Re: NASTY Lil' Cobra Being Twin Screwed

Unfortunately, Ford's problems run much deeper than what they are doing with the GT500/Mustang sales. They only wish the rest of their car line was as successful as the Mustang. IMO, Ford's biggest problem is they have good cars that have no identity. They have ditched their long time model names and in the process disconnected themselves from a large number of past buyers of those cars. Re-badging the 500 a Taurus is a step in the right direction, IMO. They need to bring out a RWD, V-8 two door coupe and sell it as the Thunderbird too. Maybe even make an upscale version of the Mustang and market as the new Cougar.

Will be interesting to see if Dodge will "Viper/GT500" the 08 Challenger.

Al

That car has had everything short of being stroked done to it. If the

4.6 is so great, how come the first thing you modular guys do is is put a 5.4 under your hood? Even then it is all you can do keep up with stock 5.0 with a little nitrous shot. The all aluminum cobra 5.0 was pound for pound the best all around engine ford ever produced, followed closely by the 5.4 in the lightnings. I know the FORD GT has the baddest engine that ford and svt have ever produced, but it costs to much. Put some cast iron heads on that 4.6 and lets see what you think about it then.

I still can't see an engine with a 3.33 bore and a 4.16 stroke being "high performance." Just seems wrong:)

Al

Yuck! Being the ice cream connoisseur that I was, pre-diabetic now in my 50's, that was like a pan of cold water.

I agree, to the purist, it would be revolting. But to the somewhat brand loyal, practical man and somewhat experienced, or most likely displaced, secretary with several kids and friends, football practices and games, and the odd weekend project, I think it would do quite well.

Sometimes a slap to the face is needed. ;)

I have a feeling that the number of new buyers they get from a four door Mustang would be offset by the number of Mustang enthusiasts they would lose. IMO, some things just aren't meant to be, like a four door Mustang. Any more than two doors and it ceases to be a Mustang. Besides there are plenty of fine and capable four door sedans to choose from that are already in the showrooms.

The Pinto wagon of the 70s was a popular and useful vehicle. seems to me if the Mustang wagon were maybe five percent larger and devoted some attention to interior space utilization, it would be a success. Cue Joe and his "Definition of Success" rant.

For my part, I still prefer the two-door wagons.

One of the things that has helped the Mustang to appeal to such a wide market over the years has been all the options that were and are available from the stripped down, no thrills cheapie to the aftermarket, and now factory available, corvette stomper. A wagon option would certainly stir things up and be newsworthy for a short while, but I don't see anyone with the money and the nads to want a GT or GT500 to back off because of this added option. Remember the Mustang II, that fiasco doesn't seem to have crippled the image or sales at all.

It is a pride thing, IMO. It would also show mega desperation on Ford's part to cannibalize the Mustang to market a four door station wagon. It would be like Chevy offering a Camaro or Corvette four door wagon.

So you're thinking that if they came out with a second different model that has four doors, some loyal Mustang owners would sell and or never buy another Mustang again even with the two door still in production??

Selling a Mom and Pop four door Mustang diminishes the car's mystic, reputation, heritage etc. It would also show Ford is so desperate to sell vehicles that they will jeopardize one of their best selling, most long term success models to do it. It would be a very bad business decision, IMO.

The Mustang II was still a TWO DOOR! The 1974 Mustang II sales were outstanding BTW...

Yeah, they were. Ford provided the public with a base model Mustang that hit the bullseye coming out of the oil embargo, high insurance rates for muscle cars and tightening emissions requirements. They didn't make the V-8 model outstanding but they gave us one of the best selling models in the Mustang's history while keeping to the original formula for the car. If they hadn't then we might have seen the end of the Mustang run in the next couple of years.

That was part of my point on the Mustang II. Ford tweaked the successful model of the past and went with a different vision, small and efficient and green, and you are right, it probably did save the car from extinction. Now look at the demographics and situation. Lots of families near the peak of their earning potential and double income families. Most with kids and 1-2 homes. And, the parents either owned or longed for or lost their virginity in the backseat or knew someone who owned a Mustang.

I think two things may prevent Ford from doing a Mustang Stationwagon. One, they don't have the vision I do, and, two, they fear it'll slow their truck sales.

Mike,

I don't know why you would assume a 4-door Mustang or a Mustang wagon would drive buyers of the 2-door variety away. I don't think it would.

Or am I crazy to think buyers can easily be fooled with some different trim and a name change -- i.e Firebird/Camaro and Cougar/Mustang,

Patrick (Love to have a Mustang mini-wagon/some thing like the old BMW M- coupe.)

I'm all for Ford putting out a performance wagon. Just don't bastardize the Mustang to do it. It would only take away from the Mustang's heritage, IMO.

I think the '87-'89 T-bird were much better than their 90's versions.

I also think the 2-door model was an excellent idea but just had poor execution. 2-seaters are supposed to be sporty and Ford's last generation T-bird, at nearly 4,000 scale-busting pounds, didn't have a chance. But if they could have gotten that Thunder [thighs] Bird down to around 3,200, given it a slightly more aggressive stance/look, installed some real thunder under the hood and given it a competitive price, I think Ford would have found a nice sales niche.

Patrick