I own a 97 GT. I am 6'1" tall and so far all of the reviews, both from this forum, internet sites and newspaper articles love the placement of the shifter. I have to agree with the comments above regarding your comment about your knees almost hitting the dash. Not sure I quite understand how you placed your seat position.

The chrome trim rings, if you don't like it don't get the IUP. If you like the IUP I am sure there will be aftermarket products like carbon fiber you could use like the people will want that don't get the IUP.

Seats? I heard from other members that they were a lot better than the SN95. Are they cobra owners, I have no idea.

The big square dash - looks like the old 67-70 era so I like it. I really didn't care for the dash in my 97 so this is a change I like.

 

I disagree with your comments on the seats. I sat in a 05 (only once) but I felt that the seats wrapped around me like thet did in my 93-95 Vette. I was very impressed.

 

I don't know what you're talking about with the shifter. My Cobra is a far reach to 3rd, and I lift my shoulder off the seat. In the 05, it was crazy how much easier it felt than any SN95s.

 

I'll post this again, because I imagine I'm about the tallest person on here at 6'8" and I had the opportunity to experience an 05 GT this summer in Tulsa at the Shelby Mid-America Meet. It is a huge improvement over my '03 Gt Vert--especially the seats and shifter, IMO. GT for GT, there is no comparison. And may we all hope that for the extra $$$ one pays for a Cobra, that the seats would provide more bolstering than a $25K GT.

 

I thought it came with chrome rings IUP or not.

 

In support of HC, the seats in the '05 do not compare to the seats in the Mach 1 and Cobra (if you're use to these, ya gonna feel like your sliding around on the stock seats)

Otherwise, I think the interior ergonomics are pretty much flawless...it might not be a good fit for everyone though(remember, auto companies design for the 90 percentile of people...they can't do it all...)

 

Question to HC: Were they buckets or standard seats?

 

I've heard the seats are comparable to the bullit?

 

It appears that the one I sat in was a freak of nature, they must have accidentally produced one with a mis-located shifter. I said that I had trouble reaching the shifter any more comfortably than on any SN95 I've owned. I was wrong, sorry, I must have been dreaming. Forget everything I said. I love the car. I really want one. It is so much better than my Cobra its scary. All hail the S197, the SN95 is dead and good riddance.

Maybe after the wears off, we can actually talk about the potential areas for improvement, instead of just the things we like. In the meantime I'm going to take off my flame suit and head over to friendlier territory.

Later,
Dave

 

Don't be discouraged Dave. Please keep posting your opinions as long as they are ALL in favor of the new mustang and no criticisms

 

i agree with hairycanary. i just got home from sitting in a silver gt with red leather. i guess i just expected there to b a higher quality of materials used. i also agree on the shifter placement. it felt better than the sn95 but just a few inches would make a huge difference. im 6'2 by the way and i do have long arms. i still like the mustang but it felt like a bit of a disappointment after all the hype.

 

I'm 6'6" and I'd have to say the extra room is my favorite improvement.

I've had 9 late model Mustangs(3 Cobras) and my current 03 Cobra is,by far, the best. I checked out the 05 last week and the interior blew me away. The first thing I noticed was the great seats and extra room around my knees. If I wasn't used to a 500HP daily driver I'd have to get the new GT. I'm going to try and control myself and wait for the next Cobra. After reading so much about the cancellation of the Lightning so SVT could concentrate on the Cobra, I'm hoping they push up the release.

 

Dang, someone who's had more Mustangs than me . I've only had seven (90 GT, 94 GT, 97 GT, 98 Cobra, 99 Cobra, 95 GT, 03 Cobra, in that order).

Other than the opinion about the 05 seats, I agree with everything you just said, all the way to the "500HP daily driver" and "I'd have to get the new GT" . If I had never purchased the 03 Cobra, I'd still be getting the 05 (had it on order, until I got the Cobra).

I didn't hear about the cancellation of the Lightning, that's news to me -- I'll need to do some research I guess! I don't expect the date of the Cobra to be pushed up much, if any, since SVT put it in writing on the PowerLease.

Dave

 

Hairy, not to pick nits, but I didn't see any flames thrown at you

People have different opinions that's all

 

84 GT Conv., 87 LX 5.0, 89 LX 5.0 conv.(still got it),92 Limited 5.0 Conv., 95 GT, 97 Cobra conv., 01 Cobra, and current 03 10th ann. Cobra conv. Oops! only eight. Also had a 93 Lightning, 70 Mach1, 65 Galaxie, and a 79 Bronco. I currently also have a 73 Bronco and I'm finishing up my Factory Five Roadster(another reason I don't need to be buying a new car )



THe lightning cancellation is front page news at Autoweek.

 

I wouldn't be that surpirsed. The Lightning and Cobra share a lot of parts. Now that the lightning is competing with the Ram SRT/10, the 3rd gen concept has already debuted with 500hp/500lb/ft. If ford does *not* bring it to production with a substantial gain over the current 380/385 5.4l SC, they're dead in the water. IIRC, the GT is using the same engine with internal mods pushing out 550. That power plant, slightly detuned, will be the most logical powerplant for the next Lightning and Cobra.

 

I have the Cloth Frank.......They are a BIG improvement over the last model. My Bullitt though literally "holds " and wraps around you. I believe the new Cobra seats are similiar.

 

(to the origonal post)as the owner of 2 new GT's I have to say I don't agree.Plus I had a '03 mach and 2 01 GT's to compare with.