oneheadlite
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- Aug 20, 2015
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From Big Dave
Congratulations Deyon, it looks awesome.
Congratulations Deyon, it looks awesome.
DFB's Garage
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DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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The Spec!
Up until this point, I just realized that I haven't outlined my chosen spec for this car. Model wise, I briefly entertained the idea of aiming for the top and ordering a Darkhorse. Thing is, I had a strong hunch that Ford were going to ask in excess of $100,000 for them, which many said I was bonkers to think that. History will prove that my hunch proved correct. In any case, I had already decided on a GT Fastback before Ford announced pricing. An EcoBoost didn't interest me, nor did a convertible.
Next, colour. Believe it or not, I actually considered two colors. The delightful Atlas Blue would have made for a different look, but........................Race Red was calling my name again. For me, fire engine red and Mustang's go hand in hand.
To mix things up, I also decided on the Black Pack, called the Nite Pony Pack in America. This brought satin black wheels, black painted roof and side mirrors and black badging. But the best part of the Black Pack is the headlights, the lack of chrome makes the front end look sinister! Even my salesman commented that the Black Pack was the smart choice. Sadly, shortly after my car was built, Ford discontinued the Black Pack due to parts shortages. Very happy that I managed to get it though!
From here, I also knew I wanted Magneride. This is quite an expensive option, one that I didn't question selecting for the improvement in ride and handling it would bring. Had it been available when ordering my S550, I would have ordered it then too. The massive side benefit to Magneride is the red painted Brembo calipers. If you have bought a car with big brakes, I kinda want to see them, not blend into the background like they did on my S550.
I love how Ford are now putting Brembo calipers on the back, makes the car look so much better. The little Pony logo is a nice touch too.
Transmission? If Ford offered the Tremec on the GT, there might have been a choice to make. Other than being very noisy, I never had an issue from the MT82, the shifter feel and weight was perfect. But, I wanted to try something different, and so the 10R80 10-speed auto became the default.
The only other option that I pondered was the Recaro seats. I test drove a S550 with Recaro's a few years ago and thought they were great. But, I had a lot of people telling me that they get old really quick, the firmness and high bolsters becoming an issue. After placing my initial order request, I had later asked for them to be added on my order. For some reason, my ordered didn't get amended. That wasn't a bad thing because by the time I noticed it, I had already changed my mind again. When prices were announced, I was already looking at a considerably more than I had expected to pay, so no Recaro's worked out for the better.
There are three other options I would have dearly liked to order if Ford were more adventurous. First, a choice of wheels! I hate those bird-nest things, especially in black. I would have loved the machined Y-Spokes offered in the US, which are compatible with the Performance Pack.
I know I harp on this, but the Carmine Red interior would have brightened up an otherwise dark environment.
And I would have liked a rear spoiler, the pinched rear of the S650 sort of needs one. For some reason only known to Ford Australia, you can't order a spoiler separately, nor can you have it when selecting the Black Pack, its only available on the Appearance Pack which also includes stripes. However, having seen an S650 in person now, the rear is much better than I had been expecting.
At the end of the day, I'm happy with my spec.
Side story I forgot to mention earlier - I remarked to my salesman that I knew which car he was going home in tonight. Apparently, there was a contest who would be driving my old Mustang home, seniority ruled supreme, and the sales manager won the argument. I should have piped up and insisted my salesman take it first, it was his sale. In any case, I told him to give it hell.
Up until this point, I just realized that I haven't outlined my chosen spec for this car. Model wise, I briefly entertained the idea of aiming for the top and ordering a Darkhorse. Thing is, I had a strong hunch that Ford were going to ask in excess of $100,000 for them, which many said I was bonkers to think that. History will prove that my hunch proved correct. In any case, I had already decided on a GT Fastback before Ford announced pricing. An EcoBoost didn't interest me, nor did a convertible.
Next, colour. Believe it or not, I actually considered two colors. The delightful Atlas Blue would have made for a different look, but........................Race Red was calling my name again. For me, fire engine red and Mustang's go hand in hand.
To mix things up, I also decided on the Black Pack, called the Nite Pony Pack in America. This brought satin black wheels, black painted roof and side mirrors and black badging. But the best part of the Black Pack is the headlights, the lack of chrome makes the front end look sinister! Even my salesman commented that the Black Pack was the smart choice. Sadly, shortly after my car was built, Ford discontinued the Black Pack due to parts shortages. Very happy that I managed to get it though!
From here, I also knew I wanted Magneride. This is quite an expensive option, one that I didn't question selecting for the improvement in ride and handling it would bring. Had it been available when ordering my S550, I would have ordered it then too. The massive side benefit to Magneride is the red painted Brembo calipers. If you have bought a car with big brakes, I kinda want to see them, not blend into the background like they did on my S550.
I love how Ford are now putting Brembo calipers on the back, makes the car look so much better. The little Pony logo is a nice touch too.
Transmission? If Ford offered the Tremec on the GT, there might have been a choice to make. Other than being very noisy, I never had an issue from the MT82, the shifter feel and weight was perfect. But, I wanted to try something different, and so the 10R80 10-speed auto became the default.
