Oh, the Mustang haters are out in full force this Thursday morning, which, coincidentally, happens to be trash day around my neighborhood.
In best mockery of little whiny girl voice:
"Oh no, not another Mustang variant!"
"Mustangs are so underpowered"
"live axles suck"
Well kids, it's a little bit like this:
Most of the Mustang variants you have seen have been aftermarket variants, not factory editions. And while I'll grant that there were quite a few during the 2005-2009 model years, they have all been well thought out in terms of package, pricing, and target demographic and have all sold well.
Next up, there are presently only three model variation: Base, GT, and GT500. There are (and always have been) more variations on the BMW 3-series than the Mustang, and yet, I don't here any bitching about that?
Mustangs have always been adequately powered, and now adequate gets a healthy bump to slightly overkill with the 2011 Mustangs, considering that they are getting a 400hp V8 and a 315hp V6, all now backed by six-speed transmissions, manual or automatic.
Obviously, live axles don't suck, considering that the Mustang offers better handling than the Camaro or the Challenger, and their club racing version has been proven to have the ability to stomp on its BMW competitors in every racing series that they have come head-to-head in.
Having addressed your concerns, next time try coming up with something more interesting and creative to say. Memes are only funny for so long.
@pauljones: Well firstly, most people bitch about Mustang variants because the factory offers the most absurd and tacky garbage sometimes, aftermarket can be blamed for this too if you want.
You seem to like comparing BMW's to the Mustang, not only are BMW's better than a Mustang but BMW's are overpriced junk for the most part. I guarantee that a 3 series has a far superior suspension to that of the Mustang.
People think Mustangs are fast and they aren't. They have adequate power yes but I'm sick of people seeing a Mustang and going oohh crap check that beast out, I just shrug my shoulders and ask what, that dime-a-dozen POS right there?
Obviously they are doing something right because I see literally at least 30 every single day on the road and I don't even drive that much, but I would prefer to own another car instead of a Mustang for the money.
I'd be interested in an SVT Mustang or an Ecoboost or better yet make a Mustang Raptor, that'd be insanity.
@Everything I love is 2nd best: Yep. The clearly superior suspension of the 3-series is what has been allowing it get stomped all over in Koni Sports Car Challenge and the Speed World Challenge.
And yes, Mustangs are damned fast for what they are and how they are priced, considering that you need to spend at least another ten grand to get anything that can match it's performance. I'll also point out that all the factory special editions have sold well, and the aftermarket editions are not, in fact, the same as the factory editions.
I think someone has a case of the Thursday night blues.
@eggwich del fiero: Define faster, faster around a track? Corvette C6
Faster in a straight line? thats tougher, for the price the GT500 goes in a straight line pretty well, the closest thing I can think of off the top of my head, straight from the factory no mods would be the Camaro SS which will do it in 4.6 which is pretty brisk for a mere $32k I find that to be much more of a value as far as straight line is concerned.
@pauljones: The bigger, notably rowdier V8 hauling out of those corners is what beats the BMW, not a better suspension.
I would be much happier with the Mustang if the interior didn't look like it came from a $25,000 car and they would give it some darn weight reduction for god sakes. It is NOT difficult to make a V8 2 door under 4,000 lbs, they barely, barely did that which is pitiful. I would expect that car to be closer to 3,000 lbs then I could be happy with spending $50,000 on a $30,000 car.
And for anyone out there who thinks I'm a Ford hater, the Ford GT is seriously the stuff of my wet dreams, and I am definitely a Viper man.
Good question, I spaced on the details there. Actually, I spaced on the whole fact that this article is about the GT500. I too prefer the C6 to the GT500; no car with a nose that blunt can compete at top-end power/speed with something that's actually aerodynamic.
What grinds my gears and resulted in my question was the dismissal of the Mustang GT as a slow POS. So, a new GT is priced at 28K, sells in the real world for 25K or less if you can negotiate your way out of a paper bag...what at that price point can compare 0-60, 0-100, 1/4 mile, or HP-wise?
I know the WRX can, and the 370Z, but those cars are harder to get at a cheap price (the Z is more around 30K I think but I'm not looking it up), as they don't produced a zillion of them a year. And if the Mustang competes with them, can you still call it a POS? I feel the base model GT is a performance bargain against anything in its class. Others in its class are good cars as well, I'm not dismissing the other options.
@eggwich del fiero: Well the 'POS' comment was directed towards the Mustang as a symbol, not a specific model. Just the fact that people see it and think speed kinda pisses me off, it could be a v6 and they'd still say that, and nobody can deny that Mustang v6 isnt the most well thought out car in Ford's lineup.
While I agree that the WRX can out-bargain a Mustang, I'd much prefer the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart which is fairly difficult to come across but I generally see them below sticker pricer, a Dodge dealer we went to tried to sell me the Evo for $4k off the sticker and when it was apparent that I was in no financial position to talk about a $30k car they started talking about a Ralliart for $22k which I thought was a steal but like I said, no financial position to talk about new cars really.
You said it yourself, the 370Z is the best performing competitor but good luck getting one under sticker. I would say the Solstice GXP would be a good grab as far as performance all around but once again, straight 0-60 its tough to beat V8 power for $26k
My personal preference would be the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 T mainly for the handling, its got a mid 5 second 0-60 time but the chassis is one of the best out there. Even I will admit the Ford Mustang GT is the lowest cost (including maintenance because of the sheer overstock in parts) and fastest car for the money, but I would never own one for multiple reasons.
