what options make it "Premium" ?

['68StangGT]

help an old classic guy out here

since my 68 is gone and I really love the new body style - I've been checking out some new "ponies"

from what I read in some posts (if I understood it correctly) - you can't tell from a VIN if a car came with the "Premium" package

(IS THAT CORRECT ?)

while I'm scanning ads, mainly on the Internet right now, I wondered - are there just a couple of options that ONLY came with this package, in case it's not spelled out in the sellers description ?

in other words, if I'm reading the options listed by the seller and it says it has these specific options - will that be a sure fire sign that it was a Premium packaged car ?

TIA

 

[08blueskunk]

technically the only differences defined by the Premium pkg over the deluxe are...

Premium has:
Shaker 500 stereo
Leather/ power seats

However when dealerships are ordering their cars for their lot the Premiums usually get some more "extras" like:
My color display, and /or amibient light pkg.
interior upgrade pkg (silver aluminum dash/stearing wheel, digital trip computer, 6 guages instead fo 4 ect, ect.)
Different wheels.
gt exterior Pkg. (hood scoop, polished exhaust tips, pony engine cover)
3.55 gear upgrades.
and plenty more.

One thing i noticed is that all the Roush and Shelby GT's all started life as Deluxe pkgs, and where upgraded with "aftermarket parts"


I just went through all this a month ago at my dealership because i wanted very specific options. I figured i would order a car, and he said "they could find what i wanted out there most likely."Ordering a car woudl have meant i had to wait 8-9 months if i wanted an 08 or just order the 09 an dwait 6 months, They ended up finding my car after 2.5 hours online an calling dealerships, mine was at a dealer 39 miles away.

I ended up with a Deluxe GT with leather and Power (options i wanted), and the GT exterior pkg(option i didn't need), and 18" polished wheels(option i wanted). i didn't want to pay for all the frills on the interior. That they were finding on all the premium cars out there.


The only thing that doesn't make my car a Premium is the standard stereo.

 

[cave diver]

The GT Premium includes the Shaker 500 audio system and leather trimmed seats. The other options I would highly recommend looking for are:

Interior Upgrade Package (IUP), it includes:
Leather wrapped steering wheel with satin aluminum spokes
Satin aluminum shifter knob
Polished a/c vent rings
Satin aluminum door handles
6-gauge cluster with My-Color
Message center
Satin aluminum sill plates
Satin aluminum dash panel (or charcoal aluminum if order that way)

GT Appearance Package, it includes:
Polished stainless steel rolled tip exhaust
Pony emblem / Power By Ford engine cover
Hood scoop (I really like the retro look of it)

Another nice option is 18" wheels, I think they just fill up the wheel wells nicer.

BTW, I'm and old Mustang guy too. I sold my 1967 390 GT fastback last year that I had owned for 22-years and purchased my new GT right after. I have a lot more fun in the new GT. It's faster, handles better, it's safer, it's more fun to drive, it has all the classic design looks and it's still a Mustang. You'll be happy with a S197, trust me.

 

[cave diver]

I forgot to answer your question about the VIN. A GT coupe will have T82 in positions 5 through 7 of the VIN. A GT convertible will have T85 in those positions. The VIN itself won't determine a Premium from a plain Deluxe. On the door jamb Certification Label you can find many of the color, trim and option codes. Under the "INT TR" code if you see the first digit as a "K" that is for a GT leather interior and a "5" would be a base cloth GT interior. The second digit is the color, "2" = Medium Dove, "H" = Camel, "R" = Black/Crimsom Red", and "W" = Charcoal Black. So a "KW" would be a GT with Charcoal Balck leather trim. Axle ratios, colors, transmissions and most everything else all have specific codes on the Cert Label.

It is very much the same as decoding the vintage Mustangs. If you have a specific question about decoding one you are looking at drop me a PM and I'll help you out.

I hope this helps answer your questions from one "old Mustang guy" to another.

 

[08blueskunk]

One thing i noticed black leather without the IUP was kinda ugly inside alot of black plastic, I went with the Gray interior with leather and the Gray and black meshed nicely and broke up at the black plastic with 2 tone gray and black.

I think they all have the polished/chrome air vent bezels. mine has it and i don't have the interior upgrade pkg.

 

[ARTTII]

Agree with above posts, one additional thing. For 2009MY, Satellite Radio became part of the Premium trim level, so that means you also get the dumb attena drilled on the trunk lid.

 

['68StangGT]

awesome

I know why I love this site

Appreciate all the good info

thanks again