'05 as a family car?

scdgoofy · Apr 4, 2005

Anybody have any opinions about the '05 as a family car? Before server crash, I think I read a beef that the seat won't memorize it's position if it is moved forward to let a kid in the backseat. Anything else? How about room for a car seat (either front facing or rear facing).

Also, does anybody have concerns about the sheer number of mustangs that are scheduled to be built? I live in LA and am seriously considering buying one in late September (after my current vehicle lease expires). However, I don't want to be driving around in a car that everyone and their mother drives. Anybody wrestle with that one before they bought?

Thanks... -goof

kevins05v-6 · Apr 4, 2005

pre-crash of 05 I had posted a picture of my sons booster seat in the back of my Mustang. I have two boys one is 13 and the other is 5.
Our other car is an 02 Altima and whenever we go anywhere no one wants to drive in the Altima its "lets take the Mustang!"
So it is now a family car.

Mickey21 · Apr 4, 2005

kevins05v-6 said:
pre-crash of 05 I had posted a picture of my sons booster seat in the back of my Mustang. I have two boys one is 13 and the other is 5.
Our other car is an 02 Altima and whenever we go anywhere no one wants to drive in the Altima its "lets take the Mustang!"
So it is now a family car.

That's awesome... HAHAHA... Future Mustang buyers!!!

ShadowBok · Apr 4, 2005

I really wouldn't call it a "family car". I suppose you could make it one, but if I was looking specifically for a family car, I would probably get something with 4 doors, plenty of back seat space, and more safety and economy oriented rather than performance and fun factor. You're also not going to find features like memorized seat positions in a Mustang.

As far as "everyone and their mother" owning one...think about how many stangs you see on the road. I'm hard pressed to go to the grocery store and not see at least 1 mustang. After enough time, I don't see any reason why the '05 model will be any different.

tjredgt2000 · Apr 4, 2005

If you want a car that won't be seen everywhere, you might go for the Toyota Echo. Four doors, great fuel economy, low price. Oh yea, it looks like a piece of crap and goes 0-60 so slow you can use a sundial. Toyota sold a whopping <1000 last month compared to Ford's 17,000 Mustangs.

The Mustang can work as a family car as long as the kids are small. My wife and I took a number of trips from Philly to Chicago with our two girls in our '88 LX. They did just fine in the back. Now its just the two of us in the '00.

kevins05v-6 · Apr 4, 2005

ShadowBok said:
I really wouldn't call it a "family car". I suppose you could make it one, but if I was looking specifically for a family car, I would probably get something with 4 doors, plenty of back seat space, and more safety and economy oriented rather than performance and fun factor. You're also not going to find features like memorized seat positions in a Mustang.

QUOTE]

We didnt plan on taking it everywhere we go, it wasnt meant to be our "family" car, but now that I have it the kids love it and love to be seen in it, my oldest Austin loves to be driven to school in it! His friends are so jealous.

Aipaloovik · Apr 4, 2005

I wouldn't really call the mustang a family car. My kids are 4 and 6 and both use a booster seat. They mostly fit, but it's hardly comfortable. I wouldn't take them on long trips in my 05 mustang. I think it would be difficult to even get a rear facing car seat in the back unless you had a convertible. If you managed it, you would have quite a time trying to buckle them in. The rear seats are also contoured awkwardly for car seats. The boosters we have for my kids are too wide to sit flat in the rear seat. We are currently looking for something much more narrow to fit in-between the sides of the seats.

I did take a couple of pre-teens (9 and 11 IIRC) in the car however, and they fit in the back quite well. Without the booster and with legs just long enough to bend right at the edge of the seats, they were very comfortable and had plenty of room. So I suppose it could be a family car for a short time if your kids are the right size.

As for being common, yeah, eventually they probably will be. However, I live near LA and I've only seen a handful of 05 Mustangs on the road. I've never seen another convertible on the road.

wildboar · Apr 4, 2005

I can't tell you how many times I hear "That car is not a family car" I am sick of everyone telling me that my mustang is not a family car. No ****! Thats why we have a 4 door Passat.

Kensho · Apr 4, 2005

kevins05v-6 said:
.....Our other car is an 02 Altima and whenever we go anywhere no one wants to drive in the Altima its "lets take the Mustang!"
So it is now a family car.