As kick-to-the-jaw awesome as the Group B beasts were, the rear-drive machinery that preceded them (Escort RS, Ascona 400, 131 Abarth, Sunbeam Lotus, et al) were just as rad, IMO. #kenblock
Top speed 200?!? Then what, the spikes fly off and pepper the crowds at whatever airshow it gets trailered to? I kinda wonder about the mudflaps. Why? This thing has so much fail it hurts. All its missing is a "No Fat Chicks" bumper sticker and an orange-tanned guido to round it out. #trucks
11/20/09
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11/19/09
11/19/09
In best mockery of little whiny girl voice:
"Oh no, not another Mustang variant!"
"Mustangs are so underpowered"
"live axles suck"
Well kids, it's a little bit like this:
Most of the Mustang variants you have seen have been aftermarket variants, not factory editions. And while I'll grant that there were quite a few during the 2005-2009 model years, they have all been well thought out in terms of package, pricing, and target demographic and have all sold well.
Next up, there are presently only three model variation: Base, GT, and GT500. There are (and always have been) more variations on the BMW 3-series than the Mustang, and yet, I don't here any bitching about that?
Mustangs have always been adequately powered, and now adequate gets a healthy bump to slightly overkill with the 2011 Mustangs, considering that they are getting a 400hp V8 and a 315hp V6, all now backed by six-speed transmissions, manual or automatic.
Obviously, live axles don't suck, considering that the Mustang offers better handling than the Camaro or the Challenger, and their club racing version has been proven to have the ability to stomp on its BMW competitors in every racing series that they have come head-to-head in.
Having addressed your concerns, next time try coming up with something more interesting and creative to say. Memes are only funny for so long.
11/19/09
In the same way Porsche has finally sorted the handling out with all their rear assed widow makers.
Nothing wrong with it, just saying.
11/19/09
You seem to like comparing BMW's to the Mustang, not only are BMW's better than a Mustang but BMW's are overpriced junk for the most part. I guarantee that a 3 series has a far superior suspension to that of the Mustang.
People think Mustangs are fast and they aren't. They have adequate power yes but I'm sick of people seeing a Mustang and going oohh crap check that beast out, I just shrug my shoulders and ask what, that dime-a-dozen POS right there?
Obviously they are doing something right because I see literally at least 30 every single day on the road and I don't even drive that much, but I would prefer to own another car instead of a Mustang for the money.
I'd be interested in an SVT Mustang or an Ecoboost or better yet make a Mustang Raptor, that'd be insanity.
11/20/09
11/20/09
And yes, Mustangs are damned fast for what they are and how they are priced, considering that you need to spend at least another ten grand to get anything that can match it's performance. I'll also point out that all the factory special editions have sold well, and the aftermarket editions are not, in fact, the same as the factory editions.
I think someone has a case of the Thursday night blues.
#tips
11/20/09
Faster in a straight line? thats tougher, for the price the GT500 goes in a straight line pretty well, the closest thing I can think of off the top of my head, straight from the factory no mods would be the Camaro SS which will do it in 4.6 which is pretty brisk for a mere $32k I find that to be much more of a value as far as straight line is concerned.
11/20/09
I would be much happier with the Mustang if the interior didn't look like it came from a $25,000 car and they would give it some darn weight reduction for god sakes. It is NOT difficult to make a V8 2 door under 4,000 lbs, they barely, barely did that which is pitiful. I would expect that car to be closer to 3,000 lbs then I could be happy with spending $50,000 on a $30,000 car.
And for anyone out there who thinks I'm a Ford hater, the Ford GT is seriously the stuff of my wet dreams, and I am definitely a Viper man.
12:37 AM
Good question, I spaced on the details there. Actually, I spaced on the whole fact that this article is about the GT500. I too prefer the C6 to the GT500; no car with a nose that blunt can compete at top-end power/speed with something that's actually aerodynamic.
What grinds my gears and resulted in my question was the dismissal of the Mustang GT as a slow POS. So, a new GT is priced at 28K, sells in the real world for 25K or less if you can negotiate your way out of a paper bag...what at that price point can compare 0-60, 0-100, 1/4 mile, or HP-wise?
I know the WRX can, and the 370Z, but those cars are harder to get at a cheap price (the Z is more around 30K I think but I'm not looking it up), as they don't produced a zillion of them a year. And if the Mustang competes with them, can you still call it a POS? I feel the base model GT is a performance bargain against anything in its class. Others in its class are good cars as well, I'm not dismissing the other options.
10:28 PM
While I agree that the WRX can out-bargain a Mustang, I'd much prefer the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart which is fairly difficult to come across but I generally see them below sticker pricer, a Dodge dealer we went to tried to sell me the Evo for $4k off the sticker and when it was apparent that I was in no financial position to talk about a $30k car they started talking about a Ralliart for $22k which I thought was a steal but like I said, no financial position to talk about new cars really.
You said it yourself, the 370Z is the best performing competitor but good luck getting one under sticker. I would say the Solstice GXP would be a good grab as far as performance all around but once again, straight 0-60 its tough to beat V8 power for $26k
My personal preference would be the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 T mainly for the handling, its got a mid 5 second 0-60 time but the chassis is one of the best out there. Even I will admit the Ford Mustang GT is the lowest cost (including maintenance because of the sheer overstock in parts) and fastest car for the money, but I would never own one for multiple reasons.
11/19/09
11/19/09
Then again, I've never really agreed with MT's choices.
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11/17/09