Hmmm... MagneRide vs. 401A

[stangrob]

Hello folks,

A little background - I had an opportunity to pick up a one-owner MkIV R32 earlier this year from a family friend and let my '05 GT go to get it. To me, it was a palette cleanser after driving Mustangs for most of my adult life - an opportunity to try something different. Fast-forward to a few weeks ago - my wonderful wife asked if missed my Mustang, and I said absolutely (the R32 was awesome but not my cup of tea in hindsight), at which point she indicated getting a new GT was OK with her (did I say how wonderful she is???). So, the R32 has been sold, I'm driving the family wagon, and getting ready to order a new GT in early 2018

With one son in college and the other soon to start, checking off every option on the order sheet isn't feasible for me. At this point the order looks like this: 6sp Premium PP1 GT in Ruby Red with the variable exhaust and security package. And thus my question comes up...

I've seen the new digital dash that's part of the 401A package, and was leaning in that direction until I started reading all the feedback on MagneRide. While I don't track my cars, I do enjoy pushing them when the roads are interesting. MagneRide sounds like the icing on the Performance Pack cake, which would mean going with 400A/MagnaRide/Variable Exhaust and skipping on the sweet dash cluster. But I look at the dash more than anything, and oh you get the idea.

So while this is an apples vs. oranges comparison, it does come down to $$$ and I'm scratching my head. Sweet dash and interior with normal shocks or excellent suspension with "regular" gauges. Any thoughts?

Rob

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[UAmach1]

I say join Mustang Club of America, pay the $35 join fee, and get access to X-Plan pricing. Save a few $ and maybe be able to afford both.

Also there are dealers around me selling PP, active exhaust, mag ride, Shaker system and security package for 47K, thats like 2500 off.

 

[DukeGaGa]

If I have to choose between the two, I'd definitely go for the dash. MagneRide is good, but I'm pretty sure it's not so good that you'll notice it every time you drive, it'll most likely be noticeable if you drive one with and without it back to back, when the digital dash is there everytime you get in the car.

 

[JeffreyDJ]

Personally, not to be dismissive, I'd go both. If you're financing they price per month is negligible on an an expensive car.

At MSRP to add 401a is a ~4.8% ($2200) increase and MagnaRide is ~3.7% ($1695) increase. Together, it is under a 10% increase in MSRP based on your other options.

If I absolutely had to add one, I'd add 401a if it's a DD as the additional items you'll notice everyday more so than the MagnaRide. I don't know if that option jives with your preconceived notion of what you'd ultimately decide, so good luck and either way you'll have a great car

 

[Ninjak]

If your a driver, the Mag ride. A fancy dash is just that. It does not add to performance of the car, its literally eye candy. The Mag ride you will feel every time you drive you car down those spirited roads.

Now if you can swing both, then yes get the new gauge system. It is really nice. But the regular gauges are not like something out of my 65.

 

[Freedom]

I haven't driven a magneride car but I can assume that it works best when worked hard/poor road conditions. So, if the roads in your area are good with only a few potholes, do occasional spirited driving, and you don't track get the 401A. However, if the roads are poor, do spirited driving alot, or intend to track get magneride. Or, get the magneride and hope that the digital cluster is swappable down the road.


It's worth mentioning, but try test driving if possible. Also, consider this, will the novelty of a digital cluster get old to you?

 

[sebounet]

I haven't driven a magneride car but I can assume that it works best when worked hard/poor road conditions. So, if the roads in your area are good with only a few potholes, do occasional spirited driving, and you don't track get the 401A. However, if the roads are poor, do spirited driving alot, or intend to track get magneride. Or, get the magneride and hope that the digital cluster is swappable down the road.


It's worth mentioning, but try test driving if possible. Also, consider this, will the novelty of a digital cluster get old to you?

Do you think magneride increase confort on bad road ? Is it not something that just stiffen the suspension to avoid that the front of the car goes up when you accelerate? Or stiffen the exterior wheels in a sharp turn ?

 

[bill@cjpp]

I have both on my car and would rather not give up either. Personally I would ditch the active exhaust, the factory exhaust with a resonator delete sounds amazing. Put that money into the magneride and 401a, the cluster is absolutely amazing!

 

[z31maniac]

If $2k in options is a deciding factor on a $40k car, I feel like it's possible you are pushing your budget a bit too hard.

 

[ForTehNguyen]

nothing like missing out on options then regretting it later

 

[c-rizzle]

Do you think magneride increase confort on bad road ? Is it not something that just stiffen the suspension to avoid that the front of the car goes up when you accelerate? Or stiffen the exterior wheels in a sharp turn ?

It does all of that & more. There's a video out there with the Ford engineer telling you about all of the wonderful things it does in 1000th's of seconds.

So magneride benefits you every day, as the standard setting allows the car to be "soft" on those bumpy roads.

But when you want the stiffness for sporty/track driving press the button and you've got a track ready car.

 

[stangrob]

I have both on my car and would rather not give up either. Personally I would ditch the active exhaust, the factory exhaust with a resonator delete sounds amazing. Put that money into the magneride and 401a, the cluster is absolutely amazing!

That is another option that I had considered before - maybe need to revisit it. The non-active exhaust does sound a LOT better than I expected, and from a driving perspective the MagneRide may make a bigger difference than having the variable exhaust, which perhaps if I'm honest I'll likely set to Sport at some point and leave it there (guess my neighbors wouldn't get the benefit of Quiet mode ;) ).
[MENTION=32284]UAmach1[/MENTION] - I actually get X-Plan via my employer but I guess I'm hoping I can do a bit better negotiating with the dealer - I'll find out soon enough! I'm assuming you can't negotiate from X-Plan...

I'll have to play with the numbers a bit more. At the end of the day I don't want to take advantage of my wife's generosity - I'm trying to keep the monthly payment under a certain limit - you know the drill ;)

Thanks for the feedback - keep it coming!

Rob

 

[Cardude99]

Like u I love that cluster. Really cool piece of tech. But imo if you get the cluster u should get mag ride too as they compliment each other. Whereas if u get mag ride you don't need the cluster but it's not a bad thing to get.

So to me if u have to have one get mag ride as it is the most useful, and likely the most rewarding. The cluster is just icing on the cake, doesnt really do anything but it sure is pretty to look at.

 

[marjen]

When I test drive if the magnaride is that good it might push into another ecoboost. For me its either eco/auto/201a/pp/magnaride or GT/auto/401a/active exhaust.

 

[foghat]

But imo if you get the cluster u should get mag ride too as they compliment each other.

How so?

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