My 2012 base V6 charcoal grey steering wheel is rather cheap looking and the only part of the interior that really bothers me. Of course, I knew this when I purchased the car thinking I could upgrade it’s looks at a later date. So far, I haven’t found anything and want to keep my original factory thumb controls. A direct swap is an option too.

What have other owners done to improve the looks?

 

You can do a direct swap, I believe that is what most people do and what I plan on doing in the near future

 

Dude, go with either the GT500 ($350) or BOSS 302 (it was about $250 last I looked) steering wheels. I did the GT500 and love the combo of the alcantara and leather inserts. The buttons all work (are connected) but if you don't have a Shaker head unit they will not work. The upgrade to that is picking up a used Shaker head unit somewhere and then it is plug and play. The BOSS 302 wheel is entirely alcantara which feels like suede. PartsCheap.com has both and the BOSS was less last time I looked. Other wheels out there include the Grant ($400ish) which is similar but does not come with the control buttons so that is probably $100 extra to buy from Ford.

 

OK guys, a direct swap is definitely a good option. Problem is ... that I don’t know years are compatible swaps. Model years 2005-2013? As I don’t want to buy a steering wheel that won’t fit and function correctly. I’m a 58 year old total noob with my first Mustang!

 

Well, I'm 54 and this is like a hobby, a kit car that you can do whatever you want to it. For me, it was definitely about making the 'man-machine interface" the best it could be. The GT500 wheel was first. You could shop ebay and probably pick up a premium wheel for about $150 but the GT500 wheel is the Bomb! Next were some billet pedal covers followed by a black ball shifter from Speed Dawg. Where your hands and feet touch every day make a big difference in how you view the car. If you have a stick I also recommend changing the shifter and shifter bracket (easy to do - about an hour total) and it is like magic. You don't have to spend a ton of money but you will feel like you bought a truly hot car!

 

While the 05-09 wheels will all fit and function fine as they have the same controls as your current wheel. Anything less than a 2010 Premium wheel would look out of place on your car - better to leave the plastic insult as is rather than put a 05-09 wheel, even the GT500 one. By the way, my car was a Rapid Spec 100 just like your which I picked up on 15 April 2011. It has been a year of change, all for the better! OLD DUDES RULE

 

I'm 56, and this is my first Mustang since 1989. I too have the base V6, and I find the base steering wheel too slippery. I was hoping to find a leather steering wheel cover, but so far, no joy. I heard there's a "fleet" steering wheel that they put on rental cars and that has the base controls on it, but it's leather.

 

SterlingStangMan,

That’s some really good and helpful info you posted. Gives me a whole new direction to check out, especially on ebay. I should be able to find something to my liking to address that boring looking steering wheel,Thanks!

jsimmons,

Another great lead to check out, Thanks!

Old guys rock ...

 

Another option is to get driving gloves...

(maybe I should have said that with a French accent)

 

'08-'09 Bullitt wheel is a direct swap, just have to use the buttons from your current '10-'12 wheel,
here was my '10, it's 1000000000000% better than the crappy base rubber one...

 

I got my GT steering wheel off eBay for $150 including shipping and have seen them as low as $100. The leather makes all the difference. And if you swap the base radio for a Shaker you'll get radio controls on the wheel. I bought one off a junkyard for $125.
Took about 1 hr to install everything. Do it!

 

Where did you put your cruise controll buttons?