Yeah, SVT says they're going after BMW. Ummm who else says that....oh yeah, Pontiac is too. Lemme see....what about Cadillac?

In fact, just about every manufacturer mentions BMW when they announce some new direction they'll be considering.

Let's face it......at the end of the day, it's going to be Camaro vs Mustang....just like it's always been.


And BTW...I really like my Nurburgring scenario.

 

Unless Ford hase some vehicles comming that nobody here knows about, I don't see how SVT can compete with BMW. Unless they make an SVT Lincoln LS.

I mean the SVT Cobra. Focus, and Lightning don't match up well with the M3, M5, and X5. Its just not competition and its almost laughable to compare it that way. Whats next SVT takes on Hummer and Jeep with a SVT Escape...

 

Like I said, at this point. However, surprises are coming down the line. Ford, and its other divisions, are releasing a lot of new vehicles. The 2005 Mustang is a vast improvement (interior wise) over the last few model Mustangs. Just about everyone here agrees the GTO is a great car even if it has bland looks. I feel it's comparable to a BMW in many ways. The common person's perception is that it's not as good as a BMW. Why is it so hard to believe that a 2005 Mustang interior, which appears to be excellent and of great quality, is any worse than the GTO's or a BMW's? Many here feel the GTO is competing against the Mustang Cobra. Others compare it to BMW. Seems to me that you could compare the Cobra and the BMW as well.

 

Purely my opinion here, but Ford may actually be on it's way to BMW-level vehicles in the next few years. They have a GREAT start with the interiors and ergonomics they are rolling out in the last 8 months.

If you haven't been in a 2004 Navigator, you MUST go to a dealer this weekend and sit in one. They are truely awesome. The same level of quality is apparent in the Aviator, the Expedition, the Explorer, the new LS's, and of course the Mustang. You don't have to like the styling or the colors, but look at the materials and the quality of craftsmanship - it's not just OK, it's good, real good!

If they roll that kind of quality into the other areas of the vehicles without doubling the prices, Ford is going places - and BMW/Mercedes better be watching carefully. Road noise is down and ride quality will go up with the intro of new cars on new platforms. The new LS is already getting rave reviews for it's handling, quality, and power.

As for upcoming surprises....
I will leak a tidbit to you for consideration...
I have seen correspondence from Phil Martens, Ford's vice president of North American product creation, dated 13 Jan 04 which states clearly that Ford is presently developing 10 units based on the DEW98 platform, to be offered under Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln badges.
(Z284ever, there's another hint about the Cougar... you find anything else? )

 

Oh yeah, forgot about these "new cars" we don't know about yet either...
New subcompact wagons and coupes based on a new platform also shared with Mazda. Ford is going after the youth that favors cars like the Toyota Scion.

Quote...
"...Commenting on the success of Toyota's Scion xB, Martens said: "I think the market is ready for that. It is nice to let others lead the way because it is a tough market to crack. We can be very effective as a fast follower."...

...The platform is expected to generate 1 million vehicles annually by the end of the decade. Among the vehicles that will be based on that platform are the next-generation Mazda2 and Mazda Demio along with Ford's Fiesta, Fusion, Ka, Ikon and Ecostar...


Interesting, no?
I have not heard a name for the new platform yet.
guionM - maybe you or someone else can share some insight?

 

Rear quarter windows in the new Mustang looks like ***. It looks like about 6 months ago someone was sitting around and went "Hey ****!" or whatever the engineer's name is...."we forgot the rear quater panel windows"...so they jury rigged the ones in there.

Do you honestly think that Ford in their current situation actually mad the decision to use an IRS based on what enthusiast think? They we trying to save a dollar...it's that simple. An IRS makes a better all around car than a solid rear..no one can argue that. I am willing to bet a I know what happened to....

Ford looked at the DEW IRS and realized it was too expensive because of it's use of alloy's and all. So rather than redesign a cheaper (and probaly heavier IRS), they therw a solid rear on there and called it a day. Then they can use a derivitive of the current expensive IRS on the higher margin Cobra's.

