How perfect do you want it to be?

[doublestang]

Older Perfectionist comments "used to be like you guys" then after my Turbo Formula Firebird which I loved turned out to be the ultimate lemon, I decided life's too short.....I started putting my feet on the sofa (with my shoes on) and parking anywhere I darn well pleased! Expecting door dings as a fact of life.
For some reason I have regressed as I have aged ......I love my Stang(s) more than I ever loved that Firebird and I was obsessed with it, I used to love it cause it was the coolest fastest car I had ever seen, my stangs only get parked in the back 40 acres (sometimes sideways too) I walk more now than ever to my destination, this car is way too beautiful to blemish with door dings. the first night I brought my blue one home someone kicked in the side of it. What a relief, the first major ding over with. The paintless guy was a master, can't tell it was ever hurt.

My point being I think Ford mastered the market, my thoughts are they intentionally cut all those corners with the cheap crap because they know people are going to modify/ customize everything in this car but the general overall makeup of the car is a marketing masterpiece. How many people do you know (except all of us on this forum) that buy a brand new car and start dumping money in it to replace things.....this car is not an automobile it is more like a blank canvass for everyone to create their own original masterpiece! And what a generation gap bridge....this car appeals to ALL age groups (depression era, baby booomers, generation x, y z? which one are we on now??? I am somewhere in between. Love is love..no matter what age, little imperfections and all!

Proud to drive a Ford (two of them) three counting the FX4 truck.

FYI - tequila doesn't mitigate the perfectionist....you just get drunk and upchuck everywhere, you think your paint is a little imperfect now - you ought to see it the morning after stomach acid sits on it all night! yuk!

 

[BOSS4.6L]

I hate door dings, How can someone not care about somebody elses vehicle. I am very anal about people being around my cars, i cant help it I am so proud of my vehicle and if some one was to kick the door in etc.. I would have to lay the smack down on them for being stupid. This is my first stang and I want it to last considering that one day this car could be a classic. Oh and as far as perfection goes, when I bought this car i bought it because of the styling, it is just plain beautiful, and I also knew that ford builds their cars and trucks with pride.

 

[Jenns01TA]

Yeah, Jenn, letting stuff go is good. And in case you weren't aware, tequila (any alcohol, really) helps mitigate those perfectionistic tendencies, too!

Jade,

Well at least in my choice of men it does..... Ever have a 50-75 yarder and then start to sober up mid-fun..... eeeeeeee akkkkkkkkkkk.... NO, ma'am...I will keep my perfectionist tendencies in that area and stay at home, safe while drinking..... Keep the vomit off the car and me out of jail.

Jenn

 

[cheezsnake]

I agree that quality is subjective. I deal with quality issues every day, where one person has a complaint about the product, and someone else loves it. I guess I've never considered Ford craftsmanship 'cheap', but having never owned a $40k car, I don't have any experience with the materials that go into those vehicles. To be honest, the biggest issue I had with my previous car was the substantial surface rust underneath the car. But, growing up where salted roads destroy vehicles over time, I learned to hate rust, even surface rust. Again, it's all subjective.

By the way, I would caution against buying a new gasoline car for future value as a collector car. Take a look into my little crystal ball ... In another 20 years or so, when '05 cars would traditionally become 'classics', gas prices are going to be through the roof. You think they're bad now, just wait. China and other developing nations around the globe will continue to play a much larger role in the depletion of the world's oil supply, driving prices up. On top of this, by 2025, most vehicles on the road in the U.S. will likely be hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell. Who knows what all that will do to the value of gasoline 'collector' cars? Their value might skyrocket because they will be rare, or their value might plummet because you won't be able to afford to drive them. I'm just saying buy the '05 GT because you love it, but I wouldn't plan on funding your retirement with it.

 

[BOSS4.6L]

I agree that quality is subjective. I deal with quality issues every day, where one person has a complaint about the product, and someone else loves it. I guess I've never considered Ford craftsmanship 'cheap', but having never owned a $40k car, I don't have any experience with the materials that go into those vehicles. To be honest, the biggest issue I had with my previous car was the substantial surface rust underneath the car. But, growing up where salted roads destroy vehicles over time, I learned to hate rust, even surface rust. Again, it's all subjective.

