May 2011 Mustang Sales Figure
6/4/11, 09:04 AM
#41
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I can only contribute to sales so much. Here's what I feel.
One, this transmission stuff probably bit into Mustang sales significantly. I've heard figures that between 40 and 50% of Mustangs are sold with Manual Transmissions, don't feel like looking it up, but it's a significant portion, at least a third. The issue with rough shifting has probably pushed some people toward the Camaro. How valid that is I'm not going to go into, but there was a pretty vocal backlash from that in the past few months and that's bound to affect sales, especially just as the 2012s were coming out.
Two, another part of it may be the body style, which for the Mustang is circa 2005. 2010 got a refresh but some opinions indicate it's not enough of one and still looks basically the same, and there is a tendency for very strong negative opinion on the appearance of the new back end.
Three, advertising. Chevy spends a lot of money on this. Ford does not. Camaro had super bowl spots. Mustang did not. Camaro is getting Transformers 3. When was the last time we saw a Mustang feature prominently in a movie? Death Race? Well at least our car had miniguns.
I think this all contributed to one another, I personally suspect 1 was the worst for these past couple months, and 2 has contributed in general over time. 2015 body style refresh though. It's less than three years off.
One, this transmission stuff probably bit into Mustang sales significantly. I've heard figures that between 40 and 50% of Mustangs are sold with Manual Transmissions, don't feel like looking it up, but it's a significant portion, at least a third. The issue with rough shifting has probably pushed some people toward the Camaro. How valid that is I'm not going to go into, but there was a pretty vocal backlash from that in the past few months and that's bound to affect sales, especially just as the 2012s were coming out.
Two, another part of it may be the body style, which for the Mustang is circa 2005. 2010 got a refresh but some opinions indicate it's not enough of one and still looks basically the same, and there is a tendency for very strong negative opinion on the appearance of the new back end.
Three, advertising. Chevy spends a lot of money on this. Ford does not. Camaro had super bowl spots. Mustang did not. Camaro is getting Transformers 3. When was the last time we saw a Mustang feature prominently in a movie? Death Race? Well at least our car had miniguns.
I think this all contributed to one another, I personally suspect 1 was the worst for these past couple months, and 2 has contributed in general over time. 2015 body style refresh though. It's less than three years off.
Last edited by Lancel; 6/4/11 at 09:05 AM.
6/4/11, 09:16 AM
#42
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I don't know why everyone gets their panties all in a bundle over lower sales. I'd rather have less of our cars sold. Makes me see less of them on the road, and pushes Ford to make more improvements to try and compete with chevy.
I see sooo many camaros driving everyday, but very few 2010+ stangs and even less 5.0's.
I see sooo many camaros driving everyday, but very few 2010+ stangs and even less 5.0's.
6/4/11, 10:06 AM
#43
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I don't like the new body w/diaper at all and I've made that pretty clear. Unfortunately, some owners think I'm attacking them and I'm not. My beef is not with people that like it, but with Ford for making such a conflicted design with lines going everywhere and a cheap **** black plastic wrap around. The rear is a visual fail. And on this forum the debates are among Mustang enthusiasts that like or don't like the diaper design.
But the real question is how does the new buyer like it? Obviously they don't. And not even the fantastic 5.0 could overcome that. Ford can only count on so much churn of previous Mustang buyers ordering new ones.
They better figure out a design that pleases a much wider audience than they did for the '10-'12 style.
The 05-09 S197 lit a fire!! That resulted in GM & Chrysler re-introducing the Camaro and Challenger. The SN95 jelly bean/new edge didn't do that did it?
The 10-12 S197D created arguments amongst Mustang owners, and failed to inspire new buyers.
The numbers don't lie. The scoreboard tells the story. Read it and weep.
But the real question is how does the new buyer like it? Obviously they don't. And not even the fantastic 5.0 could overcome that. Ford can only count on so much churn of previous Mustang buyers ordering new ones.
They better figure out a design that pleases a much wider audience than they did for the '10-'12 style.
The 05-09 S197 lit a fire!! That resulted in GM & Chrysler re-introducing the Camaro and Challenger. The SN95 jelly bean/new edge didn't do that did it?
The 10-12 S197D created arguments amongst Mustang owners, and failed to inspire new buyers.
The numbers don't lie. The scoreboard tells the story. Read it and weep.
So, is the best-selling Camaro the better-looking car out of the current crop of musclecars? No, I think most would agree that honor goes to the Dodge Challenger. Is the new Camaro the better-performing car of the three? No, most every review and comparison I've read has the Mustang winning in that category. Perhaps the Camaro's crappy ergonomics, pi**-poor head room and gun slit windows are why it's outselling the Mustang and Challenger! So, really, why is the Camaro the best-selling car out of the bunch?
6/4/11, 10:08 AM
#44
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That's funny. While there certainly are several Camaros here in the Knoxville, TN area, I've seen probably eight or nine other 2010+ Mustangs. Most of those I saw were 5.0's. I saw a 2010 Roush Stage 1 last week and I've seen a couple of V6 models.
6/4/11, 10:24 AM
#45
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Barricade:
Gone in Sixty Seconds:
Eleanor:
And who could forget?
Kick-***:
6/4/11, 10:46 AM
#46
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I don't get all of the rear-end hate. Yeah, it's not perfect, but I followed my 'vert all the way home yesterday and I find the car to be quite toothsome from ALL angles. There is NOTHING out there as cool as the sequential taillight turn signals!! And i definitely like the extra trunk space it has. I KNOW what the trunk on the 1985 Mustang GT convertible looked like, and some guys' workout/gym bags have more storage space.
I think a blackout panel in between the taillights helps a lot for our cars.
