How do we save the mustang?

[falcongtho3]

Most don't know that the 1974 Mustang II did NOT offer a V8 (at least not in this country) it was a time of economic crisis and as well as the first energy crisis. But the Mustang faithful spoke out and sanity was restored, and so for 1975 the 302 found its way back on to the option sheet. If it hadn't do you think there would still be a Mustang?

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[Sharkman]

At 64, my new car days are over, went out with a bang on my Dark Horse. With that, my new car purchases are over. It is time to relax and enjoy the Mustangs I have from 1966 to 2024. I can not wait for spring to roll out the 66 convertible!

 

[Zig]

I love my V8 but I know it is the end of the road. I don't think short term political changes in the US, whichever way they are, make much difference to product planning for a global company. What is being produced now was planned 8 to 10 years ago and likewise what is being planned now will be made in 2030 ish.

Not to say legacy products will not continue but they will not get any serious investment.

The realists know that the current Mustang and platform will run on until the market cannot sustain it any more and that a replacement Mustang will be an EV. There is a huge opportunity for Ford there, let's hope they grasp it.

Always, ‘when’ as opposed to now. When the battery tech gets better, when the infrastructure is complete, when advancements become stagnant, ‘when’ covers a multitude of sins (shortcomings). When the ‘same enhancements’ are applied the 8 stomps the 4 and the 6.

 

[Q6543]

A lot of people don’t understand, the big 3 want EVs and government to mandate them… it’s not the other way around.

They want less overhead, lower build costs, less warranty costs etc…

The companies control the government… it was never the government forcing companies.
They are the lobbyists.

 

[9secondko]

You do realize I want you to be right.

bro. To be real, you’ve actively cheerled for the opposite for a while now - from when Mach E was just a rumor.

I would like to believe it. But I haven’t seen it other than these recent words.

 

[9secondko]

No politics in the this forum is very clear in the terms.

As to the generally insulting a demeaning references to people who choose to drive something that isn't a V8 for valid reasons - why do you feel the need to say that? What will it achieve?

yeah nice try.

Someone asked why an administration would make a difference. I gave an answer. That’s not “getting political.” It’s answering a viewpoint. We can’t pretend certain aspects of life don’t exist. The point was administrations make s difference. One was clearly anti-oil. The other is clearly pro. It’s fact. being that ICE power requires oil, it’s obviously integral to the discussion. But hey, very upstanding of you to try to create a moderation issue against another member when your narrative isn’t working.

As far as the “RC” car reference, it’s tongue in cheek. I don’t refer to normal people who just want the best or most fun vehicle for them. I refer to those who actively cheerlead the Denise of tech that is more modern, extremely useful, and better in many ways.

the reality is that those who want an EV should be able to have one. Those who want ICE should be able to have it. And those who want modern, high tech v8 enthusiasm should be able to enjoy that too. And not some old, stuck in the past Luddite version as a token. A real, actively developed engine maximizing its potential.

pretty simple stuff.

 

[Zig]

A lot of people don’t understand, the big 3 want EVs and government to mandate them… it’s not the other way around.

They want less overhead, lower build costs, less warranty costs etc…

The companies control the government… it was never the government forcing companies.
They are the lobbyists.

Cow farts.., oh wait do you mean to imply beef v oil. Lobbyists are only as good as the agenda.

 

[SSuperDave]

Well, I can tell you for a fact that EV's do NOT have less warranty costs, at least the Mach E and Lightnings. One battery negates all teh little BS stice that goes wrong with ICE cars, at least for now. I believe, if left to gro on its own,m that the EV market will increase gradually to a pretty large market share, but its been forced and propped up and subsidized do far, and that is not sustainable.
Oh, how are the EV people in the north faring with the last 2 winter storms? We had a cold snap (for us) a couple of weeks ago, and the phones were ringing off the wall with Mach E and Lightning customer want to bring their vehicles in because their range had dropped in half, and "somehting HAS to be wrong with it"

 

[9secondko]

Make them vendor tunable, NA. But this would almost be too little, too late.

It is going to take an agreeable to the consumer platform redesign. Contained MSRP . And, the ability for the buyer to go get a tune and bolt on modifications within a reasonable time from launch (4-6 months).

That is my theory to saving the Mustang.

truth. If they wouldn’t have locked tuning out, the once glorious aftermarket would be booming and people would be buying up even the current mustang like crazy.

a huge part of the mustang has always been customization - and that includes powertrain.

not only a missed opportunity, but actively hamstringing tje Mustang. Hopefully somebody at Ford remembers that customers are what should drive Decisions.

