smurfslayer
Well-Known Member
#OneLessprius
Sponsored
Deano1978
Well-Known Member
Didn't realise the lugs are chrome with the black pack, another mod to add to the list, seems odd Ford wouldn't even throw in black lugs when ordering this option, bloody tightar$es!
5.0ALM
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2022
- Threads
- 83
- Messages
- 1,072
- Reaction score
- 1,778
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
- Vehicle(s)
- 2016 RAV4 Cruiser, 2024.50 Mustang GT Fastback
A bit like not including a strut tower brace badge, when the brace itself is now included?
That might cost all of ~50 cents in volume.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #19
They did this on the S550 as well....................................
When I swapped wheels, I re-used the factory lugs. Then everyone told me I HAD to swap them to black, which I finally caved to. It's amazing how effective such a small change made to the overall look, the chrome was drawing your eyes to the center of the wheel, the switch to black helped them blend in and refocus your eyesight.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #20
Your process is sound, but if you want, the bolded parts are where I would make some alterations.Was planning on the following procedure:
I can skip the interior vacuum.
• Apply Brake Buster to dry wheel (I've been using my second cheapo foam cannon exclusively for this, but I think this consumes way too much product. Might forgo the foaming and simply use the Kwazar spray bottle)
• Brush tyre & wheel with the various brushes
• Rinse wheel
• Move onto the next wheel...
• Foam cannon Carpro Lift onto dry vehicle (first pre-wash seems begging for the higher ph?)
• Rinse off
• Foam cannon GSF or Carpro Reset (will flip a coin)
I haven't previously used the foam cannon a second time to apply the contact wash shampoo, I'd normally just pour it into the bucket of water. Seems a good time to try something different... and I like playing with the foam cannon.The Griot's cannon with metering tip and being able to screw product bottle on directly makes for a fairly quick process.
• Contact wash with Cyclone wash pad (I do 2 bucket method)
• Rinse off
• Blow dry with leaf blower (loving the Ego 765 with 2.5Ah battery!)
Not sure how this will go, and don't expect the water to blow off like it would with a coated car.
Might have to resort to the Bowden's Big Green Sucker towel, which I've always found very effective and liked using in the past.
• Apply Bead Maker - subsequent blow dries with the Ego will work well
• Apply Darkside to tyres
• Might wipe over the interior with P&S Swift, for the hell of it.
• Invisible Glass on the windows, in & out - these definitely need doing.
The Stoner Reach & Clean tool will get to prove it's value on it's maiden use!
Obviously not up to your detailing level, but any thoughts on the above?
Correct, a high pH soap would be very worthwhile here. However, I would add a step prior to even wetting the car. Because of the time these cars sit in the open before shipping and delivery, I would be using an iron remover to help dissolve any fallout.
I do this before getting the car wet so that you don't dilute the iron remover and get a better reaction from the chemical. I apply it to the whole car in one go, but be careful, you don't want this stuff to dry, so work in the shade and keep an eye on it. If needed, you can lightly mist with water if you find its drying too quickly. On a white car, you will see the reaction very clearly.
After letting the iron remover react for 3 - 5 minutes, foam your Carpro Lift over the top of the iron remover and allow to dwell for a further 5-minutes, again, don't let it dry. This brings alkalinity while also keeping the iron remover somewhat active. Rince well, then proceed to the contact wash.
For an iron remover, I've been using Gyeon Iron, it's one of the worst smelling ones on the market, but it's also one of the stronger. Repco actually sell the newer version which is apparently less stinky. Otherwise, Bowden's Three-Way, Autoglym Magma or Meguiar's Spray Clay would be fine. You will use about 400 - 500ml on a Mustang. You could also use this on your wheels in a similar work flow.
Go with Reset in this case, it has additional cleaning ability compared to most other pH neutral soaps.
This is probably just me, but I always wait until the new-car scent has disappeared before using scented products on the interior. As such, I would be just using a damp microfiber as Swift is very distinctive in scent.
5.0ALM
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2022
- Threads
- 83
- Messages
- 1,072
- Reaction score
- 1,778
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
- Vehicle(s)
- 2016 RAV4 Cruiser, 2024.50 Mustang GT Fastback
Done!
I've never used an iron remover before, and having the Gyeon Iron available from a local Repco makes this easy.
I'll have the foam canon preloaded with Lift ready to go, so there is no excess dwell time.
Direct sun is never an issue here with the shade sail.
Done.
This will be my first use of Reset, and Lift for that matter.
Good point.
I should savor the "new car smell" for as long as it lingers.
If I want to get rid of it quickly, I'll bring home a take-away pizza.
Thanks D, appreciate the advice.
ps
You probably know... but Trace-Less ETA now supposedly next Monday.
Deano1978
Well-Known Member
Wow it does make a difference, which wheels are those? They're very similar to the Nite Pony wheels the US gets.They did this on the S550 as well....................................
When I swapped wheels, I re-used the factory lugs. Then everyone told me I HAD to swap them to black, which I finally caved to. It's amazing how effective such a small change made to the overall look, the chrome was drawing your eyes to the center of the wheel, the switch to black helped them blend in and refocus your eyesight.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #23
What!? No eating or drinking in my cars!Done!
I've never used an iron remover before, and having the Gyeon Iron available from a local Repco makes this easy.
I'll have the foam canon preloaded with Lift ready to go, so there is no excess dwell time.
Direct sun is never an issue here with the shade sail.
Done.
This will be my first use of Reset, and Lift for that matter.
Good point.
I should savor the "new car smell" for as long as it lingers.
If I want to get rid of it quickly, I'll bring home a take-away pizza.
Thanks D, appreciate the advice.
