i'm trading in my gt for the bullitt




not.

 

But why not? It's like such an awesome upgrade, dude.

 

Really? Of course, you have prove of this. Perhaps a hint on your source might clear matter up, not that we are skeptical but a little collaboration on outrageous statements always seem to help rather than aswering questions with questions. My compliments on your spinning.

According to your time table there must be a special edition in the works for the next generation, so which one is it?

Apples and oranges. Your refererence was to the Bullitt, specifically, being worked on for three years not the complete current S197 models or the next generation.

 

I assumed you were referring to the '01 Bullitt. As Kevin lists previously, there were a number of FRPP and SVT-inspired parts that were more than badge and sticker.

In this car, there are FRPP-insprired parts that are more than badges and stickers.

I've read all the threads. I personally would love more engine. It's disappointing. Some, like you, think it's a failure. Others, like me, think it holds true to the character of the '01 model.

True enthusiasts (I include myself in that group) would love to see a lessening of the weight, a little more sophistication in the rear suspension, more power, stronger and more fade-resistant brakes, etc. I believe true enthusiasts have tended to take whatever came from Ford and made aftermarket changes. I believe we are smaller in number, from a relative market segement standpoint, hence, the business cases are more difficult to make when Ford as a company is under such pressure.

Neither of these people are associated with the Mustang program currently. These decisions are made by groups of people. Time, money, engineering resource, manufacturing capability, fuel economy standards, etc. all feed into the decision process.

Not really, because the power level that is "base" is now much higher than before. We would not be speaking of "we need 400hp" had the Mach 1 not had the engine it got, and a Mach 1 would not exist had the not the original "modestly upgraded" Bullitt been originally built.

 

Well I don't have any exact numbers on when the Bullitt was actually being designed, etc.
But it is a fairly lengthy process. There is a video clip from Shelby that discusses the Shelby GT. They talk about how slow Ford is at getting from concept to production. This is one reason why the Shelby GT is unique- Shelby was able to cut through this slow process and get the car into their shop: where they are able to respond and change direction much quicker.

For those thinking that "if we yell loud enough Ford will listen".....well they might listen for future models, but this IS the Bullitt we will be getting.
It takes time to change over assembly lines, have parts supplied, and all the other million little things that go into designing, building and retailing a car.
It's not as simple as- let's drop a bigger engine into it. Okay! Done! Now let's sell 'em.

If you want a Bullitt this is the car you'll be getting. If this is not what you want then wait for a possible Boss. Save your money for a GT500 or GT500KR. OR consider a Challenger- which should have at least a 340hp hemi.

 

Sad as it is, Ford will tell the dealers LAST!!! I get all my info from the 'net! The info here is as true as it gets, as that has been the suspicion all along. An appearance package with a little bump in performance.

 

My source was correct! Not much in the HP department. I've waited this long already, I might as well wait for the 09's, unless Ford has one of those 0% for 72 months deals this September.

What do we have to do to get Ford to finally produce a 350-400hp Mustang? If Ford continues this trend of low HP SE Mustangs when the Challenger and Camaro come out, its going to get embarrassing. GM & Chrysler don't have a problem dropping 340-400hp engines in their cars!

 

Here's link to the video I was mentioning. Click on the picture and video tab and it will be the 5th video.
http://www.svt.ford.com/

This tells you that it takes 3 years for Ford to get through all the committees, etc. to get a car into production. Since Ford isn't sending the Bullitt to Shelby- it would appear that this Bullitt has been in the works for many years. So for better or worse, this is the Bullitt we will be getting.

 

I'm puzzled. If Ford had all this time and properly weighed customer sentiment, they'd have known that a larger horsepower engine was required to make it appealing, especially in light of what's to come from the competition. You either act or react to gain or maintain market share. I think Ford has dropped the ball half way up the field on this one. I was a buyer of the new Bullitt if it included some decent hp numbers. If this is what we're going to get, I'm out!

 

This is very sad considering the R&D for the 4.6L & 5.4L has been done for years now.

It wouldn't take much to get the 4.6L up to 350-400hp or give us a de-tuned "poor mans" version of the GT500, and call it a Mach1.

 

The 08 Bullitt is exactly what the 2001 Bullitt was, a tribute car with suspension and cosmetic mods. Some of the same Team Mustang members worked on this car as worked on the 01 so the two cars will be similar in performance and looks. The 01 Bullitt package was $3600. Bump that up to 5K for inflation and you should be close to the MSRP. New Bullitt owners will do what us 01 Bullitt owners do if we want more HP, mod them.

You will have to pay to play with the Challengers and Camaros. The SS will have the vette engine BUT it is going to list in the same ballpark as the GT 500. Mid 40's. CAFE will have a great deal to do with how many of these SEs are produced and don't think Chevy and Dodge dealers haven't been watching the ADM fun the Ford dealers are having. So, as far as an affordable muscle car for the masses an't going to happen from any of the domestic folks.

