Around this time last year I bought myself a Rolex Submariner Date watch in stainless steel. The watch retails for just under $6k including Texas sales tax. I bought this watch because it is a "tool" watch. It is designed to be Bullitt-proof, that is unbreakable. It is a mechanical watch, a perpetual. No battery, no winding. This is supposed to be a watch for men who do men's work, like offshore oilfield divers, or men who do work in crap environments like Nigeria, Angola, Chad, etc., like me, where I can't run down to the local jewelry shop and get a new battery installed. It's supposed to keep accurate time. I parted with the money as a reward to myself for having had a good business year with my 1-man business.

Uh, a couple of days ago the watch started gaining time, then it started losing time, then it just stopped Makes me mad! The watch is not even a year old. They are supposed to last a lifetime, you pass them to your son.

Now I am wearing my Timex Ironman watch. I have had this watch for ten years. In fact I have two of them, just in case the battery dies on one of them. A $20 watch.

I feel like a fool. I was sucessfully marketed to by Rolex. Less than a year after buying their Bullitt-proof watch, it is now in the shop. It won't be back before my next trip to Africa. Well what's the point if it's already proven NOT to be what is advertised.

2007 had been another good business year for me. I figured I would reward myself with a Bullitt Mustang.

But now I am having second thoughts about ordering this car. Is this just another successful marketing ploy to guys in my demographic like the Rolex was? Will I be duped into buying a mechanical nightmare? Or, do I play it safe like have these past decades and just buy a Honda or a Toyota again? I never have really gotten over some of that grabage that Detroit produced in the late 70's, 80's, 90's, and even today, and for letting the Japanese turn our own auto industry into a world laughing stock. Well at least I do know that Ford makes a good pickup truck (the 150).

I guess I just need to know that the current Mustang line isn't the same old Detroit crap.

Mike

 

 

Mike, sorry to hear about your problems with the watch. To answer your question, these cars are light years better than older cars from the Motor City. I have a tick under 17,000 miles (taken home 1-30-06, and taken the car to car shows in 4 different states so there was some serious driving) and and have had 0 major problems! Are there tiny things on my car that annoy me. Sure, every car has this. Mine is a rattle behind the dash, but only when the car is cold. Once warmed up GONE!

I'm sure others can chime in with their wonderful experiences as well. Now, with that said, it is a car, which is a mechanical object. And this object has approximately 1000 moving parts (maybe more or less, don't know the true total). Nothing is perfect, and that is why there are garages at dealerships.

Whenever someone asks me at work about Ford and servicing, I say they haven't been better (and its true, read the quality reports). Then they ask me why aren't they like the imports. I then say, even a Ferrari dealer has a garage, so even a $200,000 handbuilt car isn't perfect (heck, Rolls Royce had a crazy recall a few years ago on their cars). So you will be fine. Am I saying you'll never have any problems? No, this isn't a possible thing to guarantee. Is it better than the past? ABSOLUTELY 100% The warranties are better, parts are better, everything is better. Stick with your order and you'll be showing a smile ear to ear when you get behind the wheel each and every time. Good luck dude.

Oh, and if you want piece of mind, get the Ford Extended Service Plan. Some may say its not worth it, but I got it on my GT. 7 years or 36,000 miles Premium Care, with a $100 deduct. Covers basically EVERYTHING. So for 7 years, I have no worries with my car. The Ford one is the ONLY plan to get.

 

Bite the Bullitt, It's a car with a clock! You'll love it.

 

It's a factory modified s197. Therefore it will be subject to the same issues as any 05+ Mustang. They have there issues, but no more or less than any other car, including Honda, Toyota, BMW, etc.

Do some reading here, then go and do some reading on BMW, Toyota etc forums and I think you'll find the s197 Mustang is no better or worse in terms of problems which are global to a specific manufacturer/model. The difference may lie, however, in the dealer experience. Post a thread here asking for recommended dealers in the Houston area.

Also, if you compare 05+ Mustangs in general to other cars with comparable performance specs, you will find the Mustang to be MUCH better priced.

Aside from that I can tell you from my personal experience I have had both an '05 v6 and an '06 GT. I had zero problems with the '05 up until about 30K miles when I had the AC fan and steering repaired under warranty, and one problem so far with the '06 (a water leak). I also had a '98 that never required anything but regular maintenance and it had 83K miles on it when I sold it. My Bullitt is due Jan 16th.

 

My car has a clock?

 

Okay Lynda, sounds like you know something about the car

Since there are no Bullitts in the area to test drive, what do recommend as most similar so I can get the feel of what the Bullitt will be like?

Thanks,

Mike

 

Lol! And if that clock doesn't work I can always rely on my $20 Timex!

 

I would recommend test driving a regular GT since they are easy to find on any dealer lot. The differences will only be slight, as the Bullitt only has a few extra HP. The handling and feel of the car will be very close. The biggest difference is the look of the car, not the performance or handling. A standard GT will give you a very good idea of what the Bullitt will be like.

 

+1
The Bullitt performance is mostly a CAI and a tune.
The standard GT is the closest and easiest to test drive.
Just remember the Bullitt will have 3-5% more oomph.

 

And as far as dealers are concerned, I have had a great experience with McRee Ford, in D i c kinson, on I-45. The Svc Mgr's name is Tim Allen. Also, free loaners for owners for whatever (less oil changes) for lifetime, not just while it's under warranty...and I usually get a Mustang (V6). I also got the Premium Care Ext Warranty for 100,000 or 6 yrs.
281-337-1529. For sales, ask for Richard Salas, I bought my car from him (2/14/07) and he didn't have what I wanted on the lot, he searched until he found it.

 

I disagree- the car is much more than just a CAI and tune. All reviews make special note of how much better this car handles than the GT. I think people are going to see a very big difference in handling and overall driving expererence.

 

BTW, my Submariner is going on 10 yrs w/o any problems, although it does gain 5 minutes ever 10 days or so...

 

Also the Bullitt has 3.73 gears so it's going to pull significantly harder than a standard GT with 3.31 gears. Also the suspension is improved, lowered, better dampers, ect. There's definitely more to the Bullitt than a CIA and tune.
That being said a standard GT will give you a resonably good idea of how the Bullit drives.

 

Buy the BULLITT, you wont be let down!!

 

On the watch issue, there should be a local dealer who is can get you Rolex factory service or equivalent, which is expensive but worth it. Is it still under warranty? Don't let some schmuck mess with the watch. It is probably a broken spring or something. I have had my Rolex submariner since 1977, and it definitely was a working watch and has been abused, and I still wear it daily. It only stopped working one time after I had been wearing it for about 18 years. Even if everything is working, those watches need to be serviced every several years or so anyway.

 

Rolex watches have to be maintaned and cleaned,doesn,t make it bad??? Mustang are right their with toyotas and hondas , if you
take care of them they will take care of you . Then add the fun factor Mustang owner since 1969!!!

 

Well said! Take care of any car (regular prescribed maintenence) and it will reciprocate. I've been a Mustang owner since 1982 (I must be a lot younger than boss429man).

 

Darn, I keep forgetting they don't come stock anymore with 3.55s.
My point was to encourage the thread poster go ahead and try a car he can drive today, not to start another Bullitt war.

 

I understand that. The GT will give him a fair idea of how the car will drive. I think the GT gives a great ride. I can't wait to feel the difference the Bullitt will offer- mine should arrive in about 2 weeks (hopefully).