IMO it's still going to look retro, but have more of a sharper-edged, angular look similar to 69/70

 

ok guys don't shoot me for saying this but I think the next gen car is going to be more like the upcoming camaro as far as styling goes. Though the Camaro is certainly retro in it's own right its not as much as the Mustang. I kinda think it's gonna have more modern looks like the Camaro while keeping the overall retro profile of the current car.

 

If production costs, along with inflation continue to rise. Then of course the S-197 won't match the production numbers of the SN-95. As inflation has nearly tripled since 1994, let alone production costs.

 

As long as it retains the overall retro profile, of the current car. I might reconsider selling my current 05. But it's going take much more than just hips, to convince me to part with it though. I also want at least 350/360 HP. as well.

 

m05fastbackGT did you notice that you are talking to yourself?

 

thats bull don't blame inflation on sales success. Toyota and Honda continue to sell Accords and Camrys at a consistant basis. I understand that the 05' Mustang was a huge sales success for a company that needed one but it's overall sales figures do not differ much from the 94-04 cars.

I don't have info on the 06' or 07 cars but I have sales figures for the 05' model at 160, 412

The 95' model finished with sales reaching 165,037 total while the final year of the "round body cars reached 175,522

The biggest shock in my research was that in 00' Ford sold 215,693 Mustangs!!! you must admit that blows away what the current gen Mustang has done. Sales numbers have declined because the cars are sitting on the lots with rebates perhaps it isn't the ultimate Mustang as many on this forum have professed

 

deleted due to double post

 

Okay fine, I'll take inflation costs out of the equation altogether. As for sales numbers declining because of cars sitting on the lots. You can thank $3.00+ fuel prices at the pump, as part of the problem. Meanwhile another factor is. Were still in the middle of winter season during non peak months. Hopefully as soon as spring gets here. Sales will start to pick up again.

As for your sales figures for 05. Once again, fuel prices weren't $3.00 + at the pump, and they definitely weren't any higher than $1.09 per. gallon back in 1995, when the 95 model finished at 165,037 units sold. Nor were fuel prices anywhere near the $3.00 per gallon mark, back in 2000. Otherwise do you really think Ford would have sold 173,676 Mustangs back then. I seriously doubt it.

And Btw: Ford sold 173,676 Mustangs in 2000, and not 215,693. In which the latter was the total number of units that were built.

Therefore your claim of the SN-95 blowing away the S-197 in sales, has absolutely nothing to do with the SN-95, having more appeal whatsoever !

 

Well It is a good thing. Because I too haven't liked a single Mustang body since 1970, The '71~73's have earned more acceptance from me because they look cool like the GIANT 1971 Thunderbird, just not as a Mustang, the '71 having the best engine options available in a Mustang up to that date doesn't hurt either.

Aesthetically the 65-70 fastback mustangs were never bettered or even equaled until 2005, period.

As to the 65-66 models being the least aggressive looking and not appearing all that sporty, This is where you and I totally disagree.



I'm partial to "fastbacks"/"sports roofs" though, I simply don't care for any of the "coupe" and almost none of the convertible bodies.

I believe the 2005~2008 Mustang body is arguably the best looking Mustang body EVER. If you take into account the outstanding improvements in body structural design, suspension and drive train, it wins hands down as the best Mustang ever built.

 

That's what I'm afraid of. Abrupt, sharp, angular lines and edges do nothing for me. I want to drive a muscle car, not a space ship. Most of what people consider "modern" looks terrible to me.

Btw, I do agree that the '65-66 coupes are the tamest looking of the classic Mustangs. The Mustang wasn't initially known as the "secretary's car" for nothing...

 

The same can be said about the Mustang IIs relative to the Foxes, based on the sales numbers at the time. While the performance was down, enough people bought them. I personally thank the then and current enthusiasts of this generation for their passion, as the line could have stopped then as well.

 

The Mustang needed a "nose job" not a "facelift".
Ashley Simpson vs. Joan Rivers.

 

 

I loved the '94-'98 when it came and i absolutely HATED the look of the '99 when they were revealed,HATED,HATED,HATED....but............i got to see them more and more,then i got a job at a Ford dealership,so i really got to study the '99....as a new GT was backed up to my office window everyday. The style really started to grow on me and now i believe the '99-04 is my favorite style of Mustangs ever,i just love looking at them,my favorite part is the taillights,i could look at the back of those cars forever,especially the '03-04 Cobras with that wing and the giant COBRA embossed in the back. I've owned 2 of that bodystyle so far,and i don't ever see myself parting with my GT. I don't like the '94-98 anymore unless it's a Cobra,the wheels and the hood and the different front really set those cars off for me.
Now,on the other hand,when the '05 came out,i was in LOVE with that car,loved everything about it.............but,for me,it's grown old too quickly,i've grown to really dislike the giant foglights,the slabsidedness,that goofy '66 Shelby C-pillar window,the fake gas cap. The 2 really strong exceptions i have are the Bullitt and the Shelby GT. Those models,IMO,fix almost everything style-wise i hate about the regular GT,the slab sides and gas caps are still there,but it's just something about those cars,some X-factor that just makes those cars work,they seem to have a certain presence about them. I could really see myself owning a black Bullitt or a blue SGT one day,i love those cars. Overall,i'd say,the '05-09 would fall maybe a distant 4th on my list behind the new edge cars,the boxy 5.0L cars and the '67-68 fastbacks.
So who knows what to expect for '10,if i hate it,i may just own one one day,if it's love at first sight,i may want to hold back. I love the Camaro,it's a good thing that **** thing is taking so long.

 

You are confusing model year production numbers with sales.

Sales are reported on a calender year basis, Jan 1 to Dec 31. Calender year sales usually include cars from 3 model years, current, previous and and next. Usually the sales #s we see are only for the US. It is very hard to find sales #s for Canada & Mexico.

Model year production is from when they start building a given model year, until they switch to the next. Model years have been as short as 6 months and as long as 15 months.

In calender year 2000, Ford sold 173,676 Mustangs in the US.
However 215,693 model year 2000 Mustangs were manufactured.

Here are S197 Production & US sales #s
year - US sales - Production
2005 - 160,975 - 160,412
2006 - 166,530 - 165,762
2007 - 134,626 ??? Ford has not released production #s

 

Perhaps you should take another look. As I was catching up on responses, that I didn't have the chance to reply on sooner.

 

Then why did you change your post #67 when you replied to him the first time stating that you realized that you were talking to yourself and were going to bed?

 

The man doesn't have 1,458 posts in a year and a half for nothin'...

 

I'll be honest I did not realize that their was a difference between model years and actual sales but my point remains that though this current car is popular it's sales are not that far off from the 4th gen cars.

 

If you look at overall sales figures of many Trucks and SUVs continue to sell well. I feel if people want the car they will still buy it I don't think gas prices hinder many sales. Even if I confused the sales figures the point I was trying to make was that this Mustang doesn't stand out in sales as much as people are billing the current gen to be "the greatest Mustang ever made" On a side note I personally feel a problem with the current car in my opinion is the lack of cosmetic changes from year to year. My opinion is why spend $30,000 for an 08' GT coupe when I can get a low mile 05' for under $20,000.... they should change the tail lights or put a new grille or something......