So who has ordered the new S550 Mustang?
Discussion
It just amazes me how big corporations can get it so wrong.
You see some ugly looking new cars on the road and think how the hell did that get passed by the board, are they blind.
Those little videos posted elsewhere about the design of the new Mustang shows the boss not being happy with the height of the dashboard cowls (A Mustang styling cue that goes back to the original '64) and saying that he wants them lower........by a couple of millimeters.
Such attention to detail, especially with the rear lights and the front 'gills', yet the important cues are dropped from the Euro spec cars. I wonder if the original stylists are happy about that.
You see some ugly looking new cars on the road and think how the hell did that get passed by the board, are they blind.
Those little videos posted elsewhere about the design of the new Mustang shows the boss not being happy with the height of the dashboard cowls (A Mustang styling cue that goes back to the original '64) and saying that he wants them lower........by a couple of millimeters.
Such attention to detail, especially with the rear lights and the front 'gills', yet the important cues are dropped from the Euro spec cars. I wonder if the original stylists are happy about that.
Blimey! Some close up pictures of the cars in Munich. The panel alignment looks terrible. My 2000 Grand Marquis was better.
It's on this thread, page 4, http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2...
That is pretty shocking for these days. UK Fords have come a long way in the past decades or so and many say that the build quality is on par with the Germans.
Why are these so bad? They are for the motoring journalists who will rip them to shreds in their write ups.
It's on this thread, page 4, http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2...
That is pretty shocking for these days. UK Fords have come a long way in the past decades or so and many say that the build quality is on par with the Germans.
Why are these so bad? They are for the motoring journalists who will rip them to shreds in their write ups.
In the spirit of clutching at straws, maybe these were early US production models which were held back due to QC issues (we know they exist) and have been retrofitted with European parts. It's no excuse but it might be a reason. Otherwise these examples are very quick off the Euro production line. The panel fit and paint finish on US cars delivered recently appears to be fine judging by peoples photos and their reactions to their new cars.
On the topic of the Euro/UK mods that Ford has made I think we should be careful what we wish for. Ford could have spent gazillions on offering us what the US market has but they wouldn't be starting at £28,000. They would also probably be made in Spain or Turkey or South Africa. How many of us wouldn't have ordered the RHD version if it hadn't been made in Flat Rock with the rest of them? I'm waiting for someone to start a thread complaining that the RHD Mustangs are, er....... right hand drive!! What we can be sure of is that if they didn't have to make the changes, they wouldn't have, because they cost money.
With the rear lights I think Ford have been a bit lazy in not experimenting with green leds behind a red lens; which does give you amber. UK MoT requires amber light, it doesn't specify the lens colour, but maybe other European countries differ. On balance I prefer the white lens to 2 red and 1 amber which is what I feared we'd get. How long before a mod comes out anyway...
The rear 'filler cap' emblem; no I don't like it either. I've ordered a Ford Racing plain decklid panel and a tribar pony emblem so that's sorted.
If you don't like the wheels, change them. Seats? change them. If we don't get a strut brace and or K bar; I'll buy one from Ford Racing. Mines a convertible so it will need both. Hood scoops? We'll all be replacing our bonnet soon enough if they corrode like the '05 (and our wings are aluminium as well!). It's a bit ironic that there are those who have ordered 2015 Mustangs and already have a garage full of parts ready to bolt on and ditch the stock stuff that Ford spent a fortune developing to make the car their own (or just louder in some cases) but we complain about a few mods from the US version done to get us a Mustang we can buy in our own country. Bottom line is, if we don't like it, buy one from the States.
Anyway, I still want one. Rant over.
On the topic of the Euro/UK mods that Ford has made I think we should be careful what we wish for. Ford could have spent gazillions on offering us what the US market has but they wouldn't be starting at £28,000. They would also probably be made in Spain or Turkey or South Africa. How many of us wouldn't have ordered the RHD version if it hadn't been made in Flat Rock with the rest of them? I'm waiting for someone to start a thread complaining that the RHD Mustangs are, er....... right hand drive!! What we can be sure of is that if they didn't have to make the changes, they wouldn't have, because they cost money.
