No fire storm please!

[Alan Applegate]

I don't wish to start a battle front, but something has been bugging me for some time. To wit...

I see all sorts of interior and exterior modifications being discussed among all of the forum topic areas. Like tires and rims, seat changes, lighting, adding, subtracting, you name it. All of this sort of thing costs money, when in reality it would be somewhat cheaper ordering the equipment you want, up front! Like buying a Premium model, instead of the plain Jane one. If you're buying from dealer stock, your choice might be limited... from them! However, most dealers (mine did) will look around at other dealers' stock and find exactly what you want, or very close to it. Further, if you don't like the OEM tires and rims on your choice of models, most dealers will give you a better deal than your average tire store.

Some of the complaints are indeed buyer's remorse setting in, and I do realize that fact. Some of the modding is done to make the vehicle yours! I also applaud that fact. In my case, I needed a vehicle right now (my Ranger got smacked), and "I" knew what I wanted after spending an hour or so on line.

So the question remains, why not order what you want, instead of spending much more in the long run adding bling?

Sponsored

 

[Zig]

Sometimes they don’t offer exactly what you want so you end up close enough to mod if needed.

 

[89Trooper]

I’m purchasing the four things I really want from the Performance Pack (splitter, spoiler, strut tower brace, rims) for less than 1/2 the price of the Performance Pack upgrade.

Actually for even less than that after I sell my take-off parts.

 

[Skye]

If we were all driving around with the same vehicle, the same options, that'd be pretty boring. Some change their car for style. Others performance. Some both. Aftermarket parts are often cheaper, of superior quality, with an increase in performance while offering something unique.

Some changes or buys are personal, some performance. My example highlights a bit of both.

I'm using aftermarket wheels and tires. I did that primarily to preserve the original rims.

The rims are:

- Not Ford. While anyone can buy them, they are not an option from Ford. I like their appearance
- Cheaper. I didn't bother attempting to price a set of factory rims from Ford
- Lighter. The rims I'm using shed 10 lb / 4.5 kg of unsprung, rotating mass from each corner
- Fit. The size of the rim, width and offset, work for what I'm doing. Ford didn't offer a better option

The tires are:

- Pair well with the aftermarket rims, in fitment and appearance
- Provide the performance and wear I'd expect. Factory tires do not

The rest of the car's performance-related features are factory options. While this setup worked for me, it might not for someone else. Another driver could be seeking a different type of experience, something they cannot get from a factory-only optioned car.

I'm at the low end of the customization or modification scale. At the other, people buy a base vehicle with the intent it will be heavily modded, often for a unique purpose. Someone consistently tracking or going to the drag strip will tailor the car to their needs, in a way that Ford does not offer.

Do people make mistakes? Yes. Some buy the wrong part, realize it doesn't fit or look as intended and change to something else. Others change something like the exhaust, only to realize it doesn't sound just right. But to others still, the cost is known ahead of time, in the pursuit of their passion. For example, someone heavily modifying their car for performance, pushing towards and re-defining a limit, isn't necessarily looking for a consistent, Daily Driver; they know going in they're going to be breaking parts. That seems counter-intuitive, but it's just part of the experience and culture.

 

[robvas]

A lot of the factory stuff sucks

 

[Upacurb]

Ford OE wheels are heavy. (unless you go carbon fiber) Why pay extra for heavy wheels? In the past I would get the important options- say if I wanted leather.....or the PP because of the brakes/ extra guages exc - but I would never pay more for Ford wheels as a stand alone option.....so many better lighter options.....beyond that - people are typically installing parts that go beyond what Ford offers.....for example Ford doesnt offer factory lowering springs as an option.....

 

[Wiley Marmot]

I didn't order what I wanted because the manufacturer was for reasons unknown to me; NOT able to produce a Mustang GT in less than 6-8 months (per my dealer). Which would have made it a 2025 Mustang GT costing $4-$6 K more than the 2024 I ended up buying off the lot. My Sales Rep spent an hour or so searching other dealer's inventories in a fruitless attempt to find a Mustang that matched my would be order specs; prior to the trade/buy.