The only other option that I pondered was the Recaro seats. I test drove a S550 with Recaro's a few years ago and thought they were great. But, I had a lot of people telling me that they get old really quick, the firmness and high bolsters becoming an issue. After placing my initial order request, I had later asked for them to be added on my order. For some reason, my ordered didn't get amended. That wasn't a bad thing because by the time I noticed it, I had already changed my mind again. When prices were announced, I was already looking at a considerably more than I had expected to pay, so no Recaro's worked out for the better.
There are three other options I would have dearly liked to order if Ford were more adventurous. First, a choice of wheels! I hate those bird-nest things, especially in black. I would have loved the machined Y-Spokes offered in the US, which are compatible with the Performance Pack.
I know I harp on this, but the Carmine Red interior would have brightened up an otherwise dark environment.
And I would have liked a rear spoiler, the pinched rear of the S650 sort of needs one. For some reason only known to Ford Australia, you can't order a spoiler separately, nor can you have it when selecting the Black Pack, its only available on the Appearance Pack which also includes stripes. However, having seen an S650 in person now, the rear is much better than I had been expecting.
At the end of the day, I'm happy with my spec.
Side story I forgot to mention earlier - I remarked to my salesman that I knew which car he was going home in tonight. Apparently, there was a contest who would be driving my old Mustang home, seniority ruled supreme, and the sales manager won the argument. I should have piped up and insisted my salesman take it first, it was his sale. In any case, I told him to give it hell.
DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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The First Drive!
Not for the first time, I drove a Race Red Mustang out of that delivery bay. Compared to the first time, this drive was somewhat familiar. I remember being absolutely terrified driving out of the dealership and onto a busy highway. The ultra-low driving position and that loooooong hood made it hard to know where the car was. It took me ages to adjust to that, and the clutch arrangement too.
In comparison, the S650 this morning was a doddle, helped by not having to manage an unfamiliar clutch. The driving position seemed completely normal, and the lower hood line makes visibility a little better. My initial throttle inputs were a little jerky, but soon became normal.
Actually, the first thing you notice is the steering. I wasn't expecting much to be honest, most of the press reviews heavily criticize the steering, in particular a lack of steering feel. Despite being early days, I can safely say that the steering is a marked improvement over the predecessor, it feeling more direct and doesn't have that unconnected feel of the S550. I wouldn't say it has bags of feel, but then most modern cars are the same. The new steering wheel with a smaller diameter plays a part here too.
The second thing I noticed was the ride quality. The early S550's had a very strange setup that was brittle at low speeds with too much rebound, but then went all soft and floaty at higher speeds. With Magneride in Normal, the S650 seems to round off those lower speed bumps. At the moment, I haven't explored higher speed handling or the differences between the modes.
The highlight of any V8-powered Mustang is naturally the engine and how it sounds. The car was handed over with only 24km on the clock, so there won't be any balls to the wall acceleration for a little while yet, but I can tell it's got more poke. Keep in mind, I'm coming from the early S550 with only 306 kW, so this new car is quite a power increase at 345 kw and 550 Nm. Naturally, it sounds epic too, especially with the Track setting engaged which brings some unexpected pops and bangs on deceleration. Nice! I can't wait to open up those dual throttle bodies!
Comparing to my old Mustang which had an aftermarket Borla Touring cat-back, I find that had more noise in more places. In other words, the S650's noise is heavily rear muffler biased. At the moment I'm on the fence regarding an exhaust mod, I may or may not swap out the central resonator for an X- or H-Pipe.
The 10-speed is much better at low-speed running than I was expecting. I have driven two S550's with the 10R80 and found it got lost at low speeds, but absolutely hammered during heavy acceleration. The latest calibration seems considerably better. The paddle shifters are slow to react, but the rev-match downshifts are epic!
One of the things I loved about my S550 was the brakes. Ford stepped things up for S650 by adding 6-piston Brembo's to the rear axle. For me, the previous model was not wanting for brakes, so it will be interesting to see how this upgrade plays out when the red mist descends. At this stage, I'm just happy the front and rear calipers match now.
Interior wise, there is a LOT to take in. I have to say, the configurability is impressive but hugely distracting. I guess once I learn my way around everything, there will be less distraction. Overall, the interior is a few steps ahead in terms of material and build quality, even if there is a lot of common parts shared with the S550. The steering wheel in particular feels very premium.
And yes, the first song on the meaty B&O sound system was predictable..........................
Not for the first time, I drove a Race Red Mustang out of that delivery bay. Compared to the first time, this drive was somewhat familiar. I remember being absolutely terrified driving out of the dealership and onto a busy highway. The ultra-low driving position and that loooooong hood made it hard to know where the car was. It took me ages to adjust to that, and the clutch arrangement too.
In comparison, the S650 this morning was a doddle, helped by not having to manage an unfamiliar clutch. The driving position seemed completely normal, and the lower hood line makes visibility a little better. My initial throttle inputs were a little jerky, but soon became normal.
