Project S650 – 771 days in the making!
This all started in early September 2022 with Ford unveiling the new 7th Generation Mustang. At the time, I had been a Mustang owner since March 2017, in that time nothing else on the market really interested enough to buy something in the meantime. The updated 2018+ models certainly appealed, but not enough to trade up. So, with the reveal of the new model, I knew this would be a worthy update to a car that had stolen my heart.
After a week or so thinking it over, on the 21st of September 2022, I made a trip down to my local Ford dealer, the same that sold me my S550 and the last car I bought. At the time, the Ford showroom was being remodeled and so I made my way over to the adjacent VW building and asked for my usual salesman. Turns out he had left at the start of Covid, I told you it had been a long time! I was then directed to the temporary site-hut that was a makeshift Ford showroom, then handed over to a junior salesman..............what a baptism of fire for him!
Sitting in the makeshift showroom that morning, there was a lot of unknow playing out. For starters, at that stage no one knew anything about the S650 other than it was coming to Australia at some point. There was no confirmation of models, pricing, or when it would arrive. Dealers couldn’t even place an official order because there weren’t even any product codes to register against. So both the salesman and myself were in the dark. I didn’t learn this until last week, but my new salesman had only just started with the dealer, and this Mustang order was one of his first deals. After conferring with the sales manager, an old-school contract was doctored up to get myself in the system, which naturally was subject to change. Looking back, they used the S550 Mustang GT as an order template. I then paid a $1000 deposit, shook hands and left the dealership at the top of the dealers S650 order list.
And so began the wait. This was not my first rodeo, early on, S550 Mustang customers were waiting up to and beyond 12-months to get their car. In fact, I waited just that for mine, placing the order in March 2016 and taking delivery 12-months and 7 days later in 2017. So, you could say that I was well versed in waiting for Mustang’s. Being that I had effectively pre-ordered a yet to be confirmed new model, I was fully expecting to wait beyond 12-months. At the time, this didn’t bother me as I wasn’t yet ready to part with my S550, the extended wait would give me time to enjoy the car a while longer and plan for some extended holiday leave to coincide with the new cars arrival. The car or the holiday, it's hard to know which I wanted more.
The following two years were an exercise in frustration. (Keep in mind the following is two years' worth condensed in a paragraph, so my exact recollection might be hazy now) In early 2023, Ford asked dealers for a model mix to gauge/plan projected production. Customers were asked for preference of body, colour, engine and transmission. Model specs, options and prices were expected to be announced in the following month. And so began the agonizing torture Ford Australia inflicted on their most loyal of customers. In mid 2023, Ford released specs and options, with pricing expected to follow shortly after. What annoys me most during this time was how customers were not given a chance to properly order their cars, in fact NSC numbers and build slots were allocated BEFORE pricing was announced. My argument was that I had an order number and production slot for a car I had no idea what would cost me, or if my chosen spec had been accepted. And this
was NOT a dealer thing, this was from Ford themselves, delivering ladder-frame pickup trucks was (and still is) their top priority.
Production of RHD export S650 Mustang’s were supposed commence in late 2023, with the first deliveries expected before Christmas. In October 2023, Ford FINALLY announced prices to stunned silence. As I had expected, Ford went in for the kill and jacked prices up to the teetering point where it was not too high to lose a customer, but high enough to cash in on the popularity of the Mustang. I get it, Ford is in business to make money, but the delays with pricing and then the massive price hike was pretty rude. In any case, I met with the salesman for the second time ever and finally had a number to work with.
Also announced that day, Ford again told customers that production of RHD Mustang’s was delayed until Q1 2024. Which then became Q2, which then became mid 2024. Somewhere in all of that, I was issued a new NSC, a VIN number and finally a production slot. And while this was happening, I was getting more and more agitated over taking long service leave. If the car had arrived as expected in late 2023, things perhaps wouldn’t have gotten so antsy. But after each delay, my patience got thinner and thinner, both with Ford and with work.
To be clear, this was not the dealer or salesman’s fault, they wanted to the car as much as I did. I did my best to not be pestering him on a weekly basis, which was very hard but I didn't want to be
that customer. Ford have a long history of botched product launches in Australia, this S650 Mustang was no different. I debated writing about all of that in this post because of negative tone it brings, this post
should be about
positivity. However, it’s an integral part of the story and how it led me to this moment.
And so, lets get to the good stuff............................
In January 2024, I was issued a production slot, a Vin number and an expected ETA in early October. We had some meaningful progress at last! The car went into production on the 24th of April 2024, coming off the line on the 26th of April 2024. Nothing could take me down that, seeing "Off Line" on the Vista screenshot, it certainly made things real! The car hit “gate release” on the 28th of April, then compound entry on July 3rd. On the 26th of September, the car was loaded on Vessel Titania………………..a name that had a lot of people laughing at. As long as it didn’t live up to its unfortunate name, I didn’t care what boat it was on! From here, I tracked the vessel as it made its way down the east coast of American, through the Panama cannel, then on towards New Zealand and Australia. Once in Australian waters, the vessel travelled to Brisbane, Sydney and finally Melbourne where my car was unloaded on the 29th of September 2024.
The best moment of all arrived last week after standing in a que at the bank, always an exercise in frustration. On my way out, I took a glance at my phone and spotted something that took my breath away! Beaming back at me was single image with no words attached, I don’t think any were warranted. The pic in question was taken seconds after the car arrived off the truck. The funny thing is, I had planned on going to the dealer that morning to touch base, had I gone there first instead of the bank, I would have witnessed the car being driven off the truck. Finally, after 2 years and 25 days, my new Mustang was here! I think I will remember that day for a long, long time.
I then hightailed it to the dealer, walked through the glass doors and spotted my red beauty in the delivery bay. As the salesman approached me, I’m not going to lie, I was speechless and on the brink of tears. I know, it's just a car, but after such a long, long wait and all the crap that’s gone on in the background, it all of a sudden hit me that this was happening.
After a good look over the car, and even a cheeky start up and rev in Track mode, a delivery day was organized, an extra seven days in the grand scheme of things was nothing. Props to the salesman (again) for collecting all of the production line paperwork and window sticker before they went in the bin.
With two years in the lead up to delivery, I’ve had plenty of time to figure out number plates, detailing, wheels, exhaust, and various other little changes I wanted to make. The first of which was a set of black slimline plates with the Ford upgrade and a set of number plate mounting brackets. More on those at later date.
Over the following 7-days, I had been surprisingly calm. And its at this point I'm glad I took leave early, having some time to unwind has been working wonders. Having time to nail down insurance, funds transfer, all little things that would normally be stressing me out. Not this time. Actually, there was a brief blip at the bank when I was told they don't cut cheques anymore...................just shows how long it's been since I bought a car.
And so, we arrive at delivery day...........................
If only he knew the whole story, trust me, this is NOT work!
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It went to someone about my age with a large lawn to maintain, apart from a lowball opening offer, the guy was a gentleman and paid what I was asking, he therefore got an extra air filter, the mulch plug, the owner manuals.......................and a dam clean high end lawn mower!
