OK, I've had it for a few weeks now, and am well past the break-in period. Let's grab the LOUD HANDLE.
Yeeha.
Appearance
Perhaps unwisely, I opted for a custom paint job. As you know this is a hideously expensive option. But it may have been worth it: crowds gather when I park the car. OK, not crowds, but it's unusual not to have at least one or two people wander over and start asking questions.
Having spent hours hand-waxing every inch of the vehicle, I can attest that the paint is perfect. Perfect. Not a single speck of dust, no runs, no orange peel, no varying thickness or color. Perhaps there is some magic technology involved, because just like those laundry detergents that make clothes brighter by absorbing ultraviolet light and re-emitting it as visible light, the car seems to glow, as though it were backlit, in bright sunlight.
Of course I am terrified to drive the car in the real world because what if it gets a paint chip? After much research on available protective options, the clear bra goes on today.
The Saleen body panels fit as well or better than the Ford body panels. I've seen speculation here that the custom paint cars get extra care in this department. Perhaps they do.
The 20", 5 spoke wheels set the car off well, with one exception: Saleen's custom brake rotors and calipers look great through the front wheel. The rear brakes, though, are apparently Ford stock. Functionally this is fine; cosmetically, well...let's just say the stock Ford brake caliper on the rear wheel looks as though it were carved from a block of aluminum with no tools except a chisel and a cheese grater. It's lumpy and covered in (very) coarse machining marks. The rear brake rotor looks tiny and lost behind the massive wheel.
My Evo has Brembos at all four corners, as do many other factory performance cars (the Chrysler/Dodge SRT8s come to mind). Saleen should do something about this.
Interior
Saleen doesn't do much to the stock Mustang interior. That's good and bad: acres of hard plastic panels (the dash "pad", console, door panels, etc.) and chromed instrument/vent bezels give a decidedely low-rent impression. This is a little frustrating when you consider that you can order your Mustang with a nicer interior direct from Ford. Not a LOT nicer, granted, but still. It would be nice to see a leather dash pad and perhaps the covered steering wheel from a GT500 at least. You know, you can even get Momo wheels with air bags, 'cause my Evo has one. And it's a lot nicer to grip than the stock Mustang wheel.
The most significant change to the stock Mustang interior is the seats: via a third party, Saleen strips the standard Mustang seat to its frame and re-pads and re-upholsters it. The result is striking: a heavily bolstered seat with unique styling touches (like the "spine" pattern in the center of the seat and back). Visually it's a home run. Physically, well...let's just say that as far as my butt and back are concerned, the seat's beautifully designed and elegantly implemented...by a master sculptor...out of solid rock.
No, really. These are the hardest seats I've ever been in. Really hard. Rock hard. No give. I never noticed this in 4 separate test drives of an S281, S281SC, and PJ, so either I wasn't paying attention or Saleen changed something.
I have "reached an accomodation" with the seats that allows me to drive for some hours without serious pain, but at some point I'm definitely going to have to do something. The Recaros in the Evo are wonderful...perhaps something like that.
Performance
I've owned a lot of cars that were either outright performance cars or at least had pretensions in that area: a 1968 Pontiac GTO; a 1971 Corvette, an early 80s Fiat X1/9, a 1984 SVO Mustang, a 1988 Mustang GT, a 1990 Taurus SHO (I loved that car); a Cadillac STS, and the current 2006 Evo. Of course the Saleen utterly obliterates them all. Well, the Evo can run with it up to about 60-70mph, but after that, it's gone.
The thrust from the 465hp blown engine is otherworldly, especially past about 4,000RPM at full throttle. The notchy shifter inhibits performance somewhat-- the Momo in the Evo is much better, even though it's a cable shifter-- since you just can't shift that fast.
But still. It's like engaging the hyperdrive in the Millenium Falcon: whoosh, I'm gone, with only a supercharger whine in my wake.
Although the Saleen is much larger and heavier than the Evo, its apparent size and mass shrink dramatically once the road starts getting twisty. I don't think it could keep up with the Evo on a moutain road, but it would be closer than you'd think. The ride is just on the fuzzy border of "too firm for a street car"; I think going to a 19" or even 18" wheel (to get a taller sidewall) would help a lot here with little or no effect on handling. Sadly Saleen does not offer this as an option, although the PJ has 19" faux-Minilites, so we know it can be done.
Other
Saleen's trick exhaust is well tuned: its vaccuum-actuated bypass valve makes it aggressive when you want it to be, but quiet enough to actually enjoy the sound system at 70mph. (I understand there's an MP3 jack somewhere; perhaps I'll figure out where it is some day...)
Problems
* Every time I start the car, I'm alerted to a "Tire Pressure Monitor Fault" message.
* A LOUD! clunk from the Watts-link rear suspension over every bump.
* The hood flutters noticeably at 70mph, especially in crosswinds.
These issues are being addressed.
