Fit and Finish - How's your's holding up?

steelwindmachin · Oct 17, 2005

I test drove a few of the first '05s that came into the local dealer here in Manahawkin and up in Lakewood and they seemed pretty tight.

However, now that a full year has passed, I'm interested to hear any experiences with squeeks, resonance, panel fitment, wear/tear issues.

I don't own one yet as I'm still saving my pennies, but I may opt to own one for my next car.

stanmckinney · Oct 17, 2005

Plastic interior panels are soft and scratch easily. Had mine since March. Other than that, no problems.

halflife1 · Oct 17, 2005

I scratched the speaker cover on the passenger door, not sure how but I am sure it was my girlfriends fault 
My car rattles like crazy under acceleration but that is due to the steeda short shifter. My exhaust has resonance but that is only because I have a bassani exhaust.

Bottom line, stop thinking, snap the locks off the wallet, and go buy the car…… You will not regret it….It is a sports car, supposed to have squeeks, resonance, panel fitment, wear/tear issues.

steelwindmachin · Oct 18, 2005

...is a sports car, supposed to have squeeks, resonance, panel fitment, wear/tear issues.

Well, that's a ashame that you're complacent with those sort of idiosyncrasies. However, this is exactly the sort of stuff I was wondering about with the new model.

It's 2005, not 1965 and quality control, materials and fit and finish have come a long way. I was hoping that the Mustang would be fitted with a bit higher quality materials especially since the Mazda line is build right next to it and they have some very well appointed, quality interiors in their class.

If Mazda, Honda and Toyota can make a good quality fit & finish product in their sub-$20k cars, I'm wondering when that day will come for the domestics.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about, stop by any import dealer, get in one of there low-20 to mid-$20k cars and tap the dash or door panel. I can pretty much assure that it won't sound like a plastic can.

Maybe the leather upholstered GT500 will fair better since nearly everything is wrapped in leather which should prove to make for a quieter interior. Hopefully they won't use paper-thin, crap leather =\

I've waited this long .. I can wait a bit longer...

I8URVTEC · Oct 18, 2005

Overall I am very happy with the fit and finish after a year. The only problem I am having is the black plastic around the doors is turning chalky white. I think it is from me hitting it on accident with wax. I am going to put some Mother's Back to Black on it. That stuff is great.

DukeOfValencia · Oct 18, 2005

I've got 10,400 miles on it, and not a squeek or rattle anywhere. I thought the plastic would start scratching but it hasn't. I have a dog that jumps in with me all the time, and he likes to put his front paws on the center console (so he can see over the dash) and his claws haven't yet scratched anything...
Seems like Ford did a decent job of putting it together.

steelwindmachin · Oct 18, 2005

You could also try Griot's Garage Vinyl/Rubber Dressing. I think they also have plastic cleaner as well. It's not greasy, doesn't attract dirt or dust, has UV inhibitors in it, no petroleum distallates and gives a nice satin finish.

Zaino Tire Gloss can also be used for the same thing and all rubber/vinyl

Big-Foot · Oct 18, 2005

6500 miles - born on 12/04 - still no rattles, occassional clunk in front end..

Owner1 · Oct 18, 2005

13,000 miles and no squeeks, rattles or clunks. Still as tight as new, and I'm really picky about this.

Interior still looks like new, but I'm also very careful with it.

Owner1

halflife1 · Oct 18, 2005

steelwindmachin said:
Well, that's a ashame that you're complacent with those sort of idiosyncrasies. However, this is exactly the sort of stuff I was wondering about with the new model.

I meant it is not a BMW or a Lexus. If you want something quite that will not rattle don't buy a Ford....

ursastang · Oct 18, 2005

I've enjoyed my 'stang for several months now... I know your question is more about those that are about a year old, but...

So far, the LBS is solid, everything is in its place, and it has no new noises or issues. It really accelerates quickly, the brakes are great, and the transmission/shifter have broken in nicely.

The interior fit and finish are fine. If I were Ford, I would have used different plastics in some places, but everything has held up very well.

The exterior is great. The paint finish was impeccable when we bought the LBS, and it is still in excellent shape. All the fits in the body and external parts is fine. No issues here.

crod75 · Oct 18, 2005

I have also had my GT for just a few months. The only fit and finish issue I have had is a persistent squeek in the dash. However, it only acts up over rough roads. Otherwise it has been a very solid car. I only wish I bought one with a manual instead of an automatic!

ctstech · Oct 18, 2005

Go rent one and see how it is holding up. You know rentals get entirely abused. I rented a couple of them now and they had anywhere from 8000 to 15000 miles and I was very impressed with the fit form etc.

ctstech · Oct 18, 2005

...in addition my 05 v6 vert has 9000 miles on it and it is still very solid. No issues at all.

alfman9 · Oct 18, 2005

steelwindmachin said:
Well, that's a ashame that you're complacent with those sort of idiosyncrasies. However, this is exactly the sort of stuff I was wondering about with the new model.

