No, I'm referring to the original topic of this thread.

ie, "NAV and SYNC adds weight"

I bought upgraded speakers for the '12 I have on order, I work for Ford, I'm well aware of the underwhelming speakers we put in the cars (it's not my decision, don't blame me). So now my car will weigh 15 pounds more than stock. That means that by most accounts I'm still ahead.

I'm surprised we don't have more horse jockeys as car racers.

 

Matt, where are the speakers in a Boss and are they a quick and easy replacement?

 

Well, assuming they're the same as the base Mustang stereo (which it's supposed to be) it should be a pair for the front doors and a pair in the back deck.

The doors are fairly easy if you're comfortable with removing trim panels (there are a few how-tos on the net). The rears are a PITA you have to remove the rear seat and the rear trim panels as the rears are bolted in from the top under the tray cover.

Personally I bought the Metra pigtails so I don't have to cut into the factory loom so it should be plug and play.

 

I think the Boss only comes with coaxial speakers in the doors. More is better so I hope I'm wrong. From the order guide:

Audio – Premium AM/FM stereo w/Single-CD & Clock
Audio Input Jack

 

I'm not getting a rear seat to remove

I thought it was the 4 speaker base radio in the Boss

 

My understanding is Ford counts coaxial speakers as two speakers.

 

I was lucky enough to be there on Apr 17, 1964 (not that I remember) made it back in 1989 for a party Ford had for the 25th anniversary. This car did not have Sync but it did have a 427

 

If you replace the speakers, don't you also have to add an amp to drive them?

 

No, you're just going to be limited by the head-unit's power. However, better speakers than the stock Ford crappy speakers can be more sensitive and have better quality sound.

For example, the magnets on the back of the new speakers weigh 3x what the stock speakers do and are more sensitive. ie Less power to create louder sound.

PS. According to the Boss wiring schematics it shows 4 speakers, 2 front 2 back

 

Cool. Are the rears coaxial as well? Looks like I need to replace four speakers not two.

 

Replacing the speakers, you really don't know what the Boss is about

 

I know I'm such a fool for driving my Boss on the street AND listening to the radio at the same time.

 

You should ask the Boss engineers just how much design time, thought, engineering, and money goes into saving 15lbs on a car. Any engineers, really, or racers, crew chiefs and designers, of nearly anything that moves. It isn't trivial. And it's because, all else being equal, the best mod for any tracked car is weight reduction. It simply makes everything else work better - speed, acceleration, handling, and braking. That's also why all race sanctioning bodies are obsessed with weight. If even minute amounts didn't matter, they would not be.

So while I wouldn't directly equate this with, say, using the Mona Lisa as a bathmat, it's somewhat the same concept, isn't it?

In any case, removing the stereo is some easy weight savings, and more permanent, too - the stereo won't sneak back into my car when I've eaten too much lasagna :-)

 

I'll get the better speakers, and throw out the space-saver in the back. Voila!

 

Pretty sure they don't make a spare that fits the Brembos. I'd guess you get a 1lb mobility kit (which is just tire slime and an air compressor).

 

The schematics doesn't say. But they don't show coaxials seperately in the Shaker schematics either. While Ford may count the coaxials separate speakers, electrically speaking they're treated as one speaker (the crossover is part of the speaker).

I guess you'll find out for certain when the Bosses start arriving unless someone with the base Mustang can chime in here if they have 2 or 4 speakers.

 

I didn't find it necessary until you mentioned it. That's why I ride ~100 miles per week on my bike and try to maintain somewhere between 155 and 160 lbs. A far cry from my collegiate 4.5% index but not bad for almost 50 years old...........


edit: I do tease my cycling buddies about spending $1k for the latest "carbon this" or "titanium that" just to shave 6oz ! Now that is when a little dieting can really pay off!

 

The sync is a piece of crap on my car, I did not bought my car because of this. I bought it because of the performance of this cars. In your case because it is a BOSS (a really great performance car for the price) . Maybe you want to better look for a Camry or a Civic.

 

How many guys in here would opt for an OEM upgrade to HIDs though?

I understand the lack luster desire for SYNC, but I agree that an HID upgrade would be a big safety improvement for nighttime driving.

Would anyone be willing to sign a petition to ask Ford to offer this in a reasonably priced OEM swap?

 

Factory HIDs are more than just different housings, bulbs and ballast. There are a host of sensors for the self leveling mechanism as well. It wouldn't be an easy retrofit if you wanted to do it properly.