Summary
Everywhere you look you're reminded that this is based on a much less expensive car: the hood's held up with a prop rod. There's no engine bay light. The seats don't remember their position when people tilt them forward to squeeze into the back seat. The interior's got more hard black plastic than...well...anything else I can think of. The car starts with a physical key. There's no dedicated sunglasses holder. The trip computation functions are minimal. When you fill up the car, you notice there's no place to put the gas cap-- no tether to hang it by or notch to hold it to the inside of the filler door. So you set it on top of the pump. Like the guy with the Corolla over at the next pump. No, wait, he's got a tether...
The car is loud, rough, and gets crappy gas mileage. The seats are rocks. The interior's cheap.
But then the supercharger engages and the boost gauge jumps. The car roars like an angry god, and I laugh like a maniac as the trees get all blurred.
Correction: The Saleen does indeed have a tether for the gas cap; it's the Evo that does not. I'm just confused. Or something.
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...When you fill up the car, you notice there's no place to put the gas cap-- no tether to hang it by or notch to hold it to the inside of the filler door. So you set it on top of the pump. Like the guy with the Corolla over at the next pump. No, wait, he's got a tether...
The car is loud, rough, and gets crappy gas mileage. The seats are rocks. The interior's cheap.
But then the supercharger engages and the boost gauge jumps. The car roars like an angry god, and I laugh like a maniac as the trees get all blurred.
Your review is fabulous, but these last few lines are classic.
Hey Dramsey,
That is a great review. It gives all of us that don't have a newer style 05-07 modela good sense of what it is like to own that car especially with all that you had done to it with the upgraded paint etc. You also point out things that even the older cars say 99-04 should have had, upgraded rear brakes are probably the biggest thing I notice but there are others. I agree that is one option that when you check off the fronts as an upgrade you should get the backs as well. We all know that if you want thetrue crispness and richness in interior and exterior fit as you expect in aa Porsche or an AMG Mercedes or a M series BMW, you need to buy one of those brands. Regardless of how you slice it your still buying a Mustang that Ford still makes like every other Mustang initialy at say 200k units a year. It is what Saleen does to it that gives you that seperation from a basic Mustang GT to an all out total Performance vehicle. But if Saleen did all of the things in the Mustang Chassis he should then you are now looking at a car that hits close to 80-100Kout of dealer at list and realistically while there arepeople out there that have the money to spend on that, would they really do itto the tune of 1500 cars a year? Maybe, maybe not.
I sayand I know you are doing it, enjoy the caras you will and accept some of theimperfections as they may be, because you know at the end of the day it still goes like Hell!!!
Peace.
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89#709 Black Saleen Coupe/ Silver Graphics 5 Speed
GT40 Turbo Swirl Heads. Ported Polished
E303 Cam
3:55/ 66K miles
Saleen Polished Intake with Accufab 65MMTB
The problem is exactly what you said - everywhere you look you're reminded that this is based on a much less expensive car. Saleen can only change so much without having the price start to go way up. Things like a gas cap tether aren't going to be addressed by Saleen, especially when the certify all of their upgrades to maintain their status as a manufacturer. When it comes down to it, Saleen Mustangs, to a certain degree,will only be as good as the car they are based on. However, I still think that Saleen did an excellent job in providing upgrades that enthusiasts will want. Do you really want Saleen putting time into developing a sunglass holder or fuel cap tether for the car? Stick to the engine, suspension, and body kit.
When you fill up the car, you notice there's no place to put the gas cap-- no tether to hang it by or notch to hold it to the inside of the filler door. So you set it on top of the pump. Like the guy with the Corolla over at the next pump. No, wait, he's got a tether...
I'm confused... no tether? My '05 n/a has a tether. Did I get a fancy upgrade for free?? Gosh, the news just gets better and better with my car!
Great review, BTW. Thanks for sharing with us.
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Amy >"<
'05 Windveil Blue S281 #52, aka "Georgia"
I think I might agree with you about the custom paint. I would love to have it, but I'm not exactly the most gentle on my car and I'd freak out if I got a scratch on it and had no way to cover it up. Good move on the clear bra!
So do you find the watts suspension to be worth the upgrade despite the sound it makes when you go over a bump?
Nice review! I've got a tether, too... maybe they only give it to girls so we won't lose the caps? [sm=roll.gif]
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[ul][*] 1988 White 5.0 GT 'Vert - I miss this car! 130K+ - sold[*] 1998 Black GT 'Vert - sold[*] 2001 Red GT 'Vert - sold[*] 2006 Saleen S281 Satin Silver Speedster - my current obsession!
[/ul]
Good review. Its those imperfections that make me like the car even more. Its rare to see a car made for performance like the Saleen and z06. Its nice to know 0your not paying all that extra money for frills you don't really want or need. As for the custom paint its nice, but it does stink when you get that first chip. I hear the touch up paint is very hard to get.
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Twincharged.....the only way to fly.
Yet another 2007 S281SC Review
Gosh, the news just gets better and better with my car! 