It's 2005, not 1965 and quality control, materials and fit and finish have come a long way. I was hoping that the Mustang would be fitted with a bit higher quality materials especially since the Mazda line is build right next to it and they have some very well appointed, quality interiors in their class.

If Mazda, Honda and Toyota can make a good quality fit & finish product in their sub-$20k cars, I'm wondering when that day will come for the domestics.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about, stop by any import dealer, get in one of there low-20 to mid-$20k cars and tap the dash or door panel. I can pretty much assure that it won't sound like a plastic can

That is a great argument... That is if you just want to sit in the car. Try driving the two. I am glad that the Mustang design money went to the functionality of the vehicle, not the dash which adds nothing to a car.

OBTW, I went to a Mazda zoom-zoom live event two weeks ago where you get to drive their cars on closed courses. Not only do their cars understeer like crazy, the power steering broke on my third lap. But I could still feel the awesome dash material as I wrestled that piece of crap back to the garage.

66Satellite · Oct 18, 2005

alfman9 said:
That is a great argument... That is if you just want to sit in the car. Try driving the two. I am glad that the Mustang design money went to the functionality of the vehicle, not the dash which adds nothing to a car.

OBTW, I went to a Mazda zoom-zoom live event two weeks ago where you get to drive their cars on closed courses. Not only do their cars understeer like crazy, the power steering broke on my third lap. But I could still feel the awesome dash material as I wrestled that piece of crap back to the garage.

Agreed. I don't care how nice the interior is on some FWD econobox cause I'd never even consider owning one. Let's keep the comparisons to other performance oriented RWD cars with similar power and style at the same price. Oh wait...there aren't any.

StangOwner2B · Oct 19, 2005

I think what Dan is getting it at is that if FWD econoboxes can have nice, rattle free interiors that hold up, then why can't the Mustang. I don't think he's pitting one against the other in terms of performance. I think he has a point. If I'm paying $30K for a GT 'vert, I expect the interior to hold up AT LEAST as well as a $17 Mazda3.

What I am NOT saying is that the Mustang interior does not hold up since I have not had 1st hand experience with it. I can tell you that my Miata, with 75K miles, on stiff Bilsteins and 17's with 40 series tires, did not have a single rattle when I sold it to the lucky SOB who bought it off me. I just hope my future GT 'vert does as well.

Alfman: Sorry to hear about your downer experience in the Zoom-Zoom Live but consider the fact that these cars are pretty much pushed to an inch of their lives EVERY weekend. It may have been your 3d lap but I'm willing to bet that the car you were driving was not 3 laps fresh. As far as all their cars understeering, having driven both a Miata and an RX-8, they're about as neutral as it gets relatively speaking.

tapd117 · Oct 19, 2005

2005 Fit & Finish Is Great

I've had mine since 10/2004 one of the first Mustang GT's in Little Rock, AR where I bought it. No rattles or fit/finish issues. Mine has just over 6,800 miles on it. Ford did it right on this car, jump in and buy one, this is a mustang, who wants an import

alfman9 · Oct 19, 2005

StangOwner2B said:
I think what Dan is getting it at is that if FWD econoboxes can have nice, rattle free interiors that hold up, then why can't the Mustang. I don't think he's pitting one against the other in terms of performance. I think he has a point. If I'm paying $30K for a GT 'vert, I expect the interior to hold up AT LEAST as well as a $17 Mazda3.

What I am NOT saying is that the Mustang interior does not hold up since I have not had 1st hand experience with it. I can tell you that my Miata, with 75K miles, on stiff Bilsteins and 17's with 40 series tires, did not have a single rattle when I sold it to the lucky SOB who bought it off me. I just hope my future GT 'vert does as well.

Alfman: Sorry to hear about your downer experience in the Zoom-Zoom Live but consider the fact that these cars are pretty much pushed to an inch of their lives EVERY weekend. It may have been your 3d lap but I'm willing to bet that the car you were driving was not 3 laps fresh. As far as all their cars understeering, having driven both a Miata and an RX-8, they're about as neutral as it gets relatively speaking.

All of the money in the mustang was put towards the mechanical aspect.

And as for the Mazda, so what if it has been used this entire year at ride and drives, it was still not even a year old and with proper maint. no car should lose power steering without throwing a belt, which I have never seen a serpentene let loose.:Total-CP:

woode · Oct 20, 2005

halflife1 said:
I meant it is not a BMW or a Lexus. If you want something quite that will not rattle don't buy a Ford....

I traded a 2002 BMW 330CI for my 05 GT in October 2004. The BMW was a fantastic car, but not better than the Mustang - just a different kind of ride. It, like any other car, had its share of noises and quirks, and no less than my Mustang. The Mustang has a firmer ride, which tends to accentuate the noise. I am extremely happy with how the car has held up after the first year. The finish looks like it just came off of the showroom floor, and the interior has not degraded one iota. I don't baby this car - it is my every day transportation, and I drive it through the salt and snow as much as I drive it in the warm summers. After more than a year, I can honestly say that that it is one of my favorites in 32 years of buying new cars. And I don't miss the BMW at all!

Fit and Finish - How's your's holding up?

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