After reading a previous thread regarding how Ford has screwed up the Mustang by focusing on the GT500 and ignoring the Mustang enthusiast, leaving him out in the cold because the model cost $50K +, what would you suggest Ford do differently? If the answer is to focus more on the "entry" level Mustang (V6 and GT), what would you change about the car?

Personally, I think that there are several features of my GT that add to the cost of the car that I would rather swap for other features. Let's hear your suggestions.

 

find a way to lower the prices of ALL their cars abt 2k-5k and mainly the GT500, well to be honest you gotta be serious. Ford is really trying to make a profit and the GT500 obviously isnt going to do that for them so they just dont pay much attetion to it.

But if i could see Improvements,the price drop a little like i said earlier, and Get that **** mach 1, bullitt and boss 302 or whatever s/e they have planned out here faster and for under $35k for atleast 400 N/A hp.

 

I'd like to see more HP in the V6 as well as stock dual exhaust. It's sad that the Fusion and Edge are both V6s and come stocked with dual exhaust.

 

True a dual exhuast option would be awesome for the V6, Also some more engine options for the GT and not just package deals, i mean why am i going to pay the extra 10k just so i can have a bullitt so i can get another motor (this is for a person who does not want an edition just a GT) Older stangs had engine options why not the new ones. Plus Ford should step in and STOP outragous dealer markup. Why should i have to pay 60K+ for a car with a sticker price of 43K, and ford can not say that they do not know about this

 

The GT500 was not $50k. My fully optioned coupe with nav was just a hair over $45k and they started at just over $40. That the dealer marked them up significantly was not Ford's doing. The markups are falling as the supply catches up with demand.

Personally I thought Ford added a great deal of content for the $10 over a similarly equipped GT.

 

- Drive-by-wire: outta here.
- Manumatic shifter option.

Lots of little stuff, but those are the biggies.

 

The GT500 was not $50k.... That the dealer marked them up significantly was not Ford's doing.

Ford should mandate that dealers sell their vehicles at MSRP or under. Never over! The acronym MSRP should be changed to MRP to reflect the change. MRP = Manufacturer's Retail Price..... We don't what "Suggested" in there.

Willie

 

A $35k car with a horsepower bump. The Bullitt would have been perfect for that. The Boss will be great, but I'm sure they'll be close to $40k. I say a something like the Saleen Parnelli Jones (though doesn't have to have as much cosmetic differences) for around $35k. Mostly, the engine. And whatever they do, do not scrap the V8. If they want to add a V6TT to the line-up, fine and dandy, but leave the V8 in the GT. And don't ruin the Boss name by putting that crap in there, either.

 

Dealer markups are a way of life, do you think you pick up a Veryon for sticker? or any Porsche turbo, or Z06, or anything limited edition... I'm sure you can just walk up and buy a CLS AMG for a discount too...I have an alloy GT500 10' from me, every single option under $50k. Go check on bmw.com what it costs to break 500hp. Do you think $90k watches sell at MSRP? 'Expensive' is a relative term.


The car is fantastic for the price, there is nothing like it. They didn't screw anything up. How many all-aluminum 300hp variable valve timing(and not cheap stuff like Hondas ancient 2-stage vvt), a good amount of mettle around you, vented discs at all corners, 500+hp capable drive train for under 30k. Go drive a 29k Solara sometime. Not to mention people driving 80K cars will compliment yours at a gas station. Its the best selling, most powerfully sport coupe in its class. How is top of the class 'screwed up'. If you think there's something wrong with it at the price point, you haven't driven many other cars. $5k lower msrp??? A mazda 3 breaks $24k loaded.

The core car is excellent, Ford gave us goodies like the vented rear rotors, 31-spline axles and an aluminum hood and skipped on the plastic crap Japanese cars 'feature' because they can afford to stuff them in a tin can spot welded car with tiny brakes and microscopic hardware. Mustang is the most 'mettle' per dollar of any car you can buy. The nick-knack stuff was skipped, Mustang owners personalize more then any other vehicle.

Would you give up the aluminum hood or 31 spline axles so the door panel plastic was padded? How about a woven headliner but you get suspension arms as small as your pinky like a Honda's?

A loaded GT with premier trim, comfort group, and hids is a LOT nicer then people make it out to be. Acura's got nothing on a Mustang.

 

Dealer markups are a way of life....

.... because manufacturers empowered them a long time ago. This should have never happened as dealerships now have too much control... It's too late now...

Willie

 

thats how the dealers make money...well that and intrest anyways..but i tihnk 20 & 40k is way to much i mean i know they have to make money too but more like 5k is reasonable

 

Kevin is right, you guys have absolutely no room to complain, I defy you to find a brand new car for less then 30k thats faster then a gt stang.

Wanna know what you will find, the strippeed out lancer evo(which I dont even think they make anymore) no a/c. no radio. no power anything, no sound insulation for 29k(good luck getting it at that price) to eek out a couple tenths of a second a mustang can make up for with a cai and decent canned tune.

