13 Prospective Purchase Questions

[RoadRnr13]

Looking at a 13 Boss 302 with 9,400 miles, all OEM options excluding LS pkg., stock, had a few questions after test drive & also test driving a used 17 GT350 with approx. 1,800 miles & viewing some related YouTube videos, if any owners might have any feedback:

1. Interior- Recaros felt very comfortable (better than the 17 GT350 IMO) for me as 6"3", 195lbs. How do owners generally feel about these seats re: comfort & performance long-term? Any after-market replacements that are better?
2. Interior-Also looking at another 13 Boss 302 w/o the Recaros, how do those compare to the Recaros for comfort & quality (have not yet made a trip to dealer to test drive this one)?
3. Interior-Sound system only has 4 speakers. How do owners feel about the sound quality or do most upgrade with aftermarket adds?
4. RoadRunr engine- Any problems or issues of significance from owner experience to be concerned about?
5. Torsen helical differential (that comes with Recaro pkg.)-What is difference with & w/o?
6. Suede steering wheel-How does this hold up long-term? Any good way to keep clean?
7. Any body quality issues to be concerned about?
8. Any other dislikes of significance (excluding the MT82) by owners that might be good to know before purchasing?
9. Suspension is manual adj. for dampers from what I've read, seems sorta strange not electronic, how difficult is this to manually adjust?
10. With OEM current incentives & dealer discounts with 18 model now hitting lots, can get a 17 GT with a performance pkg. for around $30K which is comparable to price on Boss 302 I'm looking at. I prefer the S197 body as more old school muscle IMO. Horsepower is comparable between the two with the Boss 302 having a 1K > redline. Boss 302 is a RoadRunr vs. a Coyote. Otherwise the 17GT appears to generally be improved quality most everywhere else. Certainly more limited production on the Boss 302. Would existing Boss 302 owners prefer to purchase a Boss 302 or go for the 17 GT with the performance pkg.?

When test driving the 17 GT350 could not believe how light the clutch feel was as felt like I was putting my foot thru the floor on initial shift & never really got used to it on the test drive. IMO the clutch feel on the Boss 302 was just about right. Was my experience on the 17 GT350 a one-off or are they all with the super light clutch feel & is there a particular benefit to a really light clutch? Great car but IMO price difference over a 13 Boss 302 not worth it.

Thanks for any feedback. 1st post here so hopefully did not screw anything up as to location or otherwise.

[ex2409pilot]

I've got a 2014 Shelby so I can give you an opinion on a couple of points.

1.  I love the Recaros.  They look great and fit like a glove but you have to be careful not to wear the top edge of the side bolster as you turn in the seat while getting in or out.  If I had it to do over I would have ordered the regular seats which would also get you the electric seat.  You can't get the electric seat with a Recaro. With the BOSS seats being fabric this man not be an issue at all.

3.  Can't answer this question. I am sure it's adequate but I don't think I have ever turned my stereo on.  I like the sound the engine makes too much to drown it out with music.

6.  Mine has the suede steering wheel and still looks like new because I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the consol for after gas fill ups and just keeping the oil/sweat your hand produces off the suede.

10.  If future value is of any concern get the BOSS.  Two year run, iconic name/reputation and limited production.  The 350's are great cars for sure but who knows how many they will build when production finally ends.  Same applies to the GT's

For what it's worth, if I had it to do over, I would have bought a BOSS instead of the Shelby. But, I let hp numbers cloud my thinking.  I figured if 444 hp is good then 662 must be better but believe me unless you are going to the drag strip 444 is enough.  My cousin has a 13 BOSS and it's a blast to drive.  It hooks up and 444 hooked is way better than 662 not hooked....

The fit and finish on my Shelby is superb.  No complaints in that department from me however the shifter is horrible on all of them in my opinion.  BOSS, Shelby, or GT.  Ford should be ashamed for putting such a sub par shifter in these modern performance cars.  Good luck hope this helps a little.

[bossneeds]

I own both cars and can tell you there is a difference in feel and ride.

My '13 LS is like the football quarterback. He's rough, tough, and can get the job done as needed.

The '16 GT350 is the docile lady charmer. Plenty of appeal and more than enough power to kick some butt. Rides better and shifts better than the LS.

The LS seats are a better fit for bigger people. The bolsters seem a bit wider than on the GT350. In the GT350, I feel like I'm being squeezed into the seat. Your size will dictate the fit. I took my '12 BOSS on a 6 hour drive and when I got out, felt wonderful. Great seats for a long drive in my opinion.

I sometimes have a hard time deciding which car to drive. I know it's a big. bad problem to have. But, I am only living once and don't want regrets. Wife understands this completely and she can have as many pairs of shoes as she desires. Win-win.