You probably know... but Trace-Less ETA now supposedly next Monday.
Looking forward to Traceless.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #24
They are from Ford Performance and called the HP Performance wheels and only offered in satin black. Ford used the same design on the S550 PP2, EcoBoost HP and Mach 1. However, the PP2 versions were gloss graphite in colour and had aggressive 10.5 and 11.0-inch widths, the HP and Mach 1 used a tamer 9.5 and 10.0-inch combo in a similar graphite finish. Mine are the same Ford Australia used on the R-Spec, so the 9.5/10.0 combo in satin black and the standard 255/40 and 275/40 tyres.
They are easily my favorite modern Mustang wheel, I'm contemplating having mine refinished in the graphite colour, I'm over black wheels.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #25
Project S650 – 771 days in the making!
This all started in early September 2022 with Ford unveiling the new 7th Generation Mustang. At the time, I had been a Mustang owner since March 2017, in that time nothing else on the market really interested enough to buy something in the meantime. The updated 2018+ models certainly appealed, but not enough to trade up. So, with the reveal of the new model, I knew this would be a worthy update to a car that had stolen my heart.
After a week or so thinking it over, on the 21st of September 2022, I made a trip down to my local Ford dealer, the same that sold me my S550 and the last car I bought. At the time, the Ford showroom was being remodeled and so I made my way over to the adjacent VW building and asked for my usual salesman. Turns out he had left at the start of Covid, I told you it had been a long time! I was then directed to the temporary site-hut that was a makeshift Ford showroom, then handed over to a junior salesman..............what a baptism of fire for him!
Sitting in the makeshift showroom that morning, there was a lot of unknow playing out. For starters, at that stage no one knew anything about the S650 other than it was coming to Australia at some point. There was no confirmation of models, pricing, or when it would arrive. Dealers couldn’t even place an official order because there weren’t even any product codes to register against. So both the salesman and myself were in the dark. I didn’t learn this until last week, but my new salesman had only just started with the dealer, and this Mustang order was one of his first deals. After conferring with the sales manager, an old-school contract was doctored up to get myself in the system, which naturally was subject to change. Looking back, they used the S550 Mustang GT as an order template. I then paid a $1000 deposit, shook hands and left the dealership at the top of the dealers S650 order list.
And so began the wait. This was not my first rodeo, early on, S550 Mustang customers were waiting up to and beyond 12-months to get their car. In fact, I waited just that for mine, placing the order in March 2016 and taking delivery 12-months and 7 days later in 2017. So, you could say that I was well versed in waiting for Mustang’s. Being that I had effectively pre-ordered a yet to be confirmed new model, I was fully expecting to wait beyond 12-months. At the time, this didn’t bother me as I wasn’t yet ready to part with my S550, the extended wait would give me time to enjoy the car a while longer and plan for some extended holiday leave to coincide with the new cars arrival. The car or the holiday, it's hard to know which I wanted more.
The following two years were an exercise in frustration. (Keep in mind the following is two years' worth condensed in a paragraph, so my exact recollection might be hazy now) In early 2023, Ford asked dealers for a model mix to gauge/plan projected production. Customers were asked for preference of body, colour, engine and transmission. Model specs, options and prices were expected to be announced in the following month. And so began the agonizing torture Ford Australia inflicted on their most loyal of customers. In mid 2023, Ford released specs and options, with pricing expected to follow shortly after. What annoys me most during this time was how customers were not given a chance to properly order their cars, in fact NSC numbers and build slots were allocated BEFORE pricing was announced. My argument was that I had an order number and production slot for a car I had no idea what would cost me, or if my chosen spec had been accepted. And this was NOT a dealer thing, this was from Ford themselves, delivering ladder-frame pickup trucks was (and still is) their top priority.
Production of RHD export S650 Mustang’s were supposed commence in late 2023, with the first deliveries expected before Christmas. In October 2023, Ford FINALLY announced prices to stunned silence. As I had expected, Ford went in for the kill and jacked prices up to the teetering point where it was not too high to lose a customer, but high enough to cash in on the popularity of the Mustang. I get it, Ford is in business to make money, but the delays with pricing and then the massive price hike was pretty rude. In any case, I met with the salesman for the second time ever and finally had a number to work with.
Also announced that day, Ford again told customers that production of RHD Mustang’s was delayed until Q1 2024. Which then became Q2, which then became mid 2024. Somewhere in all of that, I was issued a new NSC, a VIN number and finally a production slot. And while this was happening, I was getting more and more agitated over taking long service leave. If the car had arrived as expected in late 2023, things perhaps wouldn’t have gotten so antsy. But after each delay, my patience got thinner and thinner, both with Ford and with work.
To be clear, this was not the dealer or salesman’s fault, they wanted to the car as much as I did. I did my best to not be pestering him on a weekly basis, which was very hard but I didn't want to be that customer. Ford have a long history of botched product launches in Australia, this S650 Mustang was no different. I debated writing about all of that in this post because of negative tone it brings, this post should be about positivity. However, it’s an integral part of the story and how it led me to this moment.
And so, lets get to the good stuff............................
In January 2024, I was issued a production slot, a Vin number and an expected ETA in early October. We had some meaningful progress at last! The car went into production on the 24th of April 2024, coming off the line on the 26th of April 2024. Nothing could take me down that, seeing "Off Line" on the Vista screenshot, it certainly made things real! The car hit “gate release” on the 28th of April, then compound entry on July 3rd. On the 26th of September, the car was loaded on Vessel Titania………………..a name that had a lot of people laughing at. As long as it didn’t live up to its unfortunate name, I didn’t care what boat it was on! From here, I tracked the vessel as it made its way down the east coast of American, through the Panama cannel, then on towards New Zealand and Australia. Once in Australian waters, the vessel travelled to Brisbane, Sydney and finally Melbourne where my car was unloaded on the 29th of September 2024.
