Clearly, neither do you.

I've missed nothing. The argument you present is tired, erroneous...and partially responsible for the mess Ford now finds themselves in.

Finally, the voice of reason. Or is that "treason," especially around these parts.

Exactly.

What makes you think that the consumer price for those options even comes close to Ford's actual costs in acquiring/manufacturing/installing those options?

Either way, why are the majority of the world's manufacturers (save the Big 2.5) able to manage better quality materials and details in their $30K cars? What makes Ford "special"?

I submit it's a chronic cost cutting mentality and little regard for today's discerning customer, both of which are so deeply entrenched in this company, that they may end up with the Grim Reaper's hand on their shoulder before they "get it".

I just noticed the following comments over on Blue Oval News from a Ford employee who witnessed the "inside reveal" of forthcoming products at Cabo over the past couple of days. His remarks are sobering, and drive to the heart of the issue >>

"I saw the vehicles and witb my Ford Employee hat on and thought not bad. Then I stepped back as a consumer and looked at the onslaught of competition vs. these new vehicles. I did not see anything groundbreaking that another company is not already producing. Then to have to wait until 2009+?????? They will be dated when they hit the street.

I am convinced that these products are not exciting enough to stabilize our market share. I sent my resume out to 20 places tonight. After 10 years, I am done. I am very disappointed by the big show."

Yup, two years later, the consequences of using cheap materials are now showing up, vindicating those of us who demand better for our hard-earned dollar.

Very well said.

 

WHERE THE #$%^ DID I SAY OR EVEN INFER THAT?!! I was following up Rhumb's post about an increase in base CONSUMER price for higher quality materials...
Do the math smart guy. You can order all the "soft touch" materials you can get on a a Mustang GT and squeeze them all day and feel all warm and fuzzy for $28,585 .

The only difference between now and when I first posted about the IUP and Premiere Trim options is that the Shaker 500 is now mandatory when ordering them.

 

You didn't get it, did you? I'm pointing out that Ford could easily give us a better interior without having to charge us a fortune. Other manufacturers manage it. You seem intent upon trying to prove that it's going to be cost prohibitive for them, or us, or the entire bloody car shopping public.

Well guess what, the marketplace doesn't agree with you.

Is there a point in there somewhere,"smart guy"?

MY point is that Ford needs to do better with interiors, and based upon what I see from other manufacturers, doesn't need to charge us an arm and a leg for it.

What's YOUR point, exactly?

 

Rhumb said the public would gladly pay $1000 more for better quality materials. I said you can do that now by ordering ~$1500 over the base price of the car in interior options (IUP and Premier Trim). What's so hard to understand?

I NEVER SAID NOR INTENDED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEING COST PROHIBITIVE. That's something YOU pulled out of your rectum. I guess I should expect that from you. You have a habit of twisting things and putting words in my mouth to support your arguments. Maybe you should lay off the sauce before posting. I was pointing out that better quality materials are available now in a Mustang as options.

How can the "marketplace" disagree with me on something I NEVER SAID? Since when do you speak for the entire "marketplace"? Guess what, I am a member of the marketplace, part of the "entire bloody car shopping public" that actually bought a new car this year, not just some shmuck that sits around talking about what he wishes he could buy and what he's "waiting for" on a web forum. You sure don't speak for me.
"Better quality" materials are available now in a Mustang by ordering the interior upgrade and premier trim options for less than $29K ($28,585). AGAIN, what is so hard to understand?
Reading and understanding aren't your strong points are they? Repeat after me:
"Better quality" materials are available now in a Mustang by ordering the interior upgrade and premier trim options for less than $29K. Keep repeating that 'till it sinks into that thick head of yours.

 

Now you're trying SO hard to be clever that you're getting caught up in your own web of deceit with this post-facto backpedaling nonsense.

You said: "Order these options for a total of $855 which has to be combined with the leather seating option which is $695, for a total of $1550 over the base price, if "soft touch" pieces are important to you." Clearly you were attempting to correct Rhumb's $1000 price increase figure by pointing out to him that even the upgrades which are currently available add up to $1550, and then implying that additional upgrades would cost much more. You bolded it to further emphasize that even THOSE additions cost more than Rhumb's guestimate. You also render "soft touch" pieces in quotations as if to emphasize disdain towards anyone who might want them.

Your "meaning" was clearly apparent. Stop trying to deny it.

In response, I was attempting to point out that the price Ford charges for those bits doesn't necessarily imply that it costs them that much to install them; or that they NEED to charge the customer that much; or indeed that further upgrades necessarily need to force Mustang pricing to stratospheric levels.

It's IMPLICIT, and frankly, quite obvious, from the above that you believe that the sort of upgrades Rhumb and I are suggesting (which go WAY beyond the trim bits you're talking about, and which we're both well aware of) are unnecessary, unwarranted and that they would put the car out of reach of the average buyer.

Or is it NOT, and in fact, you actually agree with us?

You can't have it both ways.

Or you could just carry on with the name calling and overuse of emoticons as a substitute for rationality and honesty. Some of us can see right through it.

Of course, I'm sure you'll have some "clever" comeback for this, too.

 

Unsubscribing...

 

I don't see anything wrong with the interior materials of a fully loaded Mustang GT.
When it comes to American made cars, Ford Interiors have always been a notch above GM & Chrysler, especially when it comes to design.
I think over the past two years, both GM & Chrysler have made significant strides, but as a whole, they haven't caught Ford yet.

