05 - 09~ Mods make any year better.

 

I've loved the Mustangs since "05, but didn't park one in my garage until the 2011. They all look great, and it's so nice for a car to have style and an identity. I'd still not own any of them if Ford hadn't put the 5.0 in it. Now I have the total package!

 

The majority of people like what they own. It's true for brand, model, year, color, etc. Just human nature I suppose...

I personally still like them BOTH, but for different reasons. Technically I suppose it's "dated" simply because there is a new design out. However, I think the 05-09 is timeless in looks and history...

 

They don't look much different to me, the '05-'09 never dominated my mind for looks to begin with. It took a little getting used to for me, but I got to where I kinda liked it. '10+ was an improvement in my mind, but I don't think it takes anything away from the '05-'09.

I may be biased, but hey, I gave other cars a fair shot, but the 2011 was just too easy to sell me on.

 

"I suppose, for me, the perfect blend would be the '10+ front end and the '05-'09 rear end... plus the '11 suspension/tranny/motor, of course!"

I would agree with that. Still cannot fathom the rear end design of the 10-11. I never will. Love the hips and the front end. Love the '10 - '11 interior and what wouldn't you like about the 5.0? That rear, though. Don't want.

 

I would prefer to think people own what they like. But thats not always the case due to financial obligations etc. Some times we convince ourselves what we own is better because we cant have the other car right now.

 

And sometimes folks CAN afford something new but choose NOT to because they see, what is in their minds, a major flaw.

 

I see no major flaw in the new ones.
I much prefer the first S197s.
In my opinion, they look more classic old school.

LOL
I don't think that applies to me...
Since I can afford to own TWO of the '05-'09 style. (with less than 15Kmi. each)
I can afford whatever I want. (OK maybe not a Bugatti Veyron)
I do have strong preferences though.

 

I won't bust your ***** on this, but a lot of people will. There's a lot of truth in what you say. But there's also many of us who can afford the new car but choose not to. I'd much rather drop the 5.0 into my existing car than trade into the new body style. I could afford to do just that, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense whenever I don't race my car other than for fun, and it's plenty fast as is for me.

 

Dont get me wrong, I'd love to have an '11 Grabber Blue 5.0, but my '07 is almost all mine and I still dig my car, only 14K miles...Pricing out what I'd buy in an '11 is almost $39K...no thanks! can't wait for no car payments for awhile.

 

and sometimes folks just have to have the latest thing...I know a guy thats had at least 4 new cars(several mustangs and a r/t challenger) this past 2 years, and he never keeps them more than a few months and trades them in on something else - must pay a fortune in depreciation...always has the latest/greatest, but IMO dont really love the cars.

To each his own...I tend to buy what I hope to keep till its wore out- and looks are at least as important as everything else, if not more... the 11 gt has better power and I really love the interior, but to me the 'look' just isnt there- everyone has their minds eye opinion of what looks good, surely some dont like the 05/love the 10+...its a matter of preference.

they sold a lot of 58 chevys, lots of folks musta liked the look...but nowadays noone even remembers a 58, but most everyone still likes to see a nice 57...the only way to say what will become a classic will be wait 20 years and see. to me a 57 chevy/56 F100/69 mustang fastback/69 cougar/69 chevelle/69 charger...actually about anything from 69- were timeless cool cars.
To me the 05-09 mustang and the new challengers are the only post sixties cars Ive really loved to just look at...sure theres awesome performing bmws, etc, but to me they just do not look at all appealing. Surely some folks feel the 05 and challenger are unappealing- thats fine...one day we took my wife's 07 to the mall and some little kid getting out of a bigger bmw told her 'I like your car'- his mommy probably was not happy...she told me last week at the gas station a elderly man commented on how he really liked her car- I think thats kinda cool

 

I own a 2011 GT--and love the drivetrain, refined interior, and tight, quiet highway ride. But I have to acknowledge that I think the '05 to '09 body is better looking. Its sleek lines on the side panels and doors with a solid curve into the shoulder is classic. And the look from the back is much more muscular than my '11.

That being said, I like the looks of the '10/'11---but I just think the '05-'09 is a gorgeous car. This is especially true of the GT500---I just think the '07-'09 GT500 is one of the best looking cars on the road.

If it were possible, I'd like to put the body of an '09 onto the interior and drivetrain/suspension of an '11.

 

Well said.

 

I thought this thread would have died by now (or been closed by one of us) . . . .

At least everyone is being civil (mostly). Thanks for that. We'll see if it makes it through another weekend after some college/NFL football watching/beer drinking. (There are SO MANY good games Saturday afternoon/evening!)

 

This is another thread by itself.

Comparing today's great pony cars to the muscle cars of yesterday is not a good idea, IMO. Cars nowadays, and going forward, are full of cheap plastics, electronics, computers...it's not really accurate to try and predict how they will withstand 30-40 years compared to vehicles that were mostly metal and simple technology.

For all we know, these things are going to be worthless and obsolete. Enjoy them now in their prime, and hope for the best I'd sure love for mine to still have a dedicated following, but I'm not going to deprive myself of driving it today in the hopes that it will be worth something tomorrow.

 

The '05-09 body style looked so good that I kind of think the 2010 redesign came out a little too soon, especially when you consider how long some of the previous generations stuck around without many changes. The '10 interior upgrade was a must, though. It's a lot nicer than I had ever expected in a Mustang.

I think they're both great looking cars.

 

Nope, I just and wonder what in the hell were the designers at Ford smoking when they came up with that pile of ****. ..but then I think, it could of been worse. They could of copied the Camaro!

 

I think the 2010+ has more styling, but the '05-'09 has better styling. If simply "more" stuff going on, design-wise, makes the 2010 less "boring," then perhaps yes, but that is more a quantitative analysis than a qualitative one.

The 2010 seems more a discordant committee effort where no one's individual design ideas got turned down but were all somehow lumped together. Yes, more potentially interesting elements are there, too many IMHO, but they are not nearly as well integrated into a fully cohesive design. The lumpy, bumpy, busy and confused rear end is most emblematic of this, but the same approach pervades the whole car.

Ironically, I think the same problem afflicts most Bangle-era BMWs where far too many very interesting individual stylistic elements are clumsily clumped into a busy and incoherent overall design. Interesting, exciting, challenging -- yes. Beautiful -- no.

Qualitatively, I think the '05-'09 is a perfect study in how less is more, that it has fewer stylistic elements that are far better executed into a cohesive whole. The lines, forms, masses and angles are sharper, clearer, cleaner far better balanced to create a singular, impressive whole. There's a greater sculptural purity of form and balance of elements. Lines serve a greater design whole and are not there for their own sake. While it might be "boring" according to a stylistic-element tally sheet perspective, it is a much better artistic design for it.

To summarize, the 2010+ might have more design, but the '05-'09 has a better design.

 

Good Lord, I am a professional writer and I do not use those words in forum speak, lol.

Just giving you a hard time (I appreciate a diverse vocabulary more than most). We can all argue back and forth ad nauseam, especially since many of us have owned both versions. However, this thread is even more proof that styling is largely subjective. So analyzing the lines of the vehicle, pointing to industry opinions, etc. is all well and good, but it's only part of the equation when it comes to sales numbers.

 

Man, it's getting deep in here...somebody get me a shovel!

My answer to the OP: Yes, a bit. Except for the GT/CS. That front fascia does wonders.