Shelby GT500 and KR Rebates

bdeutsch · #1 (**permalink**) 01-15-2009, 03:15 PM

Given the economy, guess this was bound to happen. Just got an e-mail from one of the local Ford dealers here in the Sacramento, CA. area. Appears that there is now a $2,000 rebate on both the GT500s and KRs.

Sounds like he has more in stock than he knows what to do with.

Perhaps due to impending model change or slow market...

Bob

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-16-2009, 02:39 AM

That is the most probable cause plus I keep going to the Shelby site to read the posting in the forums and they still seem to have a lot of problems with some of the cars and their clutches and transmissions. And the fact the dealers marked them up so much didn't help either. I haven't seen any at the Ford dealer here lately, so they must have gotten rid of the couple they had. And with Red Bluff Ford declaring bankruptcy, that leaves this dealer and the others here trying to hang on. You can get a pretty good deal on a brand new 2007 model now.

Ron

95CobraR · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 08:04 AM

I am considering pulling the trigger on a 2007 Shelby GT500. I found one for $35K (no sales tax in GA). The owner paid a premium to MSRP ($45K+) and now has 1200 miles on the brand new car.

The clutch tranny problem is caused by a warped flywheel. It is a problem on 2007, 2008, and early 2009 cars. It's called the tranny/clutch TSB. It is covered under warranty, but there must be a problem before Ford will fix it(the first sign of trouble is a vibration). It seems that the flywheel problem transfers to the dual-disk clutch and then to the transmission (if not addressed quickly).

It will be a daily driver and parked outside.

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95CobraR

I am considering pulling the trigger on a 2007 Shelby GT500. I found one for $35K (no sales tax in GA). The owner paid a premium to MSRP ($45K+) and now has 1200 miles on the brand new car.

The clutch tranny problem is caused by a warped flywheel. It is a problem on 2007, 2008, and early 2009 cars. It's called the tranny/clutch TSB. It is covered under warranty, but there must be a problem before Ford will fix it(the first sign of trouble is a vibration). It seems that the flywheel problem transfers to the dual-disk clutch and then to the transmission (if not addressed quickly).

It will be a daily driver and parked outside.

Very nice car and a good price. But isn't a warped flywheel considered a problem and should be corrected before they sell the cars and then have to fix that plus any other damage it may cause?

Ron

95CobraR · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

But isn't a warped flywheel considered a problem and should be corrected before they sell the cars and then have to fix that plus any other damage it may cause?

The flywheel doesn't seem to warp until it is stressed, and then Ford claims not all of them do eventually warp.

I have talked to several Ford mechanics. They believe the provider of the flywheel was at fault for not manufacturing the flywheel to spec. They believe that only some are defective (they send damaged parts back to Ford after the TSB fix). They are happy to replace them since Ford pays them a fair shop rate for fixing the car (the replacement flywheels are different than the old ones). They are glad to get the work since the economy has slowed their billable hours.

I have two options. I can "stress" the flywheel before the warranty expires (March 2010). If it warps, I get a new assembly by a mechanic that I trust. I can suffer the problem after the warranty expires and just replace it myself (I enjoy working on my cars). Possibly, Ford will step up and extend the warranty for this specific problem.

Nonetheless, It's a $50K car with 1200 miles for $35K.

BTW, I plan to rip those vinyl stripes off as soon as I get it home. I think it looks better without the stripes (JMO).

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 10:47 AM

That is a great price for a really nice car. I really like the red. I have read where some of the vinyl stripes have came loose on their own and that some of the people that wanted the stripes had them painted on as the vinyl they used was really not that good. I see a red and a blue one around here every so often and neither have the stripes and I think they look great. Congratulations on such a great buy.

Ron

elmariachi · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 01:00 PM

Interesting. The local dealer here in Houston has a KR with a $40k dealer added markup on the window. I hope he has it this time next year.

95CobraR · #8 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Interesting. The local dealer here in Houston has a KR with a $40k dealer added markup on the window. I hope he has it this time next year.

