Tony Alonso

Assuming that is in the ballpark (thanks, Galaxie), I really wonder how much that was debated by the Ford people. I wonder if they considered how that cost would look to the buyers of the V6 vs. what they would spend on the upgraded stereo systems. Maybe the supplier could not not do it at the cost and volume margins. Hmmm...I would have love to heard the debates.

I agree, although I think the exterior style does get them to look first! I think cars are sitting on lots because of the regional distribution patterns and people desiring to focus a bit more on fuel savings. Of course, I am only speculating.

Tony Alonso

My personal benchmarks for nice plastic is that found in the current model year Lexus IS250/350, Honda Accord, or Acura TL. GM and Ford have tried to improve in this arena. Two months ago, I was in a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, and the dash had plastic with a smoother grain and softer surface. The Ford F150 has been noted for its interior improvements with this most recent redesign.

Some people do - it resonates with them as "quality". The new C6 Corvette has soft-touch plastics. GM said they did it to give a more upscale feel to the car.

People who might be looking at the Mustang for the first time who are used to seeing this in other cars might have that reaction.

I agree (although I wish that V8 GT had just a wee bit more kick)! That passion is what Ford needs to invoke in all of their vehicles. If you are not a major performance enthusiast, other things like perceived interior quality will matter to other buyers. I suspect Ford's understanding of the typical Mustang buyer's priorities include exterior style and performance higher on the list.


C6 Corvette, assuming you think $40K for 400hp and the handling capabilities is affordable.

Tony Alonso

Thanks for the time you spent to take the photos...interesting!

tech

Obsessive maybe, but he makes a point that completely discredits yours. Mine is properly tacked down as well. I don't see any inconsistency problems. Maybe someone at the dealer screwed up when they pulled the plastic out. Who cares?

It seems like anytime someone discredits your argument you slam them. You knew what you were getting into when you started this discussion...an argument. And you continue to argue about topics that you know nothing about. You aren't an expert by any sense, and you apparently don't know anything about today's auto industry. So why would any of us take anything you have to say seriously?

So you continue to stir up arguments, knowing what kind of replies you will recieve....this makes you a troll. Most of us don't like to associate with trolls. So take a hike...and take your anti-American BS somewhere else.

Tony Alonso

I don't think you are a troll. I like reading the observations you've made in your time posting on the forums. Some of the remarks you make (like above) create an impression. Obviously, you are responding in that manner because of what Vermillion06 posted. I am sure you realize that when the language gets combative, the insults fly.

By the way, an entry from dictionary.com defines a troll as the following -
v.,n. 1. [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To
utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable
responses or flames; or, the post itself. Derives from the phrase
"trolling for newbies" which in turn comes from mainstream
"trolling", a style of fishing in which one trails bait through a
likely spot hoping for a bite. The well-constructed troll is a post
that induces lots of newbies and flamers to make themselves look
even more clueless than they already do, while subtly conveying to
the more savvy and experienced that it is in fact a deliberate
troll.

So, in conclusion, you are not a troll!

Galaxie

BC_Shelby isn't attacking any one here, or one of us on our car choice. He is obviously just being critical and trying to show another perspective. Its not as if he's driving a lexus and talking down to anyone here, as he has stated many times he plans to buy a Mustang.

I understand where he's coming from, let me explain. Most of us here are hardcore mustang guys and will probably buy one as long as its rear wheel drive. There are a group of first time buyers who plan or want to buy the car based on its great looks, etc. What he is saying is that if you don't cut corners on the interior plastics, remote trunk release, and little things like that, you are able to get more conquest sales and increase the overall desireablility of the car to the masses.

Part of having really good interior plastics and a carpet that will look good 10 years from now affects another part of the market that OEM's don't seem to look at, the used car market. Usually someone's first car is a used one off a lot somewhere. A car that still has good looking seats, carpet, plastics, etc after 10 years will command a higher price, and in my mind increase the likelyhood of them buying another. This is just my logic, unfortunatley I don't have any metrics to back it up. Just food for thought though, compare prices of a 1996 Civic vs. a 1996 Cavalier. I wonder how many Civic drivers bought another honda vs how many Cavalier drivers bought another GM. (Its just a comparison to make you think)

Thanks guys for the most part on keeping it a civil discussion (mostly), please just take the mindset that we are sitting down and discussing this over a few beers, and at the end of it we'll all shake hands and agree to disagree if necessary. That's the attitude I take on the boards all the time and its worked out for the most part.

