Another dire sales report [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[Cauf E. Bean]

That said, let's get back to the mustang
Other than fix the uncertainty that's been popping up recently, what else could Ford do to improve Mustang sales.

Does a BMW price tag mean that it needs BMW build quality, because let's face it, Ford's been having problems.

What parts of the Mustang could Ford work to improve? Not including subjective things like "sound". For instance could the Mustang get closer to the 50/50 weight balance?

What are the biggest drivers of people choosing other vehicles? Is it a shrinking performance gap? Something else?

Would the Mustang be better off as a 2 seater more like the Supra, maybe with an Ecoboost engine turned for a broad torque band and either rear or AWD?

Not saying the mustang has to change, but I am just wondering if it SHOULD...

I think for a vehicle with a V8 in it, with the pedigree that Mustang has, combined with the recent trends from Dodge's Demons (prior to the cancellation), Chevy's ZR1, and the competition from the inline and V6 markets, Ford needed to reassure their muscle car loyalists that they were in it to win it. The Mustang GTD, and branded sponsorships (Hennessy, Rouche, Shelby, ... can I get a Saleen;Amen!? ... ) aside, people who buy the GT, the Dark Horse, etc., are there for the heritage of Race, modify, Race again. But barring the Whipple or similar Superchargers, there's nothing that can be done with these platforms. And I know I've stood on this soapbox all over this forum, but that's a slap in the face of those who still want to be a part of that lifestyle. So what does Ford need to do?
Step 1: show up and be a part of the race community, be that the local track or at big events; stop alienating your most loyal audience.
Step 2: become a partner in the modification community, not just with your sponsorship partners, but for that kid who saved every penny just to get into the entry level V8 and wants to start learning, tweaking, testing, and iterating.
Step 3: Have definable and definitive differences between your models. I ended up buying the GT Premium because in its stock configuration it was only 20-ish horsepower below the Dark Horse stock configuration, but at a ~ $15,000 premium?

• 2024 Mustang GT Premium: Starting MSRP for the Fastback (coupe): $46,015
  • Powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine.
  • Produces 480 horsepower (or 486 horsepower with the active exhaust option).
• 2024 Mustang Dark Horse: Starting MSRP for the Fastback (coupe): $60,865
  • Also powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, but it's a specially tuned version.
  • Produces 500 horsepower.

That's a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Deal.
Step 4: Bring some attitude to the automotive world! Don't be afraid to have a reputation as the bad boy of muscle cars. Everything has gone so woke, so centristic, so bland that no one stands out against a sea of peers with the same exact formula.

You know why I bought a mustang after years of German engineering - Ken Block and the Hoonicorn. Unfortunately, that's about as far from what Ford is these days as is possible. As much as I love the GTD, that's a car designed for GT style, twist and turn racing - and very little to do with 1/4 mile times.

Does Ford HAVE to do any of this? Well, no of course not; they can keep moving the value proposition toward higher priced status symbols instead of performance metrics. But Ford being a lifestyle status symbol is about as likely as Kia being a high performance race brand. Yes, both could happen, but it would be silly to bet on it without some inside scoop.

OH! And for the record, a Good Anjeo is far superior to that peat bog swill you guys were talking about. A Don Julio 1942 is a great starting point if you want to learn how a good, aged tequila should taste.

Sponsored

 

[Zig]

I think for a vehicle with a V8 in it, with the pedigree that Mustang has, combined with the recent trends from Dodge's Demons (prior to the cancellation), Chevy's ZR1, and the competition from the inline and V6 markets, Ford needed to reassure their muscle car loyalists that they were in it to win it. The Mustang GTD, and branded sponsorships (Hennessy, Rouche, Shelby, ... can I get a Saleen;Amen!? ... ) aside, people who buy the GT, the Dark Horse, etc., are there for the heritage of Race, modify, Race again. But barring the Whipple or similar Superchargers, there's nothing that can be done with these platforms. And I know I've stood on this soapbox all over this forum, but that's a slap in the face of those who still want to be a part of that lifestyle. So what does Ford need to do?
Step 1: show up and be a part of the race community, be that the local track or at big events; stop alienating your most loyal audience.
Step 2: become a partner in the modification community, not just with your sponsorship partners, but for that kid who saved every penny just to get into the entry level V8 and wants to start learning, tweaking, testing, and iterating.
Step 3: Have definable and definitive differences between your models. I ended up buying the GT Premium because in its stock configuration it was only 20-ish horsepower below the Dark Horse stock configuration, but at a ~ $15,000 premium?

• 2024 Mustang GT Premium: Starting MSRP for the Fastback (coupe): $46,015
  • Powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine.
  • Produces 480 horsepower (or 486 horsepower with the active exhaust option).
• 2024 Mustang Dark Horse: Starting MSRP for the Fastback (coupe): $60,865
  • Also powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, but it's a specially tuned version.
  • Produces 500 horsepower.

That's a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Deal.
Step 4: Bring some attitude to the automotive world! Don't be afraid to have a reputation as the bad boy of muscle cars. Everything has gone so woke, so centristic, so bland that no one stands out against a sea of peers with the same exact formula.

You know why I bought a mustang after years of German engineering - Ken Block and the Hoonicorn. Unfortunately, that's about as far from what Ford is these days as is possible. As much as I love the GTD, that's a car designed for GT style, twist and turn racing - and very little to do with 1/4 mile times.