In summary, yes I agree the basic design is getting a bit old, but I would NOT have bought one before the 2010 refresh. I LOVE looking at the 2010+ Mustangs now, in any color and in any option combo. I can't get enough of them!
The Camaro is not without its awkward angles, particularly from the rear, but the entire interior is awkward, and that's being charitable. My wife loves the Challenger, & it looks great, but it's a beached whale by comparison.
I think a blackout panel in between the taillights helps a lot for our cars.
In summary, yes I agree the basic design is getting a bit old, but I would NOT have bought one before the 2010 refresh. I LOVE looking at the 2010+ Mustangs now, in any color and in any option combo. I can't get enough of them!
The Camaro is not without its awkward angles, particularly from the rear, but the entire interior is awkward, and that's being charitable. My wife loves the Challenger, & it looks great, but it's a beached whale by comparison.
Last edited by Double-EDad; 6/4/11 at 10:50 AM.
6/4/11, 11:34 AM
#47
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6/4/11, 03:04 PM
#49
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Take a drive through MD today and you can still pretty clearly see that most of the state (except the part right around DC) still has Southern leanings. In fact, the part I currently reside in, Southern MD (St. Mary's, Calvert, Charles cty.) is filled with burned-out farmhouses, rusted-out Camaros on blocks in the front yard, goats tied to poles, and several generations of inbreeding in the locals (whom we call Southern Maryland Inbred Bastards, or SMIBs).
Lest I need to remind you, MD is below the Mason-Dixon line.
6/4/11, 05:02 PM
#51
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"Chevy dealer always has about 50 or so Camaros on the lot....Ford dealer has maybe a dozen Mustangs." this is a big part of the sales shortfall. Mustangs are not manufactured as plentifully as Camaro. GM borrows from the US Gov. at a big discount and Ford borrows on the open market at much higher rates. so GM just cranks 'em out. Ford dribbles 'em out and makes a slightly bigger profit eeventhough they are at a disadvantage. If GM LOSES THE U S GOVERNMENT BORROWING EDGE, they will not BE ABLE TO MARKET BY MANUFACTURING. Ford makes a better can now and will redo the design in2014 and trim it down.
6/4/11, 06:54 PM
#53
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So I have no brand loyalty to Ford or Chevy. I have an 03 dodge dakota, and my wife has a honda pilot. We had an 01 eclipse GT spyder. I wanted an infinity G37 convertible. For 50K+, it was out of my price range unless I picked on up in a few years. I got tired of fixing the eclipse, so I started looking around.
I could have gone with the camaro, but 1) the mustang had much better reviews, 2) I actually think the camaro is awful looking other than from the front, and 3) the 2011's look like a great value compared to so many other convertibles out there. I was tempted to go with the gotta have it factor of a new camaro vert, but honestly never even tested one out. I know in a few years you will see many of both everywhere, and I would be wishing I got the better car.
Ford did a good job on this (my '12) car. My dad was convinced he wanted a new camaro as his "dream car" if he were to go out and get a convertible, but I think I changed his mind on that as well.
I could have gone with the camaro, but 1) the mustang had much better reviews, 2) I actually think the camaro is awful looking other than from the front, and 3) the 2011's look like a great value compared to so many other convertibles out there. I was tempted to go with the gotta have it factor of a new camaro vert, but honestly never even tested one out. I know in a few years you will see many of both everywhere, and I would be wishing I got the better car.
Ford did a good job on this (my '12) car. My dad was convinced he wanted a new camaro as his "dream car" if he were to go out and get a convertible, but I think I changed his mind on that as well.
6/4/11, 07:17 PM
#54
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First thing I do when considering buying a car is to get on the forums.
Was about to buy a 370 Z, found out on the forums that 1 of 3 were having oil overheating problems and Nissan was in denial. No 370 Z for me.
You think others may do the same?
Get on Mustang forums and find out about rattling motors and no-shift transmissions, and Ford's denial attitude.
If I would have waited a year and saw all this stuff, I never would have bought a Mustang.
I'm a tree-hugging socialist, and I would have bought a Camaro had I known about the Mustang's problems.
Was about to buy a 370 Z, found out on the forums that 1 of 3 were having oil overheating problems and Nissan was in denial. No 370 Z for me.
You think others may do the same?
Get on Mustang forums and find out about rattling motors and no-shift transmissions, and Ford's denial attitude.
If I would have waited a year and saw all this stuff, I never would have bought a Mustang.
I'm a tree-hugging socialist, and I would have bought a Camaro had I known about the Mustang's problems.
6/5/11, 03:42 AM
#56
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I think part of the problem is some people don't like Ford. They have no logical reason they just say I don't like Ford. I had a friend tell me you have a very nice car I really like it. I'd buy one but it is a Ford. I asked what that has to do with anything. And the reply was I'm just not a Ford man. Craziest thing I heard, but I've heard it several times.
6/5/11, 10:48 AM
#57
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Because Ford didn't take any tax payer money, and GM did. Your tax dollars at work = Camaro in Rolex GT Class.
6/5/11, 11:22 AM
#58
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"Chevy dealer always has about 50 or so Camaros on the lot....Ford dealer has maybe a dozen Mustangs." this is a big part of the sales shortfall. Mustangs are not manufactured as plentifully as Camaro. GM borrows from the US Gov. at a big discount and Ford borrows on the open market at much higher rates. so GM just cranks 'em out. Ford dribbles 'em out and makes a slightly bigger profit eeventhough they are at a disadvantage. If GM LOSES THE U S GOVERNMENT BORROWING EDGE, they will not BE ABLE TO MARKET BY MANUFACTURING. Ford makes a better can now and will redo the design in2014 and trim it down.