Actually, the first thing you notice is the steering. I wasn't expecting much to be honest, most of the press reviews heavily criticize the steering, in particular a lack of steering feel. Despite being early days, I can safely say that the steering is a marked improvement over the predecessor, it feeling more direct and doesn't have that unconnected feel of the S550. I wouldn't say it has bags of feel, but then most modern cars are the same. The new steering wheel with a smaller diameter plays a part here too.
The second thing I noticed was the ride quality. The early S550's had a very strange setup that was brittle at low speeds with too much rebound, but then went all soft and floaty at higher speeds. With Magneride in Normal, the S650 seems to round off those lower speed bumps. At the moment, I haven't explored higher speed handling or the differences between the modes.
The highlight of any V8-powered Mustang is naturally the engine and how it sounds. The car was handed over with only 24km on the clock, so there won't be any balls to the wall acceleration for a little while yet, but I can tell it's got more poke. Keep in mind, I'm coming from the early S550 with only 306 kW, so this new car is quite a power increase at 345 kw and 550 Nm. Naturally, it sounds epic too, especially with the Track setting engaged which brings some unexpected pops and bangs on deceleration. Nice! I can't wait to open up those dual throttle bodies!
Comparing to my old Mustang which had an aftermarket Borla Touring cat-back, I find that had more noise in more places. In other words, the S650's noise is heavily rear muffler biased. At the moment I'm on the fence regarding an exhaust mod, I may or may not swap out the central resonator for an X- or H-Pipe.
The 10-speed is much better at low-speed running than I was expecting. I have driven two S550's with the 10R80 and found it got lost at low speeds, but absolutely hammered during heavy acceleration. The latest calibration seems considerably better. The paddle shifters are slow to react, but the rev-match downshifts are epic!
One of the things I loved about my S550 was the brakes. Ford stepped things up for S650 by adding 6-piston Brembo's to the rear axle. For me, the previous model was not wanting for brakes, so it will be interesting to see how this upgrade plays out when the red mist descends. At this stage, I'm just happy the front and rear calipers match now.
Interior wise, there is a LOT to take in. I have to say, the configurability is impressive but hugely distracting. I guess once I learn my way around everything, there will be less distraction. Overall, the interior is a few steps ahead in terms of material and build quality, even if there is a lot of common parts shared with the S550. The steering wheel in particular feels very premium.
And yes, the first song on the meaty B&O sound system was predictable..........................
DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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The First Mod!
Yeah, yeah, I know, this isn't really a modification, rather making the best of a necessity.
Number plates on Mustang's seems to be a complicated topic, no other car I have experienced has had so much thought put into the tin plates screwed to the front and rear bumpers. For the most part, a lot of that has to do with the Mustang being optimized for US-style plates. Ford actually supply each Mustang with a molded front number plate plinth, which totally ruins the look of the car. If you have a Mustang on order, INSIST this is not fitted!
There are a variety of number plate brackets on the market, starting with basic plastic and ranging up to something a little more precise. Because of the creased front bumper, finding a number plate mounting solution became focus. I can’t remember who put me onto these, but my search ended when I discovered Flow Brackets. These are designed to offer a huge amount of adjustment and are superbly manufactured from CNC-milled aluminum and black stainless-steel hardware.
flowbrackets.com.au
The Flow brackets can be ordered to suit a variety of plate sizes and styles for each state in Australia. Each bracket comes with a box of hardware to cater for the various plate mounting points on the bumper. The slots then allow for height and side to side adjustment. I had only intended on putting the Flow bracket on the don't, but decided to do the rear as well.
When I rocked up this morning, with the sales manager, salesman and detailer together in front of the car, I sensed a little anxiety. Signing the paperwork, the salesman commented that they had done their best with the plates, which had me instantly on edge! I mean, the whole idea of these plates was to make fitment easier. On inspection, they looked absolutely fine, so it was left at that.
Annoyingly, they fitted those pointless dealer plate surrounds. I know its policy for those to be fitted, but come on, all they did was throw money in the bin fitting them to my car. In fact, I did it for them.....................
To fit the number plate protectors, the plate and bracket had to come off. On closer inspection, they fitted the brackets exactly how I would have done. I later contacted the salesman to say that I had sensed some anxiety when I arrived, and that I wouldn't have done anything different, they were perfect. He admitted that yeah, they were panicking, mainly because of the huge array of hardware supplied with each bracket, which I'll admit was confusing for me too.
Before refitting the plates, I polished out the Kingpin plate protectors, then put everything back on as it was.
At this point, I would show you the finished result, but then I don't show plates. Trust me, they are a very neat solution, the supplied rubber spacers also help the plate stand off the paintwork to avoid wearing through. I remember being roasted for spending so much to screw number plates to a car. But put it this way, what is an extra $300 on a car that cost the better part of $100,000. I can guarantee it would cost way more than $300 to fix damaged paint caused by the number plates.
Yeah, yeah, I know, this isn't really a modification, rather making the best of a necessity.