Price points would push me to the BOSS 302. The prices have slipped a bit on the LS cars, but they are the one to get. Only 750 made that year! Issues are with the shifting, which can be tough at times under power.  I put in a MGW shifter and that helped a ton. Other than an airbacg recall on the LS, there is nothing I can complain about.

They ARE two different cars and you won't be disappointed with either one. The GT350 will probably cost you $20K more than the BOSS.

As far as the steering wheel wrap, clean hands man. And if you're getting sweaty, gloves.

Everyone has a GT, buy the BOSS.

[BlueBoss]

If you have the cash, get a new Shelby.

If you don't -- -Boss is the choice.

I have had a 12 LS, 13 GHIG, 16 Comp Orange GT350 and a GT350R.

The GT350R is hands down the best, the CO 16 second and the LS third.

I drove the LS 7K miles, GHIG 48K, CO 23K and the R has 1200 miles.

I am looking for a 12 LS .... so that tells you how much I like that car.

[RoadRnr13]

ex2409pilot: Thanks very much for the feedback as very helpful to me. I slept on it & decided on the 13 Boss 302 over the 17 GT350 & 17GT. Have negotiated price with a dealer down from $33K to approx. $30K for a grabber blue with 15K miles & babied by former owner. Dealer within $250 of my target price so hoping for an e-mail from dealer that aligns with my target price & then a nice 4.5 hr. drive to inspect, test drive & hopefully own by tomorrow eve. Laguna Seca's I've seen are around $50K or > so & the Boss w/o the LS pkg. plenty good enough for me & $20K or so less. Purchasing a 17 GT just did not seem all that exciting, did not like clutch or Recaros on GT350 & I prefer the S197 body style over the S550. Purchasing a Boss 302 is dream come true for me @ age 59 so hope it goes down. Thanks again for the feedback/Peace

I've got a 2014 Shelby so I can give you an opinion on a couple of points.

[RoadRnr13]

Hey boss needs, thanks for the owner insight & feedback as very helpful to me. Decided on the 13 Boss 302 as went with my gut feel. LS's are hard to find in my area, have not seen one live & around $50K or > on AT. I'm gonna see how the MT82 works for me & may be back at ya on the MGW shifter as have heard some good things on MGW. Could have had the 1800 miles GT350 for $52.5K from a Porsche dealer that just got in, which I thought was a pretty-good deal. Bad 1st impressions with the Recaros & clutch sorta nixed it for me. I've always loved the original Boss 302s from my jr. high days so picking up a 13 Boss 302 is very-very exciting for me. Wish I had your problems, ha ha. Hoping to maybe add a 17 GT350 with the power seats to the stable maybe in a few years, get one that's been babied & low miles & price will be down some by then. Thanks again for the great feedback/Peace....
[/quote]

[RoadRnr13]

Blue Boss, thanks a lot for the owner feedback as much appreciated & very helpful to me. Went with my gut which said 13 Boss 302, Grabber Blue, 15K miles. Love the original Boss 302s from back in the day so getting a showroom condition 13 Boss 302 is really a dream for me. GT350R out of my price range. Could have got the 17 GT350 with 1800 miles for $52.5K which I thought was a pretty-good deal. Porsche dealer just got in & prior owner was a Ford Performance enthusiast so was in like-new condition & only some light tracking & also included approx. $1K of mods. I'm just not sold on the S550 body, the S197 is more old-school USA muscle to me. Still found the GT350 to be amazing. Hoping to maybe pick up a 17 GT350 in a few years, one with low miles & power seats & price will likely be down some by then. I'm guessing the Boss 302 will always be my favorite though, we'll see. Thanks again for feedback/Peace...

[STEVEG]

Good choice, you will love the BOSS I Know I love mine! Good luck on the purchase!

[bossneeds]

I think that was a good purchase for you. You will like the BOSS.

If you don't mind telling us, which part of the country are you located in?

You do understand that the best cheese comes from WI, right? Don't listen to those on the west coast who will try to steer you in the wrong direction.

[RoadRnr13]

Got msg. from dealer early this AM that they agreed to come down to my offer price (discounted $2,745) & so got for approx. $1,500 or so below KBB FV price. Drove 4.5 hours this AM to inspect, test drive & deal was too good so pulled the trigger. One owner (doctor), never driven in snow or rain, 15K miles, car in showroom condition & could not believe how great it looked in Grabber Blue (which is my favorite Mustang color), no rust underneath car & looked virtually brand new. First one I'd seen with the cloth seats (no Recaros) & I liked them, looked great & did not show any wear at all & felt comfortable on ride home. Drove the 4.5 hours home in my Boss 302 & I'm truly in awe of the RoadRunr engine, just completely BADASS, when you get to 4-5K RPMs, BTO's "you aint seen nothin yet" clicks in as it's just warming up & asking for more. Amazing! That was most fun I've had driving home prolly ever. Fastest car I've ever had, not even close. Stopped to refuel bout halfway back & had 4 or 5 IL state troopers who were apparently takin a break to grab a snack come over & check out the Boss, they were very complimentary of the appearance but felt sorta funny explaining to state troopers what was under the hood. Gonna have to give her a wash asap tomorrow to remove all the bugs from the trip home.

