Mustangs again....
 

So I spent yesterday driving a friends brand new 5.0 liter Mustang on country roads. It struck me again (I almost bought one last year) what a very fine basic car this is, but how tragically marred it is by the cheap, cheap interior and the clumsy styling. (The solid rear axle is also bizarre—but I honestly didn't notice it while driving hard.)

If Ford spent just a tiny bit more money on upgrading the interior—and I mean everything in the interior (from instruments to switch-gear to plastics)—and then smoothed out the front and back ends a bit and made it a little bit more elegant—Jesus that would be a sweet car for the money! I honestly think if they did this, Ford could have another run on these cars like they did in the 1960's.

I'm currently driving a new Merc C class, and the difference in fit and finish of the interior just slays me. Stepping from the Merc into the Mustang is like stepping into a whole other cheaper and nastier era of manufacturing. The touch and feel of the thing is just bleeding awful. There's just nothing there to fall in love with.

I don't understand why Ford—which seems to be a reasonably switched on company these days—doesn't get this.

Any thoughts?

never seen it irl but it sure looks like a lot of plastic in this pic...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310032143.jpg

Ford is planning to completely rehaul the interior in 2013 or 14 to a more European Styling. But lets keep in mind that most Mustang models are south of the $30k range. I think it would be a shame to put too much into the interior. This car is considered a working man's car. Too much styling and it is priced to far out of reach for most. The other downfall to the European Styling is weight. I, and many others, don't want a car that weighs thousands of pounds for leather and automatic seats. I, also, as an owner don't want to see Mustang get rid their aggressive stance. Smoothness in the front and rear just makes it look more like everything else on the road. I bought my Boss for the power not the interior but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Improving the qualtity of the interior doesn't mean adding weight. Look at Ferrari and other high end cars. We were speculating that it probably wouldn't cost Ford more than two or three hundred bucks per car to go from the current crappy look and feel to a Mercedes-quality look and feel. If that. (Currently the only nice detail in that interior is the white que-ball shift knob.)

I believe there's a whole demographic out there that would be interested in a Mustang if they could get past the low-rent interior.

Kudos! You "get it" on Mustangs...actually, there are many on Mustang boards who are afraid the car will lose it's unique appeal after Ford announced it's future plans of "more european styling"...

Mustang is the kid from the projects who enjoys whupping the Ivy League snot in golf....The Boss 302 Laguna Seca may not have sophisticated looks...but it'll sure whip a "sophisticated" BMW M3 on the track..

AND...there's a loyal fan base "demographic" that would leave. There is one guy on the IMBOC board who has spent enough on a Bullitt Mustang (mods) to have bought a pair of BMW M3's and have enough left over for a stock Mustang...but that's not what he wants.

Oh well...some like Mustangs over Mercs and BMW's...some of those in Mercs and BMW's will never understand that.

:rolleyes:

I'm thinking more "trailer park" than "projects"...

Not sure I understand comparing a Rustang to a Benz, I hope the Merc is a world better. I doubt the elitist stereotypes will never end, deserved maybe. Take it for what it is, balls fast for not much $$.

I've thought about the v6 for a commuter but cant get over the interior either. My first car was a 67 Mustang, I think I prefer that interior to the current model.

"Don said:
So the Mustang crawled inside the skin of a Camaro?

Good to know!"

Very astute comment ...:D

There not really improving in the looks department IMO. Go for American or go for Euro styling, but not this. Please not this....

Here is the interior of the Boss. Is it really that bad? Yes, it is simple, but it is not going to make you throw-up.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310124975.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310125019.jpg

And with this interior, you have fun abilities like:

Lethal Performance Video: First 2012 BOSS 302 To Reach The 10's!

That is disgusting.

IMHO, Ford tried too hard to be retro on the interior to go with the exterior with the 2004/5 restyling.

Paul. Have you every driven a BMW? If not, you have no idea what you're missing.

I wouldnt even call that retro. IMHO, all modern auto interiors are ugly, souless, plastic capsules.

That's my issue. I expect plastic in modern cars, it's just a shame my old e36 bmw, with it's faults, has nice materials inside. So much for the trickle down effect.

When I said retro, they were trying to make it look like and old mustang. I guess they could have done that with nicer materials.

I'll take the nice steel dash of my Mercury any day. :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310132884.jpg

My 930 is full of plastic and vinyl with RS interior. I think it, Mr. Hyde, has a wonderful spirit even though it is not full of leather. Bottonline is leather doesn't make a car.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310132884.jpg

Steph, you car is not an exampleof what im talkin about. Far from it. I meant new vehicles. Way too much hard plastic everywhere. Bland generic lookin.

Ha!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310137436.jpg

That is sweet, same as mine. Only gripe is the armrest is a right pain next to the hand brake.

European styling?

That new Mustang drawing looks like it came out of Japan/Korea

It's nothing to do with leather.

It's about quality. And quality has something to do with integrity of design and build, and, to paraphrase Coco Chanel, the absence of cheapness and vulgarity.

With that interior I would forget I was driving and order a cocktail.

Most of us would agree that BMW, Mercedes, or Ferrari makes a beautiful car with great design. It looks great at the start but I challenge anyone to show me one of those cars after 50,000 miles that doesn't have significant damage to the trimmings. I owned a BMW the leather seat was terribly worn. The door panel was peeling. Mercedes suffers from much of the same. Ferrari has their dashes peel back at half that mileage. There is nothing quality about the interior falling apart that soon.

So the question should be is quality based on what it looks like now or how it holds up after 5, 10, even 20 years?

My wifes '95 318 had one of the crappiest interiors of any car ive ever owned. Trim pieces were constanly falling off. Was very dissapointed in the build quality.

I will take photos of my 325's interior when I get home and you all can guess the mileage.

LOL! Looks like a rolling bothel...but a high class one! ;)


Cheap it may be...leather seats & all, but it's comfortable enough. Air that blows ice cubes, nice 6 speaker stereo with an ipod dock...all great stuff for remaining calm on an overcrowded freeway.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310150826.jpg

..brothel..

Naw...this is a brothel look...:D



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310154407.jpg

Oh.

So what's a bothel?

Brothel decor? I envision it as overly ostentatious to the point of gaudy.

I've driven BMW's.

I have a friend with an '09 M3...Agreed, a very nice car. Lots of bling inside like ambient lighting, etc. Twice the price of my Mustang. Is it twice the car? That's up to the individual.

A huge part of my criteria for buying this car was no trips up to the big city to get work done. No BMW dealers within 50 miles of me.

The M3 is a great car for my friend who lives within 5 minutes of the dealership he bought the car from. He is also a bit more image conscious that me, being younger & single.

This is the only modern Mustang that is interesting. I like the fit and quality leather this ride comes with.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310159487.jpg

But it's only 1 HP and no ac