The best moment of all arrived last week after standing in a que at the bank, always an exercise in frustration. On my way out, I took a glance at my phone and spotted something that took my breath away! Beaming back at me was single image with no words attached, I don’t think any were warranted. The pic in question was taken seconds after the car arrived off the truck. The funny thing is, I had planned on going to the dealer that morning to touch base, had I gone there first instead of the bank, I would have witnessed the car being driven off the truck. Finally, after 2 years and 25 days, my new Mustang was here! I think I will remember that day for a long, long time.
I then hightailed it to the dealer, walked through the glass doors and spotted my red beauty in the delivery bay. As the salesman approached me, I’m not going to lie, I was speechless and on the brink of tears. I know, it's just a car, but after such a long, long wait and all the crap that’s gone on in the background, it all of a sudden hit me that this was happening.
After a good look over the car, and even a cheeky start up and rev in Track mode, a delivery day was organized, an extra seven days in the grand scheme of things was nothing. Props to the salesman (again) for collecting all of the production line paperwork and window sticker before they went in the bin.
With two years in the lead up to delivery, I’ve had plenty of time to figure out number plates, detailing, wheels, exhaust, and various other little changes I wanted to make. The first of which was a set of black slimline plates with the Ford upgrade and a set of number plate mounting brackets. More on those at later date.
Over the following 7-days, I had been surprisingly calm. And its at this point I'm glad I took leave early, having some time to unwind has been working wonders. Having time to nail down insurance, funds transfer, all little things that would normally be stressing me out. Not this time. Actually, there was a brief blip at the bank when I was told they don't cut cheques anymore...................just shows how long it's been since I bought a car.
And so, we arrive at delivery day...........................
This all started in early September 2022 with Ford unveiling the new 7th Generation Mustang. At the time, I had been a Mustang owner since March 2017, in that time nothing else on the market really interested enough to buy something in the meantime. The updated 2018+ models certainly appealed, but not enough to trade up. So, with the reveal of the new model, I knew this would be a worthy update to a car that had stolen my heart.
After a week or so thinking it over, on the 21st of September 2022, I made a trip down to my local Ford dealer, the same that sold me my S550 and the last car I bought. At the time, the Ford showroom was being remodeled and so I made my way over to the adjacent VW building and asked for my usual salesman. Turns out he had left at the start of Covid, I told you it had been a long time! I was then directed to the temporary site-hut that was a makeshift Ford showroom, then handed over to a junior salesman..............what a baptism of fire for him!
Sitting in the makeshift showroom that morning, there was a lot of unknow playing out. For starters, at that stage no one knew anything about the S650 other than it was coming to Australia at some point. There was no confirmation of models, pricing, or when it would arrive. Dealers couldn’t even place an official order because there weren’t even any product codes to register against. So both the salesman and myself were in the dark. I didn’t learn this until last week, but my new salesman had only just started with the dealer, and this Mustang order was one of his first deals. After conferring with the sales manager, an old-school contract was doctored up to get myself in the system, which naturally was subject to change. Looking back, they used the S550 Mustang GT as an order template. I then paid a $1000 deposit, shook hands and left the dealership at the top of the dealers S650 order list.
And so began the wait. This was not my first rodeo, early on, S550 Mustang customers were waiting up to and beyond 12-months to get their car. In fact, I waited just that for mine, placing the order in March 2016 and taking delivery 12-months and 7 days later in 2017. So, you could say that I was well versed in waiting for Mustang’s. Being that I had effectively pre-ordered a yet to be confirmed new model, I was fully expecting to wait beyond 12-months. At the time, this didn’t bother me as I wasn’t yet ready to part with my S550, the extended wait would give me time to enjoy the car a while longer and plan for some extended holiday leave to coincide with the new cars arrival. The car or the holiday, it's hard to know which I wanted more.
The following two years were an exercise in frustration. (Keep in mind the following is two years' worth condensed in a paragraph, so my exact recollection might be hazy now) In early 2023, Ford asked dealers for a model mix to gauge/plan projected production. Customers were asked for preference of body, colour, engine and transmission. Model specs, options and prices were expected to be announced in the following month. And so began the agonizing torture Ford Australia inflicted on their most loyal of customers. In mid 2023, Ford released specs and options, with pricing expected to follow shortly after. What annoys me most during this time was how customers were not given a chance to properly order their cars, in fact NSC numbers and build slots were allocated BEFORE pricing was announced. My argument was that I had an order number and production slot for a car I had no idea what would cost me, or if my chosen spec had been accepted. And this was NOT a dealer thing, this was from Ford themselves, delivering ladder-frame pickup trucks was (and still is) their top priority.
Production of RHD export S650 Mustang’s were supposed commence in late 2023, with the first deliveries expected before Christmas. In October 2023, Ford FINALLY announced prices to stunned silence. As I had expected, Ford went in for the kill and jacked prices up to the teetering point where it was not too high to lose a customer, but high enough to cash in on the popularity of the Mustang. I get it, Ford is in business to make money, but the delays with pricing and then the massive price hike was pretty rude. In any case, I met with the salesman for the second time ever and finally had a number to work with.
Also announced that day, Ford again told customers that production of RHD Mustang’s was delayed until Q1 2024. Which then became Q2, which then became mid 2024. Somewhere in all of that, I was issued a new NSC, a VIN number and finally a production slot. And while this was happening, I was getting more and more agitated over taking long service leave. If the car had arrived as expected in late 2023, things perhaps wouldn’t have gotten so antsy. But after each delay, my patience got thinner and thinner, both with Ford and with work.