Unfortunately we are not the majority that Ford or any other maker listens to. V6 Mustangs pay the bills and the cost just isn't worth the time, engineers etc.. to make a great 'new" engine for a 7000 car run.

Also as been mentioned here, the Shelby factor entered into the equation. Can't have the Bullitt faster than any Shelby...

So if you want the extra HP pony up the ADM cash or mod it yourself which is what the true gear heads have been doing for years.

 

Really? I'm sure there are a lot of engineers at Ford that would love to know how you plan on doing it at a price below a couple of million dollars, still meet all Federal emission standards and Ford's durability requirements.

Plus, explain to the Boss why when everyone in the company is competing for the same scarce resources a few thousand Mustangs is so important.

 

It's similar to '01 when the Bullitt could not come close to the Cobra.

The one factor that might be involved with the '08 Bullitt and its proposed tune is it might be exempt from the gas guzzler tax. If that were to be the case it is worth it.

 

I've already said the R&D has been done for years now - 390hp 4.6L 4V SVT Cobra and 500hp 5.4L GT500.
Quit making excuses for the poorly managed Blue Oval. Even Chrysler is plugging 340hp Hemi's in several of their models.

As for durability? Again the R&D is done. Plus, Saleen & Roush don't seem to have a problem Super Charging the 4.6L 3V.
It wouldn't cost Ford much to throw a SC on a Mustang GT, add a few mods and sell the thing for under $35k. Heck, GM was selling the 400HP GTO for under $34k.
And before the dealer mark-ups the 500hp GT500 is around $42k.

The problem I have always had with Ford is that us Mustang & Ford Loyalist have to pay extra for what GM & Chrysler (especially GM) buyers get at normal price.
I am telling you, a new Camaro Z28 will arrive with a 350-400hp engine and will be around the $30k price range. If its higher, it won't exceed the price of the GTO.
Right now, people are paying upper $30's for a Shelby GT with under 320hp.

So why is a 350-400hp Mustang SE so important?
1.) They don't call it a Special Edition for nothing. Someday it will be a collectors item.
2.) Some people don't want to have to go through the trouble of modding their car and risk losing the Factory Warrantee.
3.) GM & Chrysler will have cars in this range. Why should Ford buyers settle for less?
4.) Thousands of Mustangs buyers are already screaming for the darn thing!

Maybe Ford should do something about the Dealerships marking-up the sticker on the Shelby GT500. I know I would buy one if I could get it for $42k + A/Z Plan and a down payment.

 

thanks to whammer with his 2 cents.

my first response was long winded and complicated so i will try this. i never had a source, just used my common sense that i have gained in the last 6 years. yes i have been closely following ford and and a few others since the bullitt in 01. here are my judgements on your question at hand:
the mach 1 was late.
the boss is not here yet.
we have been seeing hearing of the new camaro for 2 years now, and its still 2 years out.
ford gt took 18months working round the clock, general time is 2 to 3 times that long.
i started hearing about the changes to the 998 when the 997 started hitting dealer lots.

but since you want a source i went to one of my sources. ask him how long to build a car ground up? asked him how long to build the bullitt? his response to both questions was one statement. and yes ford is currently working on the new bodied special edition mustangs and drivetrains as well the next svt mustang.

 

Which normally come out in the last years of a model run when sale numbers drop to a point where the line needs a image boost. We ain't there yet.

 

you dont think ford is thinking about the boss mustang now? designing and engineering the components? what about the mach 1? i had heard they had several engines in the mustang mules summer 05 testing for the mach 1 and boss mustangs along with the gt500 mules.

and whats your definition of special edition? the california special was out a year after the new car. the shelby gt was out 2.5 years after the new car. the gt500 was out 2 years after the new car.

 

I agree that this car can easily get to 350-400. Put about $500-600 and you're there.

I would have loved 400hp from the factory, but who are we kidding? This is Ford we're talking about... They don't care about the people that buy their cars (at least not the bean counters), as long as they don't have any competition, they're going to stick with what's working.

In 2009 though, they need something upwards of 400hp from the factory, and I'd perfer it be N/A, with a s/c version at or over the GT500 specs. The BOSS would be best for Ford to do, since it's their name and would cost a lot less $. I just hope msrp will be under $45k for the s/c version. If so, one will be in my drive way, and my wife will be kicking and screaming.

 

Back in 2001 when the Bullitt came out, the Cobra had 320 HP. The 390 HP Terminator Cobra did not come out until the 2003 Model Year.

The Bullitt intake manifold supposedly improves the torque curve, so back in 2001 the Bullit did fill the power gap between the 260 HP GT and the 320 HP Cobra.

For 2008, I still can't understand why Ford won't dust off the Terminator engine and give us a Mustang model that fills the HP gap between the 300 HP GT and the 500 HP GT-500. A 400 HP SE with the Terminator engine just makes so much sense it's sickening that Ford won't do it.

 

Don't hold your breath waiting for a new 3V head.
Based on Ford's way of doing things, we won't see an improved 3V head until the next gen Mustang GT comes out in 2010.