I live in Peoria IL & have been to WI several times & beautiful country up there. Also I'm a huge NBA fan of Frank (the tank) Kaminsky who led WI to back to back NCAA final fours (but he hails from IL). I'm pretty sure most of the cheese I eat is from WI

Anyone have a good nose mask brand for the Boss 302 or is the stock one from Ford the best? I've always used nosemasks to protect front-end & end of hood from rock chips. Have never gotten a wrap on my other cars but the clear wraps seem pretty popular these days, but have not yet looked into much so uncertain of cost or who might be able to be trusted in doing. If anyone has any feedback please add.

American Muscle seems like a good aftermarket distributor, think I'm gonna initially pick up some quarter window louvers & side louvers in black color as believe will look best next to the black hockey stick stripes & black otherwise on the car. If anyone has any insight on what might look best from what they've seen, would be interested in the feedback.

I'm very much looking forward to getting acquainted with the Boss & glad to join the club with other Boss 302 owners. Peace/gotta get some sleep (after takin one more look at the Boss in the garage, ha ha)

[RoadRnr13]

Yeah, you are right, just drove home 4.5 hours with my new Boss 302 & already LOVE IT. Wow, that's a great looking Boss 302 from back in the day you have. Shaker hood, rear window louvers & the wing all look terrific. Shaker hoods rear wings are awesome. One of my sisters boyfriends (only one I liked) had a black & silver Boss 429, think it was a 71, with the rear window louvers & hood pins & that car left a lasting impression on me. Incredible looking IMO. Anyway, congrats on your Boss 302, as looks amazing. Peace

[bossneeds]

Glad you enjoyed the drive home. It gets more fun the longer you own it. Did you get the track key (red one) and did the software get activated? I don't think the software is available, but check another thread on this site for that.

Peoria huh? My dad was a German POW held in Camp Ellis near Canton/Bernadotte (spel?) in 1944. I will be in that area sometime to visit the former camp area and museum that has some of my dad's stuff in it. Couldn't make it this year for the Spoon River Days.

Have fun and if you ever get to Road America, let me know. Or Black Hawk Farms in South Beloit.

[hopey]

For clear paint protection film (PPF) look for an installer for Xpel Ultimate or Suntek Ultra, these seem to have the best reviews for longevity and clarity at the moment in the detailer community, and usually have 5-10yr warranty against UV clouding or other aging effects. Some also self heal in the sun if they get light scratches, the older products don’t.

[RoadRnr13]

Yeah, I got the track (red color) along with black color key. Drove with the red one on test drive & noticed the apps area was flashing "track key in use" so not sure if that means software activated. Drove home with the black key. Former owner left a couple pages of typed notes on track key use but have not yet had a chance to review. Have not yet had a chance to read the owner manual so will hopefully know what you are referring to regarding the software activation (or I'll check another thread as you refer to) when I read that. Hand washed the Boss today (as 60 degrees here tday) & vacuumed out the interior (you'd think dealership would have already done that, sigh) since did not make it home till around 10PM or so on return trip from dealer. Cleaning rest of interior & cloth seats next on my to-dos. Car really looks like it's brand new. Usually you see some road rash on the wheels but did not see any when washing. Checked with Ford dealer (that orig. owner used for all his service) service dep't manager on what he knew about car & said car has had no issues, just regular mtce. outside of the airbag recall that they replaced in October & orig. owner brought in quarterly for mtce. service. Apparently orig. owner also has a couple other supercars (paid > $200k for each) & only drove the Boss 302 sparingly. Said former owner had heated & air conditioned garage & never drove the Boss 302 in rain or during winter. Synthetic oil used on last 7 oil changes.

Wow, that's crazy your Dad was held as a POW over here. I've not heard of Camp Ellis nor was I even aware there were former POW camps around here. I had a grain elevator client back in the late 80's with home office in Ipava IL & there was a diner in Bernadotte my team used to hit every once in a while for lunch.  A lot of small towns & twisties in that area, would prolly be a nice drive in a Boss 302 or GT350. My ex-wife & her sister used to go on Spoon River drive every year & brought home all sorts of antique like stuff. 

