I am wondering about the impact on GT sales of the new V6. Do you think that with a 305 V6 that the ratio of V6 sales to GT sales will rise?

 

I tend to think this will increase the V6's portion. I wouldn't necessarily say "cannibalize" V8 sales, but a 305 hp Mustang with the previous GT-spec suspension & brakes will be MORE than enough for the average consumer. This is gonna be one heckuva 6 cylinder Mustang!

 

Only marginally, if at all. I think the numbers will go up across the board, but if the performance gap remains about the same, I'd expect to see the sales gap do about the same.

Even if the sales gap does decrease, I'd like to think it's more a case of potential "on-the-fence" V6 buyers (who wouldn't have purchased a GT anyway) finally getting excited enough to pull the trigger.

 

some people will want the V8 no matter what, but I think there are some on the fence who will go for the new V6 instead of the V8 because it will have all the performance they need, lower price, and great gas mileage . . . . . which is exactly why I want one!

however, the V6 isn't really taking my business away from the V8, because I probably would not have bought a V8 (don't feel like I can afford it) . . . so more likely the new V6 will increase total Mustang sales, by taking some away from the Camaro V6

 

I think the ratio will stay the same but both (V-8 & V-6) Mustang sales will go up. I was checking out information on 2014 Mustangs until news broke about the new engines for 2011. I'm going to go with the 2011 V-6 instead of waiting for the 2014's.

 

Is there still going to be a V6 Track Pack? If so then there will be a definite increase in V6 sales. It would make a fine dual purpose car that would have great balance, acceleration, and modification potential. Insurace would be lower than a GT and the young crowd looking for affordability, performance and mileage would eat it up. They will eat it up without a Track Pack. Give me the V8, but if I was to buy one for one of my daughters or the wife for a DD, then the V6 would top the list.

 

the ratio of V6 to V8 will narrow but not strictly due to buyers purchasing a V6 instead of the V8 because of the increased performance.

there are a number of people who just plain want to buy a Mustang and will only buy a Mustang and that number is generally the same each year.
i believe in there is a pool of V8 buyers who will only buy a V8.
I believe in there is a pool of buyers who for reasons such as price, insurance, responsibility, being choked because it's Daddy's money, yada yada can or would only buy a V6.

To generally increase sales of the V6, Ford is aiming for is the guy/gal that was looking at an import or domestic, i.e. Camaro V6, Challenger V6, Impreza WRX, Mitsu Eclipse, Volks GTI, Mazdaspeed 3, something with ***** but not a V8... see where I'm going with this.

so the ratio may shrink but not necessarily due to cannabilization of V8 sales.

 

I can see someone test driving the 4.0 V6 and deciding that they need a GT, and that same person driving a 2011 V6 and deciding it's more than good enough. Especially with the fuel economy improvement. The old V6 took almost as much gas as the GT, where the 2011's have a real mileage gap thanks to the efficiency of the 3.7L V6. I don't think there will be a dramatic change in the ratio of V6 to GT, but I expect the V6 portion will become somewhat larger.

 

I can see a much larger market share for the V6. Its got a heck of a lot and is $7K cheaper than the GT.

 

yes -- it's called the "V6 Performance Package" , with "late availability" like summer or fall and I think it goes beyond the "track pack"

if I understand it correctly, every car pretty much gets the "track pack" as a starting point -- both V6 and V8, but this is a little bit unclear because they go on to say that the V6 Performance Package gets the GT suspension

 

I think the pricing of the cars is going to lead more people to the V6 as the GT has moved out of the range of more buyers. However, the V6 has always been the volume seller.

 

I think V8 sales will increase slightly, and V6 sales will increase by a reasonable margin. So sales increase across the board but moreso for the V6.

 

Having a awesome V6 hasn't helped the ratio to V6 to V8 Camaro sales.

 

Agreed

 

Hard to say. Currently, the V8 sales may have been bolstered by the fact that the 4.0 is such a mediocre engine. However, now that the '11 V6 will be a state of the art sporting engine rather than the final back pasture for an ancient truck engine, Stang buyers on a budget won't need to stretch to V8 territory to get a genuinely fun engine. That the chassis will be similarly upgraded beyond dray conveyance settings is also a big plus.

On the other hand, the V8 option won't be the old 4.6 but a much hotter and spanking new 5.0, it too with uprated chassis bits and settings, so the enticing 100hp gap will remain. Presumably so will the price differentials.

Bottom line? I predict a wash in terms of sales percentage but perhaps that similar percentage will be divied up over greater overall Mustang sales. That the V6 will now have actual performance substance to undergird the Mustang style will, I think, draw in a lot of new buyers who've rightly dismissed the V6 Stang as a hollow style piece. Even tech-savvy import buyers might now give the V6 a new look now that its ditched its steam-age 4.0 mill. As for the 5.0, well, the heritage of the nomenclature itself will draw some misty-eyed nostolgiacs while Camaro competing power will draw in the more steely-eyed performance enthusiasts.

While the '10 restyle was basically old wine in an old bottle with a new label, the '11 is a strapping batch of fresh new hooch to swig on.

 

V6 sales will increase; they made a nice V6 this time

 

So V6 to GT sales might increase because:

1. the V6 will now be a true performance car (with potential track pack) that at this price point will draw in some customers who might have gone to other performance cars, e.g., V6 Camaro
2. with adequate power, lower price and better gas mileage, the V6 might draw away some potential GT buyers
3. the GT is getting into a price bracket that would eliminate some potential GT purchasers

 

Agree that GT is outpricing itself as previous 'options' always seem to become current 'standard' features.
But, correct me if I am wrong, when I look at the Order Guide, in the bold black column at the top of each model, it shows the series and percent of ?. Is it the percent of total production anticipated or allocated. For example:
V6 series is given 24%
V6 Premium is 18%
GT only 7%
GT Premium is 45%

A total of 94%. Is the rest of the Mustang sales undetermined or given over to the GT500?

This seems to indicate that projected volume will be 52% of the 2011 Mustangs will be GT's and 42% will be the V6's.

 

You looked up the numbers in the 2011 Mustang Guide, so I went back to look at a few previous years to see Ford's suggestions....


2011 = 52% GT / 42% V6
2010 = 40% GT / 54% V6
2007 = 38% GT / 62% V6
2005 = 32% GT / 68% V6


So, it's very obvious that Ford is recommending a bigger emphasis be placed on dealers ordering GT's.

So far for 2011 Mustangs, I've ordered 7 GT's (including one that'll be a GT350), 6 V6's, and 1 GT500. I think that is pretty close to Ford's suggestion coincidentally.

 

Now that's really interesting seeing that no one in the poll thinks that the ratio of V6s to GTs will drop!