How do you know? Joe said that more people buy a car based on looks than they do performance; that's what I responded to. Maybe most of the 11,000 were initially lined up to buy a 2010 until they caught wind of what 2011 may bring? If people want performance, there are options now, unlike when the 2005-2009 Mustang reigned. I guess, to me, the even more accurate judge will be 2012-and-beyond sales, until the "next generation" arrives.

 

I think its pent up demand for the resurrection of the holy grail 5.0 - like the pent up demand for the Camaro boosting its sales numbers.

 

Again, I guess we'll find out in the years to come. It's going to take more than "I think" to convince me, although you may be right. Then again, that may be why the 2010 sold so poorly; that was when the Camaro arrived and musclecar fans had that and the Challenger to choose from, unlike years prior when the only choice was the 'Stang.

 

Agreed. And "I think" is all either of us have at this point. And to be fair, the implosion of the economy had an effect on 09/10 sales too (even 11).

But I've said it to you before and I'll say it again. The diaper won't last.

A new design will always have fans/opponents until it grows on buyers. But IMO, this particular design (the diaper - not the 'muscular sculpting' of the front) has alienated too many. Why do 'muscular sculpting' and then add a bloated, dragging... well you know...

 

Why give a muscular sporty appearance on the front and then put a BOX on the back?

 

They're complaining about the Mustang's rear end on the Camaro forum as well.

 

Yeah, like the Camaro guys have any room to talk, especially when it comes to ugly rear ends.

 

This thread cracks me up...just for an outside perspective, you'll see exactly this kind of talk in any deeply enthusiastic car community. I started out with muscle cars but got into autocrossing and picked up a first gen Miata and drove the hell out of it for 10 years and watched two new generations of the car come out and listened to people gagging over how much they hated the new design for reason "x" in exactly the same way.

I don't begrudge anyone who prefers teh 05-09 style. They're tremendous cars and will be classics in their own right.

I have had an '09 GT for about a year... but I bought it when the '10s were just starting to trickle out. I thought they spec'd out similarly enough and the deals on the outgoing '09 model outweighed the mechanical improvements in my mind...so I'm pretty neutral on the body style topic. I love them both.

That said, the local dealership had an '11 GT manual to test drive and it knocked my socks off. The motor is terrific of course but there are so many subtle improvements in the driving dynamics of the new model that if you're dumping on the car simply because of the "diaper" (which is pretty funny, btw)...you're not a real car guy in my opinion. Transmission, suspension, ride quality, chassis rigidity, brakes, etc. are each vastly improved...even the MPG is better. How can you ignore that? Who cares what it looks like?

That said, the new body style has grown on me. I love the curves and bulging fenders...so glad the wheel arch bubbles are gone...those were a very hip styling cue back in 2005 but they're extremely dated now. The interior is a wash, IMO... the materials are nicer but the look of the old S197 dash, etc. is special in its own way.

So I have an '11 on order. My 2009 GT 5spd has been perfect...I just like the new one better.

 

They're complaining about the Mustang's rear end because of the view from their front windshield.

 

A) Thanx for making my point about the 5.0 driving sales.

B) If I didn't care what a car looked like, there are any number of choices that will blow the 5.0 & handling out of the water!

I want an AMERICAN FORD PERFORMANCE MUSTANG! That looks like one, that drives two lane twisties like mad, and runs a great 1/4, plus leather and 21st century creature comforts, all in one.

And I OWN one (without a stupid, non-essential Camaro/Japa/Euro diaper designed from some dickweed committee that didn't do enough consumer/blind tests beforehand!). Apparently you have never driven a 2008 Bullitt. Yes a 5.0 would be a cut above a 4.6 3V, but not enough to make me a sell out to American heritage by 'having to have european flair'.

 

I've driven both the '08 Bullitt, '10 GT with Track Pack, and the '11 GT. The new car is a huge step up from the '08. It takes the best parts of it and just magnifies them to a whole new level. The driving dynamics are much improved, and the interior, aside from the dash, is a big step up. I liked the dash of the 05-09s, but the door panels and seats, with the exception of the Bullitt/GT500, suffered. I was hell bent on buying an '08 Bullitt, if it wasn't for ADM at the time.

