Great points jsaylor, I especially agree with the first #3, #4 and #5

 

I have got to pay more attention when I edit my posts.

 

A 6 speed auto with a wider gear ratio spread between 1st & 6th is badly needed to improve the EPA MPG #s for the automatic Stangs, both V6 & V8. The 5R55S has only a 4.53 ratio spread between 1st and 5th gear. In today's world, a spread around 6 is needed for both performance and MPG.

 

You make some good points, but you have to realize that that those engines are taped out from the factory and there’s very little improvement to be had or any whatsoever when wanting to extract more power from them in NA form. The only other way would be going FI, well we know that would add weight and not just that there’s also something called heat soak which is not good for the track or the strip.. You also have to consider that these small C.I V8 make their HP up top, so they lack toque and have to rev to the moon just to make any kind of power and they only run on premium fuel and not just that they cost 2x or 3x more than the 4.6. So a small engine isn’t really ideal for the enthusiast, Well at least not for me. A 400hp 4.0 v8 looks good on paper but in reality it’s not that great.




There’s a big difference between a car with big ***** that doesn’t handle well, than one that handle well but has no *****,



The mustang holds its own, and its contemporaries cost 2-3 k more and no V8. So right now there isn’t really anything out there “YET” that really competes with it. There’s rumor the new camaro will have have the L76. We can only cross our fingers and hope that it weighs 3700 pounds.




In some parts I agree with you, I thought 35mpg was per fleet.
I could see an Aluminum block 5.4 dohc 4v with DI and VVT even with cylinder deactivation running on regular and rated at 340hp from the factory “(leaving lots of room for the enthusiast to push the envelope on these engines)” with a 6speed and better gear ratio yielding some real good MPG , but that is as long as they keep the weight down. Maybe I’m wrong but I could even see this combination being more fuel efficient than a 400hp 5.0 dohc 4v DI and VVT of course that is unless it come with 340hp instead.

 

1. Better Brakes
2. Better Quality In Interior
3. Better Leather Seats
4. Irs
5. Better Handling
6. 5.4 ENGINE FOR GT
7. Bigger Tires

 

In no particular order:

1. Soft material on the interior door panels - the Mercury Milan has the same pattern/texture as our cars' panels, but it's soft.
2. Same thing for the upper dash - hard plastic gives the impression that it's cheap (there's a difference between cheap and inexpensive)
3. Real gauges, specifically the coolant temp and oil pressure. It's insulting that Ford puts "gauges" on the car that do not give real information. If you have the coolant temp/oil pressure "gauge" from the factory and are relying on them - good luck if a real problem ever arises.
4. Hood struts
5. If the "My Color" option is still around, put in that little extra bit of effort to make all buttons/switches change with the main gauges.
6. Amber turn signals on the rear lights, but make them look like the export tails for the 96-98 models, not the abominations I've seen for the S197 (entire center portion is amber).

That's it for my $.02 - I personally couldn't care less about IRS, heated seats, paddle shifters, radio controls on the steering wheel, a better cup holder, aerodynamics (you want a "slick" Mustang? Go buy an SN95).

 

 

Beat me to it... that's my #1 suggestion.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but the interior cabin needs to be quieter. Don't get me wrong, I like a loud motor and exhaust as much as anybody, but that's all I want to hear. I don't want to hear the wind, road noise, tranny, rear end clunk or anything else.

Likely improved interior materials could support this.

Ever notice the S197 doesn't have any weatherstripping on the doors?

 

No flames from me, I agree that overall NVH including wind and road noise need to be improved. While the so called gear heads may flame us, they forget that if only gear heads bought Mustangs, the Mustang would have disappeared 20 years ago. The Mustang has to be attractive to non gear heads too, in order to keep the sales volume high enough to justify keeping the Mustang in production.

I also agree on the telescoping wheel.

 

I agree with the thought that all Mustangs should be a base model and add individual options as wanted. But , back in the 60's there were at least 3 different plants building the cars[ Detroit area, New Jersey, California]. Today,other than Flat Rock, is there any other plants building the Mustang? This might be why we have packages. Just my theory. Because it takes man-power, time,planing,today to build these cars, just think if everyone wanted things different on their cars? All from 1 or 2 plants? It would take ,or seem like forever from ordering--receiving a car! Eights is right about another aspect though. Packages are a pain. Between the GT apearance pkg. and the GT/CS pkg. ,I paid for my rolled exaust tips twice !!

 

My top ten:

1. Ford Sync as an option
2. Steering wheel mounted audio controls.
3. Nav + Shaker 1000 option.
4. 6 speed manual tranny
5. Direct Injection (and a properly tuned electronic throttle)
6. More color choices -- keep Legend and Windveil always, w/ more darker colors.
7. Painted on Stripes
8. Stock wheel options that will allow big brake upgrades -- if it were an 18x9 instead of an 18x8.5 all would be well in the world.
9. Better stock tires.
10. Less NVH on the interior.

 

A lot of these are just wishes and 'would be cool' factor items..

1) Push Button Starter/Wireless Key
2) 6 Speed Manual
3) 5.0 4v V8 with 400hp Mustang GT while still running 87 octane
4) MyColour changes ALL lights
5) Interior Trunk Release Button
6)Ford Sync
7)better paint (that doesn't chip when you sneeze on it)
8)Heated/Cooled seats
9)Lighter 3400-3550lbs
10)Tilt/Telescope stearing wheel

 

Keeping the original theme of the Pony car.....meaning a pretty bare bones sports car with a performance oriented drivetrain and not a lot of goodies....

1. A key fob that does not date back to the early 90's
2. more power, don't really care how but an option to a larger displacement motor would be ideal.
3. 6 speed or a smart automatic(is there such a thing) with paddles on the steering wheels.

 

You've got the deal figured out. Back in 65 - 66 Ford was selling over 500,000 Mustangs / year, which allowed for extensive option choices.

Today Ford is selling 150,000 Mustangs / year so the number of options and models has to be lower. In addition, in the 60s there weren't the safety and emission certifications that we have today which further limits how many Mustang variations cand be made while still selling the Mustang at a profit.

 

Lol, I was looking over an old MT article, and while it didn't say anything about the Mustang, the 67 Camaro had over 120 different options on the list when it launched and had a total of 5 engine options (2 sixes, 2 small blocks, and 1 big block)

 

Syncrocks I had my car in they gave me a new Taurus to use its so cool it hadthat key as well so I bought one had it cut now I only need to program it.

 

Fix... Dash rattles, fatness (I would like to see something smaller like a fox body), smaller fender wheel openings (I hate having to put at least a heavy 18" wheel on there to look decent) - this would have to fix proportions on the car already blown up.

Add... cubes, (if the new Mustang has a 6-cylinder, mimic and improve the Supra turbo engine. lol). That's about it. I know bringing back the big block days are gone, but hell, that'd be cool.

 

I still dont understand why you guys want IRS...SRA is the way to go considering most guys DRAG RACE their cars. notice how some Cobra guys even swapped out? hmm wonder why..

 

Most owners don't race their Mustangs. The majority of Mustangs are V6s. The majority of Mustangs spend their life on public roads. That's where an IRS rear really shines. An SRA is standard equipment because it's cheaper for Ford.

 

But if the dont race, why do they need IRS? a SRA can be just a comfortable.

Exactly but i dont think V6's should have it.
Bu make it inter-changable so that if you wanna swap out you can. and personally i think for single minded people like me; it should be an option for the Gt and standard on the Boss and the mach doesnt have it so it keep its rawness