Ok, just got back from my SVT dealer and spoke with the vice prez over there ( a long time friend of mine). Seems from what he's been told and/or knows now about the GT-500, this car is going to be a hard one to get. Rumor has it that only 5000 are being offered and his dealer may only get 3 cars. Even being #1 on the list doesn't guarantee me the car. (The owner is getting one). I'll have to pay sticker for the car which, from what i was told will be under $40k. He told me to call him early next week.....hopefully he'll know more.

Doesn't look good fellas....good luck ordering.

 

They'll make between 5000 and 7500. Either way, they're rare cars.

 

so what happened to HTT's comment about making as many as there is a demand for? I feel like the little guy that won't even have a shot at buying one..... until they're old and horse whipped.

 

Brad said what HTT has said. I'm not sure where the comment about making as many as there is a demand for, came from. :scratch:

 

Why are they limiting production?.....I'm still hoping that they'll decide to produce more, I mean it's not like ford couldn't use the money.

 

Looks like I may be waitin' for the next Cobra/SE Mustang...

 

Well, here's the quote, and the article it came from. It was in Auto week. I was wrong..... it doesn't say specifically that it was HTT that said it. it just says "Ford."

' Final prices are not set but the last SVT Cobra cost $35,000. Ford officials say the goal is to keep this car priced less than $40,000. “You won’t be able to touch this performance for the money,� Thai-Tang says. Ford won’t commit to a production number, but says it will build all the 500s drivers demand. '

it's at the bottom of the article.
Autoweek article

 

Thanks for the post clintoris, I just don't see them limiting this car when there is such a demand for it, and when Ford needs a car the the GT500 to put them back at the head of the pack.

 

Ford's preliminary figures are estimates. The determining factors will be production capabilities and sales. Why would Ford limit the production to 5K or 7K if more can be sold? Are they in business to glorify a name or sell cars to make money?

Ford's marketing personnel are no dummies. They will have a production figure enough to satisfy the interested buyers but won't over flow the market as to have to give rebates like the last few years.

Another item to keep in mind is the announced production figures for the SEs and SVT Cobra for the last few years have yet to be accurate.

 

Excellent points George. If Ford sees a huge demand for this car, they may not let the dealers take the majority of the profit, and build more.

I guess we'll get more info as it comes.

 

there is always the issue of CAFE standards. that's one reason that of all the new mustangs, only 25% will be GT versions

 

Well, here's the quote, and the article it came from. It was in Auto week. I was wrong..... it doesn't say specifically that it was HTT that said it. it just says "Ford."

' Final prices are not set but the last SVT Cobra cost $35,000. Ford officials say the goal is to keep this car priced less than $40,000. “You won’t be able to touch this performance for the money,� Thai-Tang says. Ford won’t commit to a production number, but says it will build all the 500s drivers demand. '

it's at the bottom of the article.
Autoweek article
[/b][/quote]

That quote wasn't just in Autoweek. I've read that somewhere, too. As soon as I find it, I'll post it.

 

It's in the Autoweek article.

 

I know that, I subscribe and read Autoweek, but I've also read that quote in another publication and as soon as I find it this evening, I'll post it.

 

Precisely. Also, in my experience dealers LOVE to BS about rarity, limited availability, etc, etc in order to ramp up demand. If they can get you frothing at the mouth with desire then they've got you. Truth is, there's nothing all that special about this car when you break it down into its constituent parts.

5000 - 7500: And remember that is over a two to three year run. My guess is that everyone who truly wants one and can afford to shell out the cash, will be able to get one.

Ford also can't afford to turn customers away. Have a look at the following sobering article from Reuters:

GM, Ford Sales Fall; U.S. Share Slips
Fri Apr 1, 2005 06:09 PM ET
By Michael Ellis

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) posted weaker March U.S. vehicle sales on Friday, losing further market share to Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. <7203.T and Nissan Motor Co. (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) as high gasoline prices hurt sales of fuel-thirsty sport utility vehicles.

The two biggest Japanese auto makers recorded double-digit sales gains and their best-month ever, as their aggressive expansion into new segments of the market and fresher lineup of cars and trucks wooed customers away from the U.S. auto makers .

