Apology letters to a new generation.
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
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From: Carnegie, PA
Bullitt Member
Joined: December 11, 2012
Posts: 482
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From: N'awlins/SoCal
That car is bad@$$. I love my 14 GT, but this new one is special. I'm going to let others work the first gen bugs out, then I will get on board. I love the looks, the suspension, interior, etc. Lol and no factory 4x4 stance is an added bonus. I can't wait to see the track comparison videos.
HUGE +1 here. I don't get the divisiveness. This new design (with the exception of the front end) is pure heritage and sex appeal. People complaining about the car losing it's muscle car status should rejoice. Muscle cars typically don't handle well compared to sports cars - and being able to throw around 450hp is much more fun that being limited to fun between the red lights. For a guy like myself, who comes form owning high powered (amazing handling) rwd jap stuff, this car will be a revelation - once you guys get behind the wheel of a balanced and powerful car, you'll never go back to the straight line stuff.
Having said all that - again, I own a 14 GT TP and it handles really well for what it is - and I'm happy beyond belief, but I know what a revised front and rear suspension means in terms of driving pleasure, confidence, and NVH. YMMV!
I have a 1965 Fastback. I had a 1969 Mach 1, briefly. And I have a 2012 Boss 302. In my opinion as a brand specialist and a car enthusiast this car is more true to the spirit of the 60's cars than the retro 05+ cars were. I look forward to a continued evolution of the Mustang with no more side journeys.
Having said all that - again, I own a 14 GT TP and it handles really well for what it is - and I'm happy beyond belief, but I know what a revised front and rear suspension means in terms of driving pleasure, confidence, and NVH. YMMV!
Last edited by fdesalvo; Dec 9, 2013 at 07:47 PM.
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
Joined: May 11, 2006
Posts: 10,648
Likes: 2,517
From: Carnegie, PA
That car is bad@$$. I love my 14 GT, but this new one is special. I'm going to let others work the first gen bugs out, then I will get on board. I love the looks, the suspension, interior, etc. Lol and no factory 4x4 stance is an added bonus. I can't wait to see the track comparison videos.
HUGE +1 here. I don't get the divisiveness. This new design (with the exception of the front end) is pure heritage and sex appeal. People complaining about the car losing it's muscle car status should rejoice. Muscle cars typically don't handle well compared to sports cars - and being able to throw around 450hp is much more fun that being limited to fun between the red lights. For a guy like myself, who comes form owning high powered (amazing handling) rwd jap stuff, this car will be a revelation - once you guys get behind the wheel of a balanced and powerful car, you'll never go back to the straight line stuff.
Having said all that - again, I own a 14 GT TP and it handles really well for what it is - and I'm happy beyond belief, but I know what a revised front and rear suspension means in terms of driving pleasure, confidence, and NVH. YMMV!
HUGE +1 here. I don't get the divisiveness. This new design (with the exception of the front end) is pure heritage and sex appeal. People complaining about the car losing it's muscle car status should rejoice. Muscle cars typically don't handle well compared to sports cars - and being able to throw around 450hp is much more fun that being limited to fun between the red lights. For a guy like myself, who comes form owning high powered (amazing handling) rwd jap stuff, this car will be a revelation - once you guys get behind the wheel of a balanced and powerful car, you'll never go back to the straight line stuff.
Having said all that - again, I own a 14 GT TP and it handles really well for what it is - and I'm happy beyond belief, but I know what a revised front and rear suspension means in terms of driving pleasure, confidence, and NVH. YMMV!
As the S550 is a completely all new modern design altogether and other than the roofline having more of a fastback profile and the new 3 tri bar tail lights.. The new design has clearly very little to do with the Mustangs styling heritage of the past !
Bullitt Member
Joined: December 11, 2012
Posts: 482
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From: N'awlins/SoCal
What up, Rock!
