New Mustang?

APEowner said:

I remember a similar wailing an gnashing of teeth when Dodge put the Charger name on a four door sedan.  That seems to have worked out OK for them.  I suspect there's now a generation of enthusiasts who'd be upset if they made a two door version.  "A two door Charger is a Challenger!", they'd cry.

I do remember some of that. I always found it funny because the Charger in the 80s was a FWD 4-banger econobox. But, at least it only had two doors...

Hell, I remember purists going off about the New Beetle when it came out because it was a water-cooled FWD car.

Mustang = Mustang

Mach-E = Maverick

Maverick = Courier, Ranchero, or Bronco Pickup

Why don't they call it a Falcon? With Maverick pick up trucks on the horizon it's time to bring back another old name. 

Possibly because there's something else called a Falcon that is tied to Tesla, albeit loosely.  And also because the doors on a Model X are called falcon doors. Between those two, resurrecting a model name that hasn't been used in over a half century doesn't make quite as much sense as something that has some real name recognition even if it twists the panties of a bunch of internet weenies.

I'm going to estimate that the average Mach E owner was not born the last time Ford sold a Falcon in North America :)

Enthusiasts stopped the Probe from being the Mustang. It was a pretty wise choice to listen to their customers. 

For the retro vibe:

Introducing the new Pinto Pon-E! Now with no gas tank to explode!

z31maniac said:

STM317 said:

The overlap between those who complain about the name, and those who were going to go out and spend $40-60k on an electric CUV has to be almost zero right? Ford knew this when they chose the name. They didn't pick the name to appeal to hardcore Mustang people. Those people are going to continue to buy Mustangs at the same basic rate as they have in the past. They picked the name for their EV CUV because they think it will bring new buyers into the showroom/online order queue that might otherwise go somewhere else.

It's the same irony of complaining the no manufacturers make new cars they want, right after stating that they would never buy a new car. 

You know, I used to believe this was true, but here's the thing.  A lot of enthusiasts (and I count myself in this camp) were younger folks who simply didn't have the cash to spring for a new vehicle.  It wasn't that they didn't want one (though they would say that, fox-and-sour-grapes and all that) , it was simply a matter of financials.  Now, we're growing up, getting a bit of disposable income, and start looking around at new cars.  I know.  Back in 2018, I bought my first new car ever, the Mazda3 Hatch- with a manual transmission.  Now that I've popped my "new car cherry", I'm open to doing it again.  But Ford's not enticing me with a Mustang that has its name shared with a 4 door blob on wheels, and Mazda lost me when they made the stick only available on one trim level of the new 3 (not to mention the restyle is...not attractive, to me, anyway). 

Point of this ramble is...enthusiasts eventually grow up, and get money, and what happens when a manufacturer turns its back on them?  Well, maybe I'll mosey on down to the Dodge dealership.  I hear they'll still sell me a fun new car with a stick for a not-outrageous sum of money...

In fairness to Ford, I am somewhat intrigued by the new Bronco with the 7MT.  I don't much care for turbochargers, but I might test drive one anyway. 

I would be open to owning a red Mach-E in a few years off lease, mostly because Ford expects the value to go down pretty substantially:

https://insideevs.com/news/455375/ford-big-depreciation-numbers-mustang-mach-e/

There's a bunch of articles like that.  I personally don't think the value will tank quite that badly, but the thought of picking one up for low 20s in three years with a factory certified warranty is kinda nice.  m.

infinitenexus said:

I would be open to owning a red Mach-E in a few years off lease, mostly because Ford expects the value to go down pretty substantially:

https://insideevs.com/news/455375/ford-big-depreciation-numbers-mustang-mach-e/

There's a bunch of articles like that.  I personally don't think the value will tank quite that badly, but the thought of picking one up for low 20s in three years with a factory certified warranty is kinda nice.  m.

Yikes. It also makes the idea of spending $50k on a new one look absolutely foolish.

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:

APEowner said:

I remember a similar wailing an gnashing of teeth when Dodge put the Charger name on a four door sedan.  That seems to have worked out OK for them.  I suspect there's now a generation of enthusiasts who'd be upset if they made a two door version.  "A two door Charger is a Challenger!", they'd cry.