Tony Alonso

Never thought he was attacking with the initial post, however, I have posted as much as I have in this discussion to get into a "point-counterpoint" of the finer details in my own buying decision for this car.

A good summary of the position...I agree with that!

A very good observation about the future value...I think the reliability aspect will reign just as high on the scale too.

Thanks for posting the message. Attitude is one of those few things we can convey here with our well-chosen words.

tech

"By the way, an entry from dictionary.com defines a troll as the following -
v.,n. 1. [From the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban] To
utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable
responses or flames;"

Isn't that what I just said? "So you continue to stir up arguments, knowing what kind of replies you will recieve....this makes you a troll."

Tony Alonso

I was refering to the other part.

The insults and sarcastic comments are what diminish discussions on points like this. Hopefully, people will refrain from that from here forward. I would hate to see this get closed.

Galaxie

I don't want to close it myself, I love these discussions. Lets please try to let the thread move forward

2005GTDELUXE

The interior is made for me to feel like I am in a real muscle car so no colplaints about quality here.

94tbird

im out of popcorn can someone passsome more this way? wait nevermind. got some more

Well here is my experience. my family has owned fords and chevys as long as i can remember with a lincoln and a mercury thrown in for good measure. for my father he has owned the following:

1. Lincoln Continental - i dont know the year but it had 227k miles on it when we got rid of it
2. Sable - dont really remember this car other than it being tan and a god awful looknig wagon, but hey those were the times
3. 91 Thunderbird 5.0L HO - 108k miles with no repalcement parts other than the usual maitenence like brakes oil and such. then she died by the hands of a drunk driver.
4. 94 Ford Explorer - 112k miles and traded in for a bigger truck in 99. other than an oil leak, car ran perfectly and had no failures.
5. 99 Expedition - still in use at 185K miles and going strong. has had brakes repalced only 2 or 3 times, regular maitenence, and the instrument cluster, when extremely hot turns off but its rare and still records milage. Darn!
6. 80 corvette - only 26k miles, was in a flood and father bought and restored entire interior. car runs perfect. jsut needs front brakes repalced.

Me
1. that 91 Tbird from above was mine when it got destroyed
2. 94 Thunderbird - Still in use today has jsut over 200k miles on it. Tranny was rebuilt at 100k by original owner for no other reason apparently that he thought it should be overhauled at 100k miles. only major problem was a freezeout plug. caused the car not to hold any coolant. we replaced head gasket first thinking that was it however it turned out to be that freeze out plug that cost 78 cents. she needs new control arms now but other than that shes running as good as when i got her at 120k miels 6 years ago.
3. 05 Mustang - just hit 20k miles on her and not one single engine problem. had the gas tank and strut popping probls but little things like that are to be expected on a new car, especially the first body change since forever.

Brother
1. 97 Camaro v6- sold at 145k miles. no problems at all.
2. 99 Camaro z28 - still in use today but was involved in an accident that crushed front bumber, rear bumper and rear quarter panel on left side. all cosmetic damage. car runs and pulls as hard as ever. no problems to date.
3. 99 pontiac firebird formula - jsut got the car so i cant report on it yet.

Misc
1.Uncles 92 ford escort hit 256k miles before he junked it
2.my aunt has a 99 escort zx2 with only 8k miles on it runs great.
3.uncles honda accord(97?) has 90k miles and has oil leaks, burns oil, has had tranny issues and had been in for quite a few service problems
4.cousins accord(98) has had multiple starter problems, been repalced at least 4 times, holes in exhaust, oil leaks, burns oil and all at only 60k or so

This is just my family experience and is no way the same for everyone in the world but this has swayed me from anything but domestic cars. its funny how my unlce after all the problems and servise issues he has had still wants imports.

hk2006

BC_Shelby,
Vermillion06 totally distroys your original argument about the Mustang carpet with the photos he posted, and he actually is comparing the Mustang carpet with expensive cars. Just admit....

I just wonder, you mentioned that you are planning to buy Mustang. How you can buy this car if you think Ford only did a half-way job on this car (see your very first post). Are you planning to pay the full price for the half way?

Very nice investigation Vermillion06. Thanks for the info.