To be clear, this was not the dealer or salesman’s fault, they wanted to the car as much as I did. I did my best to not be pestering him on a weekly basis, which was very hard but I didn't want to be that customer. Ford have a long history of botched product launches in Australia, this S650 Mustang was no different. I debated writing about all of that in this post because of negative tone it brings, this post should be about positivity. However, it’s an integral part of the story and how it led me to this moment.
And so, lets get to the good stuff............................
In January 2024, I was issued a production slot, a Vin number and an expected ETA in early October. We had some meaningful progress at last! The car went into production on the 24th of April 2024, coming off the line on the 26th of April 2024. Nothing could take me down that, seeing "Off Line" on the Vista screenshot, it certainly made things real! The car hit “gate release” on the 28th of April, then compound entry on July 3rd. On the 26th of September, the car was loaded on Vessel Titania………………..a name that had a lot of people laughing at. As long as it didn’t live up to its unfortunate name, I didn’t care what boat it was on! From here, I tracked the vessel as it made its way down the east coast of American, through the Panama cannel, then on towards New Zealand and Australia. Once in Australian waters, the vessel travelled to Brisbane, Sydney and finally Melbourne where my car was unloaded on the 29th of September 2024.
The best moment of all arrived last week after standing in a que at the bank, always an exercise in frustration. On my way out, I took a glance at my phone and spotted something that took my breath away! Beaming back at me was single image with no words attached, I don’t think any were warranted. The pic in question was taken seconds after the car arrived off the truck. The funny thing is, I had planned on going to the dealer that morning to touch base, had I gone there first instead of the bank, I would have witnessed the car being driven off the truck. Finally, after 2 years and 25 days, my new Mustang was here! I think I will remember that day for a long, long time.
I then hightailed it to the dealer, walked through the glass doors and spotted my red beauty in the delivery bay. As the salesman approached me, I’m not going to lie, I was speechless and on the brink of tears. I know, it's just a car, but after such a long, long wait and all the crap that’s gone on in the background, it all of a sudden hit me that this was happening.
After a good look over the car, and even a cheeky start up and rev in Track mode, a delivery day was organized, an extra seven days in the grand scheme of things was nothing. Props to the salesman (again) for collecting all of the production line paperwork and window sticker before they went in the bin.
With two years in the lead up to delivery, I’ve had plenty of time to figure out number plates, detailing, wheels, exhaust, and various other little changes I wanted to make. The first of which was a set of black slimline plates with the Ford upgrade and a set of number plate mounting brackets. More on those at later date.
Over the following 7-days, I had been surprisingly calm. And its at this point I'm glad I took leave early, having some time to unwind has been working wonders. Having time to nail down insurance, funds transfer, all little things that would normally be stressing me out. Not this time. Actually, there was a brief blip at the bank when I was told they don't cut cheques anymore...................just shows how long it's been since I bought a car.
And so, we arrive at delivery day...........................
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #26
Delivery Day!
My nerves were fine until last night, I started to get that heart flutter of anticipation and butterflies in my stomach. There is no reason for such a reaction, just something I have always had when I’m either dreading or anticipating something. I also didn’t get off to sleep as I would have liked, so my body wasn’t happy getting out of bed this morning. I had jokingly told the salesman that I would be camping in front of the showroom overnight, instead a rolled up 10-minutes late.
Jumping in my S550 for the last time, well it wasn’t as emotional as I had expected. I think I had reached contentment with the car a while ago, especially after writing down and publishing a lengthy love note, I sort of got it out of my system. Still, giving the throttle one last rev-match blip was sad. Driving a manual is an art form, coordinating hands and feet to achieve that perfect shift, well it played a huge part in how much fun I had in that car. Driving around the back of the dealership toward the delivery bay, I had an audience. The sales manager, detailer and my salesman greeted me as I stepped out of the S550………………they seemed as nervous as I was, which I’ll get to in a moment.
Stepping into the showroom, I was glad to get stuck into the formalities before the main event. The usual paperwork followed, the hardest of which was signing over the S550, suddenly it was no longer mine. But also suddenly, the S650 became mine. It was then time for the show. As you can see, my new Mustang had a stablemate to keep it company…………………………
I mentioned yesterday that I was asked about doing the “reveal”, and that a previous customer lost his temper over having his car covered up. To me, it might be a silly ritual, however buying a new car is not a regular occurrence for most of us, so why not? And so, off came the pretty blue bow, followed by the satin cover……………………..
That blue convertible is the dealer principles car, which eventually made way for a special moment. But not before the usual run-through of the car. I have to laugh, even though my early S550 had Sync 3, it was also refreshingly simple. This new car, it’s so complicated, exaggerated by everything being on the touchscreen. Still, I faked an interest in radar guided cruise control, the Ford Pass App and the myriad of active safety stuff. I don’t think anyone buys a Mustang for any of that crap, but if they didn’t include it, they would be crucified. I think the coolest part of all this tech is the ability to change the dial cluster screen appearance, which the salesman selecting the 1967 theme for handover. I think there may have been a little suppressed laughter when Kylie Minogue popped up on the screen after pairing my phone, even though I closed all of my apps to avoid such embarrassment.
It was then time for a special moment that I had organized a couple of months ago……………………………
The S550 was last parked in that delivery bay back in March 2017, and its return today signaled the beginning of something new. By this stage, I had the sales manager, used car manager and my salesman gathered for this rare photo opportunity. Heavily biased of course, but the two made a good pair! But at the same time, it became extremely obvious how dated the S550 looks next to the S650. To be clear, I still think the S550 is the better design, they absolutely nailed the design of that car, the pumped-up hood and those heavily contoured body sides are perfection. The funny thing is, the rear end of the S650 had never really grabbed me, but it’s the area of the car that looks the most differentiated from its predecessor. And finally! Finally, we Aussies get the red taillights and not the tacky clear/white things of the S550.