Number plates on Mustang's seems to be a complicated topic, no other car I have experienced has had so much thought put into the tin plates screwed to the front and rear bumpers. For the most part, a lot of that has to do with the Mustang being optimized for US-style plates. Ford actually supply each Mustang with a molded front number plate plinth, which totally ruins the look of the car. If you have a Mustang on order, INSIST this is not fitted!
There are a variety of number plate brackets on the market, starting with basic plastic and ranging up to something a little more precise. Because of the creased front bumper, finding a number plate mounting solution became focus. I can’t remember who put me onto these, but my search ended when I discovered Flow Brackets. These are designed to offer a huge amount of adjustment and are superbly manufactured from CNC-milled aluminum and black stainless-steel hardware.
Buy Number Plate Brackets - By Flow Designs Australia
The elegant mounting solution, designed to re-align Australian number plates to your desired location. It eliminates the need to drill additional holes into your car.
flowbrackets.com.au
The Flow brackets can be ordered to suit a variety of plate sizes and styles for each state in Australia. Each bracket comes with a box of hardware to cater for the various plate mounting points on the bumper. The slots then allow for height and side to side adjustment. I had only intended on putting the Flow bracket on the don't, but decided to do the rear as well.
When I rocked up this morning, with the sales manager, salesman and detailer together in front of the car, I sensed a little anxiety. Signing the paperwork, the salesman commented that they had done their best with the plates, which had me instantly on edge! I mean, the whole idea of these plates was to make fitment easier. On inspection, they looked absolutely fine, so it was left at that.
Annoyingly, they fitted those pointless dealer plate surrounds. I know its policy for those to be fitted, but come on, all they did was throw money in the bin fitting them to my car. In fact, I did it for them.....................
To fit the number plate protectors, the plate and bracket had to come off. On closer inspection, they fitted the brackets exactly how I would have done. I later contacted the salesman to say that I had sensed some anxiety when I arrived, and that I wouldn't have done anything different, they were perfect. He admitted that yeah, they were panicking, mainly because of the huge array of hardware supplied with each bracket, which I'll admit was confusing for me too.
Before refitting the plates, I polished out the Kingpin plate protectors, then put everything back on as it was.
At this point, I would show you the finished result, but then I don't show plates. Trust me, they are a very neat solution, the supplied rubber spacers also help the plate stand off the paintwork to avoid wearing through. I remember being roasted for spending so much to screw number plates to a car. But put it this way, what is an extra $300 on a car that cost the better part of $100,000. I can guarantee it would cost way more than $300 to fix damaged paint caused by the number plates.
DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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Ok, so I'm nearly done. I have to say, it's been a full-on day and I'm about to crash.
I have yet to scrutinize the paint, but a few areas have stood out needing attention, so I have some work ahead of me getting to the level I'm happy with. Put it this way, the car I left at the dealer today was fully dialed in, the new one I drove home has a fair way to go. That's not a criticism, just the reality of a car that has sat outdoors for four months unprotected or never properly detailed.
I'm also loving the novelty of the remote start function, via the key fob or the Ford Pass App. However, I can't get the remote-rev function to work. I suspect that is a km thing, as in it needs to have some more time on it before that function is unlocked. The same for the line-lock, which is a shame because I wanted to do a massive burnout on the way out of the dealership.
It's also turning some heads! Takes me back to the early days of my S550. I'm fairly sure I'm the first in this little town to have a S650. I was also drawing the attention of S550 Mach1 on the way home earlier.
The "Easter Eggs" are very cool. I keep discovering hidden nostalgic logos hidden all around the car, I especially love the outline each generation of Mustang etched into the rear windscreen.
I love the gauge cluster customization! At the moment, I'm running the SVT Cobra style setup, I like how easy it is to read.
So much happened today and I feel like I've had a lot to say. No doubt I've missed something, but hey, I have time on my hands. And so, thanks for reading, thanks for the kind words, it means a lot.
I have yet to scrutinize the paint, but a few areas have stood out needing attention, so I have some work ahead of me getting to the level I'm happy with. Put it this way, the car I left at the dealer today was fully dialed in, the new one I drove home has a fair way to go. That's not a criticism, just the reality of a car that has sat outdoors for four months unprotected or never properly detailed.
I'm also loving the novelty of the remote start function, via the key fob or the Ford Pass App. However, I can't get the remote-rev function to work. I suspect that is a km thing, as in it needs to have some more time on it before that function is unlocked. The same for the line-lock, which is a shame because I wanted to do a massive burnout on the way out of the dealership.
It's also turning some heads! Takes me back to the early days of my S550. I'm fairly sure I'm the first in this little town to have a S650. I was also drawing the attention of S550 Mach1 on the way home earlier.
The "Easter Eggs" are very cool. I keep discovering hidden nostalgic logos hidden all around the car, I especially love the outline each generation of Mustang etched into the rear windscreen.
I love the gauge cluster customization! At the moment, I'm running the SVT Cobra style setup, I like how easy it is to read.
So much happened today and I feel like I've had a lot to say. No doubt I've missed something, but hey, I have time on my hands. And so, thanks for reading, thanks for the kind words, it means a lot.
