Indeed. I agree, that would be a huge leap in technology from 2014 to 2015. Maybe someday down the road, and then maybe it will not be so "super car" to the old muscle car guys. Lol

 

I'm confident that's doable. The 400+HP MP3 has one, never mind the 1,200hp Veyron -- there doesn't seem to be an inherent power ceiling as there is on CVTs -- just the need for proper engineering, which is true of any tranny.

 

I just happen to be one of those old muscle car guys who enjoys rowing his own gears and if I wanted to own something with either a manumatic, paddle shiffter or DCT, I would own a luxury sport coupe or sedan and not a Mustang..

I personally don't care how much faster or efficient these new automatic trans are and as far as I'm concerned there is no greater experience from the driver having control over their own vehicle rather than allow machines to do that for them..

As anybody can drive an automatic, but it takes real skill and coordination when it comes to driving a manual and let's not forget something here as well COST..

The Mustang was originally intended as an affordable sporty car for the masses and now you can't even purchase a new GT premium for less than 40k which is total BS, so just imagine what the new 15MY is going to cost once it goes into production in April..


I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to expect to find the cost of a fully loaded 15 GT premium within the 50-55k range at all, and if Ford were to offer DCT as an option ? Add at least another 10k on top of that..


Personally I have nothing against the advances that continue to evolve in automotive technology, however it's getting to the point in which the Mustang will eventually wind up becoming more of a world class sports car than the affordable sporty car that it was originally intended for and as a direct result, put the average consumer further out of reach of being able to purchase his or her car.. Heck I paid 27k for my 05 GT Premium which was factory ordered so go figure

 

^Yup!!!

 

It's no wonder why Mustang sales have been down, it's due from the increase in price and not so much because folks are bored with the current S-197..

Heck the reason in which the previous gen SN-95 and Fox bodies did so much better in sales right to the very end of their production runs were because they continued to be more affordable to the average consumer including premium edition models..

IMHO if Ford were to bring the price back down to a respectable 32-34k for a GT premium, sales would be much improved as more consumers would actually be able to afford purchasing them and I'm not just referring to GT Premium models but also bring down pricing for V-6 base models as well !

 

I disagree a little bit. You can have a brand new GT for about 30K right now if you want and don't care about option and just want a simple muscle car like many of you old school muscle people want. However must don't go for that. Majority want leather, the Brembo, the heated seats, NAV etc... Basically people now days wants goodies, people want more than just a simple old school muscle car. Yeah Mustang is much more expensive than yesterday but so are many other cars. I payed 24k out of the door for my fully loaded accord coupe ex-v6 back in 2000. If I were to do the same thing today, it will be close to 33K easily. Decently loaded Taurus pretty sure about 35K, fully loaded close to 40K. You see the Mustang is more expensive than before but is close in price range to other more common cars and SUV and you see a bunch of those been sold year after year.

Personally I think Mustang sales are down is not necessarily because of price but because of people love with SUVs and their practicality. In the northeast people stay away from RWD, in the past people didn't mind so much because must car were RWD anyways. Also because of the economy, cost of kids education, housing, etc it is much harder for the middle class to afford a third car, that will also bring sales down of any less practical cars. Sports cars in sales in general are down, not just Mustang.

 

I'd say this is half right. Mustangs are too expensive for the fit, finish and sophistication (or lack thereof) on the current cars. Keep the prices where they are and give the buyer more and you'll see units shift. It may not be a luxury sport sedan, but it's no cheap sporty car either. If you want that it will be smaller, lighter and 4 banger powered. So I'm all for encroaching on the premium sport Sedan/coupe market for less money. Ford already made it better than a M3 in performance, now make it as good in fit and finish as a 335, Golf or even their own Fusion.

 

 

Would love to see this happen!!^^ Can't really see the price tag staying the same if so...