Yeah, will definitely send a heads-up in advance if able to make it up to Road America. Gimme a heads up in advance if you are ever down Peoria way as would enjoy meeting up for a cup of coffee (and checking out what you are driving then, ha ha). Take it easy/Peace

[RoadRnr13]

Hopey: Hey thanks much for the feedback on the PPF as will do some research on those products & who might install around here & what cost might be. Noted American Muscle has a nosemask (Colgan I think) for the 13 Boss 302 for $177 which would work, just a hassle to have to remove every cleaning. Not sure if Ford has one available for the 13 Boss 302 but will check with parts on Monday. Anyway, thanks again for info on those PPF products. Take it easy/Peace

For clear paint protection film (PPF) look for an installer for Xpel Ultimate or Suntek Ultra, these seem to have the best reviews for longevity and clarity at the moment in the detailer community, and usually have 5-10yr warranty against UV clouding or other aging effects. Some also self heal in the sun if they get light scratches, the older products don’t.

[bossneeds]

The red track key will activate many (some say 44, some say 100's) performance enhancements. Most noticable are the idle and throttle response. Lopey idle is great and the throttle becomes very sensitive especially when you lift your foot. Haven't adjusted my front shocks as this car is not tracked. As far as front end protection, there are a couple of clear products to use. I had my '13 and '16 in for estimates and they bumped the price up to $1800 each due to demand. I did not do it for that cost. They wouldn't give me a deal on both being done. I'll find another place. Let us know.

Look up Camp Eliis and you'll see you had lots of German soldiers in your area.

[RoadRnr13]

bossneeds: Thanks much for the feedback on the track key attributes & the estimates on the front end protection clear wraps as good to know. AM has a Colgan nose mask for $178, so gonna pick that up (after I check a couple price comparables) & use until I have time to research the clear wrap products & installers. Will prolly get the matching side mirror protectors for $50 or so as these work for protection too even though they & the nose mask don't look all that great & are a hassle to remove & clean each wash, but whatever, they will get the job done until able to find something better. Figured I'd prolly just mostly drive with the track key or do most owners just use that for actual tracking use?

Yeah, I'll check that Camp website & hopefully learn a few things.

Had to watch H.B. Halicki's original (not the re-make) "Gone in 60 Seconds" again last night as gotta say the 13 Boss 302 sounds & has a strong body resemblance to Eleanor (IMO). Prolly the greatest last 40 minutes or so of a movie ever. He also passes a very nice Grabber Blue Mach 1 during the chase that looks a lot like my Boss 302, IMO.

Man, has there ever been a better name for a car, than the "Boss 302". Lemme answer that: NOPE....Just 100% pure naturally aspirated BADASS!!! Can't believe I own one, feel extremely lucky.

Have a great rest of what's left of the weekend/Peace

 

The red track key will activate many (some say 44, some say 100's) performance enhancements. Most noticable are the idle and throttle response. Lopey idle is great and the throttle becomes very sensitive especially when you lift your foot. Haven't adjusted my front shocks as this car is not tracked. As far as front end protection, there are a couple of clear products to use. I had my '13 and '16 in for estimates and they bumped the price up to $1800 each due to demand. I did not do it for that cost. They wouldn't give me a deal on both being done. I'll find another place. Let us know.

Look up Camp Eliis and you'll see you had lots of German soldiers in your area.

[hopey]

IMHO, I would not use a nose mask or bra, these trap stuff between the paint and bra and cause scratches, swirls etc. the less you touch the paint, the better it looks. You can do a swirl check with an LED flashlight to see how good your paint really is. You should have a mirror reflection of the flashlight with no hazing, marring or swirls noted.  PPF is much better than a nose mask.

Some videos to give you some ideas..

www.autogeek.net/dual-action-polisher.html

Hopey: Hey thanks much for the feedback on the PPF as will do some research on those products & who might install around here & what cost might be. Noted American Muscle has a nosemask (Colgan I think) for the 13 Boss 302 for $177 which would work, just a hassle to have to remove every cleaning. Not sure if Ford has one available for the 13 Boss 302 but will check with parts on Monday. Anyway, thanks again for info on those PPF products. Take it easy/Peace

[RoadRnr13]

hopey: Thanks for the insight on the PPF & link to the car care videos. Took a quick look at & appears to be a nice resource site, so will definitely explore. Yeah, agree the nosemask alternative has some drawbacks & don't look too great either. Definitely have to remove frequently & check to make sure the inside of mask is clean & doing its job. I've had decent luck with the several I've used on a couple of my other cars but have to make sure they have a tight fit, remove & inspect frequently & replace with new annually. Definitely better than nothing but agree not as good or effective as PPF. On my to-do's to research PPF & reliable installers (once I get thru the OEM manual & the Boss 302 kit/box that came with car). Thanks again for the feedback as much appreciated. Peace... 

