest priority-code from the get-go, of course, I said "sure, just make sure you put in for that B&O audio system".

SO - since 2019s probably won't appear until August/September, and my current lease running out in the first week of October, I don't want to take the chance of the car coming in, the dealership not getting the price to where I want it, and being some-what screwed with not enough time left in my lease to order another car from another dealership. As such, I contacted my sales guy and explained exactly this and said "let's negotiate the price now, I'll put some money down and we'll make it all nice and official", that day will be tomorrow morning! BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT... I really keep going back and forth with staying with a fastback (as per my 2013 GT and current 2016 GT) or going back to a convertible (as per my 1990 LX and 2001 GT)... Regardless of what I get, it's going to be fully-loaded (minus Recaros) with PP1, Magneride, S&S, A10, Active Exhaust, 401a, etc. The car is my DD btw.

Here's where I keep going back and forth... it comes down to FOMO:

1.) The convertible will be slower, but by how much...? I can't seem to find anything for the 2018s and the 2015-2017 numbers are all over the place. I know, I know, 0.3-ish seconds won't be noticeable and I could easily get that back eventually with a tune (when they finally start appearing for the gen 3s ). I just reeeeeeally want that 3.9-4.0 0-60 :lol: :frusty: - seriously, though, it's like the "perfect" amount of speed for a daily, IMO; mostly usable and you likely won't kill yourself.

2.) Handling... I test drove a 2017 GT Vert several month back, and I couldn't tell if it was because I was being "nice" on a test drive or if the car was seriously that much heavier where it felt that less agile on the turns I took. The turning radius felt huge compared to my 2016 - but it may have just been me on the test drive.

3.) The looks you get. When you see someone with a convertible, especially a V8 or performance-level car, you think "that person has $$$". I don't like that attention.

But, here are my pros...

1.) I love driving with the top down and honestly miss it sometimes

2.) The look for a Mustang convertible with it's top down is pure f'n sex

3.) I'll grab a cali special spoiler to complete the "look" I want.

BTW - Car is going to be Race Red exterior with Showstopper Red interior regardless.

*sigh*

DECESIONS!!!! :headbonk:

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[bigriver]

Your first instinct is always right. Don't over think it.

 

[gqllc007]

I thought about it like you did for about 5 seconds. I ended up with the 17 GT premium convertible California special. It was much easier to tune with a FRP level2, Corsa cat back, 3.73 gears, Michelin PS4, and Eibach sway bars than it was cutting the roof off and making it a convertible

 

[Bluemustang]

I had 2013 V6 convertible and I grew tired of it quickly. You just don’t use the convertible as much as you think. Plus the fastback looks way better, not even close. Just my 2 cents. I say get the fastback.

 

[gqllc007]

I had 2013 V6 convertible and I grew tired of it quickly. You just don’t use the convertible as much as you think. Plus the fastback looks way better, not even close. Just my 2 cents. I say get the fastback.

I do agree the fastback looks better even though I got the Vert. I also have a 2018 Audi A5 Sportback so my decision was not for a DD

 

[Madtel4]

OK IMHO they make boy Mustangs and they make girl Mustangs.

OK all you vert guys RANT on me.
Lee

 

[c-rizzle]

Convertible
Pros: top down, you can get it with performance pack now
Cons: more money, more weight, banned from certain tracks with out roll bar.

Coupe
Pros: Lighter (slightly faster), cheaper
Cons: No top down

If you have the money, get the convertible.

I had a 2014 GT Premium Convertible, and I LOVED cruising with the top down. I spent a lot of extra money making it "performance pack" with Brembos, and lightening it (92 lbs). But I didn't like the A6 auto in it, and I couldn't HPDE it at my local track with out a roll bar. I wish I had just held on to it though, until the 2018's came out and bought a GT Convertible A10 Performance Pack. Instead, I bought a 2017 GT Premium PP got tired of it in a year and got rid of it.

 

[Bravo]

Are you going to drive the car in the winter? If so, you'll want the fastback in NJ (which should be totally doable with winter tires).

 

[Spork3245]

I had 2013 V6 convertible and I grew tired of it quickly. You just don’t use the convertible as much as you think. Plus the fastback looks way better, not even close. Just my 2 cents. I say get the fastback.

My first two were verts and I put the top down every chance I could for years on end

Are you going to drive the car in the winter? If so, you'll want the fastback in NJ (which should be totally doable with winter tires).

The added weight in the back means that the vert is actually better in the winter, speaking from experience on my first two Mustangs


BTW - I should mention that I don’t track my cars, so roll bars aren’t a concern for me. :cheers:

 

[Loki-GT]

OK IMHO they make boy Mustangs and they make girl Mustangs.

OK all you vert guys RANT on me.
Lee

Ok, that was funny right there. :lol:

 

[Spork3245]

OK IMHO they make boy Mustangs and they make girl Mustangs.

OK all you vert guys RANT on me.
Lee

I agree! The girl ones are bright blue with white stripes!

 

[Zelek]

Had a convertible once. Didn't care for it much. Becomes a pain down the road when weather wears down the top. Also, sometimes the sealing can be questionable later in the cars life. These are the reasons why I would stick with the hard top.

For the number of days the top was down, it also felt like I was hunting for more attention. In some ways, felt a little odd but I got over it.

 

[Spork3245]

Had a convertible once. Didn't care for it much. Becomes a pain down the road when weather wears down the top. Also, sometimes the sealing can be questionable later in the cars life. These are the reasons why I would stick with the hard top.

For the number of days the top was down, it also felt like I was hunting for more attention. In some ways, felt a little odd but I got over it.

Yea, I did eventually have a leak in my rear window on my 2001, though, it had over 100k miles at that point. :(

 

[Nomadic]

I've never cared for convertibles. My g/f had a convertible. We'd ride with the top down. On sunny days, it just fried your skin as the sun just beat down on you. After 20 minutes, was over that and put the top up. At night it's not bad but then it can be too cold. They're also heavier and handle worse.

In summary, no way in hell I'd bother with a convertible. I have the GT and drive with the windows down and it's way better IMO.

 

[Mustang1260]

Vert.
Go with your heart.
Now the vert will not handle as well as the coupe, but seriously how often are your pushing it that hard on the street (self mental games come into play big time here as perception is often not reality)--your losing that body stiffness without the roof.

Can you fix that (at a reasonable cost) damn yes! If your package doesn't come with the Ford Perf engine brace- add it. Ford performance will have a nice handling kit-lower the car a bit (I'm shooting off my mouth a bit here--by now Ford Performance should have the Handling Packs out for the 18-19s but I'd double check their site. In the past if you Ordered the Ford Performance Handling Pack and had it dealer install at the time of delivery there were no warranty issues!

Great decision on color--will look simply stunning with the vert!

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