Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
1. A V-8
2. Automatic Transmission
3. It had to be a Car. No trucks, SUV's.
It took me a year to finaly buy because I wanted to see the "new" 99 Mustang. I did not want to risk buyers remorse. I also knew that if I did NOT like the new 99 Mustang there would be PUH-LENTY of 98's to pick and choose from at discounted prices. I bought the 99. Glad I waited.
I wasn't even a Mustang nut at the time. I could've bought a Camaro. And would have had the Chivvy dealer been willing to go 2% over invoice. (The Ford Dealer did)
Anyway all I'm saying is that I was part of the General public until it came time to plunk down a wad of hard earned cash. Then I became a part of the "buying" public.
About the GTO. Saw it at both the California and the LA Auto Shows. If all you want is a big engine and don't care what it's wrapped in, then this is your car. For my tastes it was very bland on the outside.
Strangley enough, It's been five years since I bought my 99, and although there are now more cars available with V-8's, the Mustang is still the only "affordable" one around. When I saw the Chevy SSR I thought wow, this thing is gonna steal some Mustang Thunder. When I heard the Chevy Spokeman spout $42 grand as the sticker, I thought WOW! Chevy blows it again! So for now it looks like, as in '65 Mustang has an "open field".
Maybe they think they will bank on the SSR's 300 hp?
Not with an attractive 300 hp 25k Mustang right around the corner.
'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
Re the other topic, I've yet to see an SSR in person. Is it out yet?
'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
That said, I haven't liked any of the Mustang's styling efforts since the 1970 version (and even then, I'm not wild about where they removed the 69's headlights). And I absolutely hate the current (SN95 is it?) version. Just way too boy racer styled for my taste (I really despise 47, non-functioning scoops, but that's just me). Not saying anyone's wrong for liking it, just that it just isn't my thing.
However, this new "retro" Mustang (with a decent quality interior it seems) really has me interested. This new one really captures a lot of the styling cues from the various 60's models and little things here and there really remind me of my 1966 coupe on the inside. Oddly enough, I was looking at probably something on the order of a BMW 3 series/Audi A4 as my next car, but this Mustang has me really interested. Might have to give up the extra set of doors and go with my heart.
If this car drives well (I did see it still has the solid-rear axle), is well built, and the interior doesn't look like it is made of recycled defective Legos, Ford just might have a sale from somebody who'd had written of Mustangs (and the other Pony cars) long ago. Good job Ford. Wonder if I'm the only one of the non-pony car guys it will attract, or there will be more.
By the way, rereading this I probably make myself sound older than I am. I'm 28.
Exactly! With a 6 week old baby it was a tough decision to make right now too. I could be zooming around in a brand new, and practical, Mazda3 or Mazda6 in a month or two but the '05 Mustang started tugging at my heart strings again when I saw the pictures.
The fat lady started singing when she heard that tune!
Now, I'm drooling over the 2005. Will I be rushing right out in the fall to get one. Unfortunately, no....the little bit of practical-ness that's left in me will restrain me for a couple of years. Besides which, we rarely buy anything brand spanking new off the lot anymore. Let someone else take the depreciation and I'll then buy it from a reputable local dealer who will warranty it for a decent timeframe / mileage range.
My 2002 turns heads like nothing I've driven before. (Well with the exception of the GMC one-ton dually I used to drive...many people found it odd to see a 5ft woman driving the thing.) An old boyfriend from my teens turned me onto muscle cars from the day he drove up in the 55 Chevy Bel Air he and his father restored. That was followed by a 66 Chevelle and a then a 67 Mustang. I had my own "hot rod" for my own first car: 1972 Olds Cutlass. My other dream car is an early 70's 442.
The 2005 will turn even more heads, in my not so humble opinion. So, this Mustang fan (who admits very little tech knowledge) who knows what she likes when she sees it and drives it, will simply be biding my time until I can have one of these babies in my driveway. I've gotta couple of years to decide between torch red and yellow. And of course, it must be a rag top.
I have not driven a Mazda3 yet but I have been to the dealer to see one in person. Looks good but the one I'd want stickers around $20,000.
When you consider that a new Mustang GT coupe should be about $23k - $24k and have a V8, the Mazda's don't seem as appealing anymore. Especially if you were going to "settle" for either one to begin with like I was.
