Never mind the 32 years of engineering. Talk about apples to oranges.

 

The s197 has a lot more room than the sn95. I like my sn95 to be honest and dont care about the back seat. I wish they would make a slightly smaller mustang and trim off some fat.

 

Trim the fat and build the motor.

 

It wasn't me who started this silly apples to oranges comparison.

 

You played me like a fiddle!

 

Not too sure about a small mustang......small like miata small or saturn sky small?

 

Smaller than we have now.
But not fox small

 

Not that small. Take the current stang, hack the front overhang down and hack off the rear overhang and your good. Maybe lower the roof line.

Edit: lower the roofline by lowering the beltline and seat stance to accomodate same amout of head room, but with better visability and CoG.

 

If they would scale down the S197 body by 2% in length, height, & width but leave the wheelbase the same, I'd be happy, because it would be about the same size as the first generation....

 

I want Fox small! Personally I think the Fox was the last Mustang that was true to the original idea behind the car. Bring back 3 body styles and a GT that is noticeably different from the base model while you're at it!

 

Won't ever happen

 

As for the Fox being the last Mustang that was true to the original idea behind the car ? you've got to be joking. First of all, the Fox bodies had absolutely nothing in common with the original idea behind the car. As a matter of fact, they were a complete departure from the original concept, and didn't share a single stying cue with any of the previous generation cars before them. If anything the SN-95 models were by far more true to the original idea, as they were the first since 1978, that took design cues from the 1st generation models, followed by the current S-197 Mustangs !

 

Thats what they thought in 1973!

Seriously though, you're probably right. The Mustang has become a true sports car (which it was never intended to be) and I understand why. There is far more competition now than even 15-20 years ago. Rather than spread sales over two different models such as a Probe/Cougar (sports car) and the Mustang (sporty compact sedan), Ford chose to make the Mustang adopt both roles.

Unfortunately it has left us with a car that has lost track of what it was supposed to be and wandered away from its roots. In the process of having to appeal to the muscle car crowd, the sports car crowd, and the practical but fun sedan crowd, it has become something entirely different.

Personally, I think the Civic is currently closer in character and purpose to what the Mustang traditionally was (and still should be) than what the Mustang has become. Thats the general size it should be.

As well, I feel like we are going through a general period in car design and consumer appeal where bigger is better (ie the ridiculous Hummer and countless other SUV's) just like in the 70's. That has indirectly influenced all car design including the Mustang)

Just because it has a V8 doesn't mean it has to be a pig. Anyway, just me venting, but I feel like the era of the ever expanding Mustang has to come to an end.

 

I knew I was going to get it for that comment, but I really believe it.

As far as specific styling cues, you're totally right, it has the least amount in common with the original, but in general overall design and purpose it is the closest to the original. The general proportions/layout/size/model variety and function are very close to what the original was.

Just because a car has triple tail lights or a horse emblem in the grill doesn't make it retain its character. Those things are superficial, they could be put on any car, and that's what I think is wrong with all Mustangs since the Fox. The newer Mustangs just sports cars which it was never intended to be exclusively. What makes a Mustang a Mustang for me isn't just a scoop on the door or certain tail light design, its the overall character of the car itself, which to me is an afordable sporty/fun compact sedan with a long hood/short deck, rear wheel drive layout and an optional V8, and the ability to be individualized. Not a sports car!

The Fox could be had as everything from Mom's plain economic sporty sedan to a powerful and intimidating muscle car right off the lot (as with the original). The Mustangs after the Fox all looked the same each year regardless of model. Its become more of a generic sports car.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the new ones, but I just think they have wandered away from what really makes a Mustang "pony car". Theres a reason why they came up with a different term for the style of car!

 

Wow...good point. I agree on both aspects. Well put.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

I think its imperative (this time) for Ford to keep pace or exceed what both GM & Chrysler are doing regarding price & performance.
The Challenger R/T is going to be priced just under $30k and is going to have 375hp. The Camaro is rumored to have 400hp and not too far off that price.

 

But the problem with that is now that gas is $4+ a gallon, the majority of people aren't looking for HP, they're looking for MPG. So it looks like it's time for a smaller lighter Mustang again, like it was in 1974.

 

Here's a post from a while back showing OKLACOP's '67 Mustang and an '08 Bullitt together. They are very similar in size, just to give some visual reference on the size of the current Mustang.

 

That's true for some people, but not for me. I'll be keeping my Mazda3 as my 35,000 mile/year commuter car. The 2010-2011 Mustang GT will be my recreational vehicle, and will see occasional open track day time. I couldn't care less what kind of gas mileage it gets. Well, that's not totally true--higher is always better, but it won't matter much as a second, toy, car with few miles on it. Still, having said that, I would prefer the car to be smaller and lighter, which is why I'm also considering the upcoming Mazda RX-#, which will supposedly be back to the original idea of the RX-7, and weigh in around 2800 lbs. (according to the latest rumors I've heard).

 

Don't blame it all on the 351C. Ever try to remove and work on the FMX tranny usually hooked up to one. I would swear they were made of solid lead!