At this point, I want to highlight the how amazing my salesman was during this journey. Often, we go about our jobs without knowing the impact it makes on the people around us. By simply doing his job, he made a dream come true! We also often go about our jobs without positive feedback, be that from the customer or those above us. I appreciated his patience and assistance as we both rode out this two-year journey. Next month, he too is going on extended leave, to get married no less. There was some worry that he wouldn’t get to follow through with the handover, which would have been a shame as he had done all the work. But in the end, it all fell into place. In the past two years, he has gone from a junior salesman to be an award-winning salesman. With how he treated me, he deserves every accolade and acknowledgement he gets. In summery, when someone does good, tell them! It makes a huge difference.
More than two years in the making, a lot of blood, sweat and tears to arrive at this moment. I dragged myself to the top of the mountain, the feeling of euphoria almost unbelievable. For those that read, commented and sent private messages, you too have helped me reach the summit. There might have been some drama along the way, I was close to quitting many times, but your words along the way made me hold on to the dream.
And so, just like that, I’m now an S650 Mustang owner.
My nerves were fine until last night, I started to get that heart flutter of anticipation and butterflies in my stomach. There is no reason for such a reaction, just something I have always had when I’m either dreading or anticipating something. I also didn’t get off to sleep as I would have liked, so my body wasn’t happy getting out of bed this morning. I had jokingly told the salesman that I would be camping in front of the showroom overnight, instead a rolled up 10-minutes late.
Jumping in my S550 for the last time, well it wasn’t as emotional as I had expected. I think I had reached contentment with the car a while ago, especially after writing down and publishing a lengthy love note, I sort of got it out of my system. Still, giving the throttle one last rev-match blip was sad. Driving a manual is an art form, coordinating hands and feet to achieve that perfect shift, well it played a huge part in how much fun I had in that car. Driving around the back of the dealership toward the delivery bay, I had an audience. The sales manager, detailer and my salesman greeted me as I stepped out of the S550………………they seemed as nervous as I was, which I’ll get to in a moment.
Stepping into the showroom, I was glad to get stuck into the formalities before the main event. The usual paperwork followed, the hardest of which was signing over the S550, suddenly it was no longer mine. But also suddenly, the S650 became mine. It was then time for the show. As you can see, my new Mustang had a stablemate to keep it company…………………………
I mentioned yesterday that I was asked about doing the “reveal”, and that a previous customer lost his temper over having his car covered up. To me, it might be a silly ritual, however buying a new car is not a regular occurrence for most of us, so why not? And so, off came the pretty blue bow, followed by the satin cover……………………..
That blue convertible is the dealer principles car, which eventually made way for a special moment. But not before the usual run-through of the car. I have to laugh, even though my early S550 had Sync 3, it was also refreshingly simple. This new car, it’s so complicated, exaggerated by everything being on the touchscreen. Still, I faked an interest in radar guided cruise control, the Ford Pass App and the myriad of active safety stuff. I don’t think anyone buys a Mustang for any of that crap, but if they didn’t include it, they would be crucified. I think the coolest part of all this tech is the ability to change the dial cluster screen appearance, which the salesman selecting the 1967 theme for handover. I think there may have been a little suppressed laughter when Kylie Minogue popped up on the screen after pairing my phone, even though I closed all of my apps to avoid such embarrassment.
It was then time for a special moment that I had organized a couple of months ago……………………………
The S550 was last parked in that delivery bay back in March 2017, and its return today signaled the beginning of something new. By this stage, I had the sales manager, used car manager and my salesman gathered for this rare photo opportunity. Heavily biased of course, but the two made a good pair! But at the same time, it became extremely obvious how dated the S550 looks next to the S650. To be clear, I still think the S550 is the better design, they absolutely nailed the design of that car, the pumped-up hood and those heavily contoured body sides are perfection. The funny thing is, the rear end of the S650 had never really grabbed me, but it’s the area of the car that looks the most differentiated from its predecessor. And finally! Finally, we Aussies get the red taillights and not the tacky clear/white things of the S550.
At this point, I want to highlight the how amazing my salesman was during this journey. Often, we go about our jobs without knowing the impact it makes on the people around us. By simply doing his job, he made a dream come true! We also often go about our jobs without positive feedback, be that from the customer or those above us. I appreciated his patience and assistance as we both rode out this two-year journey. Next month, he too is going on extended leave, to get married no less. There was some worry that he wouldn’t get to follow through with the handover, which would have been a shame as he had done all the work. But in the end, it all fell into place. In the past two years, he has gone from a junior salesman to be an award-winning salesman. With how he treated me, he deserves every accolade and acknowledgement he gets. In summery, when someone does good, tell them! It makes a huge difference.
More than two years in the making, a lot of blood, sweat and tears to arrive at this moment. I dragged myself to the top of the mountain, the feeling of euphoria almost unbelievable. For those that read, commented and sent private messages, you too have helped me reach the summit. There might have been some drama along the way, I was close to quitting many times, but your words along the way made me hold on to the dream.
And so, just like that, I’m now an S650 Mustang owner.
5.0ALM
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2022
- Threads
- 83
- Messages
- 1,072
- Reaction score
- 1,778
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
- Vehicle(s)
- 2016 RAV4 Cruiser, 2024.50 Mustang GT Fastback
Congrats Deyon.
Well deserved.
