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Edmunds.com Eighth Annual Editors' Most Wanted
Have you ever wondered what the editors at Edmunds.com would choose to buy if they could select a model from each class? The Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2006 is based on criteria set forth by the editorial team... namely, what would each of them want in their garage? Knowing this team of diverse people and their lifestyles is an assurance that the list is for the real world and not a wish list. Well, except for the exotics!
So, what did the editors choose?
Coupe Under $25,000 Ford Mustang
Convertible Under $25,000 Ford Mustang
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....hope this helps..........let me know how it works out
The winning bidder will get an early VIN 2007 Shelby GT500 coupe, the first one offered for sale to the public. The car will be produced to the successful bidder’s specification, including the color and factory available options, for delivery when production begins later in the year. All proceeds from the winning bid will go in support of the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation.
There are a ton of V6's and I bought one on 12/31 for $1600 under invoice at Ford of Kirkland. They were definitely dealing at year end. You can get a V6 for x plan or if you cant do x plan very close to invoice. I couldnt pass on my deal it had every option but Shaker1000.
There's a dealer in Austin Tx on one of the mustang forums saying they are dealing on GT's. Seems the southern states have lots of GT's.
Mark.
I was buying my Fusion (on X plan) from him about 3 months ago and when I walked into the showroom there was a brand new yellow Ford GT all roped off with a couple of sales people standing nearby. After I wiped the drool off my chin I told the sales people that I needed to go find my (x-plan) pin. The guy held out an ink pen and said this is the only pen you'll be needing for that car! They're actually not selling as great as they were and you can get one for close to MSRP, although Ford raised the MSRP by $10K. And yes, they do have X plan prices (and A/Z/D) - my salesman showed me the invoice. Not that you'd ever be able to buy it for that.
I'd be worried if they weren't making these types of announcements.
What Ford and GM (and to a lesser degree - Chrysler) have been doing is building more cars than they can sell to the public at a reasonable price. So they've had to sell them to fleets (rental cars e.g.) or put enormous incentives on them. What they have to do is figure out how many they can sell at their target price and only produce that many. That's what will protect residual values and get rid of huge incentives. I'd be surprised to see more than $1K per car incentives from Ford (current year models) going forward. Then you gain back market share by introducing more models using the same philosophy or improving current models and taking sales and market share from other companies.
You gotta go down before you can go back up. It won't happen overnight but at least Ford is moving in the right direction. I still don't think GM gets it.
Man today is going to be a LONG day!
Facts: Ford thanks to the sale of Hertz and a $2 billion NET income for 2005 raised its CASH on hand to OVER $25 billion.
Ford's short and long term debt is $21 billion.
Ford's stock equity at current market prices is $15 billion.
This is not a company that is in dire straights.
This is a company that is trying to restore profitability to one of its divisions, the NA Car Division.
Please keep in mind that the car industry today is vastly different from what it was even 10 or 15 years ago. There are many more brands, many more name plates and many more different catagory of vehicles.
Ford can be successful by selling less cars/trucks if those are sold at a profit. Ford wants to become a company that builds products that rather than appeals a little bit to a large number of people appeals a lot to a smaller group of people. A small group of more motivate buyers will pay more for a vehicle.
A perfect example of the type of car Ford wants to build is the Mustang. The appeal of this vehicle is limited but be cause Ford focused like a laser on the target group of customers, the car is a huge success. If you want a Mustang, what other car out there would you even consider? The appeal of the Mustang is so unique that the people who want it are willing to pay a premium.
The opposite of the car Ford wants to build is the Ford Five Hundred. The Five Hundred has many positive attributes such that totally rational actors would place it high on their list. Unfortuantely for Ford, robots don't buy cars. Emotional People buy cars.
The man in charge, Mark Fields, was the guy who brought Mazda back from the brink. Look at the Mazda3. This is probably the most expensive car in its size catagory but because it is so well focused on what it is trying to accomplish and who it is trying to appeal to, it is selling almost as fast as it can be made WORLD WIDE!
Its ironic that the US Ford Focus has none. Totally bland interior. Out of date exterior. The great engine/driving experience just isn't enough to over come the rest of the vehicle.
Mark
Mark
The Japanese, for instance, keep only as much inventory on hand as is needed to produce the current batch of cars; they never stockpile. This allows them to adopt to changing market conditions and quickly gear up to new demand. In contrast, Ford built tens of thousands of gas-guzzling SUV's nobody wants, yet can't build the Mustangs and hybrids that are in demand. That's terrible planning.
Every corporation does extensive market research in order to predict demand. It seems Ford hasn't been doing its homework. In contrast, Ford international sales have been doing well, in markets Ford did project correctly.
Show me a company whose market research predicted that a hurricane would hit N.O. and cause gas prices to spike which would hurt SUV sales.
