Ranger

Agree that the jury is still out on what the sales of the V6 will be. Most, if not all of us who read this forum have had the 05 Mustang on our minds and in our hearts for months (years). I would think that the next 3-4 months will show what the V6 will do. Don't think the mass public has made their decision....yet.

Uncle Nicky

ive heard that the V6 is fun to drive, are there any testimonies to the contrary? for those not blessed with immediate appreciation for the 05, id guess that would draw them in.

74Mach1

That's just not true. I was making the point that the Mustang has been getting a larger and larger slice of a smaller and smaller seqment, but if you want to talk specific years:

1977
Mustang 153,173
Camaro 218,853

1978
Mustang 192,410
Camaro 272,631 (plus Firebird sold more Trans Ams than Ford did Mustangs)

1982
Mustang 130.418
Camaro 189,747

1983
Mustang 120,873
Camaro 154,381

and 1984, 1985, 1991, too.

EleanorsMine

Well.... You are right about em piling up down here. Ernest Mccarty has 8 sixes(including the new lime one I am coveting) and a yellow gt on the lot, and I was by Adamson last week and they had two rows..But its also dead car shopping time.....Give it tax refund time and spring and they will be rolling off the lots in caravans.

Besides, you already know here in the Bham area every 4th car or so is a mustang- so we have no hate for them, quite the contrary.

MustangDan

I was worried that they didn't have a hatchback, but the seat fold and the trunk opens wide enough to get my bike in, so I'm loving it just the way it is.

TMSBrad

"Sold great?" Yes and no. Good numbers but they've gone steadily downhill:
1965 - 559,451
1974 - 385,993 (but outsold by GM F-bodies)
1984 - 141,480 (but outsold by GM F-bodies)
1994 - 123,198 (but outsold by GM F-bodies)
2004 - 180,000 (but they were the only car in that niche)

I'm not proposing that the readership of this forum would PREFER a notchback. I'm suggesting that if in 2008 sales drop below 100,000 because there is no notchback, then there may not be a next generation Mustang.
[/b][/quote]
Consider, though, how many more choices there are out there now than in 1965. The market has completely changed in 40 years.

TMSBrad

I believe that Ford sells 65% V6s because they choose to be blind to the market.

Ford tells dealers "we'll give you 65% V6s and 35% V8s." Then in the next model year they'll say "last year we sold 65% V6s and 35% V8s." Well yeah, because that's what you told the dealers they'd HAVE to sell. If Ford produced 80% V8s and 20% V6s, I believe they'd sell every one. The only difference in that would be in 2003-2004, when the Fox platform was in really pathetic shape, the interior had been cost-cut into a joke, and most enthusiasts who wanted V8s like the GT, Mach 1, and Cobra, knew that the 2005 was coming.

redfire_vert

Well if the sales here in the Midwest is any indication of the cars success, Ford has struck gold. Five months into the model year and already a number of dealer have sold out their yearly allotment. Normally the dealer around here are just starting to order their mustangs.

I am currently waiting for a GT convertible which was ordered December 6 and at this time it is still Clean and Unscheduled. In addition, when was the last time you heard of 10 of thousands of orders prior to a single unit even hitting the dealers.

REDFIRESNAKE

Someone really thinks the Mustang is going to die out? LOL Remember when Ford was thinking about passing off a front wheel drive Probe as a Mustang? Ford was inundated with phone calls and letters from mustang fans vowing never to buy another Ford product if that happened!
The mustang is an American Icon! I'm happy with my Cobras but everyone I've talked to has had nothing but good things to say about the new body style.

Ripstang

The GT's are what the enthusiasts knew about for a long time and like myself have been waiting for a long time.
A lot of people at my work have heard the 2005 is new and is out but have not seen one yet and did not realize that the body changed compleatly from the ground up.
Once more 05 Stangs hit the streets this spring / summer you will see the v6's start to move ....and as for the GT I figure another solid year of good sales till most of the enthusiats have got there's B)

169stang

I think part of the reason the GT's are in more demand is due to the fact that they have tapped into a different customer based. I think they have attracted a customer base that would typically spend more money for a sports car so they don't hesitate to spend the money on a GT. AND....this is due to Ford putting together a beautiful car. IMO!

daveyramone

I wouldn't mind a notchback if it looked as good as the photochop that grrr428 did a while back.

htwag

I remember the 64-68 models. Each style matched someone, somelace. Then, as today, price does affect sales. Convertibles and fastbacks were more expensive - as were V8s. Credit is easier to get today - payments lasted 36 months and were high at $80.00 per month back then. Let's wait until the new convertible comes out and see sales numbers. I can't afford a convertible GT and the V6 I want (convertible) runs about $27,000. Ford needs to offer more wheel styles, more colors, and more interior options - and even maybe a stripped V8 for folks that want to do their own wheels, audio, etc.
I've owned three Firebirds (one TransAm), two Camaros (one convertible), and two Mustangs.

htwag

Maybe that proposed notchback ought to the basis for the Cougar.

daveyramone

Funny you should say that since that's the direction he took on later chops:

O5GT

the people buying GT's are enthusiests, the people that would typically buy a v6 model are probably waiting on rebates etc

Route 66

The five Ford dealers in the Birmingham area currently have 62 V6s and 4 GTs on their lots. So, I think you can get a GT (I was offered a LL GT for list at Ernest McCarty 3+ weeks ago as well as an offer to order a GT for list by Long-Lewis), but that's not my point. My point is that V6s, which are the Mustang's bread and butter, are backing up on lots just a couple of months after they became readily available even though they're already being deeply discounted. This may signal trouble.
[/b][/quote]


V6 being deeply discounted. Where, and how much. I just might consider buying a v6 then until 07cobra comes out. Point is, there are no deep discounts, if any at all.

FourLights

I wouldn't call myself an enthusiast and I have never nor will I ever have brand loyalty. I have loyalty to good design and right now Ford has it with the 05 Mustang. I think Ford hit on a brilliant design and that is what is going to bring the sales beyond expectation.

Although there are going to by a high number of them out there I have a feeling that this car is still going to be a classic. I wanted to buy a car that I will be satisied with for a long time, that is why I chose the GT.

74Mach1

Long-Lewis in Birmingham is a "no haggle" dealership, sort of like Saturn. They post their sale prices on the windshields of all the cars on their lot. The V6s have been going for invoice, about $1300 to $1500 off list, since the first of the year. They'll also order V6s for invoice. For the GT, they'll order for list right now. Go to any Birmingham dealer and use Long-Lewis as leverage and you can get pretty much the same deal. I got my V6 at Ernest McCarty for $100 over invoice, but I suspect that the extra $100 was because they could see the drool.

stoic21

That's just not true. I was making the point that the Mustang has been getting a larger and larger slice of a smaller and smaller seqment, but if you want to talk specific years:

1977
Mustang 153,173
Camaro 218,853

1978
Mustang 192,410
Camaro 272,631 (plus Firebird sold more Trans Ams than Ford did Mustangs)

1982
Mustang 130.418
Camaro 189,747

1983
Mustang 120,873
Camaro 154,381

and 1984, 1985, 1991, too.
[/b][/quote]

You have just listed 6 of th worst years of mustang production, not tolking numbers, just talking mustang as a car. 91 is the only year I am suprised about. Nevertheless I didn't mean t say always, i was under the impression that we were talking about recent models. A notchback would not have done anything to help mustang sales over recent years. It would have been more helpful to build a cougar that was a sister car to the mustang. The mustang isnt going anywhere and Ford definately has not shot itself in the foot with the new car by not offering a notchback.