The exodus by car buyers, out of U.S. brands and into those of their foreign rivals, is a worrisome trend for Detroit, where Ford and GM have been struggling to revive profits in their automotive operations.

Vehicle sales across the industry came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.85 million, according to tracking firm Autodata Corp. That beat expectations for sales in the range of 16.5 million to 16.7 million, compared with 16.7 million in March last year.

Ford, the second-largest U.S. auto maker, said its U.S. sales dropped 5.1 percent to 285,659 cars and trucks last month, excluding its foreign brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.

GM, which in March warned that it expected sharply weaker profits this year, said its U.S. light vehicle sales fell 1.3 percent in March to 417,281 vehicles. All sales results are adjusted for an extra selling day in March this year, and GM's results excluded its Saab brand.

Both GM and Ford reported weaker sales of traditional, truck-like SUVs, while some crossover SUVs -- which are built on car platforms and tend to get better gas mileage -- posted better results.

"Higher gas prices seem to be accelerating the demand for small and crossover sport utility vehicles," Earl Hesterberg, Ford group vice president of North America marketing, sales and service, said in a statement.

GM and Chrysler played down the impact from gas prices, however. And sales for the Chrysler side of DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (DCXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) rose 4 percent in March to 212,978 vehicles due to the continued strength of its Chrysler 300 sedan and strong results for its minivans.

PUMP PRICES

Toyota said its U.S. sales rose 12.3 percent to a record 203,223 vehicles, driven by a new high for its hybrid gas-electric Prius sedan, while its Corolla and Scion small cars also racked up gains. Toyota also posted weaker sales for large SUVs, but it is less dependent on them than its Detroit rivals for overall sales.

Americans paid an average of $2.16 per gallon of regular gasoline at the pump on Friday, up from $1.75 a year ago. A Goldman Sachs report this week said that oil prices could double from current levels.

Nissan reported a 12.6 percent gain in sales to 105,804 vehicles, passing the 100,000 mark for the first time. Even with gas prices surging, Nissan's sales of its Armada full-size SUV climbed more than 50 percent.

"They've shown no signs yet of a slowdown in their grabbing up of the market," Peter Langlois, a strategic analyst with the Ernst & Young Global Automotive Center, said of the gains by Nissan and Toyota.

"With consumer confidence down, gas prices up, it turned out better than we thought," Langlois said, referring to overall industry results.

Analysts had expected that GM, which last month surprised the market by warning that earnings this year could be 80 percent below expectations, could report a drop in sales of as much as 10 percent.

The auto maker launched a new "March Madness" sales incentive program to try to boost sales this month. The incentives included additional cash rebates of up to $1,500 on the sale of GM vehicles that have gone unsold for 125 days or more.

 

Thats why they're there, to BS the tar out of you until you sign on the dotted line.

There is one thing, well 2, that some would consider it to be special. 1) It has Shelby's name on it. 2) It has SVT name on it, just not as visible.

 

Precisely. Also, in my experience dealers LOVE to BS about rarity, limited availability, etc, etc in order to ramp up demand. If they can get you frothing at the mouth with desire then they've got you. Truth is, there's nothing all that special about this car when you break it down into its constituent parts.

[/quote]

my thoughts exactly. is ford saying they'll make 5000-7500 a year or is the guy at the dealership telling you? Ford is quoted as saying they'll make as many as people want and the dealerhip guys are saying there is limited availibility, just think about it for a minute thats all.

 

SVT Director Hau Thai-Tang and SVT Marketing & Sales Manager George Ayres both told me personally that they'd make 5000-7500.

 

I'm confused, they're quoted as saying they'll make as many 500's that are demanded then they're quoted as saying 5000-7500. So basically we really don't know yet and all we can do is speculate what the number will as all things only time will tell.

 

Yeah Brad, and when I placed the order for my Mach 1 in May of 2002, I was told by these same types, "only 9500 will be made in 2003 only." You see how that turned out? You can't believe what these people say, they're all car salesmen for Christ's sake!! And if I'm not mistaken that oft quoted line about making all the GT 500's they can sell, is actually from Carroll Shelby. You sat next to him at dinner, what did he have to say about the subject? He's about the only one out of the bunch I would believe, since he usually tells it like it is, but he's probably got a touch of Alzhiemers at his age.