You honestly think that the GT500 won't sell? Ford will sell each one they produce.

 

I'm not digging that frontend at all.

 

Actually, I kind of like it. Not enough to make me want to buy one (coupe or convertible) but it's kind of neat.

 

Dude, you gotta be kidding right? (No wait I forget where I'm at) Only about 170 to 200,000 people disagree with you.

 

Hmm took me a while to realise why I thought it looked so weird from front on. Its the stupid grille...it looks like an octagon.

 

Well to each his own, IMO the Shelby is bad *** and that nose is a square kick in some dweeb aerodynamicist's *****.

 

Moot. There's always dingbats with too much money eating up limited edition cars. It still doesn't help the fact it's god awful ugly.

I like Ford and GM both. In fact, I liked the looks of the previous Gen Mustang better then the 4th Gen Camaro. Loved the Cobras, especially in a Black Vert. :drools:

But anyhow, people had a "Retro" craze when the Mustang came out and to top it off they own the Pony Car Market (no competition...). So the fact they sell 170-200k should be no suprise. The challenge will be to retain that when they actually have competition.

And if the Camaro looks as it does (less retro and nicely done ;heritage), throw in the carbon copy retro (albiet nicely done) Challanger, and the new Mustang starts to look un-inspiring.

Sorry Ford, you didn't win me on this one. You better get a refresh on that Mustang fast or it's sales could tank... IMO

 

Stuff like this is meaningless as soon as you throw the first letter of Mustang at the buying public. The Mustang will outsell the Camaro AND the Challenger. Why? Because it is a Mustang. You'd think 40 years would be proof of this by now. And no way is the Camaro concept "less retro" or whatever that is supposed to mean. I showed the clay pictures to the resident Camaro junkie at work. Mind you he's not big into the whole future concepts stuff so he had not seen nor heard of it coming back. The second he saw it..."Hey cool a retro Camaro like the Mustang!" Glass houses my friend.

 

There is no doubt that the 5th gen concept definetly has more retro flavor to it than I would appreciate, but when I stare at the concept, and then at a new Mustang, the Mustang looks more retro. At least the Camaro concept has some modern lines on the front end. The Mustang does not looks modern to me at all, whatever angle I see it from.

I really wouldn't car the Camaro concept just heritage inspired though. The only heritage I see in it is 1st gen, and it is pretty predominant.

 

I wouldn't put money on reason like that. The Mustangs have always been beautiful machines up until recently. In my opinion much better then the Camaro's (except maybe in the 3rd gen years - my favorites). But with the things they're selling now - I would definitely not put money on that one.

Of course it's retro in nature, but as a bud told me the other day. Based on the clay and people in the know about the actual Camaro concept we have or will have a:

Slightly Retro - Camaro ("Heritage or whatever they're calling it")
Mildly Retro - Mustang (Obvious)
Strongly Retro - Challenger (Retro gun set on COPY)

And one thing I will put money on is after the old farts buy their Copy of the car they had in high school, the ones that are the least Retro will fair the best. So my predictions...

Based on looks alone:

1) Camaro
2) Mustang
3) Challenger

Based on drivetrain:

Tossup at this point

Based on aftermarket support:

1) Mustang
2) Camaro
3) Challenger

So it'll be a heated battle between the Mustang/Camaro and I think the Drivetrain/Interior will be what decides the winner. We will see.

 

The Fox bodies where far from "beautiful". Ditto with the Mustang II. They STILL sold like crazy.

Yet they still outsale anything in the class including the very modern 350Z.
And obviously the public does not agree with your assesment on the looks or else they wouldn't be selling them.


Even when the Mustang is selling well across all demographics? Listen how about you start using the current sales numbers and history to make your predictions. As of right now they are very very off. Again I can't continue to stress this enough. First off it's a Mustang. And Mustangs ALWAYS sell well.

For you.

Did the drive train decide who won the last fight between the two? Did the interior and drive train decide who won the fight between the Cobra and the GTO? Or the GT and the GTO?
The Camaro will be a massive success if it sales within 90% of the Mustang the year it comes out.

 

Interesting comments here.

One thing that I will say to Chrome, as he seems determined to convince us all that the Mustang is a one year wonder........... and is only selling to die hard Mustang folks............. and is also only selling due to the fact that it has no competition.............

Here is one small fact for you.

Appx 40-45% of 05/06 Mustang sales are conquest sales. This means these people have not owned a Ford product before.

Not bad for such an ugly car.

 

Few points of interest...

1) I was in a car show at Ciener Woods Ford in Kernersville, NC last July (2005), and the buzz about the GT500 was huge. At that time, Ciener-Woods was already taking sercurity deposits of $5000 JUST to get on the list for a GT500. I thought it was funny, and that they would never get takers at such a goofy level... They stopped taking deposits at 20 people. Seems they can't confirm how many of the initial 7500 units their dealership will actually get, but 20 seems like plenty.
YOU got $5k to plop down on a car that will not be here for over a year?
Don't know the MSRP? Don't know the options list? Don't know the color choices?
What's more, other local dealerships in my area have done the same thing!!! Parkway Ford, Young Ford, Capitol Ford to name a few.
Whacked people out there with WAY more money than sense if you ask me.

