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stripes or stripe delete?

13K views 59 replies 34 participants last post by  UCLAman  
#1 ·
I am in the hunt for a 2011 GT500 with SVTPP and EP.

My quandry is do I buy a car with or w/o the stripes.

I am interested in hearing forum members rationale for electing to have/not have stripes on their GT500's.

Thank you in advance for your comments:)

Scott
 
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#2 ·
For me, the blue stripes on the white car just made (historic) sense and I am happy I went that way. My best friend (dmwphoto) has one that is black/ black interior and it is absolutely gorgeous to me. I guess my point is good luck in getting to any kind of solid rationale for stripes or no-stripes .... I am very familiar with a car from each camp and to me both of them are exactly right .......
 
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#4 ·
I got the stripe delete for the reason that I did not like the stripes on the seats. Stripe delete is really growing on me. I purchased the rocker stripes for my car and will put them on it when the weather breaks. I figure the stripes on the rockers will pay homage to the original Shelby Mustangs when the rocker stripes were standard and the over the top stripes were an option.
 
#5 ·
I had silver stripes on my sterling gray GT500 and removed them after 6 months. If you find the color car you want and it has stripes you don't care for, you can always remove them. OTOH, if you buy a stripe delete and later decide you want stripes, OEM will cost you $1200 plus labor.
 
#6 ·
Stripes are just a matter of personal preference, since obviously there's no performance gain (unless you're driving a Japanese import, of course).
It's just like chosing the color of your car. Buy whatever combo makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up!

I will say this as an owner of a striped car...

I have had two sections of stripes replaced under warranty for peeling, and it's a fairly common issue. I've seen 1999 GT Anniv. editions, as well as the recent Mach 1 hood decals replaced due to peeling.

They're a PITA for waxing around.

Personally, I love my subtle alloy stripes on black, and if they give me more problems, I'll have them painted on.

Enjoy your car, whichever combo you choose!
 
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#9 ·
Def. stripes..
 
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#10 ·
Stripes for sure IMO it seems odd without them again my opinion but to be honest im not a fan of the new thin stripes
 
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#11 ·
I'm a fan of no stripes. Since that wasn't an option for my KR, I went with black/black, as it doesn't scream "look at me". No stripes would look classier still.
 
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#12 ·
I did not want to wax around them, and figure a stone would do more damage on the vinyl than the paint. A couple people here have had rocks tear the vinyl and I do not think there is an easy touch up. Stripes would also put my OCD into over drive.
Eric
 
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#13 ·
Definately stripes. However, if you're gonna go with the SVTPP Package and the thin one's - then get the stripe delete. I'm just not a fan of the thin stripes.
 
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#14 ·
Thanks for all the replies.

I wanted to wait for some comments to be posted before I stated my opinions.

Positives for stripes:

I really like the WOW factor that the stripes add to the car.
I bet a majority of the public does not know that there is a stripe delete option.Consequently there will be those that don't think that it is a real Shelby (in spite of the letters and badging) because it doesn't have stripes.

Historical relevance. These are "retro" cars and should have styling cues from
the previous Shelby's

Positives for stripe delete:

Stealth (I am looking at silver and grey cars). Even though I don't plan on driving like a maniac I really don't want a car that stands out from the crowd
a mile away.

In regards to cars, I am somewhat of a minimalist. I tend to gravitate towards
understated themes as opposed to over the top and excessive.
On my 60's hot rods I usually remove all badging and lettering.
This provides a "cleaner" look imho.

Vinyl..In my mind it is a bit "cheap" to have vinyl stripes on a $50K+ car
If I wanted stripes I would probably end up having them painted on.

Hassle of detailing/waxing around the stripes.

Still on the fence.
I will probably be happy with or w/o:)

Scott
 
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#16 ·
Some goofs will still tell ya it's not a "Real Shelby" even with stripes...
 