Man, maybe I'm tired; maybe it's the pizza; who knows? What I do know is that this new one gives me the same chub as the fastbacks of yore. I'm not huge on the front end, but I'm diggin' the style and naughty bits.
I just got back from a run to LA and this cool air is givin' my pony the goods! Nothing like suckin on some cold dense air...some days my car feels like a lead sled, but on nights like tonight driving my 14 is a blast! You know you had a good round of driving when your neck is sore lol.
Let them have their cake!
Man, maybe I'm tired; maybe it's the pizza; who knows? What I do know is that this new one gives me the same chub as the fastbacks of yore. I'm not huge on the front end, but I'm diggin' the style and naughty bits.
I just got back from a run to LA and this cool air is givin' my pony the goods! Nothing like suckin on some cold dense air...some days my car feels like a lead sled, but on nights like tonight driving my 14 is a blast! You know you had a good round of driving when your neck is sore lol.
Let them have their cake!
Frank ! I don't quite understand how a completely all new Mustang which has clearly moved away from the retro styling of the S-197 be considered as pure heritage..
As the S550 is a completely all new modern design altogether and other than the roofline having more of a fastback profile and the new 3 tri bar tail lights.. The new design has clearly very little to do with the Mustangs styling heritage of the past !
As the S550 is a completely all new modern design altogether and other than the roofline having more of a fastback profile and the new 3 tri bar tail lights.. The new design has clearly very little to do with the Mustangs styling heritage of the past !
GT Member
Joined: September 23, 2013
Posts: 181
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From: Stockton
Ford even threw us a bonus with the upgraded coyote 5.0 engine and I think they will eventually go with DI. A 500hp GT in the future is not out of the question. I want an new SVT mustang but the GT is so great it will make it difficult to wait and I will turn green seeing people riding in new GTs while I am driving an old and antiquated 2005 S197 mustang cloner 
GT Member
Joined: September 23, 2013
Posts: 181
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From: Stockton
My view of the whole thing is that this is a new era, new mustang, I like they car they reviled but I still don't like it taking the place of a wonderful car I've known all my life, and it will never be the original, but there's no changing it so we might as well live with it and adapt to it. And I guess we still have all of the muscle stangs that came before the redesign, so that's cool. And I still have my fat assed Mustang so I'm cool with it.
GT Member
Joined: September 23, 2013
Posts: 181
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From: Stockton
How could it be more true to the spirit of the 60's cars? Makes no sense, it's more sports car than muscle car.
But we've all got our opinions.
Absolutely no interesting in owning a '15. I'm interested it what it will do.
I knew this day would come and I am very grateful that Ford gave me my retro Mustang. I'm happy.
GT Member
Joined: September 23, 2013
Posts: 181
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From: Stockton
Other than having more of a fastback profile and it's 3 separate tri-bar tail lights.. This car is not more true to the spirit of the 1960's cars and especially not more than our retro 05+ cars are.. As a matter of fact, it doesn't even come close at all..
As the new S550 was not designed nor intended to pay tribute to the 1st generation 60's cars where as the retro 05+ cars where intentionally designed as a modern interpretation of the 1st generation 65-70 Mustangs thus re-capturing the spirit of those 1960's cars..
Therefore I totally disagree with you and although I do like the new car, the S550 is never the less an all new modern design moving completely away from it's past and moving forward into the 21st century for the next 50 years of Mustang.. It's as plain and simple as that..
I agree that the 2015 Stang is closer in SPIRIT to the 1965 progenitor, if not quite so slavish to stylistic particulars. The '65 was most definitely NOT a muscle car but rather, was a bit of a fusion of American performance elements (V8, albeit a smaller high-winding 260/289) and some Euro elements (tighter size, decent handling, refined looks.) The 2015 echoes these traits closely all while providing performance that would obliterate any and all of the later 60's big block muscle Stangs, even in just GT trim.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: January 6, 2006
Posts: 14,053
Likes: 166
From: Bay Area, CA
Don't down your 05, those body lines are the last of the true mustang lines. All these other newer mustang whom are so very beautiful are attempts to not only get mustang fans but also appease exotic car lovers as well. 05 to 09 where only meant for old school eye, remembering where they came from.... Detroit muscle.
