I searched before this post, but thought this may be of interest to everyone out there. I saw this on another forum and was interested to see what this guy had to say. Being a biased Mustang owner, I can't agree with anything in his article:

http://www.forbes.com/vehicles/2005/08/26/...tml?partner=rss

Give it a look. I'm looking forward to the comments.

 

Dan Lienert doesn't "get it" and probably never will. People who want to buy a new Mustang are not trying to decide if they want it or a Lexus or a Corvette. The Mustang and Lexus bring pleasure in totally different ways.

The last two new cars I have bought were 3-series BMW's ('99 & '02). I can go on and on about how great they are and how fun they are to zip around corners, but the bottom line is that they can't offer the same kind of fun a Mustang can.

I sold my '02 BMW in April, and am waiting for an '06 Mustang GT.

I "get it".

 

They certainly do not understand. He is obviously writing this article for a different class of people. The type of people who want a Lexus or an Acura. And if he wants a $40,000 Mustang, he should learn a little something about the Shelby. Clueless.

 

It's Forbes. What do they know about cars. They seem primarily concerned with image. If it isn't Japanese or European, they aren't interested. Perhaps they are trying to sway back the mindless personality-less business types who would never look twice at previous year mustangs, but for some reason want this one. Kind of like dentists and doctors buying Harleys. Notice the reference to looking like a dork. The only dork I see is the the guy in the new M3 the other day who paid twice what I paid for my car and couldn't even pull on me.

PolkThug...glad you get it.

 

Well right off the bat the writer explains why he would not think to highly of the Mustang when he said something to the effect of, "why would you buy a mustang when you could buy a lexus or acura for the same price?".

There are some people who really like psuedo luxo cars. The writer reminds me of a person who would buy a G35 sedan thinking others will percieve him as rich. He may wear alot of gold jewlery, be very self important with pinstripe side burns and a cell phone glued to his ear. He obviously would and will never understand the appeal of the Mustang.

It's not a status car, is has raw viscereal appeal. To me, it's like sticking a thumb in the eye of the mundane. I don't need a fancy car with heated mirrors, seats and a frapachino cup holder for each seat. No faux gold trim or HID's, LED's or other crap associated with upscale vehicles.

I wonder what he meant (the article writer) meant by saying it's a cheesey car? Did he mean they went over the top with retro? Yea the MyColor is on the cheesey side but nothing else is IMO. Seems pretty purposeful. Oh I know they did market research and are dishing out heaping helpings of what people really wanted, but isnt that the point? Don't understand how thats considered cheese.

Anyway, glad to finally read a negative review since they are so few and far in between. I noticed they couldn't knock the performance other than saying it is somewhat brutal and noisey, But again, thats because he doesn't have any understanding of the nature of the beast. I'ts not a hermetically sealed semi-luxo Japanese car, it's an American beast, and Mustang folks wouldnt have it any other way.

 

Reading a Forbes review on Mustang, no thanks. One time I got board going number 2 with no reading material and I read the side of a tampon box. I felt pretty stupid doing that but I gotta say i'd feel even worse clicking that link to Forbes.

 

One of my close freinds just bought a full zoot Acura TL. It's a nice grocery getter Accord with some really fancy high tech electronic options. It has a decent engine, but it is a typical high RPM low torque Japanese engine. Personally, I have never been thrilled by a car that talks to you with a lame electronic voice. I despise talking on a cell phone and I usually know where I am going before I leave the house, so most of the electronic gizmos would be wasted on me. He doesn't like my Mustang because it doesn't have all that electronic stuff, but he agrees it is fun to drive.
The Forbes guy is a techy guy who doesn't like a red interior, so he could buy the grey or tan and quit his whining.

 

This guy has his head up his a@@ !!!! That must be my cheesy mustang like personality coming out. He has no clue about American Muscle and Patriotism.

Maybe I'm going overboard, but tell you guys what there is no way in heck I would want one of those ricer mobiles over a Mustang GT. I have put my time in and fought for this country and I can most assuredly tell you I was not thinking of Lexus when I was longing for the good old USA when I was in Iraq.

I was thinking of family, friends, my church, Ice cold Sam Adams Beer, In and Out Burgers and of course American things ie Mustangs. This is not to say that I was wishing I was driving a Mustang In downtown Bahgdad but I think you guys get the picture. I'm American thru and thru and to me that means Mustang not ricer mobiles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That guy is a dumb *ss....i disagree 100% with every little detail he states in that article. Forbes sucks....case closed

 

OH and about the red interior......that forbes guy must not understand that he can go look at a 90 thousand dollar car or even the McLaren to see that red is in and its the F***in bomb!!!