Could Ford give us a better product for the money? Hell Yes! But, I think the current model line-up is certainly an upgrade over some of the cars we were buying just three years ago.

 

I'm sure it'll get better too.

Owning the last Mustang to the new... its worlds ahead.
Not without its issues..but..sounds like they are headed into the right direction.

 

Actually, GM is in the process of surpassing them.

I'll grant you that. But then, one would hope so, wouldn't one?

 

Here's more pics from http://www.mustangworld.com

 

BC Shelby, I looked at your links, and the GM interior did look nice! But, GM needs to upgrade their entire line-up, before I can say that they have surpassed Ford.

Yes, I do expect to see improvements in new models. But, I was a bit surprised by how much Ford improved them.

 

Some nice pics from Mustangworld

 

Look at the forthcoming '08 Cadillacs not to mention the new Yukon and Tahoe. No question, GM is moving further and faster with interiors than Ford. It'll be interesting to see what Ford does next...and when.

 

Ouch...Clearly? You got me. I'm surprised you didn't throw in a "Nanny, nanny boo boo" with that. Care to back that up with explaining how I don't and how you know so much more.

All you do is p!ss and moan about this car and and its supposed lack of quality. You appear to have a sincere concern for the company's future but offer little support in the steps they are making to improve their products. When someone comes along with news of new products you quickly retort with something like, "lets hope they improve the interior quality" or some BS like that. You're a winer, and apparently that's all you intend to do. If you're waiting for that 375+HP 2008 Bullitt as your signature says, your wasting your time because the 375+HP part is not going to happen. Why in your right mind would you buy one even if it was going to happen? It would be the same Mustang we all know and love, but with a bigger powerplant and some cosmetic changes. That would make you a colossal hypocrite given all of your wining about the interior.

I have complaints about the Ford Explorer. I have recently had the chance to drive a new Limited model. I think the interior materials are indeed cheap. I was upset with the materials because it is nearly a $40,000 vehicle. That is something worth b!tching about, not the plastics used in car nearly half that price. But, If I were to compare the price of a fully loaded Explorer Limited to a Japanese or German model in the same class it wouldn't even come close to to their base model. You get what you pay for D!ck.

By the way, you telling others that they are overusing emoticons is like the pot calling the kettle black don't you think?

 

I'm not back pedaling. I never said and never meant to say ANY of the huge amount of garbage you read into what I posted. I simply stated some facts about pricing and "better quality" content available in the IUP and Premiere trim options that are available now on a Mustang.
I am amazed! I am truly flabbergasted that someone could read so much meaning into one sentence I wrote! Did the voices in your head tell you all that? Talk about grasping for straws; you grasp for the entire bale of hay!!
I simply stated some facts about pricing and "better quality" content available in the IUP and Premiere trim options that are available now on a Mustang.
Yes my meaning was apparent- right there on the screen:
Order these options(IUP and Premier Trim) for a total of $855 which has to be combined with the leather seating option which is $695, for a total of $1550 over the base price, if "soft touch" pieces are important to you.
"Better quality" materials are available now in a Mustang by ordering the interior upgrade and premier trim options for less than $29K ($28,585). That price is hardly "stratospheric".
You're always griping about the hard plastic dash in the current Mustang Interior. The Premier Trim package adresses this. If "soft touch" pieces are important , order the IUP and Premiere Trim options. If "soft touch" plastic is not important , then don't order those options. It's so simple, I thought that even you could understand it.
Yes we can have it both ways. Ever hear of the concept called "Options"? Some people, like me, don't care about "soft touch" trim, leather seating, etc. and think the interior is just fine. Great, they don't have to order the optional Premiere Trim. Some people enjoy squeezing their "soft touch" dash and interior trim, electronic butt warmers, side airbags etc. That's fine too; they order the Premier trim and other interior options. If they want them, get the options; if they don't want them, they don't have to!
Who's calling anyone names? As for emoticons and clever comebacks

 

You first.

Let's hear yours.

Your opinion; your perception. Bears little resemblance to the reality of what I'm saying.

You're probably right about that, but who cares...and how is that in any way relevant to anything else you're saying?

Well then, I guess you're not as clever as you think you are. Maybe you should go back and re-read more of my posts and figure it out.

Referring to me as Vice President Cheney doesn't even begin to punctuate that overused cliche you've trotted out. It also doesn't excuse Ford for cheaping-out with the interior of its high-profile $30K coupe at a time when the company needs to improve all aspects of its image in order to simply survive.

No, actually I don't. Some of us use it sparingly and for effect. Others of us use it to overcompensate for a lack of logic and honesty...and, it would seem, other "short"-comings. And he knows who he is.

 

Take it to personal messaging if you want to bash each other...

 

I am a Quality Manager, and all I can say is that there is always room for improvement.
The new Mustang GT is a much better product then my loaded 2001 Mustang GT was, but I think Ford should continue to make improvements and give Mustang buyers want they really want.

 

I have no interest in bashing anyone. I just believe in plain talk. For some, the only rebuttal they can muster is to hurl insults when they don't like or agree with what they hear.

But, hey, that's OK. We're all entitled to our opinions and it doesn't bother me one iota.

 

That has got to be the most god aweful thing I have ever seen.... I thought the II's were ugly but that thing takes the cake... If I wanted an import I'd buy one... this thing looks like a wannabe 350Z.