Entry level Perforamce- v6 (hopefully with that talked about 250hp 3.5L engine) and an SVT Focus with a little more ***** or maybe a factory Turbo like the Focus RS. This could come in at under or around 20k, both would be relatively affordable.

Mid level- GT/Mach 1 obviously fall into this category. Both are an excellent bang for your buck obviously. Mach 1 traps 105hp and was only half a mph behind a Honda s2k on the track despite a live axle setup and a price of 28-29k. The GT is capable of 100mph trap speeds at a base price of around 23-24k. Both are arguably one of if not the quickest cars in their price range.

Upper Mid leve- Cobra. Read the C&D review. You won't find better performance from a newer car for less.

Halo - The upcoming GT/40. 500hp/500lb-ft of tq. Maybe with a boost of 50-60hp on tap with the addition of a Supercooler which brings potential Hp upto around 560hp. Low, sleek, sexy, and has the performance #'s to back it up. 3 said to be made this year with upto 1,000 following next year. We'll have to see what the z06 c6 does, but for now, this is the fastest car from the big 3(and the most priciest too). Nothing to add to that.

The thing is, all these 240-260hp Family cars are 2003/2004 models where-as the mustang came out 5 years ago and is 1 year awat from a redesign and upgraded performance. It is due for a redesign.

I think they're doing things right. They seem to be selling.

 

I don't think tht can be the explanation for Mustangs sales, and here's why.

Ford killed the Probe & Thunderbird after the 1997 model year. That would mean according to this view, the 1998 Mustang should have seen a pronounced sales spike, and continued inflated production, which it didn't. That came a bit later, after Mustang's restyling & horsepower jump across the board.

Also, although you can make a good point of Probe canabalizing Mustang's sales, Cougar most certainly didn't since there was no increase for Mustang when Cougar was pulled. On the MN12 cars, there is no correlation to their demise & Mustang's sales.

Besides, when there wasn't a new Thunderbird SC in '99, I bought a Camaro, not a Mustang.

 

All of which further shows that there are very specific sub-segments in the coupe market.

 

But generally the new edge Cougar was not in the same showroom as the Mustang ie. there are mostly Lincoln/Mecury dealers or Ford dealers. It is kinda are to see a Cougar and Mustang in the same showroom. I actually think the Escort ZX2 may have stole a few Mustang Sales. I think alot of people bought V8 Thunderbirds because they wanted a Mustang...but they wanted more space.

I think the Camaro however wouldn't have benifited much from no Monte Carlo because most people who buy a Monte want some form of a backseat. Even though the F-body interior approachs Mustang in terms of cubic feet it is layed out ackwardly which is a big trunoff. Must people see one in a dealership...look inside and say "No way I can get in and outta that thing every day" and move on to something bigger. Speed just don't sell anymore...not when you average family sedan has more power than most people need. A new Camaro has to be a total package

 

But the V8 T-birds were. And so were the V8 Taurus SHO's... Both of which sold really well, so I don't think you can hang your hat on that hook.

I agree. But it was due to pricing, not performance. The Escort will get better MPG, cheaper insurance, and initial cost is less, plus you can often find rebates or incentives in the Escort, but (until recently) you never saw incentives on Mustang.

I disagree - if they wanted spaciuosness, they didn't want a Mustang to start with. Big and roomy does not = sporty and compact. I think people that opted for the T-bird wanted V8 power, but not the land-yacht Crown Vic, and not the econobox Mustang either. T-bird filled the middle ground in mass, whereas the SHO filled the mid-size in niche.

Again, I agree with you here. I don't think a potential Monty buyer would end up in a Camaro if the Monty was removed. The opposite might be true though, right Darth?

I would go on to say that I beleive 80% of Mustang buyers know they are going to buy a Mustang before they ever go onto the lot - it's just a matter of them finding the colors and options they want. The cars have INCREDIBLE loyalty in the buyers. I think very few people actually start out shopping for a Mustang, and don't find what they are looking for. Conversely, I think a few people DO start out shopping for an economical yet sporty car (that could be a Cavi, Escort, Focus, Malibu, GP, even an accord or Camry) and by chance end up in a Mustang, being happy with it's general liveability but being fascinated with the mystique and conversations it creates. Same should be true for the Camaro.