Kevin..I thought your wife took your Mustang from you and now you drive the Altima? You sure your kids are the ones saying "lets take the Mustang!"?

celticstanger · Apr 4, 2005

Re the car seats, there's plenty of room - but you're right about moving the front seat, it's a bit of a pain.

Re the look, you're spot on. Scarily, I'm even beginning to see GT's on lots where there were once none - I'm guessing Ford are catching up with production. However, per this months Road and Track (just read it on the plane to SF, hence the 2nd reference to it today!) the 05 is the perfect blank canvas for modding and personalizing.

A number of people on this site have already done a ton of stuff to their cars - change your rims and springs and already you'll stand out from the stock GT. Add in the options for bodykits, exhaust, custom paint, et al, and you can pretty easily have your own unique GT (bodykits ranging from Street Scene's affordable but cool look to Saleens $Bendover BMW-front-end/Vette-rear-end).

ExCon · Apr 4, 2005

The GTO is the perfect performance sedan if you can't afford a German car. The new 3 Series is a 5.5 second car which is plenty fast and will outhandle the Mustang without breaking a sweat. They bumped up the HP by 30. But its not a cheap car! As has been the case for many, many years, the 3 series is the Benchmark in Performance Sedans. Another great car is the G35 Sedan, also handles extremely well. If all you care about is hillbilly performance then the GTO fits the bill perfectly.

kevins05v-6 · Apr 5, 2005

Kensho said:
Kevin..I thought your wife took your Mustang from you and now you drive the Altima? You sure your kids are the ones saying "lets take the Mustang!"?

ahh yes but a solution has been discovered.

scdgoofy · Apr 5, 2005

LOL Ex-Con.... funny you should say that... it is the lease on my 2002 3-series that is expiring in early Oct. As I'll be in the market in a couple of months, I'm weighing my options. Mustang, 350z, Charger, G35, Acura, Audi all in the running.

But, I'm definately looking for something a bit more affordable, so the Mustang is in the top three. However, BMW quality is so good I'm not sure anything will compare. Maybe I'll just get an old junker instead!l

wildboar · Apr 6, 2005

more baby seat pictures to convince the wife.

Blk05Retro · Apr 6, 2005

It really depends on how many kids you have. If you have 5 or 6, your going to have to put some in the trunk. If you have two or less then this is the car for you.

I have had my 95 since my daughter was born and never had a problem with the car seats. She is now seven and loves driving in the vert 95.

66Satellite · Apr 6, 2005

wildboar said:
more baby seat pictures to convince the wife.

Wildboar, great Britax shots! Doesn't look bad at all!

Heck, when I was a kid I used to get rides in the back of my friend's dad's TR6--I think there was like a wooden plank behind the seats, no seat belts. Much cooler than riding in the back of my parents big old Cadillac. Kids can/will put up with a lot. And anyway, they aren't the ones paying for the car.

onefastfox · Apr 6, 2005

i would say you should be fine with the car until the kids get older but then putting 2 teenagers in that tiny seat isnt going to work out very well if you want something fast and with 4 door your going to be looking at a truck or an import personaly i would love to have an evo 8 put 1200 into it and you have a 12.5 car and can put 5 people in it at it still get 20+ mpg

wldchic · Apr 6, 2005

I have twin daughters that are 14, they have been crammed in sports cars from birth.........They fit fine up until age 9, then from 10-12, they get a little cranky, from 13 on up.........they can't wait to get smashed in......love the attention!

emperorjordan · Apr 6, 2005

wldchic said:
I have twin daughters that are 14, they have been crammed in sports cars from birth.........They fit fine up until age 9, then from 10-12, they get a little cranky, from 13 on up.........they can't wait to get smashed in......love the attention!

GTJade · Apr 6, 2005

Reason No. 786 to remain child-free:
No children allowed in my ride!

Well, that's just me. But for those of you with kids - I'd think they'd fit okay if they're small. I would imagine getting them in and out would be a PITA. I don't imagine I'd enjoy having to re-adjust my seat all the time. I'd definitely have another something else for regular family outings, etc.

'05 as a family car?

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