 

[Gregs24]

A lot of people don’t understand, the big 3 want EVs and government to mandate them… it’s not the other way around.

They want less overhead, lower build costs, less warranty costs etc…

The companies control the government… it was never the government forcing companies.
They are the lobbyists.

Don't forget all car companies are global - US politics and mandates make up a small proportion of their decision making process. Not sure the 'Big 3' in US car sale terms are all US companies!

Toyota are No.1!

Ford sell more cars outside the US than inside the US

Honda No.4 and closing in on No.3.

 

[Bikeman315]

bro. To be real, you’ve actively cheerled for the opposite for a while now - from when Mach E was just a rumor.

I would like to believe it. But I haven’t seen it other than these recent words.

I'm just a realist. I guess I've been around too long to be otherwise. I, for one, see no harm with EV's and believe they, or some other option, will replace ICE in my lifetime. The V8, for all intents and purposes, is dead regardless of the occasional positive blip on the radar.

Also coming from a background in sales both retail and from the manufacturing side gives me some insight as to why companies do what they do. Sometimes it obvious, other times not so much. And they strikeout far more than they homer. That's why I give Ford the benefit of the doubt. I am grateful for what they are giving us, not bemoaning what they don't. But at the end of the day, I'm a car guy, a Ford guy, a Mustang guy, and a V8 guy.

 

[Gregs24]

truth. If they wouldn’t have locked tuning out, the once glorious aftermarket would be booming and people would be buying up even the current mustang like crazy.

a huge part of the mustang has always been customization - and that includes powertrain.

not only a missed opportunity, but actively hamstringing tje Mustang. Hopefully somebody at Ford remembers that customers are what should drive Decisions.

It is completely clear why they are locked (not just in the US) and it is not going to change!

 

[Bikeman315]

truth. If they wouldn’t have locked tuning out, the once glorious aftermarket would be booming and people would be buying up even the current mustang like crazy.

a huge part of the mustang has always been customization - and that includes powertrain.

not only a missed opportunity, but actively hamstringing tje Mustang. Hopefully somebody at Ford remembers that customers are what should drive Decisions.

Do you honestly believe that Ford has intentionally done this? They know what the outcome of this decision was going to be. Due to worldwide regulations and security issues they had to. This is what I mean by understanding the market and cutting Ford some slack. No company intentionally does things to hurt sales. At least no company I've ever dealt with.

 

[9secondko]

Always, ‘when’ as opposed to now. When the battery tech gets better, when the infrastructure is complete, when advancements become stagnant, ‘when’ covers a multitude of sins (shortcomings). When the ‘same enhancements’ are applied the 8 stomps the 4 and the 6.

I love my V8 but I know it is the end of the road. I don't think short term political changes in the US, whichever way they are, make much difference to product planning for a global company. What is being produced now was planned 8 to 10 years ago and likewise what is being planned now will be made in 2030 ish.

Not to say legacy products will not continue but they will not get any serious investment.

The realists know that the current Mustang and platform will run on until the market cannot sustain it any more and that a replacement Mustang will be an EV. There is a huge opportunity for Ford there, let's hope they grasp it.

no dude. You don’t know it. You WANT it. Clearly. It’s not like you haven’t laid that out already. No need to pretend.

Also no your dream scenario wasn’t planned 20 years ago. The last truly great ceo Mullaly was impressively pushing the v8 and developing the ecoboost at that time, pulling Ford out of the auto crisis without government handouts like GM received.

since then, we’ve had to sit by and watch Ford struggle. As long as ford sits and copies others, it won’t get any better.

 

[9secondko]

Do you honestly believe that Ford has intentionally done this? They know what the outcome of this decision was going to be. Due to worldwide regulations and security issues they had to. This is what I mean by understanding the market and cutting Ford some slack. No company intentionally does things to hurt sales. At least no company I've ever dealt with.

They can lock the EU cars. No need in the USA.

ID GET INTO “laws and regulations, and how those change based on people in lower, but then Greg will whine and say I’m getting political - even though you brought it up.

Ford did not HAVE to.
It IS no doubt easier to track warranty and also for Ford to keep the aftermarket money to themselves by doing this (Ford approved FP Whipple kit tunes, etc)

if Ford is wise, they’ll hit reset on that idea.

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