428CJ

The F150's interior and the 05 Mustang's interior are of the same quality and same materials...look closeley... Same AC and radio controls...the difference is, the Mustang has the huge aluminum dash above the controls, where as the F150 has alminum side by side of the controls.

Robert

Yeah, the radio and HVAC controls are identical - obvious and logical platform sharing going on there - but I'm not sure the dash plastics are of equivalent quality. The textures seem better in the F-150. And the plastics in the Mustang center console still look to be of a much cheaper quality than that of even an entry-level Acura, for example.

Ford raved about how the new Mustang interior would move upscale to the level of the Thunderbird, for example. Well, I got news for ya, Ford, the Thunderbird interior quality wasn't that hot either.

This is really the biggest complaint I have with the domestic auto makers. I sat in the new Chrysler 300C at the local autoshow a few months ago, and while I liked the looks of the exterior, the interior still had that cheap, cheesy feel.

It's no wonder the imports sell so well.

As to as many imports being in the garage as domestics, well, I dunno about that one. Just a quick read through Consumer Reports demonstrates that Toyota (Lexus) and Honda (Acura) are number one in reliability and customer satisfaction year after year. Yeah, they have their problems, too, but not as many per 100 cars as the domestic makers. And when it comes to recalls, well, no comparison...

Bugs the pooe out of me, cause I love the new Stang.

And I still don't see a glovebox on the '05.

Question: If the current generation GTs do 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, then what do people speculate the new '05 0-60 time to be? It has a 40bhp power increase (more, according to several of the emerging reports), and a more advanced engine, drivetrain and suspension setup. Any guesses...?

Badandy

Your last question has already been addressed. Search for it, and also on the timeline there is a spec part that says it might be 5.2 seconds. Pretty dang fast. Imports just don't compare (with one or two exceptions).

Robert

Thanks for the answer anyways.

Well, I dunno if imports don't compare. There's lots of imports that'll clean a Mustang's clock, like:

1. Porsche
2. Ferrari
3. Aston Martin
4. Lamborghini
5. Jaguar XK series
6. Bugatti
7. BMW M Series
8. Mercedes AMG Series

...etc...

Now if you're referring to Japanese imports, yeah, only a small handful can come close to similar performance:

1. Nissan 350Z
2. Honda S2000
3. Subaru WRX

Unfortunately, all of the aforementioned cars trounce the Mustang in terms of fit & finish and quality. Here's hoping the '05 will change all that once and for all. :worship:

Wombert

see that thing below the radio? climate control. why don't they offer it for the stang. I just don't get it.

Oh btw... the 05 HAS a glovebox, we've already seen pictures of it

os121

I would be willing to bet that the picture of the interior (above), goes along with a truck that costs almost $40k. If so, that would be one reason why the Mustang does not have it. You know, we could look at this another way. We will have one less electronic gizmo to break.

bdunosk

For the price, my '98 Mustang has been a solid car. Since April of '99, when we bought it new, the only thing I've had to do beyond normal maintenance was replace the tires and an oxygen sensor in 75,000 miles.

It's certainly not going to have the interior quality of a BMW, but it also costs significantly less. I'm hoping Ford will follow GM's quality improvements seen in the new Malibu. The fit and finish is much better than previous generations of GM / American-made products. If it's a new standard, I think this will bring American cars that much closer to the standard that's been set by the Japanese vehicles.

crazyhorse

Bill Ford is trying to make Ford profitable again. The best way to do that is to get the public to believe that the cars are built better for an affordable price. That is why the F150 went up so far in quality without going up in price. He will do the same with the mustang. Those 2 vehicles are the image of Ford. That is where he is starting to resurrect the company.

Kahdir

Hey two on that list are in the Ford family :P

CWP

That's assuming he WANTS an unbiased opinion. [/b][/quote]
LOL, That's right!

Dan

LOL, That's right! [/b][/quote]
<Stands with hands in air, waiting for applause>

hehe.....most of the time you know what you want to hear, you just need an echo or two.

hdwrench

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."

Scootr

Ain't that the truth...I actually took a poll from the guys that work for me as to if I should trade in my Jeep Wrangler. It went kinda like this...

Me: Hey guys should I trade in the Jeep on a new 03 GT Centennial Ed. vert?

the guys: heck yes!!!...How many times did you actually use the Jeep what it was intended for? (off roading,getting it muddy,etc...)

