Quality of 2005+ Mustangs? (versus 2004)

[The Fang]

Of course if the man was looking for a trouble-free car then he'd get something like a Camry

I wouldnt bet on no Camry. My wifes 05 Camry has been in the shop four times for various things. The first two times it would just quit, the third was a canaster of some sort and now the gas cap.
Stick with a Ford.

 

[kenaimone]

i had a p5 and the only mistake i made with that car was to get rid of it. sure it was not fast, but that car could cut a corner. it is sad, i have a 07 gt and i miss my 02 p5. well since ford owns mazda i guess that i am in good hands

 

[Spdfreak]

I had an '03.5 Mazdaspeed Protege turbo. It cut corners like a bat out of hell. It ranked .02 mph faster than a Porsche Carrera in the slalom. The problem was that your mod limit was 250hp without forging the internals.

 

[cowtown]

Yeah the Protege5 I had was a fantastic little car. I wish I had the extra cash to have one as a winter/bad weather/home depot whip.

 

[351CJ]

I wouldnt bet on no Camry. My wifes 05 Camry has been in the shop four times for various things. The first two times it would just quit, the third was a canaster of some sort and now the gas cap.
Stick with a Ford.

And if you're buying a used Camry, make sure not to buy one from the years where the engine oil sludged up and blew the engine. Toyota finally settled with customers who were burned by the sludging engine oil. Funny thing is I haven't seen one word about this in the mainstream media.

 

[Mr_K_Code65]

Fuel tank filling issues aside, I think you would feel better knowing that the fuel tank in the 05+ stang is located ahead of the rear axle, rather than behind it as in all previous generations. It goes without saying that likelihood of serious fires after rear end collisions is reduced. I can't vouch for their accuracy, but you can google and find websites dedicated to holding Ford accountable for related injuries and deaths with Mustang fires.

 

[cowtown]

And fuel pumps are super easy to swap in the 05+ cars.

I've only had the fuel filling issue with one pump and I drove and filled up my car all over western Canada and into the Seattle area last summer. I actually had a fill up problem with the wife's VW Jetta the other day, it's not in my mind entirely a Mustang issue.

 

[bluecar]

05+ is better by lightyears. You are basically riding on the chassis of the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird, and S-Type Jag. The convertible is not simply a coupe with the top chopped off. The convertible chassis is designed as a convertible.

I did have a couple issues with sqeaky rattling dash which have been fixed. Also there was a buzz at 1100 rpm under load. It wound up the engine torque (?) transmitted into the shifter (i have the automatic). They changed out the shifter, no more problemo.

No regrets trading in my 01 Cobra

 

[Marine One]

05+ is better by lightyears. You are basically riding on the chassis of the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird, and S-Type Jag. The convertible is not simply a coupe with the top chopped off. The convertible chassis is designed as a convertible.

Excellent points.

 

[351CJ]

05+ is better by lightyears. You are basically riding on the chassis of the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird, and S-Type Jag.

While I agree with you that the S197 is "lightyears" better than SN-95, you are not basically riding on the chassis of the Lincoln LS.

The Lincoln LS has true 4 wheel independent suspension with all aluminum suspension parts. The Mustang uses struts in front and a live axle in the rear, all done in steel.

I'm on my 3rd Lincoln LS. The Lincoln LS is better by lightyears than a S197 Mustang.

 

[bluecar]

Lightyears

While I agree with you that the S197 is "lightyears" better than SN-95, you are not basically riding on the chassis of the Lincoln LS.

The Lincoln LS has true 4 wheel independent suspension with all aluminum suspension parts. The Mustang uses struts in front and a live axle in the rear, all done in steel.

I'm on my 3rd Lincoln LS. The Lincoln LS is better by lightyears than a S197 Mustang.

Perhaps I used the wrong terminology. "Platform and variant" are the more appropriate words, nor was I referring to suspension.

http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_cars/112_0302_ford_mustang_gt/interior_photos.html

Agreed, Lincoln LS is an awesome car. A buddy of mine has one and will be at a loss as what to replace it with.

 

[351CJ]

Glad you like your buddy's LS.

I guess I'd say the S-197 Mustang's platform design was "inspired" by the LS & S-type's D/EW-98 platform. The S-197 shares some key aspects of such as the "frame rails" that are stamped into the bottom pan of the unibody which are one of the keys to the S-197's much more ridgid unibody over the SN-95.

If you've driven both a LS and a 2005+ Mustang, you do come away with the sense that the cars are related.

 

[bluecar]

LS

Yes, the LS' are quite popular out here. It's also popular with young kids to the extent that they are modded out rather extensively, be it internals or visuals. I haven't had a chance to talk to someone who owns one that has been modified.