Things Ford Shouldn't Have Cheaped Out On.

[CF-105]

I do realize that Ford put a heck of a lot of value into our cars. The Coyote is a hell of an engine. Not too long ago, it would have been serious, big dollar exotic car stuff. The suspension, the structure, etc. Is really solid and basically well designed. Magnaride is magic.

However, driving the $50k version of a car that is also available for $30k, does mean we lose out on some build quality and materials that we'd usually get in a car that costs this much.

So what areas of cost cutting on your Bullitt bother you the most? What things do you wish Ford should have corrected, even if it meant adding a totally insignificant $500 to the price?

These don't have to be big deal issues. Rather I'm thinking of those little annoyances.

For me?

I hate the fact that the doors close with a sound like an 80s vintage Hyundai. How can you make something so heavy and solid sound so thin and tinny?

Prop rod. Really? A Prop rod on a $50k ($60k in Canada) car? It's bad enough when it's cold, but it's annoying as hell when you grab it after its nice and toasty from a hard run.

The single note horn. This is just rediculous. Maybe even dangerous.

Noise insulation. I would have wished that Ford put a little more noise insulation in the back. I love the good noise from the exhaust, but the tire roar on the highway can get annoying on long drives. And I do a lot of long drives.

That's my list for now. I'm sure I could add some more.

Your thoughts?

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[Bluezeke]

Prop rod and horn for me too. Luckily both are easy fixes!

 

[lockwood]

Prop rod and horn for me too. Luckily both are easy fixes!

Lack of quality finish. The paint on my Bullitt is nowhere near the quality on my mx5. I’ve had to re-paint the boot lid and both rear quarters due to fluff in the paint.

 

[CF-105]

Lack of quality finish. The paint on my Bullitt is nowhere near the quality on my mx5. I’ve had to re-paint the boot lid and both rear quarters due to fluff in the paint.

I guess I got lucky there. My paint finish is pretty good, though definitely not perfect. I even survived the usual orange peel covered rear quarters that I've seen so many have. They guy who did my paint correction and ceramic coating said it's a razor thin layer of paint on there. Not something you want to buff very much.

I have wondered how it would look if the DHG paint was applied by a good custom painter, done the old fashioned way. A bunch of coats of paint, each later hand rubbed down, and then covered with a bunch of clear.

 

[Nexus]

So the 'cheap outs' go across all the model lines and comes down, like everything, the almighty dollar and profit. If you think it's bad on a 60k Bullitt, you won't find much better on the 90k 350R or 90K+ GT500 when it launches.

General Mustang complaints:
-Paint: Yes the paint on modern cars, and Ford in general, isn't what it used to be and thickness wise is probably a bare minimum.
-Prop Rod: Doesn't bother me as most, but yes it would have been nice. At least the GT500 is getting one, so maybe it'll be some piece technology that gets passed down and inherited next gen. Sense the sarcasm?
-Horn: Total cheap out on this one.

Bullitt specific wishes.
Things that would have made it just a bit sweeter.
Don't get me wrong. There's already something about this car that makes it a special drive and you know it every time you run it through the gears.
The value is fantastic when compared to the equally optioned GT, but that also makes a base GT a great bang for buck pony car.
Since I wanted all the options on the GT that came standard on the Bullitt, it was a no brainer.

-TR-3160: it would have been something to differentiate it from a GT and changed up the gearing.
-Bullitt specific Sync3 boot screen
-Bullitt specific digital gauge theme (themes in general for each of the 3 styles would be cool)
-decklid badge, I could take or leave it.
-gunmetal or dark tarnish instead of black on the rims

 

[CF-105]

So the 'cheap outs' go across all the model lines and comes down, like everything, the almighty dollar and profit. If you think it's bad on a 60k Bullitt, you won't find much better on the 90k 350R or 90K+ GT500 when it launches.

