ford dealership experience + question to mustang owners

m4a1mustang · 01-02-2012, 04:26 PM

Pharm, since the 370 is the only RWD car you've driven before it's also the only direct-input style gearbox you've driven. Most of them share some common traits, but usually the higher the torque rating the more effort required to operate. Just something to keep in mind.

Pharmacist · 01-02-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Pharm, since the 370 is the only RWD car you've driven before it's also the only direct-input style gearbox you've driven. Most of them share some common traits, but usually the higher the torque rating the more effort required to operate. Just something to keep in mind.

well, when i was shopping for the 370z a couple of years ago, i did test drive a 335i and it had a buttery smooth shifter too. regardless, i know direct input shifters will be rougher and clunkier than average. but that shifter was just so damn hard to move. i'm not a weakling. i go to the gym and pump iron, and still i had to use quite a bit of effort to move the shifter into gear, or even just wiggle it sideways. it felt about the same as a steering wheel feels when the engine is off and power steering isn't active. it was something that would quickly exhaust the muscles if done repeatedly during a normal drive. actually i think something must have been wrong with that specific car. i'll check other dealerships definitely just to verify my doubts.

FL 4Motion · 01-02-2012, 05:09 PM

Pharm,
Just out of curiosity, what cars are on your short list to repalce your totaled Z?

Pharmacist · 01-02-2012, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL 4Motion

Pharm,
Just out of curiosity, what cars are on your short list to repalce your totaled Z?

not really sure. maybe go the awd route for sti or evo, but doubtful given the cheap interior, boy racer looks, and questionable reliability. I might go for a cayman s but the pricing on these things is insane, even used. Hard to justify the cost vs performance gain. Right now the top of my list is either used 911 or e92 m3 with possibilities including 335i (which i would mod significantly for the track), cayman s (if i can find one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg), or if all else fails just get nother 370z

FL 4Motion · 01-02-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

not really sure. maybe go the awd route for sti or evo, but doubtful given the cheap interior, boy racer looks, and questionable reliability. I might go for a cayman s but the pricing on these things is insane, even used. Hard to justify the cost vs performance gain. Right now the top of my list is either used 911 or e92 m3 with possibilities including 335i (which i would mod significantly for the track), cayman s (if i can find one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg), or if all else fails just get nother 370z

maintenance on a used 911 or m3, esp if you start tracking it, will be something you need to factor in to the cost of ownership.

I hear ya on the cayman S. I built a black ed. cayman S optioned the way I'd want (still not close to fully loaded) and it was $92K, i built a cayman R same way and it was $90K. Great cars, but not $90K great.

m4a1mustang · 01-02-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

well, when i was shopping for the 370z a couple of years ago, i did test drive a 335i and it had a buttery smooth shifter too. regardless, i know direct input shifters will be rougher and clunkier than average. but that shifter was just so damn hard to move. i'm not a weakling. i go to the gym and pump iron, and still i had to use quite a bit of effort to move the shifter into gear, or even just wiggle it sideways. it felt about the same as a steering wheel feels when the engine is off and power steering isn't active. it was something that would quickly exhaust the muscles if done repeatedly during a normal drive. actually i think something must have been wrong with that specific car. i'll check other dealerships definitely just to verify my doubts.

I don't remember the transmission on the GT500 being so difficult to operate. You'd have to get your hands on one that's warmed up and give it a shot to see. Don't expect it to be easy by any means, but it shouldn't be hard at all, especially if you are young and healthy!

frost · 01-02-2012, 04:28 PM

I dont think it's fair to generalize all dealerships (i.e. ford, nissan, etc) based on one encounter. It's easy to get a douche salesman, or even an entire douche dealership (some dealerships are still stuck in the 70s). I remember going to a ford dealership where we test drove an 04 cobra when it was still new. I've also been to dealerships where you practically have to show your pay stubs to get them to unlock a car. Just depends on where you go.

theDreamer · 01-02-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

I dont think it's fair to generalize all dealerships (i.e. ford, nissan, etc) based on one encounter. It's easy to get a douche salesman, or even an entire douche dealership (some dealerships are still stuck in the 70s). I remember going to a ford dealership where we test drove an 04 cobra when it was still new. I've also been to dealerships where you practically have to show your pay stubs to get them to unlock a car. Just depends on where you go.