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#15 ·
No stripes (obviously)... Funny thing is, at least IMHO, the stripe-delete cars look meaner than the striped-up ones. And it allows me to appreciate the styling of the car better.

And I find myself in the minority, in that if I was to rank my preferences, I like the SVTPP stripes better than the traditional thick stripes... I think it's because the traditional-stype stripes have been done to death...
 
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#18 · (Edited)
My vote is obviously a striped car. I do agree with 69 on the narrower stripes offered withthe SVTPP cars. The wider stripes are EVERYWHERE…making the “historical” reference a non-factor. Either way – it’s a matter of personal style and taste. Please do not make a decision you feel you have to. Rather, make a decision based on what you want...a big difference IMHO. Good Luck again with the possible purchase.
Vito
 
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#20 ·
Does anyone know if it's possible to order the SVTPP package, but get the normal broader stripes?
Nope, it's not possible...
 
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#23 ·
I had the 07 "gt" black with silver stripes, always thought they were to loud and too wide. although this can be deemed a "shelby look" I recently brought home my new "2011gt500svtpp" with the thinner stripes. black with red striping. personally, I love it, but as other posts have suggested, it is your baby, follow your gut....
 
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#24 ·
On friday I am going to look at a Ignot silver car that was a factory stripe delete car that they added the stripes at the dealership.

So the car has the factory red stripes installed. I imagine that this means means that the seats are black which imho is a good thing.
Not a downside in my opinion...

If I am able to put a deal together I can always remove the stripe or have the stripes painted on..

Scott
 
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#25 ·
Any thought I had about getting stripes went out the window when I found out that the stripes were tape and not painted on. And the manual warns you that if you are using one of the high pressure sprays to not spray the edge of the tape. And the dealer said to remove the tape they use a heat gun but they said don't wait to long to remove the stripes or the paint under the stripes will look different. I don't know about waxing around the stripes?! Do you notice a car with stripes on it more than you do a car without stripes? If you notice a car with stripes on it more than one without I would image the cops would notice a stripped car more also. But the best test is to see how you like the looks of the stripes. They look good but I think the car looks as good or better without them. Either way you really can't go wrong.
 
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#26 · (Edited)
I've been "on the fence" about this.....more inclined to remove the strips, but they have been on the car for 3+yrs. The car has been driven in all types of weather and the clearcoat has, what I believe to be, acid rain damage and swirls on it. The vinyl strips (blue) look to have had bird crap on them and had not been cleaned within an appropriate amount of time. I used a mild abrasive cleaner on the paint and strips. It helped a little, but I think I need to go a little deeper. I'd like to remove the strips and have the clearcoat professionally polished out. I would prefer painted strips at a later date. Maybe a ghost gray or flame strips, but vinyl, no way. Plus, I like the stealth look and would probably resurface the wheels to black and add lcarbon fiber rockers, chin spoiler, etc.
Will the non weathered white under the current strips really have a noticable contrast to the "weathered white?
The first image is mine, the second of an '07 White with strip delete at a dealer.
 

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#30 ·
Yeah, but that doesn't cure the stripes in the seats.

I don't dislike the stripes necessarily, but I certainly don't see anything "exclusive" about them. 9-out-of-10 Lemans-stripe-slathered vehicles I see coming down the road toward me are not Shelbys at all, some of them not even Mustangs... They've made appearances on Neons, on Dodge trucks, Mustang II's.... There used to be a Pinto in my hometown, white with blue Lemans stripes.

Whether you love them or not, the traditional thick Lemans stripe is a styling statement that has been thoroughly HIJACKED by society.
 
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#32 ·
Hassle of detailing/waxing around the stripes!!

This is not a reason as there are plenty of waxes out there that will go right over the stripes, I use Zanios myself on it makes the stripes stand out even more..
Too me the non striped cars look plain so if you are going for plain then yea get the stripe delete.. I have see several stripe delete cars going down the highway and as they pass I am wondering is that a shelby or a GT..So if the stripes are not your thing at least think about the rocker stripes.
 
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