General Mustang complaints:
-Paint: Yes the paint on modern cars, and Ford in general, isn't what it used to be and thickness wise is probably a bare minimum.
-Prop Rod: Doesn't bother me as most, but yes it would have been nice. At least the GT500 is getting one, so maybe it'll be some piece technology that gets passed down and inherited next gen. Sense the sarcasm?
-Horn: Total cheap out on this one.

Bullitt specific wishes.
Things that would have made it just a bit sweeter.
Don't get me wrong. There's already something about this car that makes it a special drive and you know it every time you run it through the gears.
The value is fantastic when compared to the equally optioned GT, but that also makes a base GT a great bang for buck pony car.
Since I wanted all the options on the GT that came standard on the Bullitt, it was a no brainer.

-TR-3160: it would have been something to differentiate it from a GT and changed up the gearing.
-Bullitt specific Sync3 boot screen
-Bullitt specific digital gauge theme (themes in general for each of the 3 styles would be cool)
-decklid badge, I could take or leave it.
-gunmetal or dark tarnish instead of black on the rims

Definitely that all cars are cost compromises. The S Class Mercedes used the cheapest, plastic door lock knobs imaginable. Seriously, they were really cheap plastic, and you could still see the flash from the molds on them. This was the first thing you saw on a $100k + car when you opened the door. WTF?

I already looked into what would be involved in a TR-3160 swap, because I agree it would have made it a more special car. Not cheap, but worth it? Who knows.

And I totally agree that the wheels should have been grey. The black is just a mistake.

The guys at Steeda sure make the suspension feel like it's out of a dramatically more expensive car with their mods. Showed how much Ford got right with this car.

 

[CF-105]

And what is with the cheap plastic on the doors? I've got a dimple in the plastic already from leaning my elbow on it. The Ford Flex I just rented has the same thing.

 

[Nexus]

The interior materials have always been pretty cheap.
It used to be only hard plastic, then a bit of a step up with the premium interior, but its still not what'd I'd consider a premium. Nice for sure, but not premium.

Maybe another cheap/nitpick:
The green stitching on the Bullitt is a really nice touch and subtle.
They put it in numerous places (front/rear seats, dash, shift boot, arm rest, floor mats etc) and then don't put it on the steering wheel, e-brake, or radio surround stitching.

Back to the gearing/gearbox. I should say I don't mind the MT82-D4 and having to wind the engine up. Bit of a change in driving style compared to my old car.
I would be curious, and I don't know if anyone has already done a tremec swap or crunched the numbers, to see what the differences in performance would have been by putting the 15-17 MT82 single OD gearset or TR3160 paired with an 18 5L.

 

[Cold_one]

Lighted door sills - my Explorer Sport has them and would make it a more special car. Also, adaptive cruise should be standard. I know everyone will say that I should be driving the car, but again it’s on my Explorer and is nice when just loafing along. Obviously hood struts - installed now, and in fairness my Explorer doesn’t/didn’t have them; and it was also the top dollar model before platinum model.

 

[Schwerin]

Prop rod
Dual horn
Tremec - Should have at least included the Ford Performance shifter stock.
Not using green stitch on the e-brake handle and steering wheel

 

[Bugs]

GT350 jacking rails. My aftermarket cost was only $100, but I'll bet Ford could do this for $20 or less if incorporated into the build.

 

[CF-105]

GT350 jacking rails. My aftermarket cost was only $100, but I'll bet Ford could do this for $20 or less if incorporated into the build.

I'm gonna have to look into the whole jacking rail thing. Not seeing the point of them yet.

 

[CF-105]

Prop rod
Dual horn
Tremec - Should have at least included the Ford Performance shifter stock.
Not using green stitch on the e-brake handle and steering wheel

As minor as the stitching issue seems, I must agree with you. It really doesn't make the green stitching as a design element seem cohesive.

Not to mention the truly shit quality of the vinyl on the handbrake lever and the boot. It's just embarrassingly bad.

 

[POJ 1]

Prop rod
Its an insult to all of us

 

[Jasef]

Spare Tire
Noise insulation around the microphone (where is this thing, anyways?)
Oil Temp Gauge

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