So this was you

frost · 01-02-2012, 04:32 PM

Yeah, what of it?

m4a1mustang · 01-02-2012, 04:53 PM

I was 23 at the time of my drive and showed up in my commuter '06 Civic sedan. Parked right out front, too.

phelan · 01-02-2012, 04:55 PM

lol maybe I got good service at the Subaru dealership because when I pulled up driving Rin, they thought it was a porsche

m4a1mustang · 01-02-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phelan

lol maybe I got good service at the Subaru dealership because when I pulled up driving Rin, they thought it was a porsche

Red__Zed · 01-02-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

Anyway, that brings me to my question to mustang owners. That gt500 I sat in, when i tried getting a feel for the shifter, must have been the roughest, clunkiest, harshest shifter i ever touched! I actually think it aggravated an elbow injury i had or something.

it is a direct-input trans that you are running cold...I imagine it would probably feel a bit clunky. Like many other transmissions, it also trades a bit of ease for short throws-- opposite the 370, which gave a light feel in exchange for longer, vague shifts. It is largely a matter of taste, but certainly worth checking out with the trans up to operating temp (and given the treatment you got at the dealer, there very well may be something wrong with the car.

As far as the treatment you dealt with, there are several contributing factors:
1: new year, not desperate for a sale
2: probably not the best sales guy on the lot today since it is the beginning of a new year
3: every mfr has some crappy dealers, sounds like you picked a bad one
4: your attitude

First two are almost for sure, plus some mix of 3 and 4

Pharmacist · 01-02-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

it is a direct-input trans that you are running cold...I imagine it would probably feel a bit clunky. Like many other transmissions, it also trades a bit of ease for short throws-- opposite the 370, which gave a light feel in exchange for longer, vague shifts. It is largely a matter of taste, but certainly worth checking out with the trans up to operating temp (and given the treatment you got at the dealer, there very well may be something wrong with the car.

As far as the treatment you dealt with, there are several contributing factors:
1: new year, not desperate for a sale
2: probably not the best sales guy on the lot today since it is the beginning of a new year
3: every mfr has some crappy dealers, sounds like you picked a bad one
4: your attitude

First two are almost for sure, plus some mix of 3 and 4

?????????? what's with my attitude? i lurked around for a few minutes waiting for a salesman to show up. when no one did, i decided to check out the interior of that gt500. and a few seconds later that guy came out telling me not to do that. and as soon as i told him i'm interested in mustangs, he asks for my age. no hello, no good afternoon, no hi i'm .... how can i help you, no happy new year, nothing. just a dirty look and how old are you.

Red__Zed · 01-02-2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

?????????? what's with my attitude? i lurked around for a few minutes waiting for a salesman to show up. when no one did, i decided to check out the interior of that gt500. and a few seconds later that guy came out telling me not to do that. and as soon as i told him i'm interested in mustangs, he asks for my age. no hello, no good afternoon, no hi i'm .... how can i help you, no happy new year, nothing. just a dirty look and how old are you.

I wasn't there, but it is usually a contributing factor in crappy dealership experiences....again, last two in some proportions unknown to me....

01-02-2012, 04:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	Pharm, since the 370 is the only RWD car you've driven before it's also the only direct-input style gearbox you've driven. Most of them share some common traits, but usually the higher the torque rating the more effort required to operate. Just something to keep in mind. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

01-02-2012, 04:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	I was 23 at the time of my drive and showed up in my commuter '06 Civic sedan. Parked right out front, too. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

01-02-2012, 04:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
phelan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CA Age: 39 Posts: 9,513 Drives: Scoobaroo Rep Power: 3407	lol maybe I got good service at the Subaru dealership because when I pulled up driving Rin, they thought it was a porsche __________________ 凛 ('Rin') - 2009 Nissan 370Z With silence comes peace. With peace comes freedom. With freedom comes silence.

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01-02-2012, 05:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
FL 4Motion A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: FL Posts: 4,776 Drives: Baby Shark Rep Power: 701616	Pharm, Just out of curiosity, what cars are on your short list to repalce your totaled Z?