Ford Mustang Thread: 2011 General Talk

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
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It wouldn't be a big deal if Ford offered a better suspension package besides the Roush. LRA works but only if it isn't the only OPTION. I'd still rather take a Mustang over about any $20-30k sport coupe. Unless the Genesis is just that awsome.
 
Not everyone wants to make a drag racer or off-roader out of their car though. Some people actually prefer having better ride quality and cornering ability, without having to spend a few extra thousand bucks for it [independent suspension].

Perhaps the best thing Ford could do is go back to their roots with the original Mustang and offer options on every single part of the car. A choice in suspension would be awesome. But that involves engineering costs they cannot afford, oops.

At least it doesn't have leaf springs.
 
Grand Prix
At least it doesn't have leaf springs.
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It never had Leaves in the first place. Pretty certain that it was a coil-sprung car from the start: you're confusing Ford for Chrysler, who used leaves (and effectively, too) into the late '70s.
 
Rotary Junkie
The Ford 8.8" solid axle: For when you know people are going to send more power through the drivetrain anyway.

It's cheap, it's tough, it works.
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And there's no reason you can't keep the diff and attach a pair of beefy halfshafts to it?
 
The main edge that Ford is trying to use with the mustang is that it comes in at a lower cost compared to its competitors. They are also using weight to thier advantage. The new GT only grew by about 35lbs compared to the other 2 new muscle cars. I think its the challenger that has a weight over 4,000 lbs. The Challenger SRT comes with about 425HP while the 05-09 Mustang GT's come with 300hp. That Challenger has shown to run an average of 13-13.5 in the 1/4. The Mustang runs anywhere from 13.5-14 for a halfway decent driver. As you can see, weight plays an important part, the Challenger has an extra 125hp compared to the mustang, but when it comes down to the street, its still can be a drivers race. In the end, i think Ford knows what they are doing.
 
Jim Prower
It never had Leaves in the first place. Pretty certain that it was a coil-sprung car from the start: you're confusing Ford for Chrysler, who used leaves (and effectively, too) into the late '70s.
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maybe a poke at the corvette.
 
Jim Prower
And there's no reason you can't keep the diff and attach a pair of beefy halfshafts to it?
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Wheelhop and manufacturing costs.

The 8.8 is bought and paid for by a long way. An IRS setup would make the cost savings go away and for what? Slightly improved ride and handling?
 
Will it wheel-hop off a corner, though? that's the question.

It's not enough to be a dragstrip king anymore. The Mustang has stiff competition not only from the Camaro, but cars like the 370Z and Genesis Coupe, which can accelerate as well, and still handle better.

Keeping mass low is good, but you've gotta think global. and Ford could probably fix the wheel-hop. Other Manufacturers have.
 
Jim Prower
It never had Leaves in the first place. Pretty certain that it was a coil-sprung car from the start: you're confusing Ford for Chrysler, who used leaves (and effectively, too) into the late '70s.
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I never implied that it did. I was just saying that they could have made it even cheaper and lighter if they wanted to.
 
I hope the new 5.0 will be the saving grace for this mustang.

The new GT500 will be also be another failure if it uses the 5.4 iron block Truck/Ford GT motor. Its way too heavy!
 
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I think this new mustang looks a bit rakish, I like the front, they kinda thought oh, we'll use guigaros lines from the concept and maybe this car will get us out of the recession. :dopey:
 
We're already on historic lows for Mustang sales in the US. I can't remember what the exact numbers were, but they haven't sold this few since the mid/late '70s. But, the Mustang (unfortunately) won't be the Ford to pull them out... It'll be the one-two punch of the Fiesta and Fusion Hybrid that will probably keep them going for a while.
 
I like it, it looks much better now IMO. There have been subtle changes but they've altered the overall look of the car for the better.

The interior is fairly nice too.
 
How 'Bout That Cobra?

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Basically, all you need to know is that its making 540 BHP and 510 lb-ft, has a greatly updated suspension (no IRS), and still costs too much by days end. Still, I like it... A lot... But I keep wondering what GM will do with the Camaro instead.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY & PICS

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(BTW: I think it looks best there as that drop-top in gray)
 
Personally I love the Grabber Blue, but to each his own. Those wheels look worlds ahead of the crap option wheels for the GT.

Here's the part I actually like best:

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The turn signal is on the outer side of the headlamp, not closer to the grille!
 
Bah, I hate the way the Mustang looks. This Gen anyway. And the next gen one is still just as ugly in my opinion. I hope they can come up with something better in the fuuuuture. I see Ford using this body style for ages. :/
 
Hopefully they will make it lighter. The GT500 put up some great handling numbers for its size, even if it didn't feel like it was doing well. If they chopped a little weight off the thing, especially the front end, it'd probably liven up a little bit. And give it some decent tires from the factory, jeez! Those Eagle F1 Supercar tires are TRASH. Thus, Pilot Sport 2s on the ZR1 and new Viper, which moved from Pilot Sports. No more crappy tires, Ford, please.
 
I think this car was designed to be a Cobra. Looks pretty good from the front. Although it looks like Ford knows they screwed the car up seeing that they won't give any angles of the rear.

YSSMAN
But I keep wondering what GM will do with the Camaro instead.
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Offer the Corvette?
 
Eh. I don't think they would on the grounds that it steps on the Corvette's toes too much. Ford doesn't exactly have that problem. GM can't exactly sell three of the same car with different badges, and then sell a whole different line to compete with those three like they used to. Especially with the performance cars.
 
Wow, I'm really digging the new Cobra. From those pics, for Ford(:D), it looks amazing!
 
LRA... Fail.

I'm sorry, but there just isn't any "good" reason for Ford not to update to IRS. The only reasons they are holding on to LRA is because of purists (the 60's Mustangs all had LRA), drag racers, and because of cost (they say). None of those things are a good enough reason anymore. With today's technology, building materials, and production techniques, they could easily offer IRS, and still be at or near the same costs as some of their competitors. Furthermore, IRS doesn't help the handling a bit, it helps a lot. Anyone who has seen a Roush Mustang go up against a GT500 will know what I mean. It's like night and day, and the Roush has quite a bit less power than the tacked together GT500, and will still pull far better lap times on average.

I think ultimately they are losing out on a big part of the market. People who know how a car works (Engine, Suspension, Cooling, Fuel Management, etc...) are very much turned off by a lot of the aspects of these half-assed cars.

Still, I must say, along with the new 370Z.... This thing is a big improvement over it predecessor in the looks department. The taillights will take some getting used to, but I think they'll grow on most people fairly quickly.

Yet, I have to wonder how long Ford (Chevy and Dodge I'm looking at you too) are going to keep up the retro thing. I mean, you can only update a retro design so much before it loses all recognition as a retro design. I hope they start designing cars again, instead of redesigning all the time. This retro phase is going to get stale sooner rather than later I think.




;)
 
Delphic Reason
The taillights will take some getting used to, but I think they'll grow on most people fairly quickly.
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You know what could cure that problem?(I don't like them either) Late 80's style Mustang GT taillight covers. Just throwing that out there. It can only help! :D
 

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