Hmmm...
Well, in the words of an infamous group - I'm a believer.
There are a few things that have been said and at least one thing I see over looked here that I'll touch on.
In 96 and in 98 I believe, Ford released the GT in a cut down trim level for under 20K. In 96 I assume this was to welcome in the new 4.6L and pay for the R&D by selling as many as they could. In 98 it was probably to get them sold out before the 99's showed up. I can see the same thing happening to the 04's. You can still lease the 6 for 5 bucks a day (not sure if that's everywhere, but I've seen the add a few times in as many weeks here.) The 2004 GT's will probably be liquidated this spring. A great thing for people who don't like the 05's.
If you look around at the market place, we seem to have come full circle. Some of the things that have happened could not have happened at a better time for Ford - it's almost as if it was some big plan that could only play out in a fiction. The timing is just too critical to be a fluke
The Mustang pony car had no competition when it debuted. ??? Where is GM?
The Mustang was available from base to fully optioned out, much like a Lego set.
GM will/may be back in 67 - oops I mean 2007 - get it?
As far as I know, the LX V8 was a pretty good loop hole for insurance... at least in Canada. I'm not sure if that worked out here, but the "GT" badge is what drove up the premium. A 20K LX V8 is a perfect option to someone who could pay the middle ground insurance between a V6 and GT. It's a perfect sell point.
I think Ford wants to make a huge statement here. They've upped the anti without even having a need to do so - no competition - yet; but I think some of us have missed the point. This is a celebration of the Mustang, but it's also a huge appreciation for the people who have supported this car for 40 years. They've kicked it up a notch for us. Better chassis, interior, Lego set building freedom to maximize customization and an amazing price to performance level. It's all payback in a "back to 60's freedom" kind of way. I can understand the majority of the disbelief and the "nobody's ever gonna do that" but as some have pointed out, this is the perfect time for Ford to pull somthing like this. If would be amazing to see a 400K total sales again, specially in this day and age. With that pricing, it is clear Ford may be testing the possibility.
No sale of any Mustang regardless of option level is going to hurt Mustang sales of any other option level - a sale is a sale is a sale. That kind of thinking is ridiculous and was partially responsible for the death of the SVO. A lesson well learned, SVT played it right in the second attempt and runs stronger than ever today. The Cobra is a huge complement to all lesser incantations of the Mustang.
I'm not going to pretend I know how these cars are built, but logic dictates that the cars will all be on the same path until they hit the drive train and interior sections of the line. Only time will tell how truly different they will be, but this is going to be a big factor in keeping costs way down. It's a numbers game pure and simple. Someone stated earlier that the 20K V8 could be a reality with no options, but in fact it would cost more to tool the line to support that than it would to put power windows, door locks, air-tilt & cruse in every car produced. A good example - For the most part you have to order a car without air to get it that way... it may be cheaper for you, but it costs ford money and you have to wait for the car. Second example; When you buy 200K power lock/window kits for the line and 1500 manual lock/window kits for people who opted out, what one do you think is going to be less expensive?
It stands to reason that the sub 20K V8 will probably be the base V8 with the simplest interior and V6 body moldings. The only other thing they could change to cut costs without hurting safety or integrety is the tranny. But again it's a numbers game there too. How much real dollar difference is there between the T5 and the T3650 in lots of 20 thousand or more?
Speculation aside, I am buying one. And to hell with trading in my 2002; what's the point when it will be paid off and I'll only have the 230 a month to deal with on the new car? Think about how many more people will have that V8 stang as a second/third car due to the price of admission.
I called my dealer; asked her to put aside a set of all the dealer info/posters/specs of the new car when they finally start arriving for collection purposes and to give me a call when Ford gives them go on accepting 05 orders. Can I afford a GT, sure - but I'm one of those idiots mentioned earlier that would get the lesser model. Why? On principle, because it's a sub 20K V8, because I can do it without selling one or more of my other cars, Because 4 cars will still only be about 150/mth insurance, and the best part, because I want to.
Z.
. If all the kids could afford the V8, the insurance would be higher, not lower.
