7,752 units sold compared to 10,772 units moved during the same month last year.

 

That's a 28% decrease over Feb 07, not a good.

Mustang sales over the last 8 months have been horrible, an average year over year decline over 25%. I guess the S197 Stang has officially lost it's mojo.

 

I think the S197 is a very, very good basic car now suffering due to a few increasingly obvious mistakes/oversights on the part of Ford. These include.....

...lack of a proper mid-level performance model is probably killing Mustang sales to the tune of 10-15k no rebate needed units per year.

...the V6 model is still too much of a 'cheaper than GT place-holder' rather than the all around entry level performance and economy standout that it could and should be. As such more than a few performance enthusiasts who cannot or will not pay for a GT walk right on by.

...the lack of some features still seems odd to me. The continuing lack of a sunroof for one, the lack of dark colors outside of black and the new for 08 HG Bullitt for another. For comparison the new BMW 3-Series offered four truly dark colors, and arguably five, during that models first year on the market. Until it's third year on the market the Mustang only offered one! We can get a love it or hate it color like orange but not an industry standard like dark blue?

....Five years is too long for a high volume coupe to go without a significant refresh at the least. Ideally 2008 should be the current models last year on the market, not 2009 as planned.

 

Economy is getting worse... buyers may not have money to "splurge" on performance coupes any more. Just a guess...

 

I pretty much agree with you.

Although the S197 Mustang is, as you say "a very, very good basic car", it's still a throwback to yesteryear. While we have Mustang fanatics that cry that they "don't want any fancy features", reality is the market for no frills performance cars is VERY small. The market today demands a MUCH more refined vehicle than the Mustang is with all the comfort features. This is not 1965 anymore, today you do NOT have to sacrifice comfort and luxury to get performance.

I also agree that Ford's refusal to give us a model between the GT and GT-500 is shear stupidity and is costing lots of sales.

But much of the Mustang's sales decline has been in the V6 model, which again lacks the comfort, amentities and performance the market demands.

 

I wonder how much of this is the consumer waiting to see the Challenger/Camaro options? I think Ford needs to do something in terms of offering differeng levels of performance - maybe a Mach1 or Boss variant of the car. Its also about time for a small face lift. Should be interesting to see what the '09 really looks like.

 

I did my part! I am one of the crazies that buys a Mustang in Michigan in February.. Love it!

 

With the Challenger coming out, and the declining economy/rising gas prices, this doesn't surprise me in the least.

I expect sales to continue to fall, potentially quite dramatically over the next two years because of the Camaro/Challenger and the fact the car has been around for quite some time with little to no changes.

 

1. I think we're getting close to another body style. Due to the spy shots people are going to wait. If they chose to purchase an "old" Mustang in late '09 when the next body is revealed, they will get a better price.
2. Gas prices aren't helping and anywhere gas is "cheap" there's snow right now.
3. The Challenger making the circuit right now is exciting people.
4. I personally think the "upgrades" Ford is putting into the Mustang are taking away from the retro idea. How is cup holder lighting an upgrade that makes the car more distinct from other manufacturers? Why not make the glove box a fridge? "Unpimping Z Auto" was their best move, why undo that now?
5. WE ARE DYING FOR A BOSS!!!!

 

But hey, good news. Ranger sales are up 27%!

 

I bought 1 of the 7,752!

 

I dont remember if NAV systems are an option, but if Ford wants to "upgrade" something they could provide a NAV system - and SYNC

 

When I decided to get my 2008 GT (which will arrive in here Jul/Aug ), all my friends told me you are nuts.. go and get the Challenger/Camaro (both arriving in here by May/Jun).. I simply told them nahhh... ONLY STANG...

 

I hope the Ford plant workers don't suffer.I see it coming though.Ford needs to offer more incentives and more options on the V-6 models.Gas prices suck and will only get worse.

 

In my opinion, the '08 Mustang has quite a few factors working against it:

1. it's going on it's 3rd model year with basically no changes. Coupes have always had short shelf lives.
2. High gas prices. People think of sporty cars like the Mustang as gas guzzlers, and are buying smaller cars instead.
3. The US economy is headed downward, so people are less likely to spend on "luxury" weekend toy like a Mustang and are buying more "practical cars" instead, or not buying at all.
4. The impending launches of the Challenger & Camaro.
5. The 2010 Mustang refresh--some people are probably waiting.

 

I actually heard on the news today that Ford has been doing quite well and employees are getting bonuses as a result.

 

I think this is more to do with the current economy than the S197 losing popularity. I don't know how it is in other states but in California I know just about everyones feeling the pinch. Gas prices are killing peoples disposable income which has shrunk with companies downsizing and cutting back hours. Alot of people jumped in too deep into houses they really could not afford and others losing big time on houses they hoped to flip. So now everyones tightening up.

The company I have worked at for 15 years has cut hours and laid people off, this is the first time in the 15 years I've been there thats happened. We have had wage and new hire freezes before but never cut overtime and people before.

 

What is the price of gas per gallon in the States?

sorry for going out of thread subject...

 

i usually fill up on my way home from work. Right outside NYC, on the other end of the Holland Tunnel in NJ its now 2.97 for regular. i guarantee we will be seeing $4.00 a gallon this summer. after $4, i think i might be selling my precious pony and going with a 4 cylinder sipper. its just getting ridiculous

 

Sales declines are, as most have alreayd mentioned above, due to a lot of reasons.

- Impending increased competition in the market (Challenger/Camaro) usually makes potential buyers wait. They can sniff it and at the very least expect lower prices/better product diversity.

- Impending refresh (2010) usually makes people wait.

- People putting extra cash into capital expenditures (variable home mortgage rates, and no, cars are not capital expenditures unless you buy them in fleets and your accounting department calls it that) always delays consumer durable goods upgrade purchases (cars, washing machines, dryers, furnaces, et cetera for reasons other than emergency replacement).

- gas prices don't help, but they haven't really risen much over the past two years. I'm outside of Chicago and we pay just as much as the other pricy locations in the US. Currently averaging $3.15 for low grade, $3.45 for 93. Gas only broke consistent $2 a gallon in 2000/2001. It's not going to hit $4 for any length of time this year or the next. Besides gasoline is almost irrelevant, the price everyone will care about next year will be that of diesel....

It'd be nice to have more models in the lineup, but be realistic, Ford can't afford the extra expense right now even after selling off Jaguar and Rover.

Less seriously, I don't see anything wrong, I got a nice deal on my '08!