 

Well for the price we pay right now for the premium models there could still be a better material choice or more standard options. Itd be nice to have some more interior and exterior appearance packages available as well

 

^^^^^ This and i want my power folding mirrors as an option. .

 

Prop rods and junk shifters.

 

Folding mirrors would be really nice to have, id also like to see less plastic inside. Also i wish backup cam would be mounted somewhere other than the spoiler so you can get on GT/CS models. Maybe mount it by the lisence plate bracket or somethin

 

I am fully aware that you can purchase a new Mustang GT for 30k, however that is for the Deluxe package which doesn't include leather seats, the interior upgrade package with satin aluminum dash, 4 gauge cluster, leather steering wheel, shaker 500, my color instrument cluster and I also wanted the active security system with incline sensors and most of all 355 gear ratio..

The point is, I was able to purchase the options in which I wanted for under 30k for the premium package and if wanted those same options today ? you would be looking at nearly 40k for the GT premium package and I personally don't need options such as Brembo brakes, Nav system, heated seats or Ford Sync ect.. All I care about are the options I currently have now..

So yes, I want more than just a simple old school muscle car, but I will not pay up to 40k for options that I don't really need and especially for a car that still uses hard and cheap interior plastics..

If Ford is so concerned about building a more refined/upscale Mustang ? their first priority should be on offering better interior quality fit and finish before including more options like Ford Sync, NAV, heated seats and so forth and perhaps then that just might help boost sales as well..

As I mentioned before, If I wanted a more refined/upscale car ? I would own either a luxury sports coupe like the BMW M-3 or Cadillac CTS-V and not a Mustang..

And for those who do want all the goodies, bells and whistles.. Ford should consider offering 2 different premium packages..

Premium Package I for those who want NAV, Ford Sync, Heated Seats and so forth..

Premium package II for those who only want Leather Seats, My Color Instrument Cluster, Active Security System ect.

 

You're exactly 100% right on the money there and I couldn't agree more.. Give the buyer better fit and finish interior quality materials and perhaps then sales will improve by getting rid of the cheap, hard plastic materials that are still on the current cars !

 

Yes ! most definitely better material choices and I'd also like to see folding side mirrors included as well

 

 

Interesting, I just spec'd one at 35k. Leather and everything. No Brembo or nav but just as you said you wanted one. That's pretty fair in this market.

My Focus cost near 27k. With incentives you could do well to get into the low 30s. You just won't see that kind of deal anymore for that much car. Plus you get HID lights as part of the deal.

I think pricing is fair. But I think for the price the materials should be better. But still fair for so much car. I don't know what the 05-09 were new and what they offered. But I do know the interior is much much worse and not even close to the car it is now in 2014. Not even 2011 for that matter. They were a tiny bit cheaper in 2011 as well. Inflation and market will keep dictating.

The new Vette gets a jump in pricing too. The Camaro also gets costly. I think the working mans sports car still exists and any blue collar lover of cars would love even a cloth interior on such a great car.

I think we could argue this all day and get nowhere. I just hope it stays competitive and in a good price range. I say they are getting better with the options extending to most of the range.

 

I also calculated inflation from 2005 to now and if you were to purchase a car at 25k then, it's equivalent to 29894. So that's decent in its own right.

Problem is that wages don't keep up with inflation or taxes.

 

As I stated earlier, my 05 GT premium had a sticker of $ 27,115.00 and the only options I didn't get were the red colored seats w/door inserts and shaker 1000 but got every other option that was available back then..

But as I also stated in a previous post, my real concern is once the 15's arrive in April I have a really bad feeling that you'll be looking anywhere in the 50-55k range for a fully loaded GT Premium coupe, so let's just hope the interior materials are much better as well by then..


At any rate, I totally agree that 35k really isn't bad at all for a 13-14 GT Premium Coupe and could probably afford one if I were to sell my current 05 GT, but like everybody else I'm anxiously awaiting to find out what the upcoming 15MY is going to really look like and what the pricing will actually be