Klasse Act
Well-known member
- Feb 21, 2012
- 27,705
- 2,735
DEYON CONGRATS
️️️
I bet you get that rear wing eventually unless your cool with it as is. One thing I see is the need for that panel between the tailights to be BLACK, lots of red back there to break up, just my .02 cents
As far as the wheels go, find an owner with those split, 5 spoke stars and swap them, maybe even the dealership can help you here, everybody always wants something different, someone out there wants what YOU have and they've got what YOU have
That red glows, can't wait till you give it the TREATMENT when it will then look like it's plugged into an outlet
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
️️️I bet you get that rear wing eventually unless your cool with it as is. One thing I see is the need for that panel between the tailights to be BLACK, lots of red back there to break up, just my .02 cents
As far as the wheels go, find an owner with those split, 5 spoke stars and swap them, maybe even the dealership can help you here, everybody always wants something different, someone out there wants what YOU have and they've got what YOU have
That red glows, can't wait till you give it the TREATMENT when it will then look like it's plugged into an outlet
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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Thanks! Long time coming.DEYON CONGRATS
I bet you get that rear wing eventually unless your cool with it as is. One thing I see is the need for that panel between the tailights to be BLACK, lots of red back there to break up, just my .02 cents
As far as the wheels go, find an owner with those split, 5 spoke stars and swap them, maybe even the dealership can help you here, everybody always wants something different, someone out there wants what YOU have and they've got what YOU have
That red glows, can't wait till you give it the TREATMENT when it will then look like it's plugged into an outlet
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Klasse Act
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- Feb 21, 2012
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DFB
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Exhausting Work!
The first detailing job on the new Mustang, addressing the exhaust tips. The S650 uses carry over mufflers and exhaust tips from S550, so the pipes themselves are not sleeved with a chrome finisher. I actually quite like the crisp look they bring, even if it means they will require more ongoing maintenance. The condition of the tips at first looked fine, but under closer inspection, they needed some attention to bring to a level I'd be happy with.
Frustratingly, Ford still spray the underside of export Mustang's with horrible black paint, something that I immediately noticed when I got home from the dealer. Seeing smoke pour out from under the hood of your brand-new car is not something you want to see! A customer new to Mustang's would be extremely worried by this, but I've treaded this path before and know that the smell and smoke was from that useless paint. I mention this because that stuff was all over the exhaust tips, you can see it in the second pic above, and that was the good side, the underside was caked in it. This meant I needed to add an extra step this morning.
Before I went any further, it was time to glove up. These tips are renounced for being a finger slicer, that crisp edge is certainly sharp. I'd normally have nitrile rubber gloves on when using harsher chemicals, but they would have been useless here. A clean pair of my garden gloves worked well.
Koch Chemie Eulex is a sledgehammer, no doubt about it, and you should never use it in confined spaces as its extremely heady. It's typically used as a heavy-duty tar and adhesive remover, but this paint is like tar anyway. Turns out it worked very well at softening the paint to the point where it was removed with a towel. The problem here is working around that plastic bumper, care was needed to not get the Eulex everywhere. I worked my back to where the pipe joins the muffler, in other words, I had to know when to stop. If you end up doing this, chose your towel carefully, you will ruin it.
After the paint removal, I flushed the tips with ONR to remove the Eulex residue, which I can still smell in the garage. From here, I could start to polishing. For the inside of the pipe, I grabbed a Maxshine Polishing Cone which I had in stock and worked them over with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish.
At this point I want to highlight the brilliance of "disposable" microfiber towels. I've been running down a box of Repco Eclipse Microfiber Cloths, which are 200 gsm towels in 30cm x 30cm size. These are not the best towel you will ever have, but they excel in being cheap and sacrificial at 0.65c each. Their replacement I bought some time ago being the TRC Rip 'n' Rag.
I have to say, when TRC launched these, they made a huge song and dance about the concept of a microfiber dispenser pack and the disposable nature. Many companies have delivered this format in the past, long before TRC adopted it. Compared to the Repco towels, they actually have a lower 180 gsm and cost 0.87c per towel. However, with a 70/30 blend, they do seem to be softer and more absorbent, Repco don't publish the blend so I would say their cost per towel is achieved with a higher polyester count vs polyamide (polyamide is the absorbent/softness part).
The inboard right side pipe had some sort of scratch that didn't remove with polish, a light hit with some wet and dry paper sorted it easily, I also used that to round off some of the edge.
It was then time for a favorite of mine, a very obscure product that is so perfectly tailored for its role.................P21S Polishing Soap. I used this a final go-over, it actually feels grittier than the Mothers metal polish. A tub of this is going to last you for the rest of your life, its a must for those who love a clean set of pipes.
The final step was the application of Dr. Beasly's Metal Coat. I got this bottle at great expense through Obsessed Garage, but I see its now available on Amazon...................at great expense too. Like P21S, a bottle will last a very long time.
And the final result. Overall, they are a marked improvement prior to all this work, but I think I can still get a little more out of them. If I can find a tip style I like, I may end up going that route instead.