 

:crazy:

Forbes reviewing the Mustang is like Paris Hilton giving a lecture on growing up middle class.

 

That just may be the most elitist thing I have ever read, and I'm in politics. All the points made here are excellent - this dope just doesn't "get it". More to the point, he looks down on people who do. The fundamental lack of understanding why Ford does not want the price of their flagship performance car to creep up to 40k is mind-blowing for someone who works for a business magazine. Let's see if we can help him:

Most American families need two cars. Many hard working Americans want the beauty, fun and performance represented by cars like the Mustang but can't afford to put even $50,000 into their cars. A car that's "only $10,000 more" (and that's not even the convertible you little snob) is simply out of their reach. What Ford is doing is making sure they can afford those things and still have enough to ensure their second car is a safe, reliable family car - more likely the otherwise it will be a Ford as well. Carroll Shelby once stated that this was then entire reason he chose his life's work - that true performance and fun should not just be in the hands of the lawyers and bankers - that every American should have access to a car like this.


I will give him one thing - the center console is excerable - If I ever meet the guy in charge of making that decision I'll punch him in the nose. There is no way that a $50 cost savings on plastic could justify polluting the car with that tonka textured monstrosity.

 

Keep in mind who he is writing for. The Forbes audience isn't exactly Mustang-type crowd. This author obviously values a luxury image above pretty much everything else (note: they are comparing a CONVERTIBLE to luxury sedans -- TL, GS300, on-its-way-out IS300).

Anyway, the most telling statement to me is:
"The Mustang is not appropriate for upscale events. If you think you look good wearing a tie and driving a Mustang, you are almost certainly having a midlife crisis. "

Duh!

Everything he said about driving it was praise for its performance. The only negatives were the red seats/floor mats (which are naturally offensive for someone who doesn't want to be seen when they are driving a me-to, wannbe luxurious, gray sedan) -- and "cheap" interior materials. What else do you expect for such a cheap price?

Yes, the Vette is a little more "upscale" and therefore attractive to the Forbes audience who doesn't have to worry about the extra $15k or so in MSRP.

Personally, I am kinda glad the stuffy suits don't appreciate the Mustang. If they did, it would mean the car has lost its personality.

 

This Dan Lienert guy is going to get flamed to heck, but I do have to agree with his opinion on the interior. I personally think he has a point on that matter. I personally don't dig the retro interior so much. Nor do I like the red leather seats. But then again, it's a novelty. Ford doesn't force you to get it.

 

BTW, if you want to flame Dan Lienert.

Contact Information
Tel: 212-366-8944
Fax: 212-366-8891
E-mail: dlienert@forbes.net

He looks like a dork

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/bios/new/danlienert.html

 

What the he*l..... At the expense of someone's dignity? That's more "insult" than "opinion"...

Who cares if you get out wearing a 'wife-beater' or a $2000 suit? That's not what this car was built for..... Yikes I feel dumber after reading all that.

 

To be fair to this guy, he's just pandering to his audience. Yuppie big wigs with more money than they know what to do with that don't understand/appreciate cars. His readers only appreciate Expensive cars. He's making rich people feel their porches, bmws, etc... are worth the costs and that the mustang is just a toy. This article's not intended to the average mustang driver. And the mustang has always been the blue collar man's car. I think forbes readers would consider the mustang as such when a college student can afford to drive one, be it a v6 or a GT. Because the average joe doesn't see the difference between the v6 and the GT. Rich people like exclusivity. Because they think they're special and smarter and deserve the best. Capitalism at its best.

 

I'm a Mustang owner, but not a biased one. As such, I sympathize with alot of what the author is saying. I love the exterior, and it was mostly the reason I bought it. However, I seem to find more and more "quirks" about the interior and the general feeling that the car is retro to the point of being primitive. I came to the Mustang after seven years of driving a '98 Monte Carlo, so I think that spoiled me a bit.

To the Mustang's credit, in my opinion it's my preferred 2005 model year car. I had narrowed down my choices to a handful of V6 coupes and sedans (and I did seriously look at Mini-Coopers) and for one reason or another I disqualified everything until only the Mustang was left.

To me the Mustang is not a perfect car. However, it is the least imperfect one currently available in my price range. If they are going to sell a V6 model and try to attract the "not muscle car" crowd, they definately need to consider a major revision in the next couple of years.

 

To tell the truth, I'm glad to know they're so offended by Mustangs. Something about a Forbes man in a Mustang gives me a hangover.


Would it ever be the same again after this:

 

Whoa, I misunderstood. Was this Forbes or Out that the review appeared in?