With the rear lights I think Ford have been a bit lazy in not experimenting with green leds behind a red lens; which does give you amber. UK MoT requires amber light, it doesn't specify the lens colour, but maybe other European countries differ. On balance I prefer the white lens to 2 red and 1 amber which is what I feared we'd get. How long before a mod comes out anyway...
The rear 'filler cap' emblem; no I don't like it either. I've ordered a Ford Racing plain decklid panel and a tribar pony emblem so that's sorted.
If you don't like the wheels, change them. Seats? change them. If we don't get a strut brace and or K bar; I'll buy one from Ford Racing. Mines a convertible so it will need both. Hood scoops? We'll all be replacing our bonnet soon enough if they corrode like the '05 (and our wings are aluminium as well!). It's a bit ironic that there are those who have ordered 2015 Mustangs and already have a garage full of parts ready to bolt on and ditch the stock stuff that Ford spent a fortune developing to make the car their own (or just louder in some cases) but we complain about a few mods from the US version done to get us a Mustang we can buy in our own country. Bottom line is, if we don't like it, buy one from the States.
Anyway, I still want one. Rant over.
slowhand99 said:
In the spirit of clutching at straws, maybe these were early US production models which were held back due to QC issues (we know they exist) and have been retrofitted with European parts. It's no excuse but it might be a reason. Otherwise these examples are very quick off the Euro production line. The panel fit and paint finish on US cars delivered recently appears to be fine judging by peoples photos and their reactions to their new cars.
I'd agree with that. I've not heard anyone b
hing about panel gaps. That said, you have to wonder how and why Ford would allow these cars to be seen by anyone, never mind a bunch of journalists?!slowhand99 said:
How many of us wouldn't have ordered the RHD version if it hadn't been made in Flat Rock with the rest of them?
I couldn't care less where they were made to be perfectly honest, and I'd put money on that being the case for the vast majority of customers, wherever they are.As Sumpoil mentioned, I think Ford are trying to market this as a more refined tourer/GT, as opposed to an out-and-out raw "muscle-car", the reason being that they think (correctly, I believe), that the people outside of the US that buy this car are buying a decent-looking, RWD 5 litre V8, not a MUSTANG.
slowhand99 said:
With the rear lights I think Ford have been a bit lazy in not experimenting with green leds behind a red lens; which does give you amber. UK MoT requires amber light, it doesn't specify the lens colour, but maybe other European countries differ. On balance I prefer the white lens to 2 red and 1 amber which is what I feared we'd get. How long before a mod comes out anyway...
They're already available, so why Ford have gone with the clear lights, who knows?slowhand99 said:
The rear 'filler cap' emblem; no I don't like it either. I've ordered a Ford Racing plain decklid panel and a tribar pony emblem so that's sorted.
If you don't like the wheels, change them.
Obviously, just a minor annoyance is all.If you don't like the wheels, change them.
slowhand99 said:
Seats? change them.
Why don't they just offer us the same option as the rest of the world gets? As I understand it, the UK is the only country not to have Recaros as an option. I stand to be corrected on that though.Anyways, all of that notwithstanding, why the hell can't they just come out and explain why they've made the changes they've made, to an eager customer base that has had pretty much ZERO official word about the exact specs of our cars, and yet are now (if the t'internet is to be believed) being expected to confirm their orders of an as yet unseen (pretty much) car in this country?
Edited by Centurion07 on Tuesday 5th May 21:43
rix said:
Just checking in on this thread... no order yet but very tempted. Can someone do something for my condition of being allergic to paying list for a ford?!
Cab or fastback?!!
I know where you are coming from Cab or fastback?!!
Also, as it is supposed to be a prestige product for Ford UK, I did think we would get the same treatment as I did when I bought a new Boxster but had to wait 6 months for it to be built and afterwards a new Discovery 3 from Landrover.
In the case of Porsche it was long test drives as well as a test drive plus. Driving tuition on the roads to and from a race track and skid pan testing session, all in the company of a British Touring Cars racing instructor. Oh! and free gifts.
Land Rover sent me on an off road course.
Even after I had sold the 987, Porsche still contacted me from time to time. One particular winter they let me have a brand new 997S for 24 hours. I put over 400 miles on it as it was such a joy to drive but there was no sales pitch at the end just a if you want one get in touch.
