Ordered 2013 GT500: Our Wonderful & Frustrating Journey
10/13/12, 05:57 PM
#82
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
We had a little rain overnight and the streets were wet but not puddled. I went to get bagels for the Ford guys for staying late to take care of us last night. The Goodyear tires, although very sticky on the dry pavement, were just awful on the 45 degree, wet roads this morning. They broke loose a couple times under very light acceleration.
The Continental DWS tires are SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER!!! On the way home in a light rain, the tires did not even try to break loose. This afternoon, I got caught in a downpour and the DWSs were outstanding. It took a pretty heavy foot to break them loose. And it was very predictable. I can not say enough about how much better these tires are.
We ordere 275 40 19 for the front and 275 30 20 for the rear. The overall diameters of the tires are almost identical but the sidewall on the front tires is a little taller. I thought that this would bother me but I I don't really care. When I step up to 20s front & rear, I'll try to get them to look more even.
The Continental DWS tires are SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER!!! On the way home in a light rain, the tires did not even try to break loose. This afternoon, I got caught in a downpour and the DWSs were outstanding. It took a pretty heavy foot to break them loose. And it was very predictable. I can not say enough about how much better these tires are.
We ordere 275 40 19 for the front and 275 30 20 for the rear. The overall diameters of the tires are almost identical but the sidewall on the front tires is a little taller. I thought that this would bother me but I I don't really care. When I step up to 20s front & rear, I'll try to get them to look more even.
10/13/12, 06:02 PM
#83
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
I'm happy overall with the car but I am not at all happy with the stripes. They did not stripe the horizontal frame of the windshield. I've seen other cars that have the tape up there. The stripes also don't cover from edge to edge of the panels. The front is fine but the back end stripes are crap. They don't cover the entire trunk lid; there is a white gap at the leading edge. The stripes don't cover the entire top surface of the spoiler; there are white gaps at the leading & trailing edges.
I've decided that I will pull the stripes next summer and have them painted on. I'm only going to have them painted on the top surfaces of the car. None on the front bumper or below the front grill. Stripes will go on the trunk & the spoiler but not down the back of the car. The dark blue stripes do have a "metal flake" appearance. But if it is not bright sunshine, they look black and make the back end look like a tic-tac-toe board.
I've decided that I will pull the stripes next summer and have them painted on. I'm only going to have them painted on the top surfaces of the car. None on the front bumper or below the front grill. Stripes will go on the trunk & the spoiler but not down the back of the car. The dark blue stripes do have a "metal flake" appearance. But if it is not bright sunshine, they look black and make the back end look like a tic-tac-toe board.
10/13/12, 06:05 PM
#84
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
The car is de-tuned during the break-in period. The first 50 miles, the car was reasonably limited in it's acceleration. This made it easier to learn the throttle & clutch control. The clutch is WAY easier than I thought it would be. This is good because it's time to have me left knee scoped again and it is not painful to drive.
And I'm glad that it's raining today & tomorrow. It's helping me get the throttle control perfected for those nice sunny days.
And I'm glad that it's raining today & tomorrow. It's helping me get the throttle control perfected for those nice sunny days.
10/13/12, 06:09 PM
#85
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
And lastly for now, the car cover was not at the receiving dealership. I was told that those items should be ordered with the car & be at the location I ordered from. I called them today and of course, the owner was not available to take my call, nor did he return my call today. I talked with their parts dept and they do not have the cover.
So this is just another thing that frustrates me. I waited over 4 months for the car & during that time, they couldn't make sure that the cover was there waiting for me when I paid for the car?
Updated on this when I get more info.
So this is just another thing that frustrates me. I waited over 4 months for the car & during that time, they couldn't make sure that the cover was there waiting for me when I paid for the car?
Updated on this when I get more info.
10/13/12, 06:17 PM
#86
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
I cracked myself up yesterday. On my way home, I stopped by dealership "A" where I initially tried to order the GT500. This is the dealership that jacked up the price another $5000 when I went in with my deposit to place the order.
They have an 03 cobra on their lot and I stopped in to see it. I parked the Shelby in the parking spot right in front of the Sales Mgr's (who changed my deal) desk. When he saw the car pull in, he and his cronies all jumped out of their seats and were peering out the glass to look at the car. I wanted to say "remember me" and flip him the bird. But, the look on his face was good enough.