FRONCZ

i HAVE AN 05 SONIC BLUE, I JUST REALIZED IT HAS CARPET "WOW" GUESS I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED LOOKING AT THE EXTERIOR!!!!!!!!

Burke0011

Ummm.... just about every time I see you making a post, you are b8tching about something.... so that's what I know you as, as it is all I see from you



You HAVE to be kidding me. You use something as evidence to make a point - he takes time time to provide evidence to refute your point - and your response is for him to 'get a life?'

How incredibly lame.....

Vermillion06

If you just want to nitpick and find every single little fault you can on a new Mustang, why do you come to a Mustang enthuiast site and whine?The last time I checked this was not the "He-Man Mustang Haters Forum"...

Let's recap:

You started this thread by saying:
AND
So I took 5 minutes with my digital camera to take a picture of my own 2006 Mustang GT's pedal area and posted the picture here. I took fifteen minutes and found some photos of the pedal areas of a Nissan 350Z, Infiniti G35, and Acura RSX using Google. I posted them as well. These photos show that even more expensive import performance-oriented cars than the Mustang have the carpet finished in the pedal area the same way as the Mustang.

Your argument that Ford screwed up on quality again in regards to the carpet in the pedal area is totally DESTROYED. I have provided REAL PROOF.

That's funny, you seem to try speak for everyone all the time, but its okay for you? Why is that? No, I was not trying to speak for everyone, I was referring to when YOU said:



I was asking what gave you the right to act so condescending to me and others who have opinions who don't agree with yours. I was wondering if you are some sort of auto industry analyst, or an auto company exec who really had the knowledge of the auto industry. But it turns out you don't know anymore about the auto industry or automobiles than I or the others here do.(You probably know even less...) So get off you high horse!
And again, why is it YOU think YOU can speak for everyone?

Oh, so if I take about 30 minutes total, to find out for myself if your half-baked rants are true by doing a little research and then posting it here for all to see, I'm crazy and obsessive? I'm not the one that started this stupid topic without even finding out that Ford does the same thing that Nissan and Honda(Acura) do with the carpet in their performance-oriented cars!

I guess I was just supposed to blindly accept what the "all-knowing auto industry expert" BC_Shelby said without question, because "everybody" knows Ford and the domestics have poor quality, while the imports are perfect, right? WRONG


No, they don't. But nice try in trying to twist this around to support your failing argument, but you lose. The photos I posted show the 350Z, G35, and RSX all have carpet that ends under the pedals just like the Mustang. The G35's carpet goes up higher on the LEFT SIDE ONLY. All have some firewall insulation showing. The G35 even has exposed sheetmetal and bolt heads in the pedal area, while the RSX has carpet that looks like the upper edge was trimmed by a four year old with dull scissors. None of them seem to have any fasteners attaching the carpet to the car.

Are you even sure that you were looking at Mustang? All I know is that the 2006 Mustang I own looks like the photo I took of it.

incomingRPG

BC, I don't think you are a troll, I have agreed with you and I have disagreed with you in the past.Tony , Insults? What insults?

Hollywood_North GT

This was a thread about quantifiable quality lapses in the Mustang, which I have elucidated thoroughly. You choose not to agree? Fine. But your picture evidence hardly supports your argument, particularly when I look at the images closely.

The more you post, the more you demonstrate a lack of maturity, or a need to enroll in an anger management seminar.

As Galaxie said, try to pull it together and refrain from the personal attacks.

hk2006

You just can't admit, can you that you lost this battleā€¦
Until we had Vermillion06's pictures may be (maaaaay be) you had a point. But now, sorry dude, YOU LOST IT, get over itā€¦

Vermillion06

Yes, you've made it clear you are unwilling to accept that you are wrong.

Ford finishes the carpet in the pedal area the same way that Nissan does in the 350z and G35, and Honda does in the RSX. I provided pictures showing this. If this is a sign of a "quality lapse" then Nissan and Honda's quality is lapsing too.

I did not make this up out of thin air.


I think you better get your eyesight checked. Either that or take off your "import colored glasses" Are you so blinded by your own need to win an argument that you can't see what the pictures show?

Who's angry? I'm not. I've been You sound like you're getting upset though....

That's a good one! You attack my maturity, then warn me about personal attacks? Pot, meet Kettle! Please point out where I personally attacked you. That's a pretty desperate move... That horse you are riding must be pretty high....