Changes I'd Make To The 2011 GT

As good as the new 2011 5-liter GT Mustang is what changes would you
like to see in future versions?

I'll start.

Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) But the
current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
3,500... ideally less than 3,200. Please Ford, in the coming years
look for ways to cut the poundage.

Optional rear seat delete. Some of us are never going to use the rear
seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.

Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
adjustable. I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.

Optional functional ram-air hood: A Boss '9 style would be boss.

Steering wheel. You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
model. Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
steering wheel standard in the base GT? Next time, make one, the
upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!

More interesting exterior color palette. Not that any of them are
terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?

Rear-end styling. The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
quite hit the mark. For one, the material used for the tail light
lenses looked a little cheap. The '11's look slightly better, and the
sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
proportions seem off. The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
rear bumper, are a little thick.

Anyone agree with me?

Would you suggest other changes? Post 'em.

Patrick

On 2010-07-25, NoOp > wrote:

> Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
> 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) But the
> current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
> 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. Please Ford, in the coming years
> look for ways to cut the poundage.

It is going to be difficult to achieve that without making the car
unsellable to most people spending enough to buy the car. It won't make
it all that much cheaper from a manufacturing POV either.

> Optional rear seat delete. Some of us are never going to use the rear
> seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.

Why? It's not difficult to remove a rear seat if you really want it
removed.

> Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
> adjustable. I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
> support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
> Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.

It would be nice to get better seats.

> Optional functional ram-air hood: A Boss '9 style would be boss.

Why? it's a feature that didn't do much in the era of 4bbl carbs and
will do even less today.

> Steering wheel. You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
> model. Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
> steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
> steering wheel standard in the base GT? Next time, make one, the
> upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!

otay...

> More interesting exterior color palette. Not that any of them are
> terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
> the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?

My only real complaint. No dark green metallic. Not many metallic
choices period. For some reason dark green is now reserved for the
bullitt models... blah.

> Rear-end styling. The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
> quite hit the mark. For one, the material used for the tail light
> lenses looked a little cheap. The '11's look slightly better, and the
> sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
> proportions seem off. The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
> rear bumper, are a little thick.

discussed that in earlier thread... 6 of one, half a dozen of the other
IMO. I am not fan of the giant bumper covers but that's the thing these
days. So many cars have them. Not really much getting around it.

> Would you suggest other changes? Post 'em.

they've fixed most of my complaints with the 2011 model. I still think
they should have an IRS suspension, at least as an option. But there's
probably expensive government compliance regs in the way.

On 2010-07-25, NoOp > wrote:

> Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
> 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) But the
> current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
> 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. Please Ford, in the coming years
> look for ways to cut the poundage.

It is going to be difficult to achieve that without making the car
unsellable to most people spending enough to buy the car. It won't make
it all that much cheaper from a manufacturing POV either.

> Optional rear seat delete. Some of us are never going to use the rear
> seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.

Why? It's not difficult to remove a rear seat if you really want it
removed.

> Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
> adjustable. I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
> support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
> Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.

It would be nice to get better seats.

> Optional functional ram-air hood: A Boss '9 style would be boss.

Why? it's a feature that didn't do much in the era of 4bbl carbs and
will do even less today.

> Steering wheel. You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
> model. Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
> steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
> steering wheel standard in the base GT? Next time, make one, the
> upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!

otay...

> More interesting exterior color palette. Not that any of them are
> terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
> the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?

My only real complaint. No dark green metallic. Not many metallic
choices period. For some reason dark green is now reserved for the
bullitt models... blah.

> Rear-end styling. The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
> quite hit the mark. For one, the material used for the tail light
> lenses looked a little cheap. The '11's look slightly better, and the
> sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
> proportions seem off. The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
> rear bumper, are a little thick.

discussed that in earlier thread... 6 of one, half a dozen of the other
IMO. I am not fan of the giant bumper covers but that's the thing these
days. So many cars have them. Not really much getting around it.

> Would you suggest other changes? Post 'em.

they've fixed most of my complaints with the 2011 model. I still think
they should have an IRS suspension, at least as an option. But there's
probably expensive government compliance regs in the way.

NoOp wrote:
> As good as the new 2011 5-liter GT Mustang is what changes would you
> like to see in future versions?
>
> I'll start.
>
> Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
> 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) But the
> current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
> 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. Please Ford, in the coming years
> look for ways to cut the poundage.
>
> Optional rear seat delete. Some of us are never going to use the rear
> seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.
>
> Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
> adjustable. I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
> support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
> Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.
>
> Optional functional ram-air hood: A Boss '9 style would be boss.
>
> Steering wheel. You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
> model. Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
> steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
> steering wheel standard in the base GT? Next time, make one, the
> upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!
>
> More interesting exterior color palette. Not that any of them are
> terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
> the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?
>
> Rear-end styling. The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
> quite hit the mark. For one, the material used for the tail light
> lenses looked a little cheap. The '11's look slightly better, and the
> sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
> proportions seem off. The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
> rear bumper, are a little thick.
>
> Anyone agree with me?
>
> Would you suggest other changes? Post 'em.
>
> Patrick
I don't really see the point of a stripped street car, my 86 GT only had
power steering & brakes and I NEVER want to go back to that. Everything
I wanted I added or removed myself. Now it looks like the 2011 GT in
stock form might out perform my 2000 that I poured too much cash into.