As always, an interesting, entertaining and well written pictorial.
bfets
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2022
- Threads
- 9
- Messages
- 558
- Reaction score
- 889
- Location
- Western Australia
- Vehicle(s)
- MY24.5 Dark Horse, manual, Blue Ember, Recaros. XPEL UltimateFusion Fullbody PPF
This made my day mate. I cant tell you how long I've looked forward to reading your thoughts on the whole experience once you take delivery. Well deserved!Delivery Day!
My nerves were fine until last night, I started to get that heart flutter of anticipation and butterflies in my stomach. There is no reason for such a reaction, just something I have always had when I’m either dreading or anticipating something. I also didn’t get off to sleep as I would have liked, so my body wasn’t happy getting out of bed this morning. I had jokingly told the salesman that I would be camping in front of the showroom overnight, instead a rolled up 10-minutes late.
Jumping in my S550 for the last time, well it wasn’t as emotional as I had expected. I think I had reached contentment with the car a while ago, especially after writing down and publishing a lengthy love note, I sort of got it out of my system. Still, giving the throttle one last rev-match blip was sad. Driving a manual is an art form, coordinating hands and feet to achieve that perfect shift, well it played a huge part in how much fun I had in that car. Driving around the back of the dealership toward the delivery bay, I had an audience. The sales manager, detailer and my salesman greeted me as I stepped out of the S550………………they seemed as nervous as I was, which I’ll get to in a moment.
Stepping into the showroom, I was glad to get stuck into the formalities before the main event. The usual paperwork followed, the hardest of which was signing over the S550, suddenly it was no longer mine. But also suddenly, the S650 became mine. It was then time for the show. As you can see, my new Mustang had a stablemate to keep it company…………………………
I mentioned yesterday that I was asked about doing the “reveal”, and that a previous customer lost his temper over having his car covered up. To me, it might be a silly ritual, however buying a new car is not a regular occurrence for most of us, so why not? And so, off came the pretty blue bow, followed by the satin cover……………………..
That blue convertible is the dealer principles car, which eventually made way for a special moment. But not before the usual run-through of the car. I have to laugh, even though my early S550 had Sync 3, it was also refreshingly simple. This new car, it’s so complicated, exaggerated by everything being on the touchscreen. Still, I faked an interest in radar guided cruise control, the Ford Pass App and the myriad of active safety stuff. I don’t think anyone buys a Mustang for any of that crap, but if they didn’t include it, they would be crucified. I think the coolest part of all this tech is the ability to change the dial cluster screen appearance, which the salesman selecting the 1967 theme for handover. I think there may have been a little suppressed laughter when Kylie Minogue popped up on the screen after pairing my phone, even though I closed all of my apps to avoid such embarrassment.
It was then time for a special moment that I had organized a couple of months ago……………………………
The S550 was last parked in that delivery bay back in March 2017, and its return today signaled the beginning of something new. By this stage, I had the sales manager, used car manager and my salesman gathered for this rare photo opportunity. Heavily biased of course, but the two made a good pair! But at the same time, it became extremely obvious how dated the S550 looks next to the S650. To be clear, I still think the S550 is the better design, they absolutely nailed the design of that car, the pumped-up hood and those heavily contoured body sides are perfection. The funny thing is, the rear end of the S650 had never really grabbed me, but it’s the area of the car that looks the most differentiated from its predecessor. And finally! Finally, we Aussies get the red taillights and not the tacky clear/white things of the S550.
At this point, I want to highlight the how amazing my salesman was during this journey. Often, we go about our jobs without knowing the impact it makes on the people around us. By simply doing his job, he made a dream come true! We also often go about our jobs without positive feedback, be that from the customer or those above us. I appreciated his patience and assistance as we both rode out this two-year journey. Next month, he too is going on extended leave, to get married no less. There was some worry that he wouldn’t get to follow through with the handover, which would have been a shame as he had done all the work. But in the end, it all fell into place. In the past two years, he has gone from a junior salesman to be an award-winning salesman. With how he treated me, he deserves every accolade and acknowledgement he gets. In summery, when someone does good, tell them! It makes a huge difference.
More than two years in the making, a lot of blood, sweat and tears to arrive at this moment. I dragged myself to the top of the mountain, the feeling of euphoria almost unbelievable. For those that read, commented and sent private messages, you too have helped me reach the summit. There might have been some drama along the way, I was close to quitting many times, but your words along the way made me hold on to the dream.
And so, just like that, I’m now an S650 Mustang owner.
Like you say, its important to tell people when they do a good job... so let me thank you on behalf of this Aussie Mustang community for all the effort and well thought out words and advise you are always ready to offer. You are appreciated. May you have many thousands of happy miles and lots of happy hours detailing your new Mustang. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store for it. I'm sure its going to be epic.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #29
The Spec!
Up until this point, I just realized that I haven't outlined my chosen spec for this car. Model wise, I briefly entertained the idea of aiming for the top and ordering a Darkhorse. Thing is, I had a strong hunch that Ford were going to ask in excess of $100,000 for them, which many said I was bonkers to think that. History will prove that my hunch proved correct. In any case, I had already decided on a GT Fastback before Ford announced pricing. An EcoBoost didn't interest me, nor did a convertible.
Next, colour. Believe it or not, I actually considered two colours. The delightful Atlas Blue would have made for a different look, but........................Race Red was calling my name again. For me, fire engine red and Mustang's go hand in hand.
To mix things up, I also decided on the Black Pack, called the Nite Pony Pack in America. This brought satin black wheels, black painted roof and side mirrors and black badging. But the best part of the Black Pack is the headlights, the lack of chrome makes the front end look sinister! Even my salesman commented that the Black Pack was the smart choice. Sadly, shortly after my car was built, Ford discontinued the Black Pack due to parts shortages. Very happy that I managed to get it though!