They have a problem. The new 2010 Shelby GT500 has the same specifications as the 2009 (and below) Shelby GT500KR. The 2010 GT500 is $50K. Why would anyone pay more than that for a 2009 KR?

http://www.2010shelby.com/

I've seen a few guys replace the stock rear spoiler with one off the 6-cyl Mustang. They feel it allows a cleaner look.

elmariachi · #9 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95CobraR

They have a problem. Why would anyone pay more than that for a 2009 KR?

I agree. People are going to lose their shirts and their A$$es on these cars.

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:32 AM

I think some people have the idea these cars will go up in value like the 65/66 GT-350 and the 66/67 GT-500s. They aren't thinking about the fact that they are making a lot of them and they are paying so much for them now that they will be lucky to get back what they paid for the cars. I have a friend who is a cop and he wants to get one as he thinks in a few years it will be worth a lot more. I disagree with him as I don't think they will ever approach the values of the 1960s versions. But that is not a knock on the cars as I would like to have one of them also.

Ron

95CobraR · #11 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

I think some people have the idea these cars will go up in value like the 65/66 GT-350 and the 66/67 GT-500s.

I owned a 1965 GT350, and then sold it at a weak moment. I lost a lot of money based on today's value.

You probably forgot that it was 1967 before Ford (or Shelby) could squeeze a big-block in a Mustang. The first GT500 was a 1967.

After I regrettably sold my 1965 GT350, I decided to build a 1965 Mustang coupe in its SCCA Trans-Am livery. Now I have a 1965 Mustang that I have invested about four-times its market value.

I still love the car. It's been my best companion for over 13 years of racing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

I have a friend who is a cop and he wants to get one as he thinks in a few years it will be worth a lot more.

You should show him what has happened to other owners. It is not a pretty picture.

The only newer car that I know of that has kept its value as an used car is the 2005/2006 Ford GT (and they made over 4000 of these cars).

Ron61 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 06:41 AM

Well in a way we have something in common. I was going to buy a brand new GT-350 right off the showroom floor in Placerville and decided to get a Galaxie 500XL instead. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.

On the Gt-500 you are correct. I don't known why I put the 66 in there. I believe the 67s were made by Shelby and then Ford carried them on into the 68 year after Shelby left for Africa, but I am not sure of that. Then some years later, can't remember just which year, Ford was going to make a Motor craft Cobra with the 302 engine but by the time they got all the emission stuff on it and the safety stuff for that year, it was to expensive and had little performance so that idea went by the wayside.

It is very hard to find a good 65 or 66 Mustang body around here as so many were used to make Shelby Clones they have all but vanished from this area. I just see a few at some of the car shows once in a while.

Ron

95CobraR · #13 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

I believe the 67s were made by Shelby and then Ford carried them on into the 68 year after Shelby left for Africa, but I am not sure of that.

You have a good memory. For 1968, Ford moved production of the Shelby to the A. O. Smith facility in Illinois. The wanted more control over production. The GT500KR was first made there (with the 428CJ engine). They also ran low of the 428 engine for the GT500, and some cars actually had a 390ci engine.

Some people consider the 1965-1967 Shelbys the only true Shelby cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

It is very hard to find a good 65 or 66 Mustang body around here as so many were used to make Shelby Clones they have all but vanished from this area.

You can find them here, but they are expensive. In today's market, you can buy a nice finished 1965/1966 fastback cheaper than you can build one. Ford made 145,231 2+2 fastback cars in the first two years, so they aren't rare.

Although the Boss 302 is a good vintage race car, the 1965/1966 cars make excellent race cars since they weigh only ~2800 lbs. (with a cage). Spare parts are plentiful, and they are fun to drive.

A Galaxie?

Ron61 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 07:28 AM

Yea a Galaxie. I must have been out of my mind as I really was going to buy the GT-350 and took the cash with me, but for some unknown reason I saw the Galaxie and decided to get it instead. I did drive it for 3 years and sold it for about $1,200.00 less than I paid for it.

I know one person that I used to work with that has his original 1966 Mustang 2+2 fastback and he won't part with it. It needs a complete restoration as his kids drove it all through college and the paint, interior, and everything else is getting pretty worn. He also still has his original 1957 Corvette and won't restore it. He took the motor out and wrapped it in plastic years ago and put in a 327 to drive, but now it just sits in the barn with the Mustang and other cars.

Ron