IMHO, I would not use a nose mask or bra, these trap stuff between the paint and bra and cause scratches, swirls etc. the less you touch the paint, the better it looks. You can do a swirl check with an LED flashlight to see how good your paint really is. You should have a mirror reflection of the flashlight with no hazing, marring or swirls noted.  PPF is much better than a nose mask.

Some videos to give you some ideas..

www.autogeek.net/dual-action-polisher.html

Hopey: Hey thanks much for the feedback on the PPF as will do some research on those products & who might install around here & what cost might be. Noted American Muscle has a nosemask (Colgan I think) for the 13 Boss 302 for $177 which would work, just a hassle to have to remove every cleaning. Not sure if Ford has one available for the 13 Boss 302 but will check with parts on Monday. Anyway, thanks again for info on those PPF products. Take it easy/Peace

[bossneeds]

Ditto on the car "Bras". I would never use one personally. The clear masks are more expensive and definitly won't leave marks on your car.

[STEVEG]

I have only used the black key 1 or 2 times. 1 time as I was taking it to get a emissions test and thought possibly it could effect the test. I too have thought about the clear protective Film but Damn it isn't cheap!

[RoadRnr13]

Anyone have any suggestions on cleaning the Alcantara steering wheel w/o messing up the Alcantara feel? Looks like mine has a few stains or some sorta grime on it from prior owner or service dep't use. I can check YouTube & online otherwise but wondered if anyone might have any feedback if they've encountered comparable circumstances. Saw where AM has a replacement of exact same wheel for around $350 but would rather just clean existing if possible.

Also, what do you guys do in prep. for when dropping off your Boss for service, as would not have much confidence in dealer service dep't reps not grabbing the steering wheel (SW) with less than clean hands (aka oil, grease, etc.)? I've not had Alcantara in any of my previous cars. Guess a guy could buy a $10-15 rubber SW cover from AutoZone, Walmart, etc. & drop it on before service & remove after picking up from service. Guess that's what I'd prolly do, without thinking much about it.

Any other high quality interior care cleaning products you might recommend (before I proceed with giving mine a thorough 1st next owner cleaning)? I've always used Meguiar's products on my other cars without issue. Need to check on how best to clean cloth seats as I've generally had leather in my other cars.

Anyone replace the Boss 302 carpet floor mats with the WeatherTech Floorliners (as I've never been much of a carpet floor mats (or otherwise) guy, although losing the Boss 302 logo on the mats does give me some heartburn)?

Thanks in advance for any feedback on above questions. Peace...

[RoadRnr13]

Anyone know if the color of the black striping on the 13 Boss 302 is Matte Black or Low Gloss Black? Was gonna order some rear quarter window louvers to match the hockey stick striping on the car as close as possible but was not sure which to order, the Gloss Black or Matte Black. The Ford 2013 brochure says "low gloss" black when referring to the Livery inspired striping standard on the car. The window sticker under Equip. Group 500A subheader says Hood Stripe No. 2 and Hockey Stick Side Stripe and under Optional Equip. subheader says "Matte Black" Tape Stripe. is the Tape Stripe referring to all the striping on the car or something else? If anyone might be able to clarify, would appreciate it.

Also, the front quarter panel (P side) , on top, on my Boss 302 is missing the 8" or so long & maybe an inch or so wide black stripe (just above the Boss 302 on side of the quarter panel but actually on top of the quarter panel, just left of hood (if looking at car from front)). Anyone know if you can order that small portion of the striping separate or if you have to order a whole side or hood stripe to just get that portion? I called dealer & they said it's likely part of the side stripe which is like $627 or so to replace but were not 100% sure w/o looking at it. Will definitely want to restore that to original condition.

[hopey]

The only alcantara cleaner that I have come across is the Sonax Upholstery & Alcantara cleaner. Here is a good video from Larry at AmmoNY. Larry has lots of great videos on basic car washing, polishing etc, he is running a series right non on YouTube on basic car care... Sonax do some great products, I am a fan of their “Perfect Finish” polish which I use with a DA, and their wheel cleaner is the ONLY product I would use on my machined face 2013 BOSS LS rims.

I also have a big sign I hang from the interior mirror “DO NOT WASH OR YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR FULL PROFESSIONAL PAINT CORRECTION”, you do not want the apprentice at the dealership sponging your car off with a bucket of muddy water and drying it with an old rag...

Watch that they do the oil change exactly to spec 5W50, NOT the same as a GT.. the oil is different. It’s easy to do yourself though, stick with Motorcraft oil & filters.

https://youtu.be/wROwSj7OJGg

The Megs products are usually decent, worth stepping up to their professional line. Adams Polishes and Jay Leno Garage also do pretty decent consumer level products that are at least 2 steps up from the usual Autozone / Pep Boys offerings. Look out for their numerous 15% off sales online.

