Wrong! Go back and re-read my post if it wasn't clear the first time.

 

The cost doing the suspension work, a hood distinct from the GT500 version, and testing to support a 5.4L engine would have pushed the cost up, I presume. How much is hard to say. For me personally, I would choose an aluminum block 4.6L over an iron-block 5.4 and put my money into the handling balance.

I think 05fordgt's information about CAFE standards, gas guzzler tax, and government fines are probably a big part in this.

 

I read "close but no cigar" as "liked it but could have been better".

The numbers are a changin' over time for sure.

That's what is difficult to see - how well this extrapolates.

So a twin-vented hood and louvers would have done it for ya, if it included the performance upgrades as mentioned? Would you have paid $2000 more for that? Just curious...

 

I would say internet reaction to a car as a example of how the general public and car enthusiast feel about whatever car is a tiny to maybe zero percentage of how the car will sell or perform. What,60 people here hate the car? How many of that number are actually in the market for a car? 2?3? Ford wants to sell 7000+,a couple hundred people across the Mustang forums ain't making a dent in that.
Look at the 350Z as a example,when that car came out first in concept then in production form,you could literally hear the howls of protest from the Nissan boards. Truth be told,besides the '01 Bullitt,i can't remember a more negative hateful reaction to a car from Freshalloy.com or Zcar.net or.com. Now,if you were to think that was a accurate example of a actual car buyer or enthusiast,you'd think the Z would be a huge flop,which to date,it's been a huge success for Nissan and the Z community loves the car. The non-credible internet tide turns once the car gets into people's hands and the children and whiners and people who wouldn't own the car anyway,to begin fade away.
On Blueovalnews.com,when the '01 Bullitt was making the rounds,i remember one forum member proposed a class-action lawsuit against Ford because of the drop from proposed 275HP to 265HP on the '01 Bullitt,people were crazy in their hatred of this car and now it's being held up as a shining example of how to do a SE Mustang.
Car companies should NEVER look to the internet as a gauge as to how their cars will be received,there is NO credibility at all. Unless it's a safetly issue or a peformance issue('99 Cobra or '01 Miata),there is no reason to take into account any opinions on any forum as a example of what will sale or what won't.
This car will be a hit,and it will be remembered as a another example of an awesome Mustang,just as the '01. These forums are useless for anything other than pictures or people like me acting like a ***.

 

There is nothing to re-read. You obviously don't understand or know the simple statistical concepts I am talking about and thus you are probably interpreting my use of bias erroniously.

Here is a pretty simple explanation of what I am talking about:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biased_sample

Any poll used on this site to judge the reaction to a car like the Bullitt will clearly be a biased sample in the representatitve group of people potentially purchasing that car. This site and its members may be the target market for the car (in your opinion), but it certainly is not representative of the population of people that will eventually purchase or consider this car. This population is who anybody should truly care about accepting this product, not just this small, biased sample.

Even if this sample wasn't biased (it is), the ~100 or so people that have responded hardly make up a large enough sample to tell anything about that population's reaction to this product.

 

Over all Ford did a good job, IMO. The '08 BULLITT package is a good compliment to its theme and the price for it's upgrades is hard to beat. I am inclined to think it will be a very nice cruiser.

It's deja vu back to 2001 where as an SE it needs aftermarket upgrades to be what a Mustang SE should be in the first place. My perspective is the GT is meant to be modded and improved by the owner to make it better, faster, and more exciting specially for the do-it-yourself types who enjoy their passion in creating their personal vision and version of the Mustang, unlike the SEs, which are meant to be viewed as exclusive and future collectables without altering their appearance or performance. In other words, for it to be viewed as a complete instant classic.

Many thanks to those TMS members who went out of their way and on a limb to assure and provide me with the details of the production version which helped me decide in choosing an alternative I am satisfied with. THANKS A MILLION!

 

I highly doubt That Ford purposly put out the Mustang GT thinking..."This should be good enough...the buyers who dont like it will modify them anyway."

...The mustang is the most important car to Ford...I dont think they really care about what happens after the sale. They are supposed to make the car good enogh to sell them, not good platforms for modification. I would bet that most mustang owners dont modify them any more than 1,000 dollars in the life of the car.

 

After seeing the video of the car on popularmechanics.com my vote is swaying the other way. Car sounds awesome. Personally don't like the engine turned dash other than that I look forward to being able to get some parts from KC to mod my 07 GT. Still not enough to sway me to trade in the Black Beauty I have. I am slightly biased that is my daughter with her 2001 Bullitt in the avatar.

 

I am considering buying this one and putting a heat extractor hood on it.

 

I saw this coming a mile away. People had expectations for this car that ranged from unrealistic to just plain ludicrous. The only thing I really have against this is the rather underwhelming powerboost. Though the '01 shared that characteristic with the new interpretation.

Personally, I love it.

 

I've shown pics to my family and friends and they all love the look- and they're not really car people.
My kids (age 21 and 18) usually hate anything I like (typical). They both thought the car looks "sick" (slang for cool). They never heard of the movie Bullitt, nor the chase scene, etc.
This leads me to think that the general population will like the car.