The high demand period is over for mustangs, especially V6 mustangs. Ford was VERY smart not to overproduce mustangs when the demand was so high, otherwise they'd have way too many now. As it stands they can cut back on overtime and put production back to a nice, sustainable level.
thanks to $10K in incentives.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
They obviously recognized the shift away from SUVs at least 3 years ago when they started developing the Freestyle and Edge crossovers. Unfortunately the market shift is happening before the Edge is in production. I think it caught everyone by surprise. Look at GM - they're just revamping their full size trucks and SUVs this year.
What do they do with 'em? Beats me.
I don't blame you for not trusting anything on CBS, NBC, or ABC news. I would extend my skepticism to cable news and the major newspapers and magazines, the NY Times, Wash Post, LA Times, Newsweek, Time, New Yorker, the Atlantic, ad nauseum.
Closing the factory is a good move.
Dealers that do not provide excellent customer service are probably not going to survive.
Ford's new factories with flex manufacture ring will help alleviate the stock piling problem.
Mark
i did a search and this is the first one I came up with. It shows a total of $6700 in rebates. Even if you exclude the Visa part of it, its still $6200.
olysan, "Rebates, Incentives, APRs - Questions & Comments" #3044, 24 Jun 2005 3:07 pm
and that's all the way back in June, before they even started their employee pricing ploy. ... AND before the hurricane.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Ok, so the incentives were higher than I thought. Ford admits they were later to the crossover party than they should have been, but they'll be in the ballgame by this fall. Better late than never.
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I just wanted to share a little excitement with you all. I traded in my 05 V6 auto for a 06 GT 5 speed and man what a difference. I enjoyed the V6 but having the V8 power behind your finger tips on that manual is so much more fun to drive. Deals are getting really good right now as well. I was able to get this baby with the red leather and interior trim kit, Mycolor, ABS, traction control, Shaker 500, and 18" mag rims for under 27 grand. That price would have been unheard of middle of last year when you could barely find GT's on the lot.
Daniel
I just rented a 2005 coupe for two days in Virginia-Maryland. It must have been almost the most basic version, apart from the rocker panel stripe and spoiler (which, as far as I'm concerned, just serves to block part of the view out the back window).
I drove more than 350 miles and got a measured, almost exactly, 26 MPG overall. This included about 50 miles of spirited driving on hilly, curvy back roads. Returning to to the airport this morning I got a measured 29 MPG during a 70 mile drive, mostly freeway, completed in 65 minutes.
The engine may not sound or perform like the V-8, but the gas mileage is certainly impressive.
Overall I enjoyed the car and liked it much better after a driving it several hours than when I first picked it up.
1 - How long with this current "generation" be available. And, what modifications might made to it. For example; After reading these posts I have concerns about the shaker 1000?
2- I love dual racing stripes, but who doesn't. How do these affect paint underneath? For instance, could I take them off after several years and see no difference in the paint?
3 - Last, I prefer the look of a ducktail - like that of the GT 500. Will this be a possible factory option for a GT, or would it have to be aftermarket?
2 - Paint is the best type of racing stripe. The new vinyls are really good and with clearcoat paint fade isn't really a big problem, but it is possible.
3 - not likely to be a factory option.
Daniel
Ford is definately commanding a premium price for the Mustang.
Is this car perfect? Obviously not, but in the sporty personal coupe catagory, what other competition is there? The Solora? NOT
Please keep in mind that the roughness of the drivetrain is almost intentional.
If you want to see some value in a V6, look for a Pony Package car with the IUP, side airbags, and leather. This car should price out the same as a loaded V6 Fusion and the only option it will be lacking is heated seats, oh and the analog clock.
For real value, you have to get a GT without every available option. Then you'll be in the least expensive 300 horse power car on the road.
Mark
Mark
But in some fairness, the TL is only about $4K more than a maxed out Accord EX-V6 Nav. The extra money is spent on Bluetooth, pretty lights for the guages, a little more power, and more sound deadening material (I think). Clearly not worth $4K, but you get my meaning. But now that you can get the Accord sedan in a 6-speed, it'd be crazy to buy a TL!
Daniel
I think you've misunderstood tire sizing numbers.
For a 235/35-20 tire, the second number (35) is called the 'aspect ratio'. It is the height of the sidewall in relation to the width of the tire.
In other words, the sidewall on a 235/35-20 tire is:
235mm (tire width) x 0.35 (aspect ratio) = 82mm (about 3-1/4")
Daniel
Good luck to all who are waiting and know this that you won't be disappointed, also My Ford dealer and salesperson were excellent through the whole process.
06 Premium V6 Auto with Pony package, interior upgrades, and leather for 22k out the door.
I tested both the 6 and the 8 and yeah the 8 was a lot of fun, but this is still going to be my daily driver and when you start commuting 60 miles a day that gas bill starts getting gnarly. Also, I can't justify the extra 5k for 90 more HP.
Love the car though, 300 miles and no problems yet. The ride is what I expected, and the gas milage has been pretty decent. My one complaint is the small fuel tank, around 15 gallons. It really limits the distance the car can go. My older Volvo had a 20 gal tank and I could squeeze 500 miles out of it. With the Mustang I'm looking at roughly 320.