I think the original stamping for the 2001 Bullitt was approx. 6500 units, which were cut back to the actual 5582 units, and that was when there were few variants of Mustangs to choose from, so it's hard to say just where the total number of 2008's will be. It could indeed end up well short of the scheduled 7700 units as people have so many models (of Mustang and others) to choose from these days. For the large part, the new Bullitt will not appeal to most Mustang buyers, as they want the "look" of an SE with the usual fare of bling. Since most will not care about (or know of) the Bullitt's origins, they may just end up sitting on the lots of dealerships collecting dust unless they are ordered specifically by a customer. Just look at all the 2007 Shelby GT's that are still available, and they have lots more bling than a Bullitt (of course at a much higher price too). In the Bullitt, one can get a unique Mustang for not much over a premium Mustang GT. Great value!
I personally delight in the fact that not many people are interested in the 2008 Bullitt and that you have to inform your dealer about what the car is. Very similar to the 2001 in overall appeal, people don't really know what it is or what to make of it. This only makes the car more unique! And I just love the sleeper, low profile, under the radar look of the car. Very unassuming....................

 

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Unless dealers order a lot of ones just for their stock, I don't see 7000 getting made in the US. I think Canada will sell a good chunk of the cars given to them. The way it is looking, I don't think US will reach 7000.</TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on">
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And Canada is a very small market so they may not reach their targets either. Less than 500 2001 Bullitts made their way to Canada. The 2008 Bullitt could really end up as a low production car.

 

As long as there's still one to be had after March timeframe for X or Z-plan (depending), I'm good.....

 

I wish I was in your position. I'd scoop one up in a second.

 

Andy, you can wait for those cars, AND pay the outrageous ADM's that will certainly accompany them when they arrive on dealers lots!

Already been hearing through the grapevine that Dodge dealers are talking about $15,000 to $25,000 over MSRP for Challengers!

 

ditto. I've heard similar rumors on Dodge sites (gotta check out the competition you know ). It sux.

 

The ADM's on Challengers will be huge. I love the new Mustang, but it's old news right now. Challengers and Camaro's will be the hot car when they drop.
I'm sure Ford will have a Mach1/Boss ready to combat them- but lot's of folks will still be wanting a Challenger or Camaro because it'll be the more rare car.

 

One thing to remember though is if the cost of oil keep rising (which it's predicted to do) the market for the Challenger and Camaro could be seriously impacted. Not that they necessarily would get bad mileage, but it's the whole perception of "gas guzzling V8" that might turn people off. The Mustang was fortunate in that when the new body style came out gas wasn't terribly expensive, but not so now with newer cars. Dealers may want to charge ADM's, and will probably get some sales initially. However as fuel prices climb they may very well wind up with expensive showroom ornaments that no one wants.

 

Yes, these muscle cars might end up bolted to the showroom floors if ADM's are too high. And the first batch of Challengers are to be automatics only (definitely not for me!!).

 

No kidding - if I'm gonna pay to drive something fun to drive, then I want it to be fun! (Not intending to knock the auto transmission, I just prefer a manual trans.)

 

Don't worry Jeff. I'm not going that way. I'm going back to the faithful Fox chassis Stang

You bring up a valid point, I'm just still bummed that the Bullitt didn't bring more to the table. I just expected more and I'm not satisfied with the latest reincarnation.

 

I agree George, but I do think your being a little hard on the Bullitt lumping it in as simply a 'cosmetics' package. There is some substance here aside from the green paint and the other exterior tweaks, and in fact what was done inside the car might be more extensive than what has been done outside. The gears, GT500 seats, GT500 steering wheel, panhard bar, and revised shocks and struts are all worthy additions that add subtance and serve to better the driving experience. And the price isn't out of line given these additions.

Your opinion on issues like these is ocassionally had to pin down, but if I had to guess I would bet you are closer to my line of thought on the subject than a lot of the other folks here. To wit: The Bullitt is a well executed car that serves to improve an owners driving experience a noticeable degree relative to what a stock GT could be expected to muster and provides pretty good value in the process...particularly if you like green. For those seeking the next Mach-1 this will obviously be a let down. But realitically speaking logic indicated long ago that the new Bullitt wasn't likely to break the mold the last model put into place.