Anyone have any suggestions on cleaning the Alcantara steering wheel w/o messing up the Alcantara feel? Looks like mine has a few stains or some sorta grime on it from prior owner or service dep't use. I can check YouTube & online otherwise but wondered if anyone might have any feedback if they've encountered comparable circumstances. Saw where AM has a replacement of exact same wheel for around $350 but would rather just clean existing if possible.

Also, what do you guys do in prep. for when dropping off your Boss for service, as would not have much confidence in dealer service dep't reps not grabbing the steering wheel (SW) with less than clean hands (aka oil, grease, etc.)? I've not had Alcantara in any of my previous cars. Guess a guy could buy a $10-15 rubber SW cover from AutoZone, Walmart, etc. & drop it on before service & remove after picking up from service. Guess that's what I'd prolly do, without thinking much about it.

Any other high quality interior care cleaning products you might recommend (before I proceed with giving mine a thorough 1st next owner cleaning)? I've always used Meguiar's products on my other cars without issue. Need to check on how best to clean cloth seats as I've generally had leather in my other cars.

Anyone replace the Boss 302 carpet floor mats with the WeatherTech Floorliners (as I've never been much of a carpet floor mats (or otherwise) guy, although losing the Boss 302 logo on the mats does give me some heartburn)?

Thanks in advance for any feedback on above questions. Peace...

[bossneeds]

Most all dealerships have a plastic wheel cover when servicing. They do that so they don't need to deal with guys like us!

[RoadRnr13]

hopey: Thanks much for the alcantara cleaner info, other auto care products noted & related insight & link to Larry's videos. Will be sure to check out on YouTube. Much appreciated.

Yeah, nobody washes or cleans out my cars but me.

I contacted previous Ford dealer that serviced my Boss for the former owner & they provided me the lowdown on the oil specs, tire tread remaining, etc. I'll take your advice & use Motorcraft oil & filters.

Thanks again for the feedback/Peace

The only alcantara cleaner that I have come across is the Sonax Upholstery & Alcantara cleaner. Here is a good video from Larry at AmmoNY. Larry has lots of great videos on basic car washing, polishing etc, he is running a series right non on YouTube on basic car care... Sonax do some great products, I am a fan of their “Perfect Finish” polish which I use with a DA, and their wheel cleaner is the ONLY product I would use on my machined face 2013 BOSS LS rims.

I also have a big sign I hang from the interior mirror “DO NOT WASH OR YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR FULL PROFESSIONAL PAINT CORRECTION”, you do not want the apprentice at the dealership sponging your car off with a bucket of muddy water and drying it with an old rag...

Watch that they do the oil change exactly to spec 5W50, NOT the same as a GT.. the oil is different. It’s easy to do yourself though, stick with Motorcraft oil & filters.

https://youtu.be/wROwSj7OJGg

The Megs products are usually decent, worth stepping up to their professional line. Adams Polishes and Jay Leno Garage also do pretty decent consumer level products that are at least 2 steps up from the usual Autozone / Pep Boys offerings. Look out for their numerous 15% off sales online.

Anyone have any suggestions on cleaning the Alcantara steering wheel w/o messing up the Alcantara feel? Looks like mine has a few stains or some sorta grime on it from prior owner or service dep't use. I can check YouTube & online otherwise but wondered if anyone might have any feedback if they've encountered comparable circumstances. Saw where AM has a replacement of exact same wheel for around $350 but would rather just clean existing if possible.

Also, what do you guys do in prep. for when dropping off your Boss for service, as would not have much confidence in dealer service dep't reps not grabbing the steering wheel (SW) with less than clean hands (aka oil, grease, etc.)? I've not had Alcantara in any of my previous cars. Guess a guy could buy a $10-15 rubber SW cover from AutoZone, Walmart, etc. & drop it on before service & remove after picking up from service. Guess that's what I'd prolly do, without thinking much about it.

Any other high quality interior care cleaning products you might recommend (before I proceed with giving mine a thorough 1st next owner cleaning)? I've always used Meguiar's products on my other cars without issue. Need to check on how best to clean cloth seats as I've generally had leather in my other cars.

Anyone replace the Boss 302 carpet floor mats with the WeatherTech Floorliners (as I've never been much of a carpet floor mats (or otherwise) guy, although losing the Boss 302 logo on the mats does give me some heartburn)?

Thanks in advance for any feedback on above questions. Peace...

[RoadRnr13]

bossneeds: I was not aware of that so thanks for the heads-up. I'll be sure & verify with the dealer service rep. before dropping the Boss off for service. Take it easy/Peace

[hopey]

They are great cars...Tail of the Dragon back in June...