2) The kind of people that will throw $40-45k on a car like this are BIG-TIME Mustang nuts, and avid car collectors. This is evidenced by the fact that you have to be somewhat "in-the-know" to even know this car is coming. There are no TV ads, magazine ads, or flyers in the mail about the sale of this car.

3) For the last 20 years, people have plopped down way more than MSRP for specially modded factory cars. Saleen was fetching $20k for his creations when a new 5.0 Fox body could be had for $10k in the dealers showroom. Kenny Brown was doing the same. Roush got into the game for the last several years. Steeda is doing it too. Fact is, there is a definite market for upscale Mustangs, and at this level of market the cost is not the significant issue - exclusivity is. Roushes and Saleens are already busting $45-50k and have been... it's not uncharted territory at this point.

4) Shelby was offering upgraded Mustangs through Ford from 1965-1970. His cars were 25-50% higher in price than the basic Mustang then. In 2004, a GT500KR went through the Barrett-Jackson auction and fetched $280k. (You should note that THIS is the car/bodystyle most similar to the new GT500 too: shape of grille opening, forward leaning grill, recessed headlamps, stripes, etc.) A comparable 68 Mustang with same drivetrain in show condition would average about $25-30k in the same auction.
So if you are a "collector" wanting to sink some cash into "precious metals" as I like to call it... which is the better potential investment based on historical evidence? $27k Mustang GT turns into $100k in 30 years, or $44k GT500 turns into $750k in the same 30 years?

5) I still maintain that the current horsepower war is going to come to a screeching halt in the next 3-5 years. Gas prices, governmental regs, emissions, insurance, and other forces will bring this new war to a close IMO. If it does, that will mean that the offerings of the next few years will be the peak, and therefore most desireable for racers, gear heads, and collectors alike. If you haven't jumped yet, you have a few more years to do so. I will be ordering my GT500 after the buzz settles down and dealer rape subsides.

6) Lastly, we should all really stop trying to put this car in the same sentence with the new Z06. I have seen this too much already. Funny thing is that NOBODY puts it in the same sentence as Viper.
It should be categorized as a niche car - perhaps a muscle car. And in all fairness, it is really the only offering in that league at this point IMO. The GTO should be aligned with the GT more than this GT500, and so should the Charger. When the SRT versions come out - that would be fair game.

In closing, I cannot argue the fact that some of you thing the car is ugly. Looks are subjective, and we all get our own opinions there. But you (who don't like it) have to stand back and look at the entire landscape of people, and admit that far more people like it than don't. It slams at every car show it goes to, it stops people everywhere they drive them, journalists constantly write about instant car-show crowds when they stop to fill the car at gas stations, and so on. The car is already a hit, and still won't be on the streets for months. THAT'S not a flop by any stretch.

Tidbit #1 - I am starting to think we will not see a Ford-branded S.E. of the Mustang until just before the restyle of 2008. It seems a bit wasteful for Ford to market 2 SE Mustangs simultaneously - since they are used to generate hype for the base lineup.

Tidbit #2 - I checked on the Trademark for "Boss", "Boss 302", "Boss 429" and other variations of "Boss" last Friday. As of Friday, Ford had allowed these trademarks to expire (actually they expired in 1997!). They were last maintained to promote toys, marketing, and activewear by Ford Motor Company.
What this means is - if Ford is going to do a Boss soon, they have not taken any steps to secure the name legally. Take it for what it's worth.

Tidbit #3 - I can not find any new developments on the lawsuit between Ford and Team Shinoda on the Boss name either. The case may have been settled and not posted yet, but I think Shinoda had last rights to the name after suing Ford as Carrol Shelby did over the rights to GT500, GT350, and such. Shinoda is still using the name "Boss" on their graphic kits, even to this date - offering their package for the 2006 Mustang as seen here.
Seems like Ford would be all over them if they owned the name, doesn't it?

OK - 'nuf for now. I gotta work some today.

 

I agree. Try telling that to the magazines though, which will inevitably compare the two.

 

1) I'm not saying it will just be a one year wonder. But with competition, I do not see it doing as well. It's easy to sell alot when there is no direct competition Mustang or not.

2) I don't doubt 40-45% of Mustang sales are conquest sales. Probably Camaro/Mopar people that can't buy one of their own flavor per say. This again is no suprise given no competition. People still want Sports Cars, and if their "Brand of Choice" is not selling one, then most will probably goto where they can get one... That or the really hardcore probably just buy an older model...

At this point we will honestly just have to watch it play out and unfold. I do wish the best for Ford being an American company and I love having good competition on the strips. (God I hate ricers). LOL

I'm just hoping for a refresh to make them look alittle better as I do not think they are attractive, but again that is in my own personal opinion......