The first detailing job on the new Mustang, addressing the exhaust tips. The S650 uses carry over mufflers and exhaust tips from S550, so the pipes themselves are not sleeved with a chrome finisher. I actually quite like the crisp look they bring, even if it means they will require more ongoing maintenance. The condition of the tips at first looked fine, but under closer inspection, they needed some attention to bring to a level I'd be happy with.
Frustratingly, Ford still spray the underside of export Mustang's with horrible black paint, something that I immediately noticed when I got home from the dealer. Seeing smoke pour out from under the hood of your brand-new car is not something you want to see! A customer new to Mustang's would be extremely worried by this, but I've treaded this path before and know that the smell and smoke was from that useless paint. I mention this because that stuff was all over the exhaust tips, you can see it in the second pic above, and that was the good side, the underside was caked in it. This meant I needed to add an extra step this morning.
Before I went any further, it was time to glove up. These tips are renounced for being a finger slicer, that crisp edge is certainly sharp. I'd normally have nitrile rubber gloves on when using harsher chemicals, but they would have been useless here. A clean pair of my garden gloves worked well.
Koch Chemie Eulex is a sledgehammer, no doubt about it, and you should never use it in confined spaces as its extremely heady. It's typically used as a heavy-duty tar and adhesive remover, but this paint is like tar anyway. Turns out it worked very well at softening the paint to the point where it was removed with a towel. The problem here is working around that plastic bumper, care was needed to not get the Eulex everywhere. I worked my back to where the pipe joins the muffler, in other words, I had to know when to stop. If you end up doing this, chose your towel carefully, you will ruin it.
After the paint removal, I flushed the tips with ONR to remove the Eulex residue, which I can still smell in the garage. From here, I could start to polishing. For the inside of the pipe, I grabbed a Maxshine Polishing Cone which I had in stock and worked them over with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish.
At this point I want to highlight the brilliance of "disposable" microfiber towels. I've been running down a box of Repco Eclipse Microfiber Cloths, which are 200 gsm towels in 30cm x 30cm size. These are not the best towel you will ever have, but they excel in being cheap and sacrificial at 0.65c each. Their replacement I bought some time ago being the TRC Rip 'n' Rag.
I have to say, when TRC launched these, they made a huge song and dance about the concept of a microfiber dispenser pack and the disposable nature. Many companies have delivered this format in the past, long before TRC adopted it. Compared to the Repco towels, they actually have a lower 180 gsm and cost 0.87c per towel. However, with a 70/30 blend, they do seem to be softer and more absorbent, Repco don't publish the blend so I would say their cost per towel is achieved with a higher polyester count vs polyamide (polyamide is the absorbent/softness part).
The inboard right side pipe had some sort of scratch that didn't remove with polish, a light hit with some wet and dry paper sorted it easily, I also used that to round off some of the edge.
It was then time for a favorite of mine, a very obscure product that is so perfectly tailored for its role.................P21S Polishing Soap. I used this a final go-over, it actually feels grittier than the Mothers metal polish. A tub of this is going to last you for the rest of your life, its a must for those who love a clean set of pipes.
The final step was the application of Dr. Beasly's Metal Coat. I got this bottle at great expense through Obsessed Garage, but I see its now available on Amazon...................at great expense too. Like P21S, a bottle will last a very long time.
And the final result. Overall, they are a marked improvement prior to all this work, but I think I can still get a little more out of them. If I can find a tip style I like, I may end up going that route instead.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,895
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- #1,814
The First Wash!
For a car guy, and a detailer in particular, the first wash of a new car is a very important bonding moment. For me, it's the moment where I begin to understand "how" to wash the car. The S550 was my favorite car to wash, the expansive panels and all of those taut lines were strangely satisfying. The colour played a big part too, it might have lacked a metallic element to make it POP, but I could make it look so glassy smooth that you could almost see through it! So, no pressure then on the new Mustang.
I'm approaching this car a little differently than usual. In the past, its been a mad rush to get everything done, for this car I going to take my time and do things in more manageable chunks, the exhaust tips being an example. In theory, this should make the process more enjoyable and less taxing. I'm also exploring a video element, which you will see soon.
The car was presented to me clean, but not to my level. That is nothing against the dealer, it's the reality of production line detailing. And to be fair, I didn't ask for perfection, I simply told them to wash it and make it presentable for delivery. So, my brain really needed to get the car properly clean and up to a base standard.
For the first wash, I decided to make this the decon wash, getting that knocked out prior to polishing in the coming week. This would also give me a proper look at the condition of the car, the paint in particular.
First up, the wheels. Oh boy, these are going to drive me nuts!
To start with, I decided to pre-treat the wheels with ADS Wheel Cleaner. To be honest, on such a new car I wasn't expecting to see much reaction, but that proved wrong.
With that rinsed, I turned my attention to removing the crap they put on the tyres, Carpro ReTyre stripping it with ease. I then foamed down with Brake Buster and cleaned the wheels and wheel arches. Interestingly, Ford are now using carpeted arch liners front and rear, which is probably contributing to the increased cabin refinement that I have already noticed.