So if Ford UK are pushing the Mustang as an upmarket grand tourer, they are getting it very wrong. The thing is up to now they sell cars like Currys sell washing machines, Mondeos to the fleets, Focus and Fiestas to the masses, Transits to the tradesmen, MPVs to Addison Lee with a small niche market in RS's and ST's.
It's annoying to enter a Ford Showroom to find that I know more about their cars then the whole sales team put together.
croyde said:
stuff
completely agree. the people that buy these cars will be 'enthusiasts', i.e. beardy nerds who have agonised over Ford UK's lame PDFs for weeks before hitting the FordStore (or whatever they are called). We have just bought a new Mini, amazing customer experience... I have a feeling spending at least 50% more on a mustang will not give me the same fuzzy feeling... Hopefully the ownership experience could make up for it!The sales guys will get nowt from Mustangs they have to sell fleets of normal stuff however each Store will have a vignale specialist they could gave made this position a Mustang contact as well.
I'm concerned that early adopters pay RRP and later on they will do 0% finance etc - bothers me that
I'm concerned that early adopters pay RRP and later on they will do 0% finance etc - bothers me that
Centurion07 said:
Anyways, all of that notwithstanding, why the hell can't they just come out and explain why they've made the changes they've made, to an eager customer base that has had pretty much ZERO official word about the exact specs of our cars, and yet are now (if the t'internet is to be believed) being expected to confirm their orders of an as yet unseen (pretty much) car in this country?
Spot on. Apparently there is a 'Mustang guy' in the dealer I've ordered from (maybe he's also the Vignale guy) but he hasn't been in touch which, as Croyde points out, is sub-standard for a 'prestige' car especially two days out from finalising a £40k commitment. The young salesman I gave the order to (because of his attitude and enthusiasm, and the respect he showed me) has been really enthusiastic but frustrated about lack of backup from Ford.Edited by Centurion07 on Tuesday 5th May 21:43
I'm hoping for a ton of money off an Edge when they finally arrive so I can keep the Mustang tucked up during the rock salt season. I've stopped holding my breath.
To be fair the marginal cost to Ford of fitting stuff like a strut brace, K brace (which i think is fitted to euro cars) and additional gauges is minimal - these things are already in the parts bin so it's not like they need to be manufactured specifically for RHD. I'd have gladly paid an additional £200 or £300 to have the option of getting them fitted. Recaro make seats for LHD and RHD cars with side airbags and heating circa £1,500 each, so I'm struggling to see why Ford couldn't have offered them as an option on RHD without customers having to go through the hassle of changing them post purchase and disposing of the old ones.
Which ever way you look at it I don't see how offering any of these items as an option would add 'gazillions' to the basic £28,000, but maybe it would have created a bit more of a 'special' feeling for the people putting down a deposit of thousands for a car they haven't even seen yet. Ultimately, it would have been nice to have an options list that gave folks the choice of either going down the muscle-car route or a slightly less hard-core look .... and don't even get me started on why the GT350 isn't coming to the UK
Which ever way you look at it I don't see how offering any of these items as an option would add 'gazillions' to the basic £28,000, but maybe it would have created a bit more of a 'special' feeling for the people putting down a deposit of thousands for a car they haven't even seen yet. Ultimately, it would have been nice to have an options list that gave folks the choice of either going down the muscle-car route or a slightly less hard-core look .... and don't even get me started on why the GT350 isn't coming to the UK
Something else we can't have (although you can buy the grille as a part for $950!!!)
http://www.themustangnews.com/content/2015/05/must...
http://www.themustangnews.com/content/2015/05/must...
Interview with Moray Callum, Mustang Chief Designer
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/miscellaneous/201...
Some extracts about UK / Europe:-
Was there a very European flavour to this Mustang? Were you guided by what Europe might want especially?
From a design viewpoint certainly not. We would talk to people around the world [and ask] what do you want in the Mustang? They knew the Mustang is an American car and they wanted us to keep it genuine to itself, as it were. From a drivability viewpoint we’ve got to make it a legitimate sports car for everybody around the world, not just for Europe. From a design point of view, people wanted it to be 100 per cent Mustang, to be honest.
So who’s going to buy a Mustang in the UK?