[RoadRnr13]

Great looking LS in black - that's definitely a cool looking color on the 13 Boss. Hope to maybe give the Tail a go someday. Have you braved the Tail on the Fatboy? I've been exploring some bikes for newbies as would like to take up the sport. At 6'3" height, the dual sports seem to fit me best. Take it easy...

[RoadRnr13]

Looked into the Xpel PPF a bit more. Sounds like Xpel currently has the best warranty @ 10 years (although 3M apparently just updated their product & warranty to match Xpel). Suntek warranty is 7 years. Spoke with a rep. from Midwest Auto Skins in Champaign IL (which is closest Xpel installer to me per their website) & he's gonna send over a quote this afternoon. Ballpark estimates on their site for complete front-end protection, 18-24" up the hood & dropping down to the front quarters forward, plus mirrors & under door handles is $895. Per rep, price is different for every vehicle & site info is a ballpark estimate. Decent video on YouTube for an Xpel install for a Dodge Challenger (partial) & Dodge Viper (complete) at following link, if interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpUx1m-QsZI&t=842s

From review of the comments for that video apparently no guarantee it's going to protect against higher impact debris (such as a rock from a gravel truck or large industrial truck otherwise) which was confirmed by rep. I spoke with who indicated if the debris bouncing off the front end penetrates the Xpel material then damage to paint is likely. That does not sound to reassuring for freeway travel so appears maybe more effective for driving other than freeway. Also there are some vids on YouTube of some installation fails.

Installer needs car 4 days, must be washed (no wax) prior to dropoff & then installer rewashes prior to install. Takes approx. 2 weeks to cure post-install which car can be driven normally during such time. Rep. said you may see some hazing during the 2 weeks. Have to apply some solution they give you after initial wax which is a 1-time requirement. Per rep., will start yellowing, fraying, peeling after warranty period which at such time may be safely removed with heat/steam process & then a reinstall can be done if desired. No add'l UV protection to avoid different wear then untreated paint areas.

So appears to be a cheaper & better looking alternative for front end as compared to a nosemask/bra (if replace those annually or about the same $ if replace those every 2 years) but not as effective for freeway travel where larger and/or higher impact rock chip/debris more likely. Plus you have the installers all over your car with a cutting tool & washing otherwise, which makes me feel sorta uneasy bout that. You have the obvious drawbacks with a nosemask/bra of the recurring pulling off & reinstalling & potentially accumulating debris underneath if you get lazy & don't maintain & keep clean (or if debris gets underneath otherwise as fit can loosen up some over time).

Conclusion: Prolly leaning towards nosemask /bra as plan on driving my Boss on the freeway some & Xpel has apparent limitations for higher impact debris. Did not think $895 was too unreasonable for the Xpel cost after watching the install demo in the video. Will modify post when I receive actual quote for the Boss.     

[RoadRnr13]

Below is a copy of msg. I rec'd from the PPF installer in Champaign IL with price for the partial Xpel install. Digram in msg. would not copy over but comparable to the diagram on their website. Pretty close to the $895 estimate on their website. FYI...

Hi Mike,

Sorry for being late on this. The day got away from me and I'm just now sitting down to return quotes. You had asked about a partial front coverage on your 2013 Mustang BOSS 302, with factory stripes. As I mentioned, the film does not cover the stripes, but it does cover the paint that is exposed between the stripes. Here is a diagram of the hood, fenders, and the side mirrors that shows this. You can see the film will cover from the front to just about the air inlets, about 23" or so.

To install the full bumper, upper and lower included, and partial hood, fender, and mirrors, and also the door handle cups, you are looking at $913 plus tax. We would need the car for 3-4 days. It should come in clean with NO recent wax applied. We will detail the areas to be covered to insure any road debris from the drive over is taken care of before install.

As we discussed about the film, it comes with a 10 year manufacturer warranty against yellowing, cracking, staining, blistering, and delamination. You can wax it like you would wax the paint. Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Thanks for the call today!

-Mark

[BlueBoss]

Sounds reasonable.

[RoadRnr13]

Any issues to be aware of using a DA polisher (Porter Cable 7424XP, Griot 10813, or comparable) on the 13 body with the striping? Saw a video or two on YouTube that seemed to point to having to take precautions on the striping on a 17 GT350 if using a DA polisher. Uncertain if DA polisher sb used on striping. Presume the 13 Boss 302 stripes are vinyl decals w/o clearcoat but have not yet fully researched to verify. Owner book says low gloss black color but my WS says Matte Black tape stripe so uncertain if any extra care needed with the stripe finish appearance too. Boss 302 owner manual supplement says no power wash or comparable power wand @ a carwash sb used on the stripes so will only be handwashing unless any feedback otherwise. Have not had stripes on my previous cars so trying to determine best practices on care. If anyone has any feedback with their experience caring for a 13 on these matters, please consider adding a reply. Thanks!