I do remember some of that. I always found it funny because the Charger in the 80s was a FWD 4-banger econobox. But, at least it only had two doors...

Hell, I remember purists going off about the New Beetle when it came out because it was a water-cooled FWD car.

When the '80s Charger came out people were also upset about the fine tradition of the Charger name being sullied.  I have to admit that I was one of those people.  In my defense I was much younger and cared more about such things and,  the '80s chargers were crap.

volvoclearinghouse said:

z31maniac said:

STM317 said:

The overlap between those who complain about the name, and those who were going to go out and spend $40-60k on an electric CUV has to be almost zero right? Ford knew this when they chose the name. They didn't pick the name to appeal to hardcore Mustang people. Those people are going to continue to buy Mustangs at the same basic rate as they have in the past. They picked the name for their EV CUV because they think it will bring new buyers into the showroom/online order queue that might otherwise go somewhere else.

It's the same irony of complaining the no manufacturers make new cars they want, right after stating that they would never buy a new car. 

You know, I used to believe this was true, but here's the thing.  A lot of enthusiasts (and I count myself in this camp) were younger folks who simply didn't have the cash to spring for a new vehicle.  It wasn't that they didn't want one (though they would say that, fox-and-sour-grapes and all that) , it was simply a matter of financials.  Now, we're growing up, getting a bit of disposable income, and start looking around at new cars.  I know.  Back in 2018, I bought my first new car ever, the Mazda3 Hatch- with a manual transmission.  Now that I've popped my "new car cherry", I'm open to doing it again.  But Ford's not enticing me with a Mustang that has its name shared with a 4 door blob on wheels, and Mazda lost me when they made the stick only available on one trim level of the new 3 (not to mention the restyle is...not attractive, to me, anyway). 

Point of this ramble is...enthusiasts eventually grow up, and get money, and what happens when a manufacturer turns its back on them?  Well, maybe I'll mosey on down to the Dodge dealership.  I hear they'll still sell me a fun new car with a stick for a not-outrageous sum of money...

In fairness to Ford, I am somewhat intrigued by the new Bronco with the 7MT.  I don't much care for turbochargers, but I might test drive one anyway. 

So if Ford hadn't named their EV crossover Mustang, you'd be in the market for a new Mustang? You love the Mustang enough to buy one, but because it shares a badge with an EV crossover you somehow can't bring yourself to do it?

They haven't abandoned enthusiasts (or old enthusiasts that now have money) at all. They didn't stop making rowdy, powerful, RWD pony cars when they started making the Mach E. The existence of the Mach E doesn't negate the existence of regular Mustangs. And regular Mustangs are pretty awesome these days. You can still get a "base" Mustang with well over 300hp (that would shame a V8 GT from a decade ago) for ~$25k. You can still buy a GT with 460hp that does 0-60 in the low 4 second range and makes fun noises for around $35k. While Ford was designing the Mach E, they were simultaneously rolling out the most powerful ICE Mustang ever in the new Shelby GT500, which is supposed to be ridiculously fast around a track. If a person was seriously considering purchasing any of these vehicles, but balked because there was the same badge on an EV crossover next to it in the showroom, then I'd say they weren't very serious in the first place. It's like not buying a 911 GT3 because the Maycan or Taycan exist.

In reply to STM317 :

The base Mustang now has the 2.3 turbo 4, if I'm not mistaken, the same engine as in the Bronco. Kindof a neat throwback to the old Fox Body turbo 4's.  For similar money, Dodge sells an 8 cylinder MT Challenger.  OR, as you mentioned, the GT Mustang. 

The reason for the problem with the EV Mustang is not a problem with EV's- I don't have one.  The problem was with the whole 4 door CUV concept- regardless of powertrain.  Ford's killed off all their cars, with the exception of the Mustang.  When I was looking at hatches to compare with the Mazda3, I nixed the idea of a Fiesta/Focus because I saw Ford was killing them off, and didn't want to be left with an orphan.

I don't really care one way or another about the name. But jesus christ why is it so ugly.