Bee Bop, you're 911 comparison is dead on with what should happen

 

+1
my feelings exactly

 

I saw a red one today- a little darker than the old redfire color, coming at me down the road, just had to smile as it went past- thats a darn good looking car...then glanced in the rearview, and I'm sorry, but Ive tried to let it grow on me, but I give up, its just not gonna happen. I still cannot figure out where the aftermarket is on the 10+, heck the paint wasnt dried on the first 05s and there were already aftermarket rear bumper choices out there...why not on the 10? its a beautiful car, why no options on rearend looks?

I agree, 68 backend was a great design, they could build on that so easily...sure hope the '14 goes that route- and they hold the pricing down...

 

I really like the 2010 from almost all angles except the back. I could live with it if I had to because the rest is a perfect evolution for me.

 

why does that 'look like a Mustang'? it dont look like any that were ever built, yet it looks like a mustang, even in a sketch...I think thats where ford got lost on the 10- I love the 10+ except for its puffed out/angled taillight rear end...just a little concave, just a little more vertical, and a roughly rectangular taillamp pattern and viola! it looks like a Mustang. I sure hope the aftermarket comes up with some way to 're-mustang' the 10+ rearend...and sure hope Ford steps back a bit before the 14/15 redesign

 

Really?

I thought it was pretty much a modernized version of this

 

was just being sarcastic- even in a 'concept sketch' with different lines somewhat, anyone would recognize it as a mustang...wether a 68 or 2014 concept sketch...I just hope something more along those lines is on the next mustang- no chamfer on the bumpers, no bumper jutting away from the body, no forward rake to the tailpanel, no pinched taillights...just a opinion, and I know weve all got varied ones- but most would likely agree the 10 rearend wasnt love at first sight to many folks.

first gen mustang generalizations: simple near vertical tail panel- a little concave preferably, three somewhat symmetrical/near vertical lamps, a bumper that dont stick out more than necessary from the topedge of the trunklid...even with these general constraints theres still a lot of room for modernizing without starting over. look how different a 05 rearend looks to a 65, yet basically it shares a ton of general ideas...look at the 10- its got three vertical lights, but thats about it, and IMO its not a modern interpretation of 'how a Mustang looks' as much as 'now for something completely different' to coin a Monty Python line...

 

I would say modernize to a degree with the necessary Mustang styling cues. And definitely lose the 10/11 rear end.

Maybe a morph of a '68 fastback and an early '70's 240z with the refined look of the front of the 10/11??

 

I wonder if Ford, realizes that not all Mustang owners and enthusiasts like the rear end treatment of the 10-11 design...I am of a similar opinion as some of you...as I see a '10 drive by from the front, I smile as the car looks good (aggressive), as I look back and see that "junk in the trunk" my smile turns upside down. I really tried hard to like it, but the spidey senses get tingling and it just doesn't work for me....

I like the suggestion put forward of the concave rear ala 67-68 design....

I hope Ford listens and reads these forums to "correct" the mistakes of their design engineers ???

 

Ford representatives read these forums, I'm sure. Plus there have been customer clinics (I know of at least one in the UK) where they've asked what we like/dislike about the current car, the classics and what we'd want to see in the future

 

I like the new car for more than its exterior design. It has a much improved interior.

But I also like the first generation and the SN95's.

 

I agree - the 10+ interior is about perfect- and thats the best looking steering wheel Ive ever seen, and 3 of 4 views are great too
the new Challenger interior is not bad, the new camaro has the worst interior/visibility Ive ever seen...I love everything about the latest mustang EXCEPT that one thing I still think they coulda done even a little different to make it one of the best looking fords of all time. Folks bought the GTO for good reasons, but few did for the looks...and lack of looks killed it in the end. I think the new camaro will suffer mostly for its interior- the challenger I hope lives on, its a beautiful car

 

Boy, this is a tough one, I like the 05-09 cars alot.

 

Because they can't. The sheet metal and tail lights require the rear bumper to be goofy, for lack of a better term. The rear bumper beam (the actual structural bumper for collisions) is almost directly behind the black plastic trim, and the bumper cover starts 8-10 inches up from there. Include the jog for the tail lights, the curve of the rear quarter to bumper line and you end up with very little to work with.




Roush took the easy way out and just changed the plastic, Saleen's version actually made it a bit better, while SMS ruined it. It is just not an easy design to work with.

Where the 05-09 was basically a plastic box with easy fitment, Simple. That made it easy for the aftermarket. They had a blank canvas. With the 2010 it is like someone started a painting and you have to try to finish their vision using their technique. Very difficult.

 

Question: did Ford even conduct any focus groups to see if the rear treatment was acceptable? My guess is no. The treatment is accepted by a large segment of Mustang enthusiasts, but at the same time, there is another huge chunk who loathes it. The design people were given a standing order to make the Mustang appear smaller, lower, tighter, etc., overall. What it appears to me is they lopped corners and scrunched it all in towards the middle some. Love the swoopier nose where it gets scrunched down, but still nice. The rear looks like an afterthought or the design had to conform to structural criteria that couldn't be changed.
Look, everything about the car is way better than the '05 - '09, except for that one thing. That one thing, sadly, is a big deal.

 

Lets see '11 has a -1 factor and 05-09 has a -5 factor. '11 wins hands down.

 

In the long run, when historians/collectors look back, both designs will be desirable to own. The '05-'09 will ultimately be the one that folks will remember for striking that new spark in the Mustang's heritage, not the '10-'11.

 

Other than some people on this forum, I don't know anybody who likes the new rear end.
People love the car, but dislike the rear!

When the 05 came out, I was in love with it. I don't find myself having the same feelings towards the 10 & 11.

 

I am with you, but the tail lights sure do look cool at night, especially when the turn signal is on.

 

Yes, I'll give ya that.