Me: umm...never (you have to understand, I'm **** about keeping my vehicles clean.)

the guys: Are you getting it for a good price,interest rate,etc...?

Me: Yep, and 1.9% for 60 mos

the guys: Why are you still here and not at the dealer?

Anyhow sometimes it just takes that little push to get you where you were heading to in the first place,lol!!!!

mrtedrich

I have a 2000 GT vert. I have 115K miles. It has been a good car. I got 100K out of the brake pads. No problems. The motor still runs like new and uses no oil (do use Mobil 1 every 5K). Just drove from upstate SC to eastern KY and back and averaged 24.5 MPG driving through the mountains. Will use up tires. Not so much a problem with the car, but more due to the softness of most 245/45/17 tires.

StevenJ

that's exactly my complaint about the '05 mustang. okay, it needs to be an affordable car, ford wants to keep the price low. but OPTIONAL climate control, bluetooth handsfree, steering wheel radio controls don't raise the price of the base car (okay, maybe the radio controls... but the other stuff... nope). I just don't get why they aren't offering it. Setting the climate to 72°F is so much easier than messing with the A/C controls every five minutes because it's either too warm or too cold inside. [/b][/quote]
Dude, first off keep your mouth shut. I own a 2003 Accord. Honda/ Acura build quality is far from perfect. My front right side mirrior shakes to all heck at highway speed, I have door seals that are falling off on the back right passanger door, plus the trim isn't quiet all the way lined up. Second of all, how difficult it is to adjust the heat? I never have a problem. I don't have fancy climate control in my Accord and I manage to keep cool all the time. I do have a moon roof though, which I never use. You see, options like that are pretty useless and are only good for adding weight to the car. Though, there is one thing I can agree with you on. Radio/ CD controls on the steering wheel. But even that, well isn't a big deal.

CWP

Yeah, thanx guys AND girls for the help! THE PEOPLE WHO SAID THE STANG IS A JUNKPILE HAVE SHUT UP NOW !!!

Wombert

Dude, first off keep your mouth shut. I own a 2003 Accord. Honda/ Acura build quality is far from perfect. My front right side mirrior shakes to all heck at highway speed, I have door seals that are falling off on the back right passanger door, plus the trim isn't quiet all the way lined up. Second of all, how difficult it is to adjust the heat? I never have a problem. I don't have fancy climate control in my Accord and I manage to keep cool all the time. I do have a moon roof though, which I never use. You see, options like that are pretty useless and are only good for adding weight to the car. Though, there is one thing I can agree with you on. Radio/ CD controls on the steering wheel. But even that, well isn't a big deal. [/b][/quote]
I beg your pardon? I didn't say a word about Honda/Acura/Whatever build quality. And before you tell me to keep my mouth shut you better pick a dictionary and look up the word OPTION. Nobody forces you to get a climate control. Next time switch your brains on before you accost me like this.

Badandy

Thanks for the answer anyways.

Well, I dunno if imports don't compare. There's lots of imports that'll clean a Mustang's clock, like:

1. Porsche
2. Ferrari
3. Aston Martin
4. Lamborghini
5. Jaguar XK series
6. Bugatti
7. BMW M Series
8. Mercedes AMG Series

...etc...

Now if you're referring to Japanese imports, yeah, only a small handful can come close to similar performance:

1. Nissan 350Z
2. Honda S2000
3. Subaru WRX

Unfortunately, all of the aforementioned cars trounce the Mustang in terms of fit & finish and quality. Here's hoping the '05 will change all that once and for all. :worship: [/b][/quote]
Yes I am talking about the Japanese imports. My bad. And none of those are faster except the STi. But then you have the evo.

200mphcobra

I've owned a 66 289 2+2, 70 Mach1, 83 V6, 84 Capri, 85 GT, and now own a 96 Cobra. From the beginning the idea of the Mustang was an affordable "family sports car". They all served me well. The engines tend to be if not always faster, tougher than the competition.

We have a joke at the track that goes something like "those chevys should have to run blow proof oil pans to keep all those parts off the track"

FrankBullitt05

Just sat in the 05 today, and in terms of quality and finish, I have to say that its at least at VW/Audi levels.

And of course the S197 is gonna be better than the SN95, as the SN95 was sitting on a 25 year old chassis and was developed at fractions of the cost of a completely new car, while the S197 was splurged on in terms of R&D.