V10

Any student of Ford history knows that Ford has NEVER been able to get a new product out on time.

The 1999 Mustang didn't go into production until Dec 99, 4 months late and the S-197 Mustang was 1 to 2 years late, depending on which revised Ford schedule you want to use.

So when will the 2009 Mustang actually make it into production?

Any bets?

Boomer

The 99 mustang... Jack Nasser

The 05 mustang... complete and total ground up design...
and lots of changes to get to the goal.

I can't see the 09 being that late, if at all...

Ranger

Time will tell but given eveything that is happening at Ford, think bringing this baby out on time will be a top priority

exarkun

better late than broken

American Car manufactures really need to get their act together and delivery quality cars. The mustang is a success; if it was 1 to 2 years late then ... fine ... job well done; they got it right when it came out in 2005.

Galaxie

I would guess that the car would launch on time.

There are a lot of variables that could keep the car from being launched

With so many outside suppliers doing the design, a change to some major components could push the job1 date back.

Another example would be that if the supplier building the stamping die suddenly has a machine failure 3/4 of the way through machining a die. Something like that could take a week or two to fix.

Baginoman2

in no rush

05mach1

By 4/17/09 at 45th Anniv. show that's when new resign Mustang comes out.

incomingRPG

I still think the 2009 should be a 45th Anniversary based on the current body style, bring out the new one as a 2010. Every new bodystyle should have an anniversary edition. JMO.

lowblustang00

It won't come out till 2010 or 2011. There will be an aniversary edition for the current body style. It will leave in style just like the 99-04.

uofh2005

Yeah i thought it was on a 5 year body style (model year), so it would at least be a 2010 model year anyways.

Galaxie

From This week's "on the table" on autoextremist.com

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Word is that the Mustang mid-cycle enhancement has been pushed back by one year, even though most of the design and engineering work was wrapped up in February. Even worse, several design programs at Ford have either been scaled back or cancelled, indicating fewer new models and subsequently - more programs getting old in the 2008-2011 time frame. NVG (Not Very Good). [/b][/quote]

Personally I think it is an act of stupidity... they have to keep the momentum going, if they let the product linger they will have to resort to incentives.

Tiberius1701

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Galaxie @ March 8, 2006, 9:36 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Personally I think it is an act of stupidity... they have to keep the momentum going, if they let the product linger they will have to resort to incentives.
[/b][/quote]

Stupidity seems to reign over at Ford. Renaming Lincoln products as mentioned elsewhere in "On The Table" is just the tip of the iceberg. I try to maintain positive, but the constant negativity coming out of Dearborn is making me worry just a little.

Galaxie

I just think its pathetic that now that competition is on the way, and they can have a serious jump ahead by having their car out a year before or at the same time, they botch it.

The only way this can be considered a good idea is if they do some value-added engineering to make the car better than its competitors (IRS, engine upgrades, etc)

Boomer

Well maybe they aimed for 2009MY as the year the Camaro was going to come out.... and since its rumoured that won't be till 2010MY,
they can stretch the current S197 an extra year..and come out the same time....

Come out early, with a year head start?
Compete the same year ?

Tough call

V10

Gee, there I go again being my usual "I told you so" self.

Seems to me as a really dumb move if the engineering is pretty much wrapped up.

Instead of launching an 09 updated Mustang as a pre-emptive strike against the Camaro / Challenger, the '10 or '11 Mustang will now come off as a reaction to the competition, too little, to late.

FordFun

I think it is a tough call Boomer. Galaxie said if they do something
really good and make it a 2010 but Ford will have to make a bigger
STEP UP. A similar change like the '98 to '99 won't do it.

The 2009 Mustang will struggle with all the competition and the
anticipation of the next Horse.

V10

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FordFun @ March 8, 2006, 8:10 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
A similar change like the '98 to '99 won't do it.
[/b][/quote]

Don't expect anything more for the 2010 Mustang update than the '98 - '99 update.

Ford is calling the '09 (Now '10) Mustang update "a refresh".
"Refresh" is Fordspeak for updating some body panels & bumper covers, some new interior pieces, a modest HP boost and some more options. Do not expect any real updates to the unibody structure suspension, overall dimensions, etc.

Boomer

Well the bump from 98 to 99 was great...but the problem was it was the same platform

We have a kickin platform this time already, that could use some tweaking/upgrades... it wouldn't take much for them to turn a great car into an even greater one this time.

The inherant problems from 98-99 were in the platform being bandaged to death trying to make it what it wasn't created for.....
The D2C platform is lightyears ahead of that. I wouldn't worry...

Galaxie

2010 is a mid-cycle enhancement, so the changes are pretty much exterior sheetmetal/fascias as stated.

One theory I have is they delayed the refresh so they launch any new variants at the same time. There are rumblings that Ford is working on a RWD sedan and a Lincoln coupe based on the S197 chassis. I am hoping that the upgrades chassis will get an IRS for those models and it will be optional/trickle down on the stang. So maybe they are delaying the launch of the mid-cycle enhancement stang to pull ahead these other models.

StangNut

Personally, I think the delay to 2010 is a good idea. I have an '05 and was planning on buying an SE w/ a 5.4L (preferebly a Boss instead of a Mach 1), but if they were going to wait until '08 to release it, I would've waited for the '09 redesign and skipped right over an '08 Mustang. This way, the customer buys a car (me, in this case) more often since I would probably also buy a 2011 redesigned Mustang IF the body style is any good.