By the way, I would caution against buying a new gasoline car for future value as a collector car. Take a look into my little crystal ball ... In another 20 years or so, when '05 cars would traditionally become 'classics', gas prices are going to be through the roof. You think they're bad now, just wait. China and other developing nations around the globe will continue to play a much larger role in the depletion of the world's oil supply, driving prices up. On top of this, by 2025, most vehicles on the road in the U.S. will likely be hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell. Who knows what all that will do to the value of gasoline 'collector' cars? Their value might skyrocket because they will be rare, or their value might plummet because you won't be able to afford to drive them. I'm just saying buy the '05 GT because you love it, but I wouldn't plan on funding your retirement with it.

Ohh I agree! You never know though how much something might be worth in the future. As far as retirement is concerned I have the Military to take care of that after I serve my time. Just a comparison, but I work on 22million dollar jet fighters for the Air Force and I must say that the build quality is not much better than that of a $28000 Mustang. But then again one is for fun and one is for killing and they both do thier jobs well.

 

[Jenns01TA]

Boss4.6L,

My father would have agreed with you 100% on the quality of some of the items we utilize in our armed forces. He used to work on Minute Man Missle Engine, TITAN II Engines, OMS Engines & Solid Rocket Boosters for the Space Shuttle and HEDI (Star Wars/Brilliant Pebbles) technology and he used to come home PISSED off at some of the stuff he was "advised to pass during OC inspections" after the "head brass" military inspections were complete. He, personally, never place a passed stamp on something he felt was unacceptable. But, he also commented on how often the acceptable tolerances +/- would change as deadlines grew nearer.

Sad really... $40 Billion or $40,000 - It's still about making money and meeting deadlines. Craftsmanship and quality have taken a back seat to meeting the bottom line and meeting deadlines. Ode' to the advent of instantaneous gratification.

Jenn

 

[GTJade]

Jade,
Well at least in my choice of men it does..... Ever have a 50-75 yarder and then start to sober up mid-fun..... eeeeeeee akkkkkkkkkkk.... NO, ma'am...I will keep my perfectionist tendencies in that area and stay at home, safe while drinking..... Keep the vomit off the car and me out of jail. Jenn

Maybe when I was a wee college gal...I do recall meeting someone at a club, exchanging numbers and making a date, only to find that when he came to pick me up he didn't at all resemble what I had in my mind. Read: built and drop dead gorgeous (in my mind), vs. average joe (reality). See what I mean about having high expectations?? Lol!!

On a serious note, stangs and alcohol do not mix!! That invincible attitude that comes on around about the fourth shot + 300hp = deadly combination.

The mitigating factor I was referring to is all about relaxing vs. constant obsessing. Being a grown up, one knows their limit and the goal is no longer to get ridiculously inebriated...we should hope.

 

[05PhillyStang]

[QUOTE='01SilverBullet]I'm just saying the things I would like to better aren't the floor mats. [/QUOTE]

Good point. I guess we can all live with the "cheap" floor mats or the lack of an interior trunk release. But these are examples of things that we knew about prior to purchasing the vehicle; things that I considered before choosing to buy this car. If I sat in and examined this car (or any other for that matter) then complained that I didn't like a certain thing, that's my own ignorance and no one would be to blame but me.

However, when I looked at the car before placing my order, the paint wasn't marred and swirled and the plastic screws below the rear seats weren't falling off. Like I said, these aren't things I've complained to the dealer about because they're minor.

If I go to KMart and buy a pair of $15 jeans, I don't expect them to be as nice as a $100 pair, but I also don't expect the pockets to be falling off before I buy them

 

[GTJade]

Good point. I guess we can all live with the "cheap" floor mats or the lack of an interior trunk release. But these are examples of things that we knew about prior to purchasing the vehicle; things that I considered before choosing to buy this car. If I sat in and examined this car (or any other for that matter) then complained that I didn't like a certain thing, that's my own ignorance and no one would be to blame but me.

OUCH! Let me beat this dead horse When I test drove the stang, I looked at the floormats, but didn't INSPECT them...I had no idea how lightweight and flimsy they were until I pulled mine outta my car. Same goes for the Shaker 500 - I listened, but didn't try a bunch of CDs, etc. I don't think complaining about piss poor quality is unwarranted. I even complained to the dealer about how crappy I thought the stereo looked w/the IUP. They should have integrated more aluminum into the big black plastic middle section. But I guess that's what all the aftermarket stuff is for...

Also, when I test drove, my focus was on how it felt. And it felt GOOOOOD!! Emotions took over!! My bad, I suppose.

Point being that regardless of how I perceived things at test drive - I never liked the subs in the door, btw - I still wanted the car. I love my stang! And I can complain about it all I want, too!!!