I remember a few years back Ford had to recall the then new Thunderbird bacause they were catching fire. What happened was the battery is mounted in the trunk under the spare tire jack. Ford was too cheap to put two thirty cent terminal connectors over the battery terminals, so on a few cars, the jack/lugwrench would jar loose, fall on the terminal, and ground out to the frame causing a fire. all over thirty cents...

 

PaperTraget, and ProudPony those are both good points about Ford's future. But the fact that Ford has a better looking interior or several new models comming out to compete with the Scion all the way to Lincoln's is nice but the idea of competing with BMW still isn't here. I suppose you could say on paper the Mustang and 3 Series coupe are competitors as well as the Thunderbird and Z4 but thats on paper. No matter how good Ford gets its products the people that buy BMW's won't notice and the Ford buyers won't add the local BMW dealer on their list of competing models to scope out. Just ain't going to happen. Different buyers and different kinds of vehicles.

Now Lincoln can go after BMW but Ford needs to stick with Chevy, Dodoge, Toyota, VW and Honda as competitors. There isn't enough market for Ford in the BMW range anyway.

 

I see your point 99SilverSS, but I believe I'm looking a little farther into the future. Perception is a hard thing to change as GM and Ford both know. It could easily take the next decade for both companies to convince car buyers (mostly Americans) that our cars have as good as or even better quality than the imports from Asia and Europe. I think GM is perceived to be in a better position to do this than Ford currently is. They need to take the initiative now and advertise as much as possible. The GTO is a good start, but I've not even seen the GTO commercial on TV!!! If GM doesn't change something soon, Ford WILL get the upper hand as they are starting to roll out some very nice cars and trucks.

Formula79, I also agree that Ford is being a tad cheap with some components of the Mustang. However, this will probably be THE best Mustang that has ever rolled off the assembly line to date. One of the biggest problems with the solid rear axle is unsprung weight. But Ford has addressed this by going with an aluminum axle. Check out this picture
Seeing how this is a lighter rearend than previous ones and a better design than the previous ones, I believe ride quality AND handling will be much better. Looks are subjective though. I happen to think the rear quarter windows are fine. I'm not crazy about the grill lights, but there will be endless amounts of customizations that will come out for this car. I see a huge aftermarket for it.

No doubt Ford is needing to pinch a few pennies here and there as well. Jac didn't exactly leave Ford in good shape. But I think they're on the right track now. Signing on with Carroll Shelby and building/selling an image enhancer like the GT(40) are great steps to getting them out of the proverbial hole in the ground.

BTW ProudPony, I'm looking forward to the Cougar. If they're going to do what I think they are, then I would probably buy it over the Mustang for my next V8 RWD car.

 

I think that housing is cast iron, but was painted silver for a prettier PR photo.

ProudPony, guess who, etc...

any input?

 

I noticed that "color" makes a big difference to how this New Mustang looks, I tend to favor the lighter colors b/c it even makes the front end look good. That to me, is the only part of the car that's a little TOO retro..can't wait to see the aftermarket stuff..

 

The center housing is cast iron. The rest is aluminum. And yes, it was painted silver. But over all, lighter and just as strong as the older rear.

 

Got this from my C&D mag. I only posted the key parts.



Kinda goes hand in hand with the other article on SVT wanting to up the craftsmanship, quality, and refinement of the Cobra and them wanting to give it an upscale image. Whether it'll be good enough to be compared to BMW M is yet to be known, but from the sounds of it, SVT might have one heck of a Cobra in the plans.

 

Man, what is with Ford?

It doesn't matter how much horsepower you throw at the car...BMW owners are not going to give a Mustang a second glance, I'm sorry to say, just like the GTO.

Instead of everyone trying to be like BMW I'd like to see our manufacturers develop their own indentities. You know, ones that don't include $50,000 pony cars.

 

Man I could not agree more!

It is my understanding the axle is stamped steel/cast iron.
If they did do the whole thing in alum. I think there would be some reliability issues!

 

While i agree with you, a much better Mustang (in terms of equipment, refinement, quality, performance, etc...) isn't something i'd object to.