 

You have NO idea...

 

Actually, I am not.

The Bullitt's fully optioned MSRP is reasonably priced and it proves upgrades' costs when done by Ford have a marginal difference as opposed to aftermarket tuners performing similar upgrades. For example, the GT500's seats and steering wheel. I doubt the additional cost would be over $400 retail for both. Add the difference of a n/a 5.4 without the FRPP CAI, a 6-spd with its matching clutch, and the GT500 brakes, and the difference would be very reasonable. If then you are concerned with the price you can do without the meaningless options which amount to over $2,500. I rather pay $37 or $38K for an "option stripped" SE with its unique all around performance oriented features than $34K with HIDS, Ambient Lighting, and Navigation which for some such as my wife is great since like many others she is inclined to be influenced by the preview rather than the complete plot. A presentation of a product is always positive, it is the actual experiencing of such product which makes the difference.

The migration or trickle down of parts from existing higher performance models has been done before and very effectively by Ford. The '03 Mach 1 was an extra $2K over the '01 Bullitt with just as many if not more upgrades and included the annual inflation costs so the difference wasn't that much for the best Ford had to offer at the time. Now is no different since Ford has the upgrades readily available to be combined as SE packages.

It's a matter of either building an instant classic Mustang such as the GT500 or building a substandard SE.

 

So what you're saying, George, is that if your wife were to drive an '08 Bullitt she would have to have the car loaded up with superflous luxo-features...

 

If it includes a double visor mirror surrounded by ambient lighting, yes. I guess it would make it easier for her to apply her own cosmetics.

 

Retail, I'm betting they'd get more mileage out of this stuff than this. Ford's cost...probably almost no difference if not no difference.

That is the best point I've heard made thus far

I still think your being too hard on it. Ford is no doubt making a nice sum of money from the Bullitt, but the reality is that an owner would be hard pressed to make the improvements the base Bullitt package seems to offer for a similar amount of money. GT500 seats or a similar alternative, a better steering wheel, shocks, struts, deeper gears, panhard bar, CAI, and a tune would be a tough overall package to purchase for $2500 even if you installed it all yourself. And if you look at the car for what it is, a mild upgrade package on the GT, it isn't a bad deal.

And for me that sums it up. If the choice were this or a GT for another 2500 I'd appreciate the better seats, better steering, wheel, dark green paint, and if it is as good as Ford seems to indicate, superior suspension tuning which the Bullitt brings to the table. Should the GT have gotten all of this instead of sprinkling the same over a very mild SE? Probably. But it is how it is and given the existing choices south of the GT500 I'd probably take the Bullitt GT over a run of the mill GT.

Sometimes I think I'm in the middle of the road here. I don't get as excited about the Bullitt as many here seem to because, for me, it is just another box to check on the options list of a GT that brings a few nice goodies I think would improve the driving experience. I'm also not as down on it as some others because I never expected anything resembling a Mach-1 or GT500 here to begin with so I was never in danger of being disappointed.

Truth be told it may not matter either way for me. I've mulled over a base GT, a Bullitt, and a GT500 as possibilities in the near future and now I think the most likely sequence of events is that I'll wait until the 2010 update and pounce then. Maybe the next gen GT500 will make an appearance using a Boss-based engine not long after debut......

 

That's exactly my point.
There is no debating those points, they pretty much confirm why we know a SE from Ford is the best deal. That's an area where Ford succeeds where tuners fail.

The mention of $2,500 was associated to the cost of HIDs, Ambient Lighting, and Navigation options. Deduct that amount from the $34K MSRP then add the cost of the performance upgrades and that is how the estimate of $37 -38K comes about. For those who would want those options there would be a $40K price tag. Just think of what the cost of the GT500 would be without the S/C then you have the Bullitt price and the perfect BULLITT. It can be done.

 

I like this idea as well, but see this as more of a Boss or mach type vehicle than a Bullitt.