At what price does the Mustang start to make no sense?

[LouG]

Sry, but you are just absolutely wrong.

In 1965, the sticker price for a Shelby Mustang GT350 was approximately $4,547. Adjusted for inflation and using the latest Consumer Price Index for 2026, that amount is equivalent to approximately $47,000.

Using the DOW or S&P is just cherry picking and has nothing to do what people earn these days. CPI is focussed on the consumes and for good reasons considered the gold standard for measuring consumer purchase power. Using the DOW serves an entirely different purpose and is therefore not adequate.

Yes but, the GT350 is a Motorola Brick, an S650 is an I Phone. On your numbers that's a lot of tech and innovation for around $15k more.

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[rbuike]

We are seeing numerous variants of $100K++ (on the low end) of Mustang variants being pumped out…

I've seen variants of Jeep Wranglers hit $100K, I think it is all relative

 

[jbrnigan]

I've seen variants of Jeep Wranglers hit $100K, I think it is all relative

When a car model develops a "following", it becomes the "golden goose" for both the mfr and aftermarket suppliers. If there weren't buyers for DH's, over priced GT's or EB premium's, Ford would just manipulate the production line to produce some other variant, that Mustang buyers will empty their pockets for. Remember, these are assembly line, production cars that share many of the same parts, at the rate of 200+ cars a day out of a decades old factory. If I were Ford, I would continue to add a couple of grand a year to every premium plus and GT model until buyers yell "uncle". Then, adjust MSRP's to reflect the "revelation" - "our customers have spoken, we are listening and reducing (rebates) pricing" - sound familiar?

 

[first Mustang]

These are the good ole days.
A new Mustang for $65,000 today is a better deal than a new one for $3000 60 years ago.

 

[tktrain]

I'd been keeping my eyes open for a very likely collectable Mustang since I sold my '82 GT that had been very heavily modded back in 1990. That old GT was loaded, t-tops, narrowed 9 inch, 3.91 gears Detroit locker, T-5, pro built 343 small block with a set of aluminum heads, Holley 750 DP, Hooker headers, heavy clutch, 30# steel flywheel, Recaros, subframe connectors, urethane bushings everywhere. I got a lightly used T-bird Sport with a 5.0. Man I missed that GT.

When the DH was announced, I thought, okay, this looks like a great time to get back in. This DH is in another league, big Brembos, Magneride, sticky tires, active exhaust. I'm booked for a Whipple installation, a Steeda "Stop the Hop" kit, and dual vapor catch cans, and a double H pipe. When the warranty is up (I'm currently at 500 miles) I'm going stage 2, long tube headers, and high flow cats are going on. Maybe a Carbon Fiber driveshaft. This is what I was looking for. I bought the car off the showroom floor at invoice in early November. I'll be in a grand total of about mid $90s all finished.

 

[GooberDH]

$65k-$75k seemed like the sweet spot for the top tier variant, attainable for a middle-classer with a good job and could stand toe to toe with the snob's M4. I wonder how much these cars would cost if all the bullshit were removed like automatic braking, rain sensing wipers (which currently work like garbage), rear occupant alerts so braindead simpletons don't forget their kids in the car, lane keep assist, IMAX theater screens on the dash, licensing agreements with Amazon to use their privacy violator voice assistant, use your cellphone to start your car, etc.

That's why I went all out when I got my DH and why it's probably going to be my coffin-car. I already don't love all the electronics and nannies but they're tolerable more or less for me. I can only imagine it getting worse moving forward. The time is coming where there will be cameras inside the car like some already have to screech at you if it decides you are distracted and you WON'T be able to turn it off.

 

[jbrnigan]

$65k-$75k seemed like the sweet spot for the top tier variant, attainable for a middle-classer with a good job and could stand toe to toe with the snob's M4. I wonder how much these cars would cost if all the bullshit were removed like automatic braking, rain sensing wipers (which currently work like garbage), rear occupant alerts so braindead simpletons don't forget their kids in the car, lane keep assist, IMAX theater screens on the dash, licensing agreements with Amazon to use their privacy violator voice assistant, use your cellphone to start your car, etc.

That's why I went all out when I got my DH and why it's probably going to be my coffin-car. I already don't love all the electronics and nannies but they're tolerable more or less for me. I can only imagine it getting worse moving forward. The time is coming where there will be cameras inside the car like some already have to screech at you if it decides you are distracted and you WON'T be able to turn it off.

Your post validates the "genius" of Ford marketing You point out ALL of the features you would likely not buy if given a choice ... but you bought it anyway .... from my earlier post: "When a car model develops a "following", it becomes the "golden goose" for both the mfr and aftermarket suppliers". You are EXACTLY the customer Ford covets, and that keeps them in business ... moaning and groaning while they empty their pockets to keep up with the M4 snobs. There is a reason why the Mustang is Fords ONLY car. They don't sell many, but they make a boat load of dough on those they sell. LOL

 

[first Mustang]

We bought a loaded GT, because we could. We are retired and could afford it. Yet, a younger person could get a Mustang for much less, an EcoBoost for the mid-30s and a GT for just under 50,000. Even the basic Mustang is well loaded compared to cars sold 30 years ago. Cars sold in the 1960s were really bare bones.
i Priced 2026 GT out the door, it was 49,500$. Show me another car with that power and suspension for anywhere near that. No Chevy for sure.

 

[Alex381]

We bought a loaded GT, because we could. We are retired and could afford it. Yet, a younger person could get a Mustang for much less, an EcoBoost for the mid-30s and a GT for just under 50,000. Even the basic Mustang is well loaded compared to cars sold 30 years ago. Cars sold in the 1960s were really bare bones.
i Priced 2026 GT out the door, it was 49,500$. Show me another car with that power and suspension for anywhere near that. No Chevy for sure.

I bought my loaded 24 GT convertible new for $53k. I could have gotten a base GT in the low 40s. Regardless of sticker price these cars are hard to move. I can’t see the current price model lasting much longer.

 

[GooberDH]

Your post validates the "genius" of Ford marketing You point out ALL of the features you would likely not buy if given a choice ... but you bought it anyway .... from my earlier post: "When a car model develops a "following", it becomes the "golden goose" for both the mfr and aftermarket suppliers". You are EXACTLY the customer Ford covets, and that keeps them in business ... moaning and groaning while they empty their pockets to keep up with the M4 snobs. There is a reason why the Mustang is Fords ONLY car. They don't sell many, but they make a boat load of dough on those they sell. LOL

It's more that I don't have any other choice. All those features are standard or worse on other cars, many are government mandated at this point. I wanted a V8 with a good manual transmission that I could self service for most things, new so I know the full history of the car and could PPF before the paint got shitty all while not paying 13% APR, warranty, etc.

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