Mustang GT Lite
How about Ford making all of those things optional for deletion on the regular Mustang GT just in case someone wants to keep a certain feature(s) that they like(stuff like A/C or heat)? That would be better IMO.
I think a Mustang V6->5.0L V8 transplant might sell as a LX using V6 body work (I would buy one)... but the V6 & V8 Mustangs are so closely optioned (aside from engine) that the brakes and suspension would be the only difference between a LX and GT... making the cost difference a moot point.
A list that extensive would increase the manufacturing process complexity and overall costs.
Now that we've pretty much established that such a car is not economically viable for Ford, let's ask a more tightly focused question. Pretend that Ford did offer the Mustang GT Lite and it didn't cost any more than a Mustang GT Premium. Go ahead, just pretend. Would YOU with your own money actually BUY one. I would not. I want all the things that would be deleted.
Now that we've pretty much established that such a car is not economically viable for Ford, let's ask a more tightly focused question. Pretend that Ford did offer the Mustang GT Lite and it didn't cost any more than a Mustang GT Premium. Go ahead, just pretend. Would YOU with your own money actually BUY one. I would not. I want all the things that would be deleted.
As mentioned, Ford has tried that approach before to very limited commercial success. While appealing in concept, at least to hard core enthusiasts, there just aren't that many hard core enthusiasts to make it profitable. It really is harder to make an ascetic car appealing -- not just seeming to be a stripped out version of a regular "real" car -- than it is to simply load one up with stuff. Hence, our ever more contented, costly and corpulent cars of today.
Lotus pulls off the "bare" performance car but it was designed that way from the start and thus looks spare but not like its been stripped. And how many cars does Lotus sell after all? Perhaps if Ford, for "14 or whatever designed/styled the Stang this way from the get go, a more spare approach might be more appealing. But given American's rather simplistic "more/bigger is better" ethos, I rather doubt this.
Lotus pulls off the "bare" performance car but it was designed that way from the start and thus looks spare but not like its been stripped. And how many cars does Lotus sell after all? Perhaps if Ford, for "14 or whatever designed/styled the Stang this way from the get go, a more spare approach might be more appealing. But given American's rather simplistic "more/bigger is better" ethos, I rather doubt this.
Here is a proposal: Ford make a Mustang GT Lite. It would start with a Mustang GT base (non-Premium) and rather than adding features, it would delete them. For example, a Mustang GT Lite would delete:
* Air conditioning
* Power windows
* Power mirrors
* Power locks
* Keyless entry
* Cruise control
* Sound system
* Antennae
* Sound deadening
* Floor mats
* Rear seat
* Spare tire & jack
* Engine cover
* Trunk carpet
* Rear spoiler
* Plastic molding around base of body
* Fog lights
This vehicle also would replace standard wheels with lightweight BBS-type wheels and replace hood, roof, trunk-lid & door panels with lightweight aluminum panels. The 3.31 gears would be replaced with 3.73 gears. No options would be available with this vehicle except color choices.
Ford removing many features would offset the price of lightweight wheels & body panels so a Mustang GT Lite could cost about the same price as a Mustang GT base: $30k.
The payoff is a reduction of 300 to 400 pounds of weight. If a 2011 Mustang GT base weighs 3600 pounds, then a 2011 Mustang GT Lite might weigh 3200 pounds.
Imagine the dynamic performance improvements in acceleration, braking, steering and handling that would result from a power-to-weight ratio of a Mustang with 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lbs torque in a 3200 pound car. A Mustang GT Lite would have a power-to-weight ratio of a Corvette or 911...at half or a third of the price.
Ford could call this package "Drag Pack" or just "Lite".
Thoughts or suggestions on this proposal?
* Air conditioning
* Power windows
* Power mirrors
* Power locks
* Keyless entry
* Cruise control
* Sound system
* Antennae
* Sound deadening
* Floor mats
* Rear seat
* Spare tire & jack
* Engine cover
* Trunk carpet
* Rear spoiler
* Plastic molding around base of body
* Fog lights
This vehicle also would replace standard wheels with lightweight BBS-type wheels and replace hood, roof, trunk-lid & door panels with lightweight aluminum panels. The 3.31 gears would be replaced with 3.73 gears. No options would be available with this vehicle except color choices.
Ford removing many features would offset the price of lightweight wheels & body panels so a Mustang GT Lite could cost about the same price as a Mustang GT base: $30k.
The payoff is a reduction of 300 to 400 pounds of weight. If a 2011 Mustang GT base weighs 3600 pounds, then a 2011 Mustang GT Lite might weigh 3200 pounds.
Imagine the dynamic performance improvements in acceleration, braking, steering and handling that would result from a power-to-weight ratio of a Mustang with 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lbs torque in a 3200 pound car. A Mustang GT Lite would have a power-to-weight ratio of a Corvette or 911...at half or a third of the price.
Ford could call this package "Drag Pack" or just "Lite".
Thoughts or suggestions on this proposal?
It'd be a bit of a hassle for Ford, but WTF.