From here, I also knew I wanted Magneride. This is quite an expensive option, one that I didn't question selecting for the improvement in ride and handling it would bring. Had it been available when ordering my S550, I would have ordered it then too. The massive side benefit to Magneride is the red painted Brembo calipers. If you have bought a car with big brakes, I kinda want to see them, not blend into the background like they did on my S550.
I love how Ford are now putting Brembo calipers on the back, makes the car look so much better. The little Pony logo is a nice touch too.
Transmission? If Ford offered the Tremec on the GT, there might have been a choice to make. Other than being very noisy, I never had an issue from the MT82, the shifter feel and weight was perfect. But, I wanted to try something different, and so the 10R80 10-speed auto became the default.
The only other option that I pondered was the Recaro seats. I test drove a S550 with Recaro's a few years ago and thought they were great. But, I had a lot of people telling me that they get old really quick, the firmness and high bolsters becoming an issue. After placing my initial order request, I had later asked for them to be added on my order. For some reason, my ordered didn't get amended. That wasn't a bad thing because by the time I noticed it, I had already changed my mind again. When prices were announced, I was already looking at a considerably more than I had expected to pay, so no Recaro's worked out for the better.
There are three other options I would have dearly liked to order if Ford were more adventurous. First, a choice of wheels! I hate those bird-nest things, especially in black. I would have loved the machined Y-Spokes offered in the US, which are compatible with the Performance Pack.
I know I harp on this, but the Carmine Red interior would have brightened up an otherwise dark environment.
And I would have liked a rear spoiler, the pinched rear of the S650 sort of needs one. For some reason only known to Ford Australia, you can't order a spoiler separately, nor can you have it when selecting the Black Pack, its only available on the Appearance Pack which also includes stripes. However, having seen an S650 in person now, the rear is much better than I had been expecting.
At the end of the day, I'm happy with my spec.
Side story I forgot to mention earlier - I remarked to my salesman that I knew which car he was going home in tonight. Apparently, there was a contest who would be driving my old Mustang home, seniority ruled supreme and the sales manager won the argument. I should have piped up and insisted my salesman take it first, it was his sale. In any case, I told him to give it hell.
Up until this point, I just realized that I haven't outlined my chosen spec for this car. Model wise, I briefly entertained the idea of aiming for the top and ordering a Darkhorse. Thing is, I had a strong hunch that Ford were going to ask in excess of $100,000 for them, which many said I was bonkers to think that. History will prove that my hunch proved correct. In any case, I had already decided on a GT Fastback before Ford announced pricing. An EcoBoost didn't interest me, nor did a convertible.
Next, colour. Believe it or not, I actually considered two colours. The delightful Atlas Blue would have made for a different look, but........................Race Red was calling my name again. For me, fire engine red and Mustang's go hand in hand.
To mix things up, I also decided on the Black Pack, called the Nite Pony Pack in America. This brought satin black wheels, black painted roof and side mirrors and black badging. But the best part of the Black Pack is the headlights, the lack of chrome makes the front end look sinister! Even my salesman commented that the Black Pack was the smart choice. Sadly, shortly after my car was built, Ford discontinued the Black Pack due to parts shortages. Very happy that I managed to get it though!
From here, I also knew I wanted Magneride. This is quite an expensive option, one that I didn't question selecting for the improvement in ride and handling it would bring. Had it been available when ordering my S550, I would have ordered it then too. The massive side benefit to Magneride is the red painted Brembo calipers. If you have bought a car with big brakes, I kinda want to see them, not blend into the background like they did on my S550.
I love how Ford are now putting Brembo calipers on the back, makes the car look so much better. The little Pony logo is a nice touch too.
Transmission? If Ford offered the Tremec on the GT, there might have been a choice to make. Other than being very noisy, I never had an issue from the MT82, the shifter feel and weight was perfect. But, I wanted to try something different, and so the 10R80 10-speed auto became the default.
The only other option that I pondered was the Recaro seats. I test drove a S550 with Recaro's a few years ago and thought they were great. But, I had a lot of people telling me that they get old really quick, the firmness and high bolsters becoming an issue. After placing my initial order request, I had later asked for them to be added on my order. For some reason, my ordered didn't get amended. That wasn't a bad thing because by the time I noticed it, I had already changed my mind again. When prices were announced, I was already looking at a considerably more than I had expected to pay, so no Recaro's worked out for the better.
There are three other options I would have dearly liked to order if Ford were more adventurous. First, a choice of wheels! I hate those bird-nest things, especially in black. I would have loved the machined Y-Spokes offered in the US, which are compatible with the Performance Pack.
I know I harp on this, but the Carmine Red interior would have brightened up an otherwise dark environment.
And I would have liked a rear spoiler, the pinched rear of the S650 sort of needs one. For some reason only known to Ford Australia, you can't order a spoiler separately, nor can you have it when selecting the Black Pack, its only available on the Appearance Pack which also includes stripes. However, having seen an S650 in person now, the rear is much better than I had been expecting.
At the end of the day, I'm happy with my spec.
Side story I forgot to mention earlier - I remarked to my salesman that I knew which car he was going home in tonight. Apparently, there was a contest who would be driving my old Mustang home, seniority ruled supreme and the sales manager won the argument. I should have piped up and insisted my salesman take it first, it was his sale. In any case, I told him to give it hell.
OP
OP
DFB5.0
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #30
The First Drive!
Not for the first time, I drove a Race Red Mustang out of that delivery bay. Compared to the first time, this drive was somewhat familiar. I remember being absolutely terrified driving out of the dealership and onto a busy highway. The ultra-low driving position and that loooooong hood made it hard to know where the car was. It took me ages to adjust to that, and the clutch arrangement too.
