What’s wrong with Ford and the new Mustang?

[01L2Cobra]

One of my friends brings up some very good points about the S197s in a couple of his latest blogs.
http://www.jwfisher.com/sec-blog/2005/11/24.html#a1018
http://www.jwfisher.com/sec-blog/2005/11/23.html#a1011

[BigDanTheMan]

who is this guy? i just booked marked his page on like five different places on my computer - he has an enjoyable read and seems incredibly knowledgeable.

[01L2Cobra]

He is a driving instructor for a high performance driving school in Texas (http://www.thedriversedge.net/). As a driving instructor he has had the opportunity to drive just about everything from Z06s to EVOs. He has also been running Mustangs in Open Track events since the late 70’s.

Did you check out his Ford section? There is some great info there on everything from concepts to how to install Recaro seats.
http://www.jwfisher.com/sec-ford/default.htm

[zx2srdotnet]

dont forget to notice the 230HP SC Fusion Escort ZX2 on that site. ;-) another example of how Ford let another company beat them, (Ford made the Focus SVT instead of letting Roush make the Fusion kit, who would buy a SVT Focus when you can have a smaller car w/ better gearing/suspention/power for under 20k(Roush said under 20k for the Fusion)) they didnt make the Fusion and let Dodge and Chevy beat them to the FI i4 market.(the Fusion demo was from 1999)

SRT-4: 230HP 2970LBS - cant handle but great inline(14.0 w/ good driver)
Cobalt SS SC: 205HP 2991LBS- good handler, ok inline(mid 14's)
Fusion ZX2: 230HP 2576LBS - great handeling and inline(should have done 14.0 range if they had tested it

the fusion has 400lbs on the other 2 cars lol

[TheStang00]

well idk much about that focus RS, other than it was FI but they only sold it in europe... why? i have no idea.

[zx2srdotnet]

it was there rally version of the car

and ford will never have a low 14sec amazing handeling car for 20k when the mustang is only doing mid 13's and is in no way as nimble.

[01L2Cobra]

What would have been nice as far as the Focus goes was the SVE Focus R. But honestly the market being what it was for cars like that we were lucky there was a SVT Focus.

[giddyup50]

I agree, the new Mustang is too big. Yeah sure it looks cool but, it if I want a car that looks like a 65, 67 or 69 Mustang, or whatever years it's been compared to, I'll go buy one. The new Mustang (05) has become the 71-73 Mustang of today, TOO BIG. Sure, it has 300hp, ABOUT DAMN TIME, ONLY 10 YEARS TOO LATE!! With a car that big it has to have 300hp.
The new Stang also IS NOT aerodynamic. Look at it, it looks like a brick laying flat. Ford had to leave a few of the holes in the grill filled in so it would have more downforce on the frontend because of its lack of aero.
I also think that it DOES NOT look mean at all. Look at the 99-04 Stangs, THEY LOOK MEAN. They have the hood scoop (looks like 69 429 Boss), the backend looks like a 69 fastback (kind of). And the frontend looks mean also, and it's aerodynamic!! I KNOW, I KNOW, I just said I didn't like the new one cause it looks too much like the old ones, yet I like the 99-04 because it looks like a 69. However the 99-04 has hints of the 69, it's not a replica of 64-68 like the new one. Some people say I'm nuts but that's how I feel about the new Stang.
Sorry for the book guys, I haven't been on here for a few weeks.

[01L2Cobra]

There is something to be said about looking to the past for ideas. But I agree with what you said about the Mustang its just too much of a copy. Now Dodge did a much better job.

[giddyup50]

Actually, if you look at the Charger in that pic, it looks like they just took a Cuda or Challenger/Charger from 70 or 71 (I may be wrong) and changed the frontend, rearend, and wheels but left the rest of the car alone. It does look good though. The 07 Camaro is almost the same way as the Charger. It looks exactly like a 69 Camaro but, w/different front, back, and wheels. The new Mustang doesn't look exactly like the old Mustangs, like that Charger and 07 Camaro, maybe that's why I don't like the new Mustang. I know, I'm contradicting myself. I like the 99-04 Stangs because they have a hint of the old yet, I like the /concept Charger & Camaro that look exactly like the old. Maybe it's just a case of the new Stang trying to look like the old but still trying to look new while the others come right out and say "here I am, a new (07) 69 Camaro w/new front and backend.

DOES ANY OF WHAT I JUST SAID MAKE SENSE?
I THINK I'M GOING TO CHECK MYSELF IN!!
BUT, I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

[01L2Cobra]

the interior of the new GT500 is almost a direct copy of the 69 gt500

[giddyup50]

Yeah....I like the new Stang interior, but at the same time I think it looks cheap. No, I'm not usually this picky.

[01L2Cobra]

For me form follows function so I like it simple sort of like the EVO MR.

[TheStang00]

you know most people criticize the 99-04 interior, but i really think it looks cool, and its very simple which i like also.

i personally like the new mustang a lot. that charger in that pic looks exactly like the old one. seriously if we are going to criticize for doing the throwback thing... they went way more hard core on it than ford did. as far as the camaro concept. i thought that was quite possibly the ugliest thing ive ever seen.

those new stangs also handle a lot better than the 99-04 and apparently that 300hp motor really runs awesome, ive heard gm guys praise it. sure its heavy, buts its not actually that much heavier than the 99-04.

[eillob]

Well as much of a mustang guy as I am I have to admit, that Challenger is sweet looking. And Im sure the mopar boys arent gonna miss a beat when it comes to putting some power under the hood. They've come out swinging with the new charger, great styling and an available 340hp SRT is nothing to sneeze at.

That is what brings me to my problem with Ford. Like someone else said, 300hp it is about time. Even now I think 300hp is too little to late.