Future of the Mustang Survey from Ford

Thanks for sharing.

I found the engine options interesting.

I basically put that I would like a stripper version. V8 minus crap options, for less money than a standard V8.

Less weight would be nice overall.

did anyone follow the '09 camaro survey? most people did not opt for the stripper model, and in fact they wanted it mostly loaded.

the vast majority of people do not want a stripper model, so it is hard to justify one for a limited number of cars.

Here's what I put. I'm not intersted in a stripper model:
#1. Independent rear suspension
#2. 350+ HP normally aspirated V8
#3. Better brakes, even if optional
#4. Hidden radio antenna
#5. HID headlamps
#6. Adaptive headlamps
#7. Power Driver's seat memory
#8. Adjustable pedals
#9. Steering wheel telescope
#10. Smart Key - Keyless Ignition

I also put I'd take the 370 HP V8 over the V6 as V8s are smoother, run longer and are more responsive to modifications than high HP V6s.

i think question 11 is a trick question. it asks for a 370hp engine with 17/23 for $1000 option, or 19/25 for the same $1000 option. must be a V6 or V8 with same output, different mileage. both had same 0-60 times.

edit: yep, they made that clear in step 12 and 13.

Yeah one is a TT V6 and the other is a V8

Done and turned in, can I have the weekend off?

bigcat said:

did anyone follow the '09 camaro survey? most people did not opt for the stripper model, and in fact they wanted it mostly loaded.

the vast majority of people do not want a stripper model, so it is hard to justify one for a limited number of cars.

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I did see the Camaro survey.

I'm just not most people.

I can dream can't I?

Penguin said:

I did see the Camaro survey.

I'm just not most people.

I can dream can't I?

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yeah we all can dream, just have to sit back and see if ford offers what the people want- AT PRICES THAT ARE REALISTIC---no dealer markups!!

I hope that survey isn't hinting at what I THINK it's hinting at. I'd really like to see the Mustang stay true to the "pony car" theme, and not become some tarted-up everyman's car. The more crap you put on the car, the more crap there is to go wrong. Just give me a rock-solid V8, manual trans, solid rear axle, standard coil springs, 4-wheel disk brakes, and the option of a rag-top and I'll do the rest!
I think everybody loves modding their Mustangs and Ford gives you the perfect basic package to work with.

i think one of the main points is to see if a TT V6 is an acceptable alternative to the V8.

bigcat said:

i think one of the main points is to see if a TT V6 is an acceptable alternative to the V8.

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Bingo!

Unfortunately I feel the survey was to figure out if V6 TT would fly instead of a V8.
Ford needs to offer both a more powerful V8 and a TT V6.

On the first question, would you prefer 370 HP with 17/23 or 19/25, of course I picked the 19/25/

On the second question where they choice was V8 vs TT V6, I, of course, picked the lower MPG V8. In the comments I said my reasons were that high HP V6s generally do not respond well to modifications, are not as refined as V8s and probably won't be as reliable as a NA V8.

The big deal is IRS for $200. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

351CJ said:

Bingo!

Unfortunately I feel the survey was to figure out if V6 TT would fly instead of a V8.
Ford needs to offer both a more powerful V8 and a TT V6.

On the first question, would you prefer 370 HP with 17/23 or 19/25, of course I picked the 19/25/

On the second question where they choice was V8 vs TT V6, I, of course, picked the lower MPG V8. In the comments I said my reasons were that high HP V6s generally do not respond well to modifications, are not as refined as V8s and probably won't be as reliable as a NA V8.

The big deal is IRS for $200. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

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the camaro survey had $1000 as the pricetag for IRS, IIRC. i thought about the question of gas mileage before i answered and clicked the 17/23, assuming that a HO V6 was the more fuel efficient choice.

i also said that the GT must be offered with a V8, with more choices other than going all out with a GT500. i mentioned power output of both the V6 and V8 should be increased.

i just hope ford listens to all of us that actually care about the mustang as a whole, rather than as just transportation.

I obviously picked the motor with the better milage but once I saw the types I picked the v8 though really big picture outside of a desire to get a v8 there isn't anything wrong with the v6 as long as it's done properly.

My main concern is Ford hasn't really been all that great with V6 motors and they don't have a lot of experience turboing them. They haven't had a turbo vehicle that I recall since like what the SVO? The motor would have to come from someone else, probably Mazda and if that's the case, not sure if I'd want it. Loved my Mazda's but it likely won't feel like a muscle car.

And you know what? If there was a stripper model then great but I don't want one. If I am spending that kind of money on my main car, I want it to have the options and features I want in a day to day ride.

I told them that the current Mustang GT was an incredible value for the $ and to not fix something that wasn't broke!

Marine One said:

I told them that the current Mustang GT was an incredible value for the $ and to not fix something that wasn't broke!

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In the auto industry today, if you are standing still, in reality you are moving backwards and loosing ground to the competition.

The S-197 Mustang is already starting to show its age and by 2010 will be in bad need of an update.

I like customer surveys. It shows thay care enough not to alienate their customer base (dealers do that for them).

The way I look at it, the Mustang platform is based on the Jaguar S-Type platform so there is your ready-made IRS all ready and waiting at very little cost that has already been spent. The Jag handles well too. European regs are clamping down more and more on CO2 output so a twin turbo V6 would make sense for Jaguar and Volvo and sharing as much as possible is what future car production is going to be about and what will balance the books.

But hold on, haven't Ford already signed off the 5.0 Hurricane V8 with 350hp? Could this be a supplemental model? At the end of the day it's all down to costs. It would make sense to me to have a base V6 Mustang or even one using the 240hp 4 cylinder from the Mazda 6 MPS because lighter means better handling. I could also see a twin turbo V6 in a "GTR350". A lighter engine would mean better handling and Shelby himself chooses to supercharge the V6 in his CS6 so there must be something in it (apart from his fat profit).

It's not new either. Look at the Buick GNX and the 3rd gen Firebird Turbo, both of which were faster than the V8 competition and none the worse for it. Indeed, both are collector's cars and icons in their own right. That would leave the V8GT to be the softer more touring GT version and hopefully Ford would blow the V8 to replace the boat anchor the GT500 currently lumbers round with. If it shared a twin turbo engine, it would be easier to get it serviced abroad at a Jaguar or Volvo dealer depending on who uses it.

However, as I noted, the V8 is my choice ebvery time for power and lack of complexity and low down torque. It's not like the V8 is a bad gas guzzler and a twin turbo V6 would, in my view, prove to be thirstier when pressed so those gas figures mean nothing.

Ford need to watch their sharing policy though. The Jaguar X-Type is basically a rebodied Ford Mondeo and everyone knows it and it has hit the sales of that car as a result (although front wheel drive in the lower models hasn't helped) but then again the Aston V12 engine is basically two Ford V6 engines hewn together.

LV51FER said:

The way I look at it, the Mustang platform is based on the Jaguar S-Type platform so there is your ready-made IRS all ready and waiting at very little cost that has already been spent.

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The Mustang platform has virtually nothing in common with the Jag S-type.

The Jag's all aluminum and very expensive IRS will not drop in a Mustang.

351CJ said:

In the auto industry today, if you are standing still, in reality you are moving backwards and loosing ground to the competition.

The S-197 Mustang is already starting to show its age and by 2010 will be in bad need of an update.

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My comment was from the context of Ford's attemt to replace the Mustang with the Probe.

Marine One said:

My comment was from the context of Ford's attemt to replace the Mustang with the Probe.

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I must have missed the place in the survey were Ford said the next Mustang will be a small, FWD hatchback.