I'm new to the forum and am considering purchasing a new 2008 GT/CS convertible. I love the way they look on the outside. The GT/CS is truly a stunner. I've also always wanted to own a convertible at some point in my life. This is a big decision for me, since I don't really want to buy another car for 7-8 years, which is how long my last few have lasted.

I currently drive an SUV, so to see if I could live with a smaller car day-to-day, I've rented a V6 coupe. The Mustang that I've rented is obviously the "fleet special", as it's got absolutely no options whatsoever. In driving it for the past day, I've found a few nagging issues with the car:

1. The plastic fake metal on the steering wheel feels weird and doesn't look right. It doesn't make the wheel feel solid at all all. I almost wish it wasn't there and the wheel was made out of all of the same material. Does the Premium GT/CS still have the fake metal on the wheel or is it a better fake (or real metal)? Would the interior upgrade package give me a more quality steering wheel?

2. The automatic transmission shifter feels like it's going to fall off in my hand. Since I learned to drive on a car with a manual, this where I naturally rest my hand. However, the fake metal on the top with the fake metal button just doesn't feel quality to me. In fact, I can feel all of the seams and mold lines in the plastic. Does the Premium GT/CS have a better automatic transmission shifter? Would the interior upgrade package give me one - possibly with real metal? I see that there are upgraded manual shifters, but I really have no desire whatsoever to get another manual transmission car as I drive in traffic up and down hills day in and day out.

I know Ford can build a quality product. My wife has a 2005 Focus sedan, which we've had 0 problems with over the past 4 years. It's a solid little car and is part of the reason why I'm considering a Mustang. However, the Focus cost roughly half of what the GT/CS costs and it's interior seems much better put together than the V6 rental that I currently have. The transmission shifter and the steering wheel in the Focus certainly feels more substantial. I'm somewhat stunned that Ford decided to cheap out on the two surfaces that people touch the most. I hope that the up-level mustangs offer some relief.


BTW, the other convertibles on my short list include:

Pontiac G6: Horrible interior. Horrible audio system. Horrible V6 engine that gets nearly the same gas milage as the Mustang GT. Ancient 4-speed transmission. No trunk space. Does have a hard top, though. Doesn't look as nice on the outside as the Mustang. It's wrong-wheel-drive (FWD), too. Not as safe as the Mustang. This one has been pretty much crossed off.

Saab 93: Great interior. Good audio system. Cheap to insure. Really good gas milage. Decent-sized trunk. Exterior is very clean, probably not all that reliable though. The 2.0L turbo engine is powerful, but has a bunch of lag - not instant power like Mustang, nor does it sound as good while making the power. It's also expensive and wrong-wheel-drive. This is probably my second choice so far, since my father has had two 93's and really loves them.

Thanks!

 

Stop buying cars for this long a time, it makes no sense according to every expert out there.

The mustang is the most moddable car currently avalible on the planet, you can easily upgrade the steering wheel to a factory one which is made out of two materials Real Leather and Burnished Magnesium. No fake metal there in fact the fake metal spokes are replaced with some leather. It has red stitching and costs a few hundred dollars as an option to you.



the upgrade pacage IS the one with the silver paint, the nonupgrade package has toys'r'us plastic and is only availeble on the v6.

The button is actually made of real metal, and for another few hundred (varrying) you can do any of these three things:







(looks better in person)


no but the lowest model v6 has a "worse one"


If you got the manual you'd have the option of getting from the factory a great set of good looking shifters, but the automatic doesn't have that. (normal, hurst, upgraded are just some of the options)

Please compare either of these two on a better option in any other car made in america in that class. The mustang has the best attention paid to those parts of any car built here.


Whatever floats your boat

 

I have an 08 GT/CS grabber orange coupe. And I love it. I have no complaints. Nothing on it rattles, or looks like crap. I recommend it. You will not be dissapointed. But, no car is perfect.

[IMG]local://upfiles/90468/A583487745FB4CF5983FA7D9CEBE7972.jpg[/IMG]

 

I have a straight GT. I love it andwould recommend the car to my bestfriendin a heartbeat but... having said that... it's still a Ford .

FWIW I also have a Mazdaspeed3 and it has more rattles than you can hear at a Tango dance class.

 

All-in-all, my Stang's interiorisn't all that bad considering this is my first Ford product and that I've owned 5 Toyotas and every one of them was virtually trouble-free (inside and out) beyond 200,000 miles. If you don't like the feel of some of the interior items there are tons of aftermarket replacements out there. 7-8 years on a Stang should be doable.

 

I have a GT/CS vert, very pleased with interior so far. it's 4 months old leather is getting wrinkled, expectable in any leather seat that I have owned. I'ts very comfortable and gets a lot of attention. Always getting compliments on the stang. You won't be sorry go for it. Visit this forum daily and get all the mod info you can handle.

 

8 years onmy stang and stillis running strong

 

What is this, who makes it, and where can I get one?

 

actually, that "fake metal" you speak of is aluminum... it just has a coating on it for the "satin " look

mit might fit better on a different car, mine looks and feels like its a part of the wheel

 

Get the Interior Upgrade Package (IUP) and the Premeir Trim Package - you won't be disappointed with the interior!