i dont get it either. your comparing what gm did 6 years ago to what ford is doing today?

we will not even talk about the best muscle car on the market today. or about how the bullitt will compete with both the 335i and the g37 in both the 1320 and the road course yet cost a lot less than either car! and we will not mention all the other cars for sale today with a v8 and a manual transmission for about 30k.


the camaro will be a hit. a 300hp v6. a 400hp v8. and a 550hp blown v8! put your order in today! they will go fast and they will sell above msrp!

ford has exactly one year to step up!

 

Let's get something straight once and for all..I don't have to explain or defend my intentions to you, nor to anybody else for that matter..

Therefore, when and if I decide to sell/trade my Mustang ! I'll either purchase a new Boss/Mach 1..Or I'll just wait for the all new 2012 Huntsman Mustang to arrive in 2011..As for the Bullitt ! I've already stated my reasons, for not being interested in purchasing one..

As for the Shelby GT markup..yes I'm aware that his 8k package, are the very same FRPP parts, that he charges dealers to upgrade Mustang GT's..

In the meantime ! you and I can purchase those very same parts, from Ford Racing Performance Parts for 2k and upgrade our own cars, for far less than 8k..Once again, your paying for nothing more than just the Shelby name, and some goofy scoop, and striping kit..along with a different grille..

And finally..if Brian can save me some money, on my next purchase ! I'll be more than happy, to do business with him..in the future..

As for repeating myself ! well excuse the hell out of me, for not being a shipping expert, such as yourself..In which, I didn't claim to be..in the first place..

 

I have to agree with you on this one. I think initially there will be the "knee-jerk reaction" sales where the first buyers (at least a few of them) will pay whatever just to get the car. I think later once all the dust settles the sales prices will taper off and eventually they will go below MSRP.

[/quote]dont buy from dealerships that mark up cars. its that simple. or you can always purchase used from private party to really stick it to all the dealers.[/quote]

I agree with this statement also (regarding the other subject in this thread). If I was retired and/or otherwise not working right now I would compile a database for everyone to use that lists every price-gouging dealer across the U.S. and Canada so buyers woould know who to avoid. I would also include a list of those dealers that were COOL ... So buyers would know who to go to and get the most reasonable deals and to help those particular dealers succeed in earning more profits by selling more volume as opposed to profitizing by being greedy.

 

You probably would not come out ahead doing business cross country, as you will certainly find a dealer within a comfortable drive to your home that will be reasonable on a price for whichever new toy you choose to buy, while giving you a reasonable trade-in value for your current toy. Might not be the first or second dealer closest to you, but somewhere within 100 miles of you I'd bet you'll find the right deal.

I think the gigantic ADM fiasco is very specific to GT500's within the Ford camp. All the other SE's may have initially seen a bit of ADM's, but then things settled down quickly. This will continue with the next SE's, as well. I mean, come on now, the Shelby GT500 may have been the most highly anticipated Mustang of the last 30 years. What else is on the horizon that will generate that kind of buzz? Boss? Mach 1? While those are likely to be cool, they won't have nearly the cache of a GT500.

 

That's correct FiveOh. The GT500 was hyped very much by the public, press, and Ford themselves long before it ever actually was available for sale. It made people think about owning one and thus build the demand for it creating some hefty ADM's in the process. There just isn't enough interest in the Bullitt to create any substantial ADM factor. Most people expect to get some bling for their money and the Bullitt obviously isn't it, especially for those who want the next best thing or because it's a SE. The upcoming Mach1 will garner a fair amount of interest and with it a suspected ADM, but the real high-anticipation model will be the Boss. I've heard that Ford will only be stamping out 1000 units. If this is so, look out for the ADM's on this baby! But again, there will be some who will be disappointed with it as they were the Bullitt.

 

Wow, I didn't know my comment would upset people so much. I was just speaking my opinion. Haha... geesh. I like the GT500s and they look great, but if the handling is as loose as what everyone makes it out to be, I wouldn't want that much horsepower in the first place.

 

Yes, they're a sensitive crowd.......................

 

^^^ not very Trollish at all, just hard honest assesment and opinion, right?

 

Agreed. Sometimes you'd think the discussion is not by Mustang or Ford enthusiasts at all

 

There is a lot of mooting in this thread.
I hope everyone is having fun

 

There's nothing wrong with opinions. There's nothing wrong with a GT500 that rides comfortably (loose?) either. While they don't generate 1.0 g skidpad figures, they do hold their own (I've read tests in the .89 g to .93 g range, which is pretty dang good for a 4-seater of any kind, especially one with the straight line capabilities of this one!).

5 years ago I spent a few days at the Bob Bondurant school in Chandler, AZ racing both the then-new 2003 SVT Cobras and 2003 Corvettes (base ones, not the Z51). On the straights, the Cobra was a bit faster (no surprise), but even in the corners the Cobra was just a fast as the Corvette. Ever more surprising (and why I mention this at all), was that the Cobra was so relaxed and easy to navigate through corners, while the Corvette was quite a handful (even though the actual numbers were the same).

I think it is a high compliment to the GT500's chassis engineers that a car with such high limits can be so relaxing at those limits and comfortable (dare I say "sedate") around town. The vast majority of the suspension in the GT500 came straight from the Grand Am Cup FR500C Mustangs.

Granted, I bet the upcoming Bullitt will outhandle the GT500 in a slalom or skid pad, but it had better! Lower weight that's better distributed. Get 'em both on a road course, and the the longer the course, the more advantage for the GT500. Shorter courses (even autocrossing) will favor the Bulliit.

