Maybe it's just me but it seems like Ford and aftermarket companies are whoring out the Mustang. Sure it's a popular car but is it necessary to have a new SE Mustang announced every week? When this car first came out I know people wanted a Mach 1, Boss, etc. but I don’t think anyone expected so many SE Mustangs. It’s kind of become a running joke at sites like autoblog with readers that there should be a SE Mustang of the week section. It just seems like so many SE’s in such a short period of time devalues all of them. Just my two sense, anyone here feel the same way?

 

I hear you, but keep in mind that Ford/Shelby tends to make these type of announcements in the Spring, so there are more announcements than normal right now.
Last year it was the GT-H and the GT/CS followed by the Shelby GT.

Next spring it will be the Boss, Mach 1, and the GT 350 (wouldn't that be nice)

 

Honestly I hope they at least hold of on those until the next revision. There are way too many SE editions right now. Heck Saleen is getting ready to drop a Heritage Edition that looks almost like the P.J. Edition. Can they take a break for a year...

 

While it's a relatively new platform, it is aging a bit. They're trying to keep it fresh and keep showroom traffic up. While they will lose some of their luster when there are so many available at once, I guarantee there will be some folks driving down to their local dealer for the first time in many years to catch a glimpse. Remember that sales are down across the board. The Mustang offers the best hope for propping sales up a bit.

 

Its all about the dollars, more proof that this is the hottest car out there right now. Just be glad there is an aftermarket niche for us to mod our cars....

 

Just saw a pic of that Saleen at Edelbrock car show in Cali that Taco Bill posted............

 

I totally understand introducting new models to keep showroom traffic up. However, usually that's with a refresh in the third or fourth year or maybe one or two SE. Right now the majority of the classic SE's are represented within a three year time span. It just seems like too much too soon. I'm concerned that this all will be overkill and hurt the Mustang a couple years down the road. When the 2010 comes out are they going to do all the SE's over again?

 

Well technically there is only the GT/CS. The SGT I guess can be considered an SE as its sold as a new Ford product. Aftermarket versions really don't count as SE's.

 

'65-66 had the GT-350

'67-68 had the GT-350, GT-500, GT-500KR

'69-70 had the GT-350, GT-500, Boss 302, Mach 1

'71-73 had the Boss 351, Mach 1

'74-78 had the Mach 1

'79-81 had....

'82-86 had the SVO

'87-93 had the Cobra, Cobra R

'94-98 had the Cobra, Cobra R

'99-04 had the Cobra, Cobra R, Bullitt, Mach 1

'05-08 has the GT500, GT500KR, GT/CS, Shelby GT

...These don't include 3rd party SE's like Roush and Saleen, who both had a hand in 99-04 models as well.

 

Well if some of the more radical renditions of the future Mustang are where Ford is headed with it, then I think it'd be perfect to use this platform for all those SE's because from what I've seen the new platform looks like it's going to be a completely new Mustang thus not worthy of the retro names. Our cars have a retro theme to them so why not make SE's of the past all over again?

 

The mustang is not going to change much anytime soon. The next gen will have some styling changes and support for the new platforms, but at the most it will probably still not be as extreme as the 98 to 99 model changes.

 

I hope you're right, because if it looks anything like that Italian thing, I'll be terribly upset.

 

I think it is important to look at 3rd party offerings this time. Just because there are so many more from Roush, Saleen, and others. Heck dealers have there own "special editions" with some betters then others. I'm glad people really like the Mustang I just worry about how well these cars will hold their value 25 yrs from now. Assuming you can still drive them...

 

I personally feel offering so many different special editions hurts sales. I doubt many existing '05+ owners are going to trade their cars in for anything new coming out unless they're ready to bend over. New sales will more likely come from previous generation Mustang owners that have been sitting on the fence waiting to see what comes out or people that have never owned a stang before. The thing is, with new special editions being offered and constant rumors of new offerings coming out around the corner, who wants to buy something NOW with the uncertainty of knowing a better car may be coming out shortly after?
Just take a look at the GT500 poster that says, "the most powerful Mustang ever". The KR version came out and now even the POSTER IS OBSOLETE, and in what period of time?
I just got my June Car and Driver magazine over the weekend and there's a comparison of the Nissan 350Z, Mazda RX-8, Audi TT 2.0T, and FORD Shelby GT. Guess which car came in dead last? If a car with Shelby's name on it falls short, what are people going to think of a stock GT? Do you think they are going to flock to the showrooms to buy one?
Let me make it clear here that I love my GT and wouldn't consider any one of the alternatives mentioned in the comparison but if FORD really wants to sell more Mustangs they need to offer a package with real world handling/performance mods etc. Right now the idea is, throw on some fake scoops, a signed Shelby badge on the dash, other cosmetic mods, and it will sell for tons more money. Maybe it works to some extent (for the fools) but IMHO they're selling out big time and cheapening the Mustang name and image in the long run.
The GT is a great car but we all know it could be better if all of the aftermarket improvements and mods we all do were incorporated in the car to begin with. Yes, it would be much more expensive but at least people would be getting a top quality product. Right now they're asking for top dollar based on fake hood scoops and a dashboard plaque.

 

Forgot one... Boss 429

 

One of the things they pointed out repeatedly in that issue is ridiculously high price of the Shelby GT relative to the performance gains over the base GT. Most of the major magazines have touted the base GT as one of the best performance values on the market today, so I don't think most consumers would think less of it because the Shelby finished dead last in that comparison. If anything, Ford having overpriced special edition cars hurts the sales and resale of the special edition cars while simultaneously helping the sales of the base cars. Personally, I'm in the camp that thinks all of these special editions are just getting silly. It's one thing to offer additional trim levels like the GT/CS and Pony Package, but it gets a little ridiculous when you start talking about special editions like the GT500 "red stripe" and "KR". Hell, most people can't even find a regular GT500 white stripe, no stripe, or "PR"(prince of the road) at a dealership for msrp.

 

That it's one heck of a bargain at $10,000 less!

Car and Driver NEVER should have included the Shelby - it's more of a specialty car which appeals to certain buyers, not trying at all to be a mainstream coupe.

 

I'd love to see Ford offer a Mustang Strip and Mustang Track package. Kind of like the 350z has a track package for those of use who want to get certain mods but with a warranty. I understand in my case it doesn't matter since I have a GT modded out however for new buyers that might want to buy or lease a hopped up GT without voiding the warranty it might be a good idea.

 

I don't see why the autoblog peanut gallery is complaining about the Mustang "special editions", most of which are done by the aftermarket. How many "special editions" of the Nissan Skyline R34 were there? Off the top of my head:

• GT-R
• GT-R V-Spec
• GT-R V-Spec N1
• GT-R V-Spec II
• GT-R V-Spec II Nür
• Nismo 400R
• GT-R M-Spec
• GT-R M-Spec Nür
• Mines GTR
• GT-R HKS Zero R
• GT-R R34 Tommy Kaira Edition
• Nismo GT-R R-tune
• Nismo GT-R S-tune
• Nismo GT-R Z-tune

The kids weren't complaining about Nissan "whoring out" the Skyline....

 

I personally like the idea of bringing out a couple special editions each year, it keeps things interesting. It also puts some options out there for those who want something a little more unique than a stock GT, but who don't want to go aftermarket.