FYI, the Termi cobra has 30K miles on it. The salesman who came out to talk to me said that the previous owner put a turbo on it, "a really big one." Excitedly I asked if I could see it. He popped the hood and the previous owner had only installed a Kenne Bell supercharger on it.
I asked him how much they wanted & he said $30K. I said, that's how many miles it has, what is the price. He again said $30,000. I told him that seemed high for a car that was so dirty under the hood and obviously driven hard. He started to tell me how limited these cars are & that with the factory turbo-chargers they are all selling over $25K. (again with the turbo?) He said that this one with the upgraded engine should be selling for $40K but they're looking for a fast turn around.
Good luck with that. It was a very worn, hard-driven 30K miles on that car.
They have an 03 cobra on their lot and I stopped in to see it. I parked the Shelby in the parking spot right in front of the Sales Mgr's (who changed my deal) desk. When he saw the car pull in, he and his cronies all jumped out of their seats and were peering out the glass to look at the car. I wanted to say "remember me" and flip him the bird. But, the look on his face was good enough.
FYI, the Termi cobra has 30K miles on it. The salesman who came out to talk to me said that the previous owner put a turbo on it, "a really big one." Excitedly I asked if I could see it. He popped the hood and the previous owner had only installed a Kenne Bell supercharger on it.
I asked him how much they wanted & he said $30K. I said, that's how many miles it has, what is the price. He again said $30,000. I told him that seemed high for a car that was so dirty under the hood and obviously driven hard. He started to tell me how limited these cars are & that with the factory turbo-chargers they are all selling over $25K. (again with the turbo?) He said that this one with the upgraded engine should be selling for $40K but they're looking for a fast turn around.
Good luck with that. It was a very worn, hard-driven 30K miles on that car.
10/13/12, 06:57 PM
#88
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
The red candy is a great color when it is in the sunshine. When it's cloudy or dark, it looks dark maroon. We almost changed our order to that color with white stripes. I was really surprised at all the metal flake in the gray car. The car / wheel color combination is outstanding!
10/13/12, 09:58 PM
#91
Bullitt Member
Join Date: June 20, 2012
Location: Central Coast California
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I'm happy overall with the car but I am not at all happy with the stripes. They did not stripe the horizontal frame of the windshield. I've seen other cars that have the tape up there. The stripes also don't cover from edge to edge of the panels. The front is fine but the back end stripes are crap. They don't cover the entire trunk lid; there is a white gap at the leading edge. The stripes don't cover the entire top surface of the spoiler; there are white gaps at the leading & trailing edges.
I've decided that I will pull the stripes next summer and have them painted on. I'm only going to have them painted on the top surfaces of the car. None on the front bumper or below the front grill. Stripes will go on the trunk & the spoiler but not down the back of the car. The dark blue stripes do have a "metal flake" appearance. But if it is not bright sunshine, they look black and make the back end look like a tic-tac-toe board.
I've decided that I will pull the stripes next summer and have them painted on. I'm only going to have them painted on the top surfaces of the car. None on the front bumper or below the front grill. Stripes will go on the trunk & the spoiler but not down the back of the car. The dark blue stripes do have a "metal flake" appearance. But if it is not bright sunshine, they look black and make the back end look like a tic-tac-toe board.
10/13/12, 10:22 PM
#93
Bullitt Member
Join Date: June 20, 2012
Location: Central Coast California
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Checkout these pictures of 2013 GT500 Convertibles and see if you can find one with stripes on the upper windshield frame.
2013 GT500 Convertible Pictures
2013 GT500 Convertible Pictures
10/13/12, 11:25 PM
#95
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
10/14/12, 07:32 PM
#99
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Thank you. Which one, the white one or the black one?
They did not give me a customer survey to fill out. Once I get my car cover, I will be registering a complaint with Ford Customer Service. It's unfortunate because the other people at the dealership have been great to work with. It's just that the owner HAS to be the contact person for the special orders (Shelby & BOSS) and HE is the real problem.
They did not give me a customer survey to fill out. Once I get my car cover, I will be registering a complaint with Ford Customer Service. It's unfortunate because the other people at the dealership have been great to work with. It's just that the owner HAS to be the contact person for the special orders (Shelby & BOSS) and HE is the real problem.