Now, the weight saving calculation needs some scrutiny...I believe an FR500C (which doesn't have door windows or upholstery or emissions gear or working turnsignals or sound deadeners or seam sealants--among other things) with racing mufflers (probably a bit louder than legal in all fifty states) weighs approximately 3150 lbs. The dashboard is gutted completely and the inner sheetmetal & mechanicals on the doors may be trimmed back, too. If you want upholstery, door windows, legal emissions equipment, dash vents that actually function, legal turn signals, and legal mufflers (at the very least), I don't think you'll get down to 3200 or even 3300 lbs. 3400 lbs. might be attainable while retaining all the items needed to legally register your vehicle for street use. And Ford can't resurrect a Fox for these endeavours because they would probably fail to meet today's crashworthiness standards, even with the 2011 drivetrain dropped in.
Adding to the frustration is that bodies-in-white are produced without legal VINs (they're a part--not a vehicle, so they are sold with part numbers instead of VINs) so you could probably never register a vehicle built from a body-in-white for legal street use anywhere! A slick person might buy a wrecked Mustang of the correct year and graft the VIN from the wrecked Mustang onto the body-in-white Mustang--but who's got the bucks to do that?
Life sucks, then you die...
Greg "I give up" Ates
Last edited by Eights; Jan 28, 2010 at 11:04 AM.
Here is a proposal: Ford make a Mustang GT Lite. It would start with a Mustang GT base (non-Premium) and rather than adding features, it would delete them. For example, a Mustang GT Lite would delete:
* Air conditioning
* Power windows
* Power mirrors
* Power locks
* Keyless entry
* Cruise control
* Sound system
* Antennae
* Sound deadening
* Floor mats
* Rear seat
* Spare tire & jack
* Engine cover
* Trunk carpet
* Rear spoiler
* Plastic molding around base of body
* Fog lights
This vehicle also would replace standard wheels with lightweight BBS-type wheels and replace hood, roof, trunk-lid & door panels with lightweight aluminum panels. The 3.31 gears would be replaced with 3.73 gears. No options would be available with this vehicle except color choices.
Ford removing many features would offset the price of lightweight wheels & body panels so a Mustang GT Lite could cost about the same price as a Mustang GT base: $30k.
The payoff is a reduction of 300 to 400 pounds of weight. If a 2011 Mustang GT base weighs 3600 pounds, then a 2011 Mustang GT Lite might weigh 3200 pounds.
Imagine the dynamic performance improvements in acceleration, braking, steering and handling that would result from a power-to-weight ratio of a Mustang with 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lbs torque in a 3200 pound car. A Mustang GT Lite would have a power-to-weight ratio of a Corvette or 911...at half or a third of the price.
Ford could call this package "Drag Pack" or just "Lite".
Thoughts or suggestions on this proposal?
* Air conditioning
* Power windows
* Power mirrors
* Power locks
* Keyless entry
* Cruise control
* Sound system
* Antennae
* Sound deadening
* Floor mats
* Rear seat
* Spare tire & jack
* Engine cover
* Trunk carpet
* Rear spoiler
* Plastic molding around base of body
* Fog lights
This vehicle also would replace standard wheels with lightweight BBS-type wheels and replace hood, roof, trunk-lid & door panels with lightweight aluminum panels. The 3.31 gears would be replaced with 3.73 gears. No options would be available with this vehicle except color choices.
Ford removing many features would offset the price of lightweight wheels & body panels so a Mustang GT Lite could cost about the same price as a Mustang GT base: $30k.
The payoff is a reduction of 300 to 400 pounds of weight. If a 2011 Mustang GT base weighs 3600 pounds, then a 2011 Mustang GT Lite might weigh 3200 pounds.
Imagine the dynamic performance improvements in acceleration, braking, steering and handling that would result from a power-to-weight ratio of a Mustang with 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lbs torque in a 3200 pound car. A Mustang GT Lite would have a power-to-weight ratio of a Corvette or 911...at half or a third of the price.
Ford could call this package "Drag Pack" or just "Lite".
Thoughts or suggestions on this proposal?
It'd be a bit of a hassle for Ford, but WTF.
Now, the weight saving calculation needs some scrutiny...I believe an FR500C (which doesn't have door windows or upholstery or emissions gear or working turnsignals or sound deadeners or seam sealants--among other things) with racing mufflers (probably a bit louder than legal in all fifty states) weighs approximately 3150 lbs. The dashboard is gutted completely and the inner sheetmetal & mechanicals on the doors may be trimmed back, too. If you want upholstery, door windows, legal emissions equipment, dash vents that actually function, legal turn signals, and legal mufflers (at the very least), I don't think you'll get down to 3200 or even 3300 lbs. 3400 lbs. might be attainable while retaining all the items needed to legally register your vehicle for street use. And Ford can't resurrect a Fox for these endeavours because they would probably fail to meet today's crashworthiness and emissions standards, even with
Adding to the frustration is that bodies-in-white are produced without legal VINs (they're a part--not a vehicle, so they are sold with part numbers instead of VINs) so you could probably never register a vehicle built from a body-in-white for legal street use anywhere! A slick person might buy a wrecked Mustang of the correct year and graft the VIN from the wrecked Mustang onto the body-in-white Mustang--but who's got the bucks to do that?
Life sucks, then you die...
Greg "I give up" Ates
Basically, we can't win.
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Jul 20, 2015 06:26 AM




LOL!