The 05-09 looked so plain with the straight body lines. The 10-14 hips were much closer to the originals, not withstanding the controversial rear end.
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
Joined: May 11, 2006
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From: Carnegie, PA
What up, Rock!
Man, maybe I'm tired; maybe it's the pizza; who knows? What I do know is that this new one gives me the same chub as the fastbacks of yore. I'm not huge on the front end, but I'm diggin' the style and naughty bits.
I just got back from a run to LA and this cool air is givin' my pony the goods! Nothing like suckin on some cold dense air...some days my car feels like a lead sled, but on nights like tonight driving my 14 is a blast! You know you had a good round of driving when your neck is sore lol.
Let them have their cake!
Man, maybe I'm tired; maybe it's the pizza; who knows? What I do know is that this new one gives me the same chub as the fastbacks of yore. I'm not huge on the front end, but I'm diggin' the style and naughty bits.
I just got back from a run to LA and this cool air is givin' my pony the goods! Nothing like suckin on some cold dense air...some days my car feels like a lead sled, but on nights like tonight driving my 14 is a blast! You know you had a good round of driving when your neck is sore lol.
Let them have their cake!
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
Joined: May 11, 2006
Posts: 10,648
Likes: 2,517
From: Carnegie, PA
As the deck lid portion surrounding the faux gas gap area's also had sharp edge lines along with the hockey stick and hood sections..
But I do agree that if the 10-14 refresh did not have the controversial rear end ? it would've looked much closer to the original 1st generation Mustangs without a doubt..
Now I'm not attempting to take anything away from the new S550, as I do like what I've seen so far.. However being that I am from the old school, I just prefer the 05-14 retro styling of the S-197 and IMHO looks much closer to the original 1st generation Mustang over the new S550 and as far as I'm concerned, I consider the 05-14 S-197 as timeless
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
Joined: May 11, 2006
Posts: 10,648
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From: Carnegie, PA
Bullitt Member
Joined: December 11, 2012
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: N'awlins/SoCal
Come on down! Be warned! We do more sitting in traffic than driving haha.
2013 RR Boss 302 #2342
Joined: March 6, 2012
Posts: 11,801
Likes: 2,412
From: Lancaster, PA
Patrick ! Although the 05-09 models may have looked plain with the straighter body lines when compared with the original 1st gen cars, they also weren't rounded off either as you could still tell those lines had edges to them, just as the new edge 99-04 SN-95 models had prior to the S-197 coming out in 2005..
As the deck lid portion surrounding the faux gas gap area's also had sharp edge lines along with the hockey stick and hood sections..
But I do agree that if the 10-14 refresh did not have the controversial rear end ? it would've looked much closer to the original 1st generation Mustangs without a doubt..
Now I'm not attempting to take anything away from the new S550, as I do like what I've seen so far.. However being that I am from the old school, I just prefer the 05-14 retro styling of the S-197 and IMHO looks much closer to the original 1st generation Mustang over the new S550 and as far as I'm concerned, I consider the 05-14 S-197 as timeless
Cobra R Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 1,574
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From: London, ON. Canada
Cobra R Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
From: London, ON. Canada
I agree that the 2015 Stang is closer in SPIRIT to the 1965 progenitor, if not quite so slavish to stylistic particulars. The '65 was most definitely NOT a muscle car but rather, was a bit of a fusion of American performance elements (V8, albeit a smaller high-winding 260/289) and some Euro elements (tighter size, decent handling, refined looks.) The 2015 echoes these traits closely all while providing performance that would obliterate any and all of the later 60's big block muscle Stangs, even in just GT trim.
The 64 1/2-65 mustang was a SECRETARIES car (Carroll Shelby). I don't think that's what the designers had in mind when they did the '15.