So, my GT had "most" of what I would have ordered. An aftermarket wing and splitter plus install labor; was far cheaper than what it would have cost to have gotten them with a performance package option (they were the only 2 things in the PP I was really interested in anyway). The car came with chrome/black badging; which didn't really ring my bell, so I swapped those out for some cheap ($25 vs $180ish for OEM stuff) "furrin" made all black badging. And, I detested the 20 spoke wheels the car came with. Changed those to black 5 spokers for the OEM rather narrow all seasons. And, I've added a set of 19" aftermarket black 5 spokers with much wider and sticker tires for more effective and efficient "brisk acceleration"!

 

[Mr Hyde]

Ford didnt have the options i wanted in any edition. It would have added too much cost for little gain. Significantly higher then doing so through aftermarket parts of ebay/ junk yard surfing for oe parts i wanted. I got a base gt in atlas blue. I wanted a v8 and atlas blue everything else is easy to add. I modify for performance and function, with visual enhancements. I have aftermarket wheels and tires in bronze they are 20x10x285 that weigh 11 lbs less than the factory 18 inch wheels. i like elements of the bronze and black out appearance packages ford doesn't allow for mixing parts of both. So i need to mod that myself.

 

[Mikestang24]

I’m purchasing the four things I really want from the Performance Pack (splitter, spoiler, strut tower brace, rims) for less than 1/2 the price of the Performance Pack upgrade.

Actually for even less than that after I sell my take-off parts.

Same thing here. $1300 roughly for rims pp1 spoiler and strut tower brace

 

[roket]

Alan, i overall agree with your main point, but the thing is sometimes it makes more sense to add things after the fact. Wiley's situation is a fantastic example. obviously, some things just dont, like retrofitting MagneRide (which would need shocks, struts, body wiring harness, engine bay wiring harness, donor VDM, and more), but sometimes it makes more sense to buy mostly what you want, then pick and choose what features from the packages you didnt get that you want to add. plus, i think Nite Pony is still hard to get, hence the people asking about the black headlights and badges

 

[MAT1955]

@Alan Applegate ..... wise advice and a legitimate question. Many have given reasons why they purchase aftermarket add-ons. In my case the dealer had one almost 100% what I wanted at an awesome price right in the show room. A 2024 GT Convertible in vapor blue, 401A "High Package", up graded rims and tires, Bose 12 speakers with trunk sub and space gray seats. That was 90% of what I would have ordered. The only other option I would have ordered would have been active exhaust - but not having it was not enough of a deterrent. If I really wanted a switchable exhaust I could install one later. One issue I do see on the forum seems to be the difficulty in ordering it - first the waiting time and second the hit and miss options as some options do not seem available at certain order points due to production differences. Maybe these two issues force buyers to get a model that is "close" to what they want with plans to add items later. Of course, there are the lucky few who plan on supercharging or turbo charging and except for Ford Dealer whipple charging that will mean aftermarket parting. Good discussion point, Alan!

 

[smurfslayer]

f you're buying from dealer stock, your choice might be limited... from them! However, most dealers (mine did) will look around at other dealers' stock and find exactly what you want, or very close to it. Further, if you don't like the OEM tires and rims on your choice of models, most dealers will give you a better deal than your average tire store.

I had a couple dealers offer that but the ones that did were doing so with a premium price well above the best deal I had on the table. That said, most of my vehicles have had some modifications, some more than others. I don’t usually start modifications until I’ve had some seat time to know what I want to address. The ’24 Dark Horse comes pretty close to how I like it; Ford did some research and implemented a lot of stuff into the new Mustang. I’ll still modify it, but probably less so than some of my previous efforts.

 

[kagemusha2662]

The only things I'd say are worth it from OEM are magneride and active exhaust. Performance pack can be improved upon in the aftermarket with a multitude of suspension parts. Seats can be found by forums, ebay, aftermarket for way cheaper than option'ed from the factory. OEM generally tends to make stuff as cheap as possible to boost profit, so if you wanted premium quality, it's always better to look for it with mods

 

[BuckeyeJake]

I brought my GT base car for 36k new. I put a MBRP Catback and MACH 1 wheels with Michelin PSS4 tires for under 1200 dollars. Ill be adding a spoiler and other stuff soon. Even if i add a whipple I will still be under what a decent optioned PP car would cost.

Also some of us actually enjoy working on our cars and making it ours.

 

[MNPony]

Same thing here. $1300 roughly for rims pp1 spoiler and strut tower brace

What PP rims did you guys get? OEM?

Sponsored