I think it’s going to be a mixture of people who know what a Mustang is and have always wanted a Mustang, but I think people are also going to see what a great car you’re going to get for your money. It’s a really great driver’s car and it’s a great looking car too. We’ll be introducing new people to both the Ford brand and the Mustang brand who’ll just fall in love with the car. It’ll be an emotional choice.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/miscellaneous/201...
Some extracts about UK / Europe:-
Was there a very European flavour to this Mustang? Were you guided by what Europe might want especially?
From a design viewpoint certainly not. We would talk to people around the world [and ask] what do you want in the Mustang? They knew the Mustang is an American car and they wanted us to keep it genuine to itself, as it were. From a drivability viewpoint we’ve got to make it a legitimate sports car for everybody around the world, not just for Europe. From a design point of view, people wanted it to be 100 per cent Mustang, to be honest.
So who’s going to buy a Mustang in the UK?
I think it’s going to be a mixture of people who know what a Mustang is and have always wanted a Mustang, but I think people are also going to see what a great car you’re going to get for your money. It’s a really great driver’s car and it’s a great looking car too. We’ll be introducing new people to both the Ford brand and the Mustang brand who’ll just fall in love with the car. It’ll be an emotional choice.
I got very emotional this morning when I read that one of the guys on the Australian Mustang6g forum had got an 'official' memo from Ford Australia stating that the handbrake and the cup holders would not be 'lateralised' for RHD Mustangs.
Considering all European Fords have their bits and pieces in the correct places regardless of whether they are LHD or RHD, as do all the other European and Asian cars, makes me think very little of Ford US.
If they have penny pinched on this, what other savings have they tried to make with the RHD version.
My other worrying thought, I know I need a life, is that there does not appear to be a UK RHD Mustang at the moment. It would appear that they don't get built until Sept but are not new cars supposed to go through millions of miles of testing before they are let loose on the public?
Understandably the engine, chassis and suspension are the same as the US car but what if there is a weakness in the design of the RHD system. I presume quite a bit of the engine bay would have to be moved around to accommodate the revised steering and controls.
At the end of the day it is just strange that Ford UK have no useful information, even at this late stage.
Seriously thinking of stepping back and waiting to see what happens for the first year or so. I don't fancy being a test mule and paying for it.
Considering all European Fords have their bits and pieces in the correct places regardless of whether they are LHD or RHD, as do all the other European and Asian cars, makes me think very little of Ford US.
If they have penny pinched on this, what other savings have they tried to make with the RHD version.
My other worrying thought, I know I need a life, is that there does not appear to be a UK RHD Mustang at the moment. It would appear that they don't get built until Sept but are not new cars supposed to go through millions of miles of testing before they are let loose on the public?
Understandably the engine, chassis and suspension are the same as the US car but what if there is a weakness in the design of the RHD system. I presume quite a bit of the engine bay would have to be moved around to accommodate the revised steering and controls.
At the end of the day it is just strange that Ford UK have no useful information, even at this late stage.
Seriously thinking of stepping back and waiting to see what happens for the first year or so. I don't fancy being a test mule and paying for it.
croyde said:
My other worrying thought, I know I need a life, is that there does not appear to be a UK RHD Mustang at the moment. It would appear that they don't get built until Sept but are not new cars supposed to go through millions of miles of testing before they are let loose on the public?
I'm fairly sure I've seen pictures of pre-production RHD cars being tested so I don't think there's a concern there. In fact I've just found a picture ...
The old vs new video posted earlier has certainly got me looking forward to next year! .... although those extra dash gauges made another appearance and did look v. cool. Fingers crossed!
sumpoil said:
I'm fairly sure I've seen pictures of pre-production RHD cars being tested so I don't think there's a concern there. In fact I've just found a picture ...
The old vs new video posted earlier has certainly got me looking forward to next year! .... although those extra dash gauges made another appearance and did look v. cool. Fingers crossed!
Someone has posted a pic of that same car showing the interior. It is believed to be a US test car with RHD for testing (So it has been tested) hence the handbrake/cup holders and the gear stick are still in the US position.The old vs new video posted earlier has certainly got me looking forward to next year! .... although those extra dash gauges made another appearance and did look v. cool. Fingers crossed!
Hopefully this is what has fueled the rumours of not changing the centre to favour RHD. Let's hope so.
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