My poor car...hehe

I really didn't even intend on getting a 35th, I wanted a navy blue metallic SS. The dealer screwed me and I went elsewhere...well then 9/11 happened and the dealers all thought no one would buy anything. To make a long story short...I got the 35th for under sticker and got included on the low APR that quickly came out.

Now of course I would have liked to see an LS6 (heads and cam) under the hood, but Im very happy with the car. The stripes really set it apart, the wheels are done very well, and the seats are beautiful.

Here are some pics of my boring 35th


http://www.ermca.com/gallery/Rich-Ba...aro-SS?&page=1

-Rich

 

I don't know the real answer to that. People probably hold the vette in higher regard than the Mustang. It's a vette.

Besides, 50 is pretty big. You got to admit at least that. 50th and 100th anniversary's have always being big. It's a bigger deal than a 40th. With a car like the vette, people probably expected more. Who really knows. People will always have something to whine about.

 

50 is a big year for probably automotives biggest icon.

They could have done a limited # of LS6 convertables with speacial paint and it would have cost them about $0 since the Z06 paid for all the engineering. say 300 LS6 convertables wouldn't really stepped on the Z06's toes like a LS6 coupe would have either.

I would have at least put a CAI or cat back on a regular C5 and rated it at 360HP just to keep people from bitching so much.

 

I guess I'll have to live with what's coming. It's not quite as bad as a simple stripe kit and wheel package. There WAS some effort put into it. Add the acknowledgement that the new Dew-Mustang is coming immediately on the heels of this anniversary model, the mandatory "Centennial Edition" for Ford's 100th birthday bash, and that left the design team with not much time (or budget) to do anything greater.

SO, I'm a big enough guy to admit I mis-judged their efforts a little on this 40th Mustang. I apologize to them for shorting their efforts. Here's what's really coming...

- there will be Black, White, and Crimson base colors available
- there will be the aforementioned stripe kit (color coded)
- there will be special fender badges to mark the occasion
- there will be special wheels on this model only (so says anyhow)
- there will be interior upgrades (not mentioned in the Autoweek article at all)
- there will be special embroidery
- there will be special floormats with the car - embroidered with "40th Anniv" and Mustang logo.
- production is scheduled at 6700 units

Also noteworthy - we have discussed Ford being able to pull off a successful lauch - especially for the '05 Mustang...
Well, our thoughts are reaching the top of Ford management. The Mustang is getting scrutinized in every way to ensure a successful launch - including the continued use of existing powertrains for the first year or two. Use of the 4.6 and 3.8 mills will help ensure a flawless launch. Rest assured that new engines have been equally as important as the new car itself, but Ford wants to change "one thing at at time" to help maintain control. This platform has been designed with "alternative engine choices" in mind. (I took that to mean 427's and/or BOSS 5.0's )

In todays SUV/truck world, I thought this was a revelation...
"Some analysts have criticized Ford, the world's second-largest automaker, for a soft car lineup in recent years, and even Ford Division President Steve Lyons acknowledges the need to place more emphasis on the passenger car. Lyons said the focus has been on trucks and sport utility vehicles because of their profitability, "and we wanted to protect it. But it's time we get back big time in the mainstream car business," he said.

As such, Ford has dubbed 2004 its "Year of the Car." Joining the lineup will be the new Five Hundred sedan, the 500-horsepower GT speedster and a crossover vehicle — which has characteristics of a car, minivan and SUV — called the Freestyle. The debut of the '05 Mustang will be important for Ford. Slower-than-expected launches have plagued the automaker the past few years, squeezing the bottom line and undermining confidence in the company.


Also interesting in my recent fact-finding mission about the new car... the target market. Some of Ford's recent surveys were just reported...
The Mustang remains popular among younger males, but its range of choices, such as the convertible, has made it increasingly appealing to women in their 40s and 50s. Studies show the majority of Mustangs are driven by women in early middle age who went to college and live in affluent households, according to CNW Marketing Research.
Are we surprised?

 

So the 2005 Mustang will still have a strut/live axle suspension and carried over engines? This sort of thing calls back memories of 1994. The "hurry up and wait" school of development isn't exactly new at Ford. This time around, its especially frustrating.

Ford has an exciting performance motor in the form of the the "5.0 Cammer" crate motor. Unless there is something wrong with this engine, which I seriously doubt based on Ford's decent track record with OHC V8s, this engine should have seen production by now. I mean, this 5.0 DOHC motor concept has been kicking around for the last 4-years!

Personally, I wouldn't mind if the price of the Mustang GT shifted upward by about $5,000, if it was a genuinely hot car. Even a seriously detuned Cammer would fit the bill.

 

I agree, but bear in mind, the drivetrain is a whole married unit - engine, tranny, 3rd member, even the couplings, mounts and shafts. I think Ford DOES intend to up the ante on the engine issue, but wants everything to go well for the CAR first.

Let's suppose the Cammer (since it is existing and has proven very venerable thusfar) WAS intended for use in the DEW Mustang ( he he ), what performance tranny does Ford have right now with 5+ years of service and a successful PPAP to put behind it? What about the clutch? (anybody in here had any clutch probs with your M6's ? Great engine though, huh!) The third member - yeah Ford's 8.8 is OK for 350hp or so, but go cramming 400 through it and then what? The Cobra uses an IRS that is greatly different from the live axle GT and Mach 1, so the 400hp was designed into it. (again, any 12-bolt users out there with an issue?) My point is the engine itselfmay not result in the recall, but the supporting equipment for that engine choice may.

You see my point. I AGREE that a total car done right would be the best way, and even demonstrate the company's ability to execute. But at this point, I think Ford would rather just "settle" for a successful launch than try to impress the world with their "infoulable capabilities". (Which they simply don't have, nor does anybody else IMO.)