In comparison, the S650 this morning was a doddle, helped by not having to manage an unfamiliar clutch. The driving position seemed completely normal, and the lower hood line makes visibility a little better. My initial throttle inputs were a little jerky, but soon became normal.
Actually, the first thing you notice is the steering. I wasn't expecting much to be honest, most of the press reviews heavily criticize the steering, in particular a lack of steering feel. Despite being early days, I can safely say that the steering is a marked improvement over the predecessor, it feeling more direct and doesn't have that unconnected feel of the S550. I wouldn't say it has bags of feel, but then most modern cars are the same. The new steering wheel with a smaller diameter plays a part here too.
The second thing I noticed was the ride quality. The early S550's had a very strange setup that was brittle at low speeds with too much rebound, but then went all soft and floaty at higher speeds. With Magneride in Normal, the S650 seems to round off those lower speed bumps. At the moment, I haven't explored higher speed handling or the differences between the modes.
The highlight of any V8-powered Mustang is naturally the engine and how it sounds. The car was handed over with only 24km on the clock, so there won't be any balls to the wall acceleration for a little while yet, but I can tell it's got more poke. Keep in mind, I'm coming from the early S550 with only 306 kW, so this new car is quite a power increase at 345 kw and 550 Nm. Naturally, it sounds epic too, especially with the Track setting engaged which brings some unexpected pops and bangs on deceleration. Nice! I can't wait to open up those dual throttle bodies!
Comparing to my old Mustang which had an aftermarket Borla Touring cat-back, I find that had more noise in more places. In other words, the S650's noise is heavily rear muffler biased. At the moment I'm on the fence regarding an exhaust mod, I may or may not swap out the central resonator for an X- or H-Pipe.
The 10-speed is much better at low-speed running than I was expecting. I have driven two S550's with the 10R80 and found it got lost at low speeds, but absolutely hammered during heavy acceleration. The latest calibration seems considerably better. The paddle shifters are slow to react, but the rev-match downshifts are epic!
One of the things I loved about my S550 was the brakes. Ford stepped things up for S650 by adding 6-piston Brembo's to the rear axle. For me, the previous model was not wanting for brakes, so it will be interesting to see how this upgrade plays out when the red mist descends. At this stage, I'm just happy the front and rear calipers match now.
Interior wise, there is a LOT to take in. I have to say, the configurability is impressive but hugely distracting. I guess once I learn my way around everything, there will be less distraction. Overall, the interior is a few steps ahead in terms of material and build quality, even if there is a lot of common parts shared with the S550. The steering wheel in particular feels very premium.
And yes, the first song on the meaty B&O sound system was predictable..........................
Not for the first time, I drove a Race Red Mustang out of that delivery bay. Compared to the first time, this drive was somewhat familiar. I remember being absolutely terrified driving out of the dealership and onto a busy highway. The ultra-low driving position and that loooooong hood made it hard to know where the car was. It took me ages to adjust to that, and the clutch arrangement too.
In comparison, the S650 this morning was a doddle, helped by not having to manage an unfamiliar clutch. The driving position seemed completely normal, and the lower hood line makes visibility a little better. My initial throttle inputs were a little jerky, but soon became normal.
Actually, the first thing you notice is the steering. I wasn't expecting much to be honest, most of the press reviews heavily criticize the steering, in particular a lack of steering feel. Despite being early days, I can safely say that the steering is a marked improvement over the predecessor, it feeling more direct and doesn't have that unconnected feel of the S550. I wouldn't say it has bags of feel, but then most modern cars are the same. The new steering wheel with a smaller diameter plays a part here too.
The second thing I noticed was the ride quality. The early S550's had a very strange setup that was brittle at low speeds with too much rebound, but then went all soft and floaty at higher speeds. With Magneride in Normal, the S650 seems to round off those lower speed bumps. At the moment, I haven't explored higher speed handling or the differences between the modes.
The highlight of any V8-powered Mustang is naturally the engine and how it sounds. The car was handed over with only 24km on the clock, so there won't be any balls to the wall acceleration for a little while yet, but I can tell it's got more poke. Keep in mind, I'm coming from the early S550 with only 306 kW, so this new car is quite a power increase at 345 kw and 550 Nm. Naturally, it sounds epic too, especially with the Track setting engaged which brings some unexpected pops and bangs on deceleration. Nice! I can't wait to open up those dual throttle bodies!
Comparing to my old Mustang which had an aftermarket Borla Touring cat-back, I find that had more noise in more places. In other words, the S650's noise is heavily rear muffler biased. At the moment I'm on the fence regarding an exhaust mod, I may or may not swap out the central resonator for an X- or H-Pipe.
The 10-speed is much better at low-speed running than I was expecting. I have driven two S550's with the 10R80 and found it got lost at low speeds, but absolutely hammered during heavy acceleration. The latest calibration seems considerably better. The paddle shifters are slow to react, but the rev-match downshifts are epic!
One of the things I loved about my S550 was the brakes. Ford stepped things up for S650 by adding 6-piston Brembo's to the rear axle. For me, the previous model was not wanting for brakes, so it will be interesting to see how this upgrade plays out when the red mist descends. At this stage, I'm just happy the front and rear calipers match now.
Interior wise, there is a LOT to take in. I have to say, the configurability is impressive but hugely distracting. I guess once I learn my way around everything, there will be less distraction. Overall, the interior is a few steps ahead in terms of material and build quality, even if there is a lot of common parts shared with the S550. The steering wheel in particular feels very premium.
And yes, the first song on the meaty B&O sound system was predictable..........................
Sponsored