I managed to get the Incredi-Brush Flat between the rotor and the inner barrel, but still needed the EZ-Detail to squeeze between the MASSIVE front calipers. On the rear, I have two calipers to deal with as they now use a separate caliper for the handbrake. The intricate lacework of spokes meant the Ultra Wool Mitt is a must.
At this point, I would have normally given the wheels a hit with Carpro Hydr02 to help with drying. However, I'll be coating them in the near future, and because of the matte finish, I wouldn't be able to polish that off. For now, they can remain bare.
From here, this is where I started the decon process by using NV Purify, applied to the whole vehicle. These cars sit out in the open for months prior to shipping and delivery, so who knows what has bonded to the paint in that time.
After allowing to dwell, I foamed down with ADS Decon Soap. Race Red would have masked it to a degree, but remarkably, there was little to no iron reaction from the Purify.
From here, I rinsed the car down to remove the Purify and Decon Soap, then re-foamed using Carpro Descale for the contact wash. Again, parked outdoors for so long, it was bound to have picked up some mineral content in that time. Up until now I had not touched the paint, but again, it was remarkably smooth under the wash pad and my hands.
Yet another rinse, it was time for clay. I could probably have skipped this step, but I had everything set up to go, and I would later find a couple of rough spots on the rear bumper and hood. In this case, I'm using the excellent TRC Ultra Clay Scrubber and Gyeon Clay Lube mixed at 6:1 in an iK sprayer. Applying little to no pressure, I made my way around the car in sections, rinsing after finishing each. That Gyeon Clay Lube is the best I have used, in the past I simply used quick detailer, but this stuff has considerably more lubrication and less grabbiness, smells lovely too.
With the wash finished, I moved into the garage to dry the car. Today I decided to use the Big Boi over the EGO, without anything on the paint, I needed that extra grunt to deal with the bare paint. Actually, it's amazing how much more effective the Big Boi is compared to the EGO.
At this point, the car was 98% dry and I could have left it that. Considering that I'll be polishing soon, I really didn't need to be adding anything with protection to it, a simply quick detailer like Paint Gloss would have been sufficient. But I couldn't resist, out came the ADS Amplify. And what a treat, it adding gloss and slickness that was missing from the equation. I'm glad I did this step because it brought the car to the point where I'm happy.............for now.
I'll also be polishing the glass at some point, but I wanted something on there in the meantime. Opti-Coat Clean & Protect was the choice, this stuff adds some decent water beading from a very simple spray and wipe application, and unlike Clarify Phobic, it doesn't streak.
Both Clean & Protect and Amplify will be removed once the polishing begins. However, I'm happy to have gotten the car properly clean and decontaminated, it now looks and feels up to my standards. Overall, the car has been delivered in decent shape. Naturally, there are a couple of areas that will need some attention, the gloss black hood vent is hazed out, and there are a couple of light scratches on the driver's side A-pillar. And the engine bay needs attention. I'm sure I'll find more, but at this stage, I don't want to know.
Finishing things off, I dressed the tyres with OG Tire Dressing, which was knocked down after 15-minutes. And I couldn't help myself, I gave the wheels a pass with KCx Quick Shine, then wiped down the engine bay with ECH20.
You know, the rear of the S650 originally left me cold. However, the straight on view of the rear is my favorite part of the car now. In fact, I no longer feel the need for a spoiler. Terrible shot, but looking back into my garage at this sight makes me extremely happy....................and its been a long time since I've been able to say that.
For a car guy, and a detailer in particular, the first wash of a new car is a very important bonding moment. For me, it's the moment where I begin to understand "how" to wash the car. The S550 was my favorite car to wash, the expansive panels and all of those taut lines were strangely satisfying. The colour played a big part too, it might have lacked a metallic element to make it POP, but I could make it look so glassy smooth that you could almost see through it! So, no pressure then on the new Mustang.
I'm approaching this car a little differently than usual. In the past, its been a mad rush to get everything done, for this car I going to take my time and do things in more manageable chunks, the exhaust tips being an example. In theory, this should make the process more enjoyable and less taxing. I'm also exploring a video element, which you will see soon.
The car was presented to me clean, but not to my level. That is nothing against the dealer, it's the reality of production line detailing. And to be fair, I didn't ask for perfection, I simply told them to wash it and make it presentable for delivery. So, my brain really needed to get the car properly clean and up to a base standard.
For the first wash, I decided to make this the decon wash, getting that knocked out prior to polishing in the coming week. This would also give me a proper look at the condition of the car, the paint in particular.
First up, the wheels. Oh boy, these are going to drive me nuts!
To start with, I decided to pre-treat the wheels with ADS Wheel Cleaner. To be honest, on such a new car I wasn't expecting to see much reaction, but that proved wrong.
With that rinsed, I turned my attention to removing the crap they put on the tyres, Carpro ReTyre stripping it with ease. I then foamed down with Brake Buster and cleaned the wheels and wheel arches. Interestingly, Ford are now using carpeted arch liners front and rear, which is probably contributing to the increased cabin refinement that I have already noticed.
