Was the right car for the times though, the Mustang II sold very well so they didn't F it up to bad. Perhaps if Ford had manufactured an honest performance model duri9ng those years, the II might be more fondly remebered.

Personally I like the Cobra IIs from the era, not something I would want as a resto classic, but good hotrod material.

 

Rhumb, +1 well said. As soon as I saw the Evos I thought 2015 here we come. Beautiful car.

 

Clino, am with you brother. I can't wait to see the new 2015. I think you are on the mark in your thinking.

 

I look at all the pictures and read everything about the 2015 Mustang, and all I can think of is Probe (although rear wheel drive) all over again. But the reality is most of the older Mustangs buyers who love the retro look, like me, are probably buying one of their last Mustangs. Ford does need to start appealing to a younger crowd with the car, as we are no longer the target demographic. I heard a crack on that show Tosh.0 (Not that I watch it, but I read about a web redemption with that kid who wrecked his dad's new red Shelby in the garage) about Mustang buyers that was similar to what they used to say about Corvette buyers, I did not get it at all. What I did get is that the younger crowd apparently does not like Mustangs, or the people who buy them, for whatever reason.

 

It sounds like the younger generation is less interested in cars, period. A lower proportion of youngsters are getting drivers licenses than in previous times. I also get the impression that a whole lot of young people have been brought up believing that American cars are junk.

 

I think its more fo a cost thing. Even used cars are crazy and the insurance rates for kids these days are nuts. I do not think most kids think on thing or another about whats junk or what isnt junk. I think its more of a thats cool and thats boring kind of thing.

 

Perhaps that and perhaps too that there really haven't been that many FUN cars being made. Sure, plenty that rack up hero test and track numbers, but somehow lacking a bit of spirit and fun. Today's young have matured in a much faster world in terms of what's new and hip.

While the Mustang has done pretty well, lately at least, of keeping up with some real substantive upgrades, particularly in the engine bay, with its retro styling it still is to some significant degree yesterday's car in today's breakneck digital age. While that retro ethos may gladden the hearts of those of a certain age, that cohort is getting ever smaller and will not be enough to support a Mustang into the future.

I imagine a bit of a two-tiered approach to Ford performance cars.

The entry tier, and the one to get current import buyers to reconsider Fords in general, will probably be the Fiesta and/or Focus SVTs.

Tier two will be a slightly upscale, if still very affordable, Mustang that will deemphasize the base models somewhat to give room to the F Twins for the entry buyers and make the Mustang more of a real performance model.

Not that their won't be base model Mustang's in the mid/upper $20s, just that Ford won't make meeting some uber low price point overly cheapen various general aspects of the Mustang overall that then makes it less credible in the above $30K market (read: overly compromised interiors, neolithic suspension designs, etc. in the 2005)

Of course this may make the old guard nervous, but having an AARP-approved Stang is no way to ensure future viability. Given Ford's recent efforts and successes, including the awesome Boss Mustang which was the antithesis of the usual cynical tape stripe and spoiler marketing package we've grown too used to seeing and accepting, I am optimistic that the 2015 will be a very impressive leap for the Mustang deep into the 21st century.

 

That's pretty much what I was trying to say. The reality is even manual transmissions are old school, you can't even get one in a new Ferrari....But for me I prefer to shift my own gears and I guess I always will as to me it provides more control. Also, I like rowing the gears and working the clutch, even if a computer can do it faster.

 

I agree

 

I just saw a Ford commercial that showed the new Fusion, Escape and Focus and I really like what Ford has done but the last thing I want to see is a '94 Honda Prelude with a new Fusion/Taurus grille.

Don't get me wrong the Evos is attractive in a Hyundai Genesis coupe kinda way but tha'st not what a Mustang is or should be. If it ends up looking more Aston Martin I'd be ok with that but it has to be uniquely Mustang. The Mustang has never had a corporate look and it shouldn't start now. Even the Camaro does not have the same corporate look that the rest of the Chevy lineup has - see Cruze, Malibu, etc, because they are Pony cars and need to be unique.

 

Design of the next Mustang should be revolutionary. We know Ford went "retro" with the 2005/2014...but it also dipped into the past with the 1994 model. It had a pony in the grille, C-scoops, tri-tailamps (corrected in 96 from horizonal to vertical...Oh the outcry!) The interior sported a dual cockpit that was reminiscent of the 69/70. Now with every article/render people say it's "nice but not a Mustang". This argument is nearly 50 years old. The 67 was not a 65...the 69 was not a 68...the 71 was nowhere near a 70...the 74 sure as hell didn't look like a 73...(but the 74 did harken back to the 64 a wee bit). The Fox body had no link, style wise, to any past Mustang. So the "look" of a Mustang has evolved, changed, and reinvented itself all through it's lifespan. So lets make the Sixth Generation take it to another level. Fans have 49 other years to choose from that will make them happy in their own way.

 

I feel exactly the same way. Ford can't mess up the way it looks too much, lest they completely phase out the Mustang DNA.

 

Well said Top Notch! I agree completely. P.S. I'm glad that they changed the taillights in 96. They were more reminiscent of Mustang cues and the red lenses were a whole lot better than the crappy ones on the 95.

 

The problem is that the current retro phase has been going on for so long and has become such a renaissance for the brand that people are scared to abandon it. Especially those who came into the car during those years. It's all they really know.

I think that's why I love the fox so much. Because it proves that a Mustang has nothing to do with triple tail lights or a running horse in the grille. People need to get over the superficial details.

 

I saw a new Ford commercial last night about the design of Ford cars and the future. It showed a bunch of cars they make now, not one Mustang. Not even a Shelby or Boss, it was all the new design language. It was pretty strange.

 

I completely disagree, too revolutionary would be a mistake. Every Mustang ever made has been a pony car and followed that basic theme - long hood/short deck. Sure some models stretched it a bit like the fastback '71-73 but overall same concept. I actually loved the Fox body too but it followed the pony car theme too. If it had tri tail lamps and a pony in the grille it would have been almost exactly like a 65-68 Mustang in overall look.

And I don't buy the whole can't be evolutionary like a 911 because thats a niche vehicle. How much has the Jeep Wrangler changed in the last, I don't know, 50 years? Do you know how many Wranglers Jeep has sold this year thru April alone? Over 40,000.

I'm telling evolutionary not revolutionary. But that doesn't mean it can't move forward.

 

I hate to disagree with you, but the 58-66 Thunderbird's Far Outsold the 55-57's and created a Whole New Segment of Automobile and introduced many Innovations. The 4 Seat Thunderbird was a Stunning Success! Actually the Highest Selling Thunderbirds of All Time were the 77-79's. I Truly wish Ford would Bring It Back. as for the Mustang II it has been given such a Bad Rap, it was the Right Car at the Right Time.

 

[QUOTE=Fords4Ever;6335656] I actually loved the Fox body too but it followed the pony car theme too. If it had tri tail lamps and a pony in the grille it would have been almost exactly like a 65-68 Mustang in overall look. QUOTE]

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/fea...mod/index.html

 

[quote=Topnotch;6337496](with all due respect to the owner/builder of that car) it just goes to show that simply slapping tri-bar tail lamps and a pony grille doesn't automatically make a great looking Mustang


BTW TN.......not so sure about your latest avatar, either

 

I can't believe I'm gonna say this, since I usually hate "custom" hack jobs, but...I kinda like that...