 

If a family car comes with 250 hp it doesnt mean it will be as fast and fun as a Mustang or Camaro.Most are FWD which mainly are good for a highway passing but throw one on the strip,It would get good numbers for being what it is,But wont win most stop light races (against a camaro v6 or mustang v6).If 15+ is what ya want then sure.(Im speaking of N/A cars too BTW)

 

Proud Pony,I was with ya until you said a ZX2 insurance was cheaper then a Mustang.Those ZX2's are a son-of-a-____ to insure if your under 25.I know 3 people that own a ZX2 and let me tell ya,A V6 Mustang's insurance quote is cheaper.(at least in my neck of the woods)

 

Yup.



I am very happy with my Monte Carlo, however, the lack of anything "Camaro-like" out there also pushed me in this direction, as well as the incentives that were offered.

(I'm just not a Mustang fan... sorry, no offense.)

 

I'm offended.

Speaking of Monte's and Camaro's, i fail to see the correlation. One's a roomier Fwd v6 coupe that's more suited as a family car, and the other is a v6 powered sports coupe with a lot less room and a performance edge. Family car vs Sport/y car. The G/A might be a closer competitor.

 

I don't believe that the lack of other Ford Coupes helps Mustang sales significantly.

Let's look at the Chevy side:

Since they discontinued the Camaro, how many of you will buy a Monte Carlo or Cavalier instead? Come on now, be serious...

Now, what makes you think the inverse is true?

Since the sales of neither of these cars have spiked, we can assume that buyers went elsewhere - AWAY from Chevrolet. Like most people, if they don't offer the car I want, I'll go elsewhere - not buy some other car from the same company. There is a lot of competition out there.

Some of you guys are just going to have to accept that the Mustang is a more appealing car to more people than most other coupes.

 

Correct in all points WERM!

Mustang is one of those cars like the Corvette or a BMW in that people who buy them, are buying the car itself because they want the car itself. I won't likely but a Monte Carlo if there's no Camaro, GTO or Mustang is my likely choice. I suspect there weren't many (or perhaps any) Thunderbird buyers who decided to get a Mustang instead.

 

OK - I'll go with you on that one. ZX2 only.

I know the Escort is cheaper in all categories, but the ZX2 model may fetch higher ins rates - I simply have no experience with that financial aspect of that certain model.

They are peppy though!
I rented a couple... <horns slowly growing from top of head>

 

Ahhh yes... the incentives... we MUSN'T forget those!
As rare on a Mustang as a Bedet in a Texas Ranchouse!

And no Darth, I'm not offended that you don't choose to own a Mustang. As we have said many times, cars are very personal things and we often choose the car that best fits our personality - sometimes the car just doesn't "work" for certain people - nothing wrong with that. Respecting the car is another story...

And besides... somebody's gotta buy that "other" stuff!!!
J/K with you - I know how it is!

 

I can think of one 70+ year old women who replaced her MN-12
T-Bird with a V6 Mustang - not a typical example, but surely she had some younger contemporaries who made the same decision. I wouldn't suggest that the Mustang soaked up all of the market share of the abandoned products, but certainly these retained buyers have bolstered Mustang sales as the range got on in years.

In any case, the Mustang is nothing like the Corvette or a BMW - or any car with prestige. The Corvette represents a very unique product, and BMWs represent the entire near-luxury/luxury marketing segment. The Mustang is just a traditionally broad domestic carline, something of an anachronism, with a historic name to bolster the product. Musclecar fanatics might buy them because "they want the car itself," but for most mainstream buyers its just a bargain-priced sports coupe.

 

Actually, it's a lot like those cars. It's a bargain priced sports coupe with character and a ~~40 year heritage of performance. Owners join clubs, modify them (there is a huge aftermarket) and generally take pride in them.... Much like the owners of Corvettes, BMW's and yes - Camaros.

The argument that people buy them only because it says "mustang" on it and/or because buyers don't have lots of other coupes to choose from on the same lot is pretty weak. A lot of people seem to want to make excuses as to why it sells so well. The car has appeal. Accept it.

Instead of making excuses, I hope GM looks at why it sells better and makes an honest (5th gen) effort at a more appealing all around package - without giving up performance.