I managed to get the Incredi-Brush Flat between the rotor and the inner barrel, but still needed the EZ-Detail to squeeze between the MASSIVE front calipers. On the rear, I have two calipers to deal with as they now use a separate caliper for the handbrake. The intricate lacework of spokes meant the Ultra Wool Mitt is a must.
At this point, I would have normally given the wheels a hit with Carpro Hydr02 to help with drying. However, I'll be coating them in the near future, and because of the matte finish, I wouldn't be able to polish that off. For now, they can remain bare.
From here, this is where I started the decon process by using NV Purify, applied to the whole vehicle. These cars sit out in the open for months prior to shipping and delivery, so who knows what has bonded to the paint in that time.
After allowing to dwell, I foamed down with ADS Decon Soap. Race Red would have masked it to a degree, but remarkably, there was little to no iron reaction from the Purify.
From here, I rinsed the car down to remove the Purify and Decon Soap, then re-foamed using Carpro Descale for the contact wash. Again, parked outdoors for so long, it was bound to have picked up some mineral content in that time. Up until now I had not touched the paint, but again, it was remarkably smooth under the wash pad and my hands.
Yet another rinse, it was time for clay. I could probably have skipped this step, but I had everything set up to go, and I would later find a couple of rough spots on the rear bumper and hood. In this case, I'm using the excellent TRC Ultra Clay Scrubber and Gyeon Clay Lube mixed at 6:1 in an iK sprayer. Applying little to no pressure, I made my way around the car in sections, rinsing after finishing each. That Gyeon Clay Lube is the best I have used, in the past I simply used quick detailer, but this stuff has considerably more lubrication and less grabbiness, smells lovely too.
With the wash finished, I moved into the garage to dry the car. Today I decided to use the Big Boi over the EGO, without anything on the paint, I needed that extra grunt to deal with the bare paint. Actually, it's amazing how much more effective the Big Boi is compared to the EGO.
At this point, the car was 98% dry and I could have left it that. Considering that I'll be polishing soon, I really didn't need to be adding anything with protection to it, a simply quick detailer like Paint Gloss would have been sufficient. But I couldn't resist, out came the ADS Amplify. And what a treat, it adding gloss and slickness that was missing from the equation. I'm glad I did this step because it brought the car to the point where I'm happy.............for now.
I'll also be polishing the glass at some point, but I wanted something on there in the meantime. Opti-Coat Clean & Protect was the choice, this stuff adds some decent water beading from a very simple spray and wipe application, and unlike Clarify Phobic, it doesn't streak.
Both Clean & Protect and Amplify will be removed once the polishing begins. However, I'm happy to have gotten the car properly clean and decontaminated, it now looks and feels up to my standards. Overall, the car has been delivered in decent shape. Naturally, there are a couple of areas that will need some attention, the gloss black hood vent is hazed out, and there are a couple of light scratches on the driver's side A-pillar. And the engine bay needs attention. I'm sure I'll find more, but at this stage, I don't want to know.
Finishing things off, I dressed the tyres with OG Tire Dressing, which was knocked down after 15-minutes. And I couldn't help myself, I gave the wheels a pass with KCx Quick Shine, then wiped down the engine bay with ECH20.
You know, the rear of the S650 originally left me cold. However, the straight on view of the rear is my favorite part of the car now. In fact, I no longer feel the need for a spoiler. Terrible shot, but looking back into my garage at this sight makes me extremely happy....................and its been a long time since I've been able to say that.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,895
- 2,963
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- #1,815
And so, here is my YouTube on camera debut.........................
Yeah, I know, that's cheating. But, at least you can see some of my words in action with this time lapse. I did the driver's side wheels before turning the camera on so that there wasn't a delay before the action started. I'm multi-media-tasking here, hence the pauses in action to take stills.
Yeah, I know, that's cheating. But, at least you can see some of my words in action with this time lapse. I did the driver's side wheels before turning the camera on so that there wasn't a delay before the action started. I'm multi-media-tasking here, hence the pauses in action to take stills.
Klasse Act
Well-known member
- Feb 21, 2012
- 27,705
- 2,735
I too would've had to add "something" to the paint even if I was polishing in a couple days, people like us just can't leave it like that️
Really looking forward to the polishing and coating process Deyon, we'll be right there with you and that gloss will be unreal with ADS Quartz
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
️Really looking forward to the polishing and coating process Deyon, we'll be right there with you and that gloss will be unreal with ADS Quartz
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Klasse Act
Well-known member
- Feb 21, 2012
- 27,705
- 2,735
Saved this pic Deyon but added the "auto" setting, I'm sure it's even better inperson!
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Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
oneheadlite
Well-known member
- Aug 20, 2015
- 1,795
- 100
From Big Dave
Definitely do more videos like this, washing all the different vehicles you do. There's a guy that makes similar videos but he's mowing people's lawns.
Also, if I tried to use the detailing seat to do my wheels in the driveway, I'd roll away down said driveway and across the road, if I didn't fall off when I hit the gutter.
Klasse Act
Well-known member
- Feb 21, 2012
- 27,705
- 2,735
I have the same detailing seat
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Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk