For the Bullit and Mach 1 until the S197 platform?

I mean the S197 platform is way more retro than the 99-04 Mustangs
George, your avatar gave me this idea.

 

I agree that the S197 is more styled to represent those specialty models.......but, who knew they were going to style a future Mustang along those lines?

 

They could not have know the success or eventual style of the new body platform so my answer is that is is that there was no possible way to know to wait or not to wait. "No" seems to coincide with my resoning the best so Ill vote for it.

 

Ford needed something to keep the mustang going with the SN95. Essentially they were using a 20+ old platform and it was showing. The SN95 was a great workhorse to get us where we are. As the SN95 started pushing 8 and 9 yrs old, interest was waning and ford needed to profit to properly do the S197. The Bullit and Mach did just that. But... I do not think they should end the use of those monikers there. The Mach should be an everyear model just like it was in the past... a permanent upgraded edition. the Bullit and other models might make great limited production fillers.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Heck no, and they ought to have some more real SEs out already IMHO.

As for which platform is more "retro," that would certainly be the mid-'70's vintage Fox chassis on the 99-04 whereas the S-197 brings its chassis tech up to about a late '80's - early '90s level (do wish they brought it up to a full second-millenium level, oh well, good enough I suppose for the cheap bucks).

Of course, if your talking about the bod on the platform, then yes, the S-197 does have many more retro ques then the 99-04 body.

 

Other than the live axle rear suspension, what do you consider late '80s/early '90s? The chassis is a very solid and stiff design and manufactured in a highly automated body shop.

 

What he said....I agree.

 

Well, it is pretty much the live axle that drags it back to the '80's/early '90's of the 20th century, if not the 19th century. While the rest of the chassis seems quite up to contemporary standards, the clunky -- even if not as clunky as before -- live axle is a bit of an achille's heel on anything but the smoothest and least challenging of driving roads. And the rear suspension is a full 50% of the car's contact with terra firma, not a exactly a minor consideration.

Great for the strip though, if that's all your interested in.

 

When the "01 Bullitt" came out Ford was already working on the "03 Mach1".

Work on the current 5th Generation Mustang started long before the "01 Bullitt" and the "03 Mach1".

I have no doubt that they are currently working on SE's for every year from here on out. They have as much as said so.

 

One could make that statement about the Corvette's pushrod engine, however, it has been refined to a very high standard.

Have you driven the S197 car? I would personally prefer an independent rear suspension, but this one is not as bad as one might imagine. The main driving scenario that shows the live axle limitation is accelerating out of a corner with bumps in it. Around town, even on less than smooth surfaces, the ride comfort, steering precision, and cornering feel is reasonably acceptable.

Chassis stiffness and suspension component tuning can do a lot to damp out a lot of the weaknesses.

This car feels nicely connected to the road, even compared to some of the cars I've driven with independent rear suspensions. That said, I would love a 3400 lb, IRS-suspended, 5.0L 3V Mustang.

 

Probably like several others, I think it was wise of Ford to offer it on the SN95. But I think it would extra wise of Ford to do a Bullit and Mach 1 on this new body. And they should also do a Boss, too. It sounds like the market is there, though I think all of those cars need to be more than just appearance packages to really sell well.

 

Hindsight is 20/20. The Bullit and Mach 1 were built to maintain public interest in the old platform until the new S197 platform was developed. They seemed to serve their purpose fairly well I have always wanted a Mach 1 and nearly bought an 04.

As others have said the Mach 1 needs to be an every year entry; I'd trade my 07 GT (which will arrive in mid-August) for a Boss or Mach 1. Especially if they bring back Grabber Green; that was an awesome color.

Let me throw some kerosene on the fire and say that since the Boss 429 was the greatest of all Mustangs a new Boss special edition, if it appears, should be designed to outdo the 07 Shelby. Imagine a 21st century Boss 429, (or maybe Boss 7.1.) It would be an awesome Corvette killer. Or most anything else for that matter.

Flash forward to 2009 - imagine a stoplight dragrace between a new Boss 429 and a new Hemi Challenger. Will history repeat itself?

 

Ditto

 

I got questions,

1) how do you calculate the displacement in an engine?

2)how do you convert from cubic in to Liters (For ex. 302 cu.in.->5.0L)

 

1) addition

2) division

 

I'm glad they already did the Mach 1 because that increases the chances of a Boss on the new (and better looking, IMO) body. I'd MUCH rather see a Boss than a Mach 1.

1 cu. in. = .0164 liters (302 cu. in. x .0164 = 4.953L)

1 liter = 61.020 cu. in. (5.0L x 61.020 = 305.1 cu. in.)

And since it's math you can turn the equations around if you'd rather divide.

 

They really needed to get a bit of life out of that last platform before the current one was ready. So no I think releasing them then is fine. There were multiple Boss and Mach 1 iterations back in the day so no different here really.

 

No, and Ford shouldn't wait too long to release SE's for the current platform either.