 

I think this is absolutely correct. It would've taken no effort at all to take an already-available 5.4 "off the shelf" and offer it for this car.

I would've gladly paid any extra costs as long as they were reasonable. I would expect less gas mileage than a 4.6 and would be willing to live with it. I don't think the mileage differences would've been much at all. The extra performance would've smoothed any drawbacks of less gas mileage and GG taxes, etc.

Instead, Ford spent all this money on NAV systems, etc. that serves no performance purpose whatsoever. The money spent on all the extra BULLITT-unique frills could've been put instead toward defraying the costs of the 5.4 being offered in addition to, or instead of, the measly underpowered 4.6 engine.

And NO ... I wouldn't want the 5.4 as much for racing purposes but for road trips and everyday driving ... and simply because if it belongs in any vehicle it belongs in the new BULLITT.

Any of those that had input to Ford to not offer the 5.0 or 5.4 should hide their heads in shame.

 

How is unbolting a stock hood and bolting on an aftermarket hood "butchering"? If originality is important, put the stock hood away and put it back on when it's time to sell it.

 

Hey G.R, don't take this the wrong way, but there is no need to put your entire post in bold letters. I think we all get the idea that you don't like this car, as you have posted your displeasure in most of the Bullitt threads. Just say you hate the car and move on.
BTW, I thought I saw your screen name with a line drawn through it meaning you were banned?

 

Why would you want to add a 5.4L up front for the BULLITT? It would negatively impact the handling so much that Ford would have no option other than to beef up the rest of the suspension to counteract the lead anchor put on the front of the car. Furthermore, because it would now weigh more (and have more power), the brakes would have to be upgraded as well. This is also not taking into account the various other things that would bump up the price of this car (certification, GG tax, etc). Your BULLITT would now be close to 40K. That is not what this car is about (at least the first one that they built, like the one you own). It would be insanely stupid for Ford to put that much effort into making the BULLITT something more than it should be, when they can do something like this and deliver on something true to the original yet even more like the one in the movie aesthetically (IMO of course).

 

Close but no Cigar

If they had the heat extractor hood, dumped the crap dash and made it just brushed alum, added GT500 brakes and changed the seat patter, it would be just fine.

All that plus a more agressive tune and some better suspension goodies would make it pretty cool.

All of that and a 5.4L.. well that would just be gorram awesome

I suppose it would be easy enough to change the hood and the brakes, and just as easy to get it retuned and get some suspension goodies. But you're still stuck with a butt ugly dash...

I still think its a C+/B- execution. Had I the money to spare, out of mostly my love of the movie Bullitt, I would consider one of these in a few years time, and mod it to the "pretty cool" level.

Its kinda frustrating seeing a car that is close, but not quite right. the "COME ON!!! YOU'RE SO CLOSE" sentiment sinks in. Whatever.

 

I dont know how/why that came out in bold ... it seemed only to happen with that post ... (???)

No, obviously I'm not banned ...

THANKS ~ I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN

No I dont hate the car. I think you need to read a little closer and you'll see my main complaint is really with Ford, for the most part anyway.

I will post on here later my opinion of what I think so far with the appearance, etc., but as it stands right now it came out EXACTLY how I had pictured it would and I think as far as appearance goes Ford hit the nail on the head with this body style.

STAY TUNED MY BROTHERS ... MORE TO COME LATER ~ !!!

 

I dont really agree with a lot of your opinion above but I respect it. This is part of why I said the above:

I don't think the handling would be all that bad. I've driven an original 68 GT 500 KR convertible and although it didnt handle like a BOSS 302 it wasn't all that bad. Actually, after driving a 67 GT 350 also it was only a noticeable difference. It wouldn't bother me if the 2008 handled similar to that sort of difference (above) if the 5.0 or 5.4 was there.

From what I understand (I also refer you to a previous post by KNIGHT on beefing the frame, suspension, etc.) all this was enhanced around 2007 anyways for the GT 500. They did do upgraded suspension and brakes on this 2008 and who is to say those upgrades were not sufficient ... ???

I don't think Ford would be justified in hitting $40K, maybe the price range of a 03-04 Cobra but not $40K.

I don't think it is ever stupid for there to be more options available, expecially if folks are willing to pay for them as long as they are reasonable.

Kind of hard for one or two individuals to say what an SE or any other car for that matter is about one thing or the other, what it should/should not be, etc.

Otherwise, I feel all of what I said above is self-explanatory.

Again ... thanks anyway for your point of view.

 

Thanks for attempting to "educate" me, but you precede from an erroneous premise, and that is that the Bullitt will appeal to the general public at large.

Mustang sales are down across the board, and gas is up over $90 a barrel. High performance specialty Mustangs will therefore appeal primarily - as they always have - to Mustang enthusiasts and muscle/sports car fans, the majority of whom know the car and its history. Therefore, the members of this site - whether you choose to admit it or not - represent a reasonably accurate litmus test of the market, allowing probably for a 5% margin of error either way. If this were a V6 or even GT in its first year of production, I would probably agree with you, but that is not the situation we're dealing with here.

Some multidimensional thinking may be in order.

 

Well, that's certainly true, of course, and probably exactly what I would do.