[harley56]

I had always used masks/nose bras, but with the evolution of clear bra paint protection I have used nothing but.  They are on my '13 Black LS and both my Vipers.  Mine is Suntek, however I've also heard Suntek, may be a little stronger/durable.  Many owners with cars worth much more $$$ than ours, use it.  Just my $.02, it's pretty remarkable and durable. 
Congrats on the purchase!!!

[hopey]

Any issues to be aware of using a DA polisher (Porter Cable 7424XP, Griot 10813, or comparable) on the 13 body with the striping? Saw a video or two on YouTube that seemed to point to having to take precautions on the striping on a 17 GT350 if using a DA polisher. Uncertain if DA polisher sb used on striping. Presume the 13 Boss 302 stripes are vinyl decals w/o clearcoat but have not yet fully researched to verify. Owner book says low gloss black color but my WS says Matte Black tape stripe so uncertain if any extra care needed with the stripe finish appearance too. Boss 302 owner manual supplement says no power wash or comparable power wand @ a carwash sb used on the stripes so will only be handwashing unless any feedback otherwise. Have not had stripes on my previous cars so trying to determine best practices on care. If anyone has any feedback with their experience caring for a 13 on these matters, please consider adding a reply. Thanks!

Generally when correcting paint and polishing you want to take the least aggressive method possible for the results you want. So start light polishing and get more aggressive with compound on the paint if you have to, bearing in mid after compound it will be hazy and need finish polished. 
For the stripes I have given the main body a very light buff with a polishing pad in the past, but to be honest a clay bar would do just as well to clean them. I tape up the fine stripes and all the edges to avoid lifting them when polishing the paint. Green body shop tape sticks best, much better than blue painters tape.
I also tape the window rubbers, cover the wheels with an old beach towel etc to avoid polish and wax getting on them and staining them white.
Remember to polish the glass...makes a big difference!

[hopey]

I should add the stripes appear to be basically the same material as my 70 BOSS302, lemon pledge is what many use on them. For my 13, I just give them a light coat of wax. Colenite 845 is cheap and durable and gives a great finish, put it on thin thin thin after warming the bottle in the sun or some water.  For my black paint I like Pinacle Sovereign wax, expensive and lasts about 2 washes, but gives such depth and shine! Plus it’s theraputic applying it and I love the smell!

[RoadRnr13]

hopey: Thanks much for the feedback on the paint & striping care as very helpful. I'll plan on following your advice on taping up stripes, rubber & covering wheels when using a DA polisher for the paint & I'll check out the wax products you referenced. I'll also try polishing the glass after checking out demo video of Larry from AmmoNYC doing so on YouTube. Thanks again for the great feedback! Peace....

[RoadRnr13]

harley56: Thanks for the insight on the PPF as good to know. Think I'm gonna go the nosemask & mirror covers route for now as original owner did not use a nosemask or PPF & there are a couple minor rock-hit blemishes on front bumper cover just above chin guard if you get close & thoroughly inspect. I'll prolly elect to get front bumber cover replaced (as like a $400 part on CJ Pony unpainted) to restore & then consider the PPF alternative thereafter. Absolutely love the car & a couple weeks post-purchase every drive and/or walkaround in the garage (still have to do a few times daily) I'm more impressed. Had a 68 GTO 400/4 on the floor back in the day that was my previous favorite car but gotta feeling the Boss is gonna push that to 2nd place. Take it easy. Peace...

[RoadRnr13]

hopey: Just a quick note to say thanks again for the Sonax Upholstery & Alcantara cleaner product suggestion as after researching some, I picked up a can on Walmart.com & applied to my alcantara steering wheel yesterday & was very pleased with the results. Removed all the stains left by the car's original owner & IMO it now looks brand new/showroom condition. I applied in the same manner suggested by Larry of Ammonyc (in the YouTube video you referenced). I also tried it on a portion of cloth on front seats & again was very happy with the results as after - looks as good as new. Plan on using to clean rest of cloth on seats as soon as I'm able. Anyway, thanks again & thought others might be interested in how it worked/results. Best regards/Mike

[BossStang]

Love my 2012 red and white Boss 302. I bought this because it had 9000 miles on it, regular seats, and track key. The reason I waited so long is because the trans and drive shaft suck. Here soon it will be getting a  Tremec Magnum XL 6-Speed Transmission and aluminum drive shaft. I will also be putting a cervini mach hood on my boss. After all this it will be getting a roush blower. Love both my 70 Boss and my 12 !