I also drove an '03 Focus SVT. That car was pretty awesome! I was really close to buying it last month because after our trade-in, X-Plan discount, and rebates it would have been about $12,000. So don't rule one of those out either. You gotta hurry if you want one though.
Back on to the 2005 Mustang, I guess I should mention that I've always loved 60's cars (well not all of them!) even though I was born in '75. So this probably is also why the new Mustang appeals to me visually inside and out. Really glad to see this change up in style by Ford, because on it's previous course, I doubt I'd ever buy a Mustang. This new one really intrigues me. I really hope this car drives well. Won't have to be like a SVT Focus, but well enough. I did like how the old Fox-bodied 302 motored Mustangs went in a straight line, but always felt like they were a truck wearing a coupes' body. Hoping the new Mustang's more refined in the suspension category despite the solid axle in the back.
One thing, though, that will be important to me is a higher level of refinement than we have seen from Mustangs in the past. I am talking about interior fit and finish, lower wind and road noise, and a general higher level of quality than the current version. Little things like using struts to hold up the hood rather than a prop-rod and perhaps the optional availability of heated seats would be important to me.
While the Mustang is not intended to be a luxury car by any means, I think Ford could pick up some personal coupe buyers that haven't had a Ford to consider since the demise of the MN12 T-birds.
Have to see it to believe it. Hopefull though.
Akirby and others. I pose this question to your arguments:
Why would the current Mustang be immune from the ill effects on sales of a complete re-design when every other car re-design negatively impacts sales of the prior model?
If Ford offers no incentives on the SN95 and sales do not drop off (15% or more) between now and Fall I will admit I was wrong.
I am bonkers over the new Stang, but there IS a price level that would induce me to buy a Mach-1 now. I doubt that I'll see that, but the local Ford dealer does have 15 of those babies on his lot right now, and I got time on MY side. (Curiously, there was so much demand last year he sold Machs before they could even arrive at the lot.)
Nobody has suggested that Ford is not going to have to discount the remaining 2004 Mustangs. Rather, we have said that sales of the current gen. Mustang will continue, even in the face of the 2005 model. Sure they won't sell like hotcakes, but there will be sales...
My point has been that there will be casual buyers that, when faced with a good discount, will be willing to buy a current one, rather than wait for the new one/deal with probable mechanical issues/get on the waiting list for what they want/etc.
When the oval theme Taurus came out my father-in-law was one of the first in line at the dealer to get a great discount price on one of the old style...to some folks cost is the most important thing in a car purchase and those are the folks that will be driving brand new 2004 Mustangs come this summer!
And yes all of those people who NEVER watch the news, open up the basic home page of their internet service or pick up a newspaper will have NO IDEA that a new Mustang is coming soon. Everyone else will know, hence the reason we all think Ford will have to discount the leftover 2004's.
What's up with the changeable gauge cluster colors? Am I the only one who thinks this is kinda an odd "feature" to have on a Mustang?? I wonder how much this questionable technology adds to the cost of the car vs. simply using one color like every other car... And who are they targeting with this?
It's a pretty weak attempt to attract some new sales, or even showroom traffic, but it probably will work to some extent.
I actually look forward to seeing it in person though. Sometimes I just get tired of looking at the same Ford green backlights and want a change.
Red would go well with the monster that resides under the '05's hood.
I admit that I kind of like stuff like this even if it is of questionable long-term value. Now if they would just get rid of that stupid prop-rod to hold the hood up.......:)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Last year, I had been thinking that my next car would be a foreign brand, but now I’m really torn between the ’05 Mustang and the GTO.
I know the Ford guys will say, “Pontiacs suck,” and Pontiac guys will say the same about Ford. But try to help me with some USEFUL comments – something I can think about in my decision-making process.
From my perspective, each has strengths.