Does Ford HAVE to do any of this? Well, no of course not; they can keep moving the value proposition toward higher priced status symbols instead of performance metrics. But Ford being a lifestyle status symbol is about as likely as Kia being a high performance race brand. Yes, both could happen, but it would be silly to bet on it without some inside scoop.

OH! And for the record, a Good Anjeo is far superior to that peat bog swill you guys were talking about. A Don Julio 1942 is a great starting point if you want to learn how a good, aged tequila should taste.

181

Edit: added image/screen cap

 

[Bikeman315]

181

Edit: added image/screen cap

It's a stupid game being played at a very high level. Unfortunately it's us, the regular folks, that are taking it up the ass.

 

[Zig]

It's a stupid game being played at a very high level. Unfortunately it's us, the regular folks, that are taking it up the ass.

That’s why auto-stop-start is an exit only strategy

 

[Alan Applegate]

As my departed brother always said... "It is like a dose of ExLax... It always comes out at the end!"

 

[Marty1000]

The sales are not as bad overall. - Bottom line Mustang is a great sports car world wide in all 85 countries that sell the vehicle.

https://fordauthority.us13.list-man...7cbfc18410b87e54ce&id=29a409e40f&e=4d738e664f

 

[GrabThatBlue]

The less they sell, the more unique my car is. I don't care lol.

 

[Bikeman315]

The less they sell, the more unique my car is. I don't care lol.

Your car may be many things but unique will never be one of them!

 

[GrabThatBlue]

Your car may be many things but unique will never be one of them!

Explain

 

[Bikeman315]

Explain

Did you notice the laughing emojis? I was kidding. Every car is unique to its owner but Mustangs, in general, are a dime a dozen. That said, I under that our overseas friends have only had the Mustang for just over a decade, so I guess one is actually unique!

 

[GrabThatBlue]

Did you notice the laughing emojis? I was kidding. Every car is unique to its owner but Mustangs, in general, are a dime a dozen. That said, I under that our overseas friends have only had the Mustang for just over a decade, so I guess one is actually unique!

Well, the laughing emoji's can mean different things.

At the moment I'm the only S650 in this small country, so yes, it's unique here.
More sales means more chance that somebody else will have it here too.

 

[Cucurú]

Well, the laughing emoji's can mean different things.

At the moment I'm the only S650 in this small country, so yes, it's unique here.
More sales means more chance that somebody else will have it here too.

Yes. Unique. If Ford ceases production, no parts available, your unique little Put-Put will be sitting in front of your dormicile. Or maybe there'll be a museum you could donate it to!

 

[GrabThatBlue]

Yes. Unique. If Ford ceases production, no parts available, your unique little Put-Put will be sitting in front of your dormicile. Or maybe there'll be a museum you could donate it to!

Running out of parts doesn't work that fast.
When we reach that level, I would be already at least 2 cars further.

 

[Jivor]

So how does Mustang keep pace in demand with say a Porsche 911? The 911 sold around 14000 in 2024, vs 44000 for the Mustang. The Mustang is not a prestige car, the 911 is. Do we want the Mustang to become a prestige car, well I can't imagine why? So how does a company increase sales for a non-niche sports car in a relatively saturated market? While the Camaro and the Charger/Challenger are taking a hiatus, I suspect, the current market chaos non-withstanding, which is a perhaps fanciful assumption, these cars will return in 2026 to further dilute the demand (The Charger has a sixpack and possible hemi variant coming out soon); however, people are tribal to some extent, you have your Ford disciples, MOPAR adherents, and GM followers. Disposable income seems to be more problematic unless you are in the upper income brackets, with rent/housing expenses, food, etc. taking more of a bite out of a paycheck, a pony car with its limited utility, is not going to be as popular. That is the problem that needs to be addressed, and a doozy of a challenge that will be.

 

[Gregs24]

The less they sell, the more unique my car is. I don't care lol.

Did you notice the laughing emojis? I was kidding. Every car is unique to its owner but Mustangs, in general, are a dime a dozen. That said, I under that our overseas friends have only had the Mustang for just over a decade, so I guess one is actually unique!

So how does Mustang keep pace in demand with say a Porsche 911? The 911 sold around 14000 in 2024, vs 44000 for the Mustang. The Mustang is not a prestige car, the 911 is. Do we want the Mustang to become a prestige car, well I can't imagine why? So how does a company increase sales for a non-niche sports car in a relatively saturated market? While the Camaro and the Charger/Challenger are taking a hiatus, I suspect, the current market chaos non-withstanding, which is a perhaps fanciful assumption, these cars will return in 2026 to further dilute the demand (The Charger has a sixpack and possible hemi variant coming out soon); however, people are tribal to some extent, you have your Ford disciples, MOPAR adherents, and GM followers. Disposable income seems to be more problematic unless you are in the upper income brackets, with rent/housing expenses, food, etc. taking more of a bite out of a paycheck, a pony car with its limited utility, is not going to be as popular. That is the problem that needs to be addressed, and a doozy of a challenge that will be.

It is important to distinguish between the US and all other markets for the Mustang.

It may be a dime a dozen rental car in the US but in ALL other countries the Mustang is a low volume prestige car.

Sponsored