 

I like it, and I would buy one. But, any dealer markup and I WON'T!

 

I've heard of more dealers at MSRP or less, than I have who want an ADM, so I think we've found your next car, boss 244!

 

Personally speaking, I considered his advice as very helpful..

 

Thanks Brian, I truly appreciate your honesty..In which I'd be more than willing, to purchase my next Mustang from you..However, I believe it would be in my best interest to wait, until my current 05 is fully paid off..That way, I can just sell the car outright, and not have to mess around with consignments or taking a loss, after paying the remaining balance that's owed to the financial institution..

Therefore if your able to offer either the new Mach 1, or the all new 2012 Huntsman Mustang...at either below or at MSRP... It will then be well worth the $1,500-2,000 for shipping, as opposed to paying ADM markups locally

 

Hard to predict the future, but I'd be happy to try to and help you when the time comes. Shipping won't be as much as you cited above, though. We just sold a 2006 Shelby GT-H to a guy in PA a couple weeks ago, and he had it shipped to him. Don't remember exactly what he paid, but it was well below that.

 

If it is that nicely balanced, I say bravo, . For me, I just like a tighter feel going into turns, but is just me. I would love to test drive a 500, but when will that happen? lol For those of you that love your 500s, that is great, you made a good purchase. I'm just judging from research that the 500's were lackluster in the way of handling for their price range. Oh Brian, it was good to get a good review of the capabilities of it, though. I wasn't bashing the 500, folks. Need not be so defensive. Once again, I learn something new from this forum.

 

JSTaylor,

I understand what you're saying. I think the mustang is the best-priced sports car out there. I've owned a v6 and GT s197, both were exceptional cars for the price. Kids with new Lexus's and such would call me "spoiled" when my car was easily $15k cheaper than theirs, haha. I don't think judging a car from a magazine before you buy it is necessarily a bad thing, especially when many different reviews harp on the same thing. Am I saying the GT500 is a crappy buy? No, I was just saying that for me, the handling reviews were disappointing. If some people can't handle it, oh well, haha. For me, moving up from a base v6 to a GT made the GT feel like it was the best handling car in the world. I'm sure I'd feel the same way if I moved up to a GT500. I hold views like Five Oh Brian's in higher regard b/c he has driven cars that were made to corner and the GT500 (differnt price ranges, also). He has something to compare it to. I feel the same about some automotive authors. They have much more experience than I do, so I tend to put more weight in their opinions. I never said it was fact, but I'd keep it in mind when going to buy one. Maybe I'd like the way it handles, maybe not. But, until I find out for sure, I have the reviews in mind.

Also, when GT500s are consistently being marked up to 50-60k, I put them in that price range and I would not call it a $45k car as some people have noted online.

 

Sounds great Brian, and it's really nice to know that dealers such as yourself, truly put their customers first.. instead of resorting to such greedy/self-centered techniques, as some of my local dealerships have well been known for..And it's just really sad, that they don't even realize..If it weren't for their customers ! they wouldn't be enjoying their current success, let alone even having a job..

That being said ! my local dealerships, and other's.. should surely follow your example, in both customer service, and customer loyalty.. Perhaps then, Ford wouldn't be losing so many of it's customers, over to the competition..

 

This sounds like a good time to tell you about a friend/neighbor of mine. He owns an 07 Shelby GT500 and an 06 Shelby GT-H. He bought the GT500 out of state (we were sold out) in the fall of 2006. Got the GT-H at the dealership I work for a few months after that last spring. I see him on the road all the time in the GT-H, but have only seen him drive the GT500 once ever. When I visit him, I always give him grief about not driving the GT500. He says he really prefers the GT-H, even though it's an automatic, as he feels it handles much crisper. But, he is especially afraid of the GT500's power - just a little too much throttle and that thing is a beast. I think I'd like the GT500's extra power so I could powerslide my way around corners (drifting is my idea of fun!).

I've driven his GT-H. I've driven another friend's 07 Shelby GT (manual). I've driven another friend's Saleen PJ Mustang (absolute best handling of the bunch, IMO). I've driven a few GT500's and have several friends (all with way more money than me) who own GT500's (some pushing over 600 horsepower). None of the GT500's seem to be ill-handling cars, but they do not feel like they dance lightly either (you know they're heavy when you're driving them). However, a big car can be taught to dance, and the perception that their soft in the corners is just that - a perception. They are actually sticking quite well and have high limits, it just doesn't feel like it.

I owned a 1968 Pontiac GTO for 9 years. Weighed 3,900 lbs. It made about 425hp at the crank and I had the suspension completely reworked (big sway bars front and rear, KYB gas shocks, thoroughly modern wheels and tires, etc.). That thing was awesome in the twisties. Much better handling than the brand new 1989 5.0L Mustang I owned at the time. It was easy to out-corner any 'Vette I ever encountered. But, it didn't really feel hard to drive at the limit (other than the manual steering box), and it was quite comfortable. Much like the GT500's (or even the 03 Cobras I got to punish on the race track at Bondurant a few years ago).

I guess when car magazine editors are reviewing cars, they need to remember what price point and audience a car is aimed at when they make comments about them. The handling of a GT500 is exceptional for a 4 seat $50K coupe. But, when a journalist hears about that 500hp, they may start mentally comparing other 500hp cars (that are lightweight 2 seaters with 6 figure price tags) and come away feeling the GT500 isn't as good. Well, gosh, it won't be as it is a completely different animal with the only commonality being the 500hp mark. How many other 500hp 4 seaters are available brand new for under $50K? And how do they handle? Any of them posting 1.0g skidpad #'s? Oh wait, there aren't any.