GTO Pros:
- Simple, elegant styling derived from Monaro
- Luxurious European-style interior
- Super-powerful, proven LS1 engine
- 6-speed transmission
- Great sounding exhaust
- 4-wheel independent suspension
GTO Cons:
- Considerably more expensive than the Mustang
- Simple styling also a bit bland
- Many people think it’s just a Grand Am
- Uncertain resale value due to limited following
Mustang Pros:
- Beefy, muscular styling that is uniquely “Mustang”
- Looks great in silver with white stripes
- Strong positive response among the public
- Improved interior
- Everyone knows it’s a Mustang
Mustang Cons:
- Center stack still looks cheesy – cheap looking radio, HVAC
- Hard-to-read retro gauges
- Questionable reliability of Ford 4.6 V8
- Significantly lower HP & torque than GM’s bigger V8
- Wheezy sounding exhaust
- Only has 5-speeds vs. 6-speed in GTO (29 mpg hwy)
- Old fashioned solid axle
This is tough. I wish Ford wouldn’t wait to re-issue the Mach 1. That’s probably the Mustang that I will really fall in love with. I’m still not a fan of the Ford Modular V8, though.
The Mustang looks great on the outside, but it seems like the GTO is superior when you get underneath the skin (albeit for a higher price). Your opinions are welcomed.
I'm glad its an option though...every little thing adds to the cost of a car. On the Mustang alone, that's why Ford removed the under-dash light and the passenger-side key lock...
Good point re the other lights in the car though...on my 2002, some controls (i.e. the window switches) aren't lit *at all*.
But in the 2005 and other cars, I'm glad that there's a trend toward separately-enclosed gauges...much more "sportscar" in my mind (the pre-1999 Porsche 911 setup is about as good as it's ever gotten IMO).
As far as the GTO goes, great motor and the interior looks nice. Not as thrilled about the price, but that's ok. The big thing to me is it just doesn't look like what I would want a GTO to look like. I really love the 60's Pontiacs and I wish they could have gone retro like the new Mustang rather than the Chevy Lumina 2-door styling that the new GTO has.
If it were me, and I was looking at the two, I'd have to wait and check out the new Mustang, drive them back to back and then look at the content versus price. If you can wait another year, maybe a Cobra vs GTO comparison might be closer as far as price goes.
Personally, I have a special place in my heart for Pontiacs stemming from their products in the late 1960's. In particular, a 1969 Firebird that was in the family. Absolutely loved that car. However the styling of the new GTO is so bland that it really is a big time turn off inspite of the great motor under the hood.
What reliability concerns re the 4.6 V8? Ones in taxis and patrol cars regularly go well past 100k miles with just regular servicing.
Also, the new GTO/Monaro is really just a placeholder until GM can develop one from the ground up. I'm willing to bet the second-gen one will have much better styling. Might be worth the wait...
As for the Mustang's sound, I always thought the Corvette sounded wheezy and the Mustang sounded very muscular in comparison. Maybe I just never paid enough attention but I seriously doubt it. I'm always keeping an ear out for a good sounding V8.
My wife thinks I'm crazy because I can pick out a Mustang just by the sound of it. Little does she know, but she's starting to do the same thing too. I guess I've had some good influence on her so far.
One other thing to consider is the power to weight ratio between the two. The GTO supposedly weighs something like 5700 lbs.. That's an awful lot of weight to carry around. It may handle like a truck!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
GTO = 3,725 pounds (or about 75 pounds more than a Mustang Cobra)
2.5 tons = 5,000 pounds = ridiculous exaggeration
Anyway, the GTO does 0-60 in 5.3 and the 1/4 mile in 13.7-14.0 at 104 mph. Not a slug by any means.
Not saying I PREFER the goat, but I'd just like you guys to try to be as fair as possible when rendering your opinion.
The Holden Monaro's exhaust does sound pretty good though, at least on par with the Mustang.
So that category should probably be a wash between the two.
The Holden Monaro's exhaust does sound pretty good though, at least on par with the Mustang.
So that category should probably be a wash between the two.
Mustang V8s are well known for their beautiful sound, at least from the pushrod (289/302/5.0) era
perhaps the DOHCs don't sound as nice.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Sorry, I'll try to be more perfect like you next time.
C&D says it's 3821 lbs and does 0-60 in 5.3 seconds. It's right there with the Mustang even though it has 50 more horses and 50 more lb-ft of torque.
***I had the link to C&D here but Kirstie made me remove it because they host forums.***
A Mustang GT MT weighs somewhere around 3400 lbs for comparison.
***Link to HotRod mag was here showing the '05's specs but it too was deleted.***
So yes, power to weight is something you should consider. That was my point even though the numbers were wrong.
"The Holden Monaro's exhaust does sound pretty good though, at least on par with the Mustang."
That seems to be the word right now. It's going to be hard getting used to an oversized Lumina sounding like a muscle car.