I said this in the other thread, I'm glad the diaper can be quickly changed out. It's not a dealbreaker for me at all, and I don't see why it should. I see the 2010+ design as a chiseled 05-09, instead of a huge change. The rear end looks great, and with the GT500 diaper, really cleans the car up that much more. Sure, it might have a Euro-infused design, but I'm fine with that. It still retains that quintessential American flair under the hood and in your ears when you mash the throttle. It just picked up the best parts from the Euro designs, as well as the refined suspension, and took it up another notch.

Just remember everyone, we're all here for the same reasons. We may not drive the exact same year/model, but we all agree on one thing; we're passionate about the pony car.

 

Relax, Cydnaco, you practically make it sound like someone is a traitor is they prefer the new car. I'm thrilled that you love your Bullitt and consider it the pinnacle of Mustanghood. But your body style was used for 5 years, it was time to move on. And if someone hates the "diaper" there are solutions. They can paint it, replace the valence panel with the one from the Shelby GT500, or get an entirely new bumper cover from Saleen or SMS Supercars.

 

You're entitled to your opinion. I'll be the first to point out that so much of our preferences here are completely and utterly subjective.

In the areas that are NOT subjective, the '10+ cars are better and there is just no argument against that. The numbers speak for themselves...but it's entirely believable that aesthetics outweigh objective reality for some people and that's totally fine.

I'm a huge fan of the Bullitt cars. They are superb on their own and possibly the best of the 05-09s...though I never got to drive a Shelby GT.

 

Fair enough.

And yes designs need to be refreshed every few years. I just know it could have been done so much better. Looking at the back one line is smiling, one line is frowning. I expect better from Ford that's all. No offense to any owners.

 

I just passed a few 05-09 and 2010 Mustangs on the way back down to DC. When I first saw the cars months ago I thought the 05-09's were cooler looking...but in person, man, the 2010's ROCK. They look like a perfect blend of modern, retro....and the hood is just MEAN.

 

There is not one single aspect of the 05-09 Mustangs that holds a candle to the current. Period. They are great cars, significant in Mustang history, but the 2011s just are in a different league. The interior is way better, you can bemoan the lack of round vents, but that is a pretty cheazy/ticky-tack complaint compared to the quality of materials, layout, and creature comforts. Not to say the 05-09 lacks quality, it was nice, but, again, the 2011 is in another category. If you think it is dumb because it is too sophisticated....wow, that is just lame, haha. Exterior is subjective, but, holy crap, everyone needs to shut up about the "diaper." It is not that big a deal. Google the SL65 AMG, Ferrari 430 and 599, GT-R, ect. They all have black plastic in the back, in some cases a LOT. It is not that big a deal, move on and quit acting like it is the most disgusting, revolting thing in the world. It's not. You don't have to like it, but quit acting like it is the end of the world.

 

Thank you.

That is EXACTLY my point! No Japa/Euro on my American Mustang.

 

Your beautiful green Bullitt doesn't have any of those features. That's great. I don't see why it bothers you so, though, when there are, in fact, people that prefer the new design -- it had to progress somewhere / somehow. If "different" to you equals Japa / Euro, then I have a feeling that you're going to hate a lot of the new designs coming from Ford as they transition more towards the European "Kinetic" design language...

 

The rumors were already circulating in '09. In August when I was thinking of buying the '10, I read the rumors decided that I would rather wait.

I think the number of pre-orders shows that many people were already aware of the powertrain improvements and decided to wait.

 

Yeah, and of those pre-orders, I wonder how many were for the V6? If the V6 orders are the majority, then there goes the "Holy Grail" argument. I also have a hard time believing that all these people picking up their brand-new 2011 Mustangs find their cars "ugly."

EDIT: It looks as though only 41% of the first-month 11,000 pre-orders were for the "Holy Grail" 5.0L.

From Autoblog,

"Customers have been particularly taken with the V6 model, which makes up half of all the orders, and the California Special has also fared better than expected, tripling Ford's initial sales projections. Ford says that 41-percent of 2011 Mustang orders have been for the GT model, who will surely enjoy rollin'... in their five-point-ohs, and the remaining nine percent have been for GT500s. Hit the jump for the full press release from Ford."