The drive by wire set up is fine, though they should have been more careful about dead space(I got lucky and have no dead space) Id be willing to bet if anyone here was never told it was set up with way you would have never been able to tell(well if you happened to drive mine)

Sure ford could offer all sorts of standard options, but you all seem to forget that the goal for ford with these cars was to keep them affordable.

 

thats how the dealers make money...well that and intrest anyways..but i tihnk 20 & 40k is way to much i mean i know they have to make money too but more like 5k is reasonable

It's obvious dealer markup is pure profit. But how about cars that aren't marked up? How do dealers make money on these units? Simple. Let's look at the invoice and MSRP of a 2008 GT500 (thumbnail). IF the dealership pays invoice, $37,898, the difference between it and MSRP is the dealership's profit. This is the margin that Ford "gives" to the dealership that's built into every vehicle. In this case, it's about $4,000. This difference reflects only the base car with no options. Dealerships make over 18 percent (dependent on model) on the option total. So if options total $4,000 retail, they are making an additional $720.

So, if a dealership were to sell a GT500 for an MSRP of, say, $45,000, they are making about $4,700. This is selling at MSRP and not a penny more. Anything above and over is, simply, pure profit. It turns out that dealerships don't even pay the invoice price (trade secret, if you will). They pay slightly less. This is how dealerships can get away with sales such as "Our invoice + $100". They're actually making more than $100....

Now maybe you can understand why I'll NEVER pay over MSRP for ANY car. It's pure legalized robbery in my opinion. Can you say "Oil Companies"???

Willie

 

a 5.0 and the 'original' mustang sound back... :-X

 

Dealer markup is supply and demand.

THe dealer takes the cars and carries the floor plan expense on his back. The longer the car sits on the lot, the more it costs him and the slimmer his margin.

Ford has nothing to do with it for the most part. They move the iron on floor plan to the dealer and then it is the dealers problem. The dealer will get some floor plan credits from Ford to move the 07's out when the '08's are showing up, but not usually before then.

The money between the Ford and the dealer is not as simple as it seems - and Ford holds the cards as the supplier. They even work the dealer on "turn and earn". The dealer can't just buy what he thinks he can sell from Ford, he can buy what he can prove to Ford he can sell. Try having to manage your stock that way.

Am I slavishly pro-dealer? Absolutely not. I hold them to accountability like I would anyone else in business. If they can sell a GT500 for $75K, more power to them. They'll only be screwing someone who came to the party to be screwed.

If not, the DMA sticker will get scraped off and reduced. Simple as that.

Dealer markup is supply and demand. Just my humble opinion.

 

Brainiac's dead on here. I don't know what people are ****ing and moaning about.

 

And while I'm on here I think I'll go a step further and say that bang for the buck wise (i.e. Brand New Car + Mods) you can't beat a Mustang GT. I didn't heavily option my GT and when it arrives I will have it for just under $27K out the door. Now add the $9K in mods (FRPP H.O. Blower, Suspension, Exhaust, wheels and tires) and I'm sitting at about $36K. That's a brand new car that now has about 500HP and enough grip to make use of that power for $36,000. I'm happy with how I spent my money.

So back to the main topic: What should Ford do differently? Nothing as far as this consumer is concerned. However, ask their share holders the same question and I'm sure you'll get a lengthy answer.

 

I decided the best way to get a quicker car is just go find a nice used 03' Cobra Terminator SVT.Sure they are priced out somewhat higher than an 03'GT but lots lower than a new Shelby.With a few upgrades its a hard car to beat for the value.

 

I agree 100%. My 36K could've bought and built one hell of a Terminator, but I was strictly referring to a new car in my post. On the subject of Terminators, I had considered buying one but I've had SN95s (including a sweet Comp. Orange Mach 1) and I was just ready to try some thing new.

Actually, that's something Ford could stand to do: Build more cars like the Terminator Cobras. Two doors, four doors, it doesn't matter.

 

Consumers play a role in this too. As Paris MkVI, this is directly connected to supply and demand. In my opinion, we pay what we think it is worth.

These vehicles are not basic life necessities. They are for enjoyment. People pay lots of money for things they enjoy all the time. The judgment of whether it is too much or OK is best understood by the buyer involved.

This all said, I wish Ford had the financial and market vision to capitalize on FRRP parts being warrantied earlier when the Mustang first went on sale. I think the aftermarket companies having their wares before Ford did put the company in a bind when trying to offer a V8 car between the GT and GT500. That might have given us a Ford-developed option beyond what's been done with the Shelby GT and what we think that we'll get with the Bullitt.

Overall, I don't see things as "screwed up", I see market realities playing out where there primarily is no direct competitor in the GT's market segment. The GT is quite close in performance to the last Mach 1 running 87 octane gas, so it's not like competitor products being sold now outclass it.