Maybe some good shocks, tubular suspension parts, the upgraded seats
would work too but that stuff adds to the bean counters bottom line.

NoOp wrote:
> As good as the new 2011 5-liter GT Mustang is what changes would you
> like to see in future versions?
>
> I'll start.
>
> Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
> 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) But the
> current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
> 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. Please Ford, in the coming years
> look for ways to cut the poundage.
>
> Optional rear seat delete. Some of us are never going to use the rear
> seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.
>
> Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
> adjustable. I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
> support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
> Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.
>
> Optional functional ram-air hood: A Boss '9 style would be boss.
>
> Steering wheel. You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
> model. Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
> steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
> steering wheel standard in the base GT? Next time, make one, the
> upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!
>
> More interesting exterior color palette. Not that any of them are
> terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
> the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?
>
> Rear-end styling. The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
> quite hit the mark. For one, the material used for the tail light
> lenses looked a little cheap. The '11's look slightly better, and the
> sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
> proportions seem off. The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
> rear bumper, are a little thick.
>
> Anyone agree with me?
>
> Would you suggest other changes? Post 'em.
>
> Patrick
I don't really see the point of a stripped street car, my 86 GT only had
power steering & brakes and I NEVER want to go back to that. Everything
I wanted I added or removed myself. Now it looks like the 2011 GT in
stock form might out perform my 2000 that I poured too much cash into.

Maybe some good shocks, tubular suspension parts, the upgraded seats
would work too but that stuff adds

On 2010-07-25, NoOp > wrote:

> Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
> 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) But the
> current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
> 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. Please Ford, in the coming years
> look for ways to cut the poundage.


It is going to be difficult to achieve that without making the car
unsellable to most people spending enough to buy the car. It won't make
it all that much cheaper from a manufacturing POV either.

> Optional rear seat delete. Some of us are never going to use the rear
> seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.

Why? It's not difficult to remove a rear seat if you really want it
removed.


> Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
> adjustable. I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
> support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
> Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.

It would be nice to get better seats.


> Optional functional ram-air hood: A Boss '9 style would be boss.

Why? it's a feature that didn't do much in the era of 4bbl carbs and
will do even less today.

> Steering wheel. You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
> model. Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
> steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
> steering wheel standard in the base GT? Next time, make one, the
> upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!

otay...

> More interesting exterior color palette. Not that any of them are
> terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
> the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?

My only real complaint. No dark green metallic. Not many metallic
choices period. For some reason dark green is now reserved for the
bullitt models... blah.

> Rear-end styling. The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
> quite hit the mark. For one, the material used for the tail light
> lenses looked a little cheap. The '11's look slightly better, and the
> sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
> proportions seem off. The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
> rear bumper, are a little thick.

discussed that in earlier thread... 6 of one, half a dozen of the other
IMO. I am not fan of the giant bumper covers but that's the thing these
days. So many cars have them. Not really much getting around it.

> Would you suggest other changes? Post 'em.

they've fixed most of my complaints with the 2011 model. I still think
they should have an IRS suspension, at least as an option. But there's
probably expensive government compliance regs in the way.

Wow.... deleting the wheels and tires would save an easy 200~300 pounds...
all of it unsprung weight, no less... That nasty assed gas tank... when it
is full, it must be a couple of hundred pounds...

I'll bet that they could get the weight of the car down to almost 2000
pounds by using some exotic materials and construction techniques.... And
that would give some of you guys the opportunity to bitch about the
price....

Mustang... it is what it is.... I like mine and it's only a V6.... I push
the button and the top goes down... Nice for some days.... I push the button
and the top goes up.... Nice for some days... It takes my wife from here to
there.... and it brings her back....

What would I like to see in future generations? Affordable would be nice...

We have SuperDuty trucks on our lot with stickers pushing $80,000 - Mustangs
close to $50K....

If your Mustang is too chunky, you could say **** that and buy a Veyron...

Just thinking out loud, ya know...

On Jul 24, 8:42*pm, Brent > wrote:
> On 2010-07-25, NoOp > wrote:

> > Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
> > 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) *But the
> > current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
> > 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. *Please Ford, in the coming years
> > look for ways to cut the poundage.

> It is going to be difficult to achieve that without making the car
> unsellable to most people spending enough to buy the car. It won't make
> it all that much cheaper from a manufacturing POV either.

I believe if there's a will there's a way.

> > Optional rear seat delete. *Some of us are never going to use the rear
> > seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.

> Why? It's not difficult to remove a rear seat if you really want it
> removed.

So you don't have to pay for the seating and the floor is nicely/
factory finished without it.

> > Optional sport seats. I'm not talking about leather material or power
> > adjustable. *I'm talking about something that offers some nice lumbar
> > support and side bolstering. Here's an idea -- make a deal with
> > Recaro, like you did this year with Brembo for optional brakes.

> It would be nice to get better seats.

Factory shifters have begun to get better, but why seating remains
below par is a mystery.

> > Optional functional ram-air hood: *A Boss '9 style would be boss.

> Why? it's a feature that didn't do much in the era of 4bbl carbs and
> will do even less today.

1) Ram air can increase HP.

2) These are retro cars with swagger. Hood scoops are part of the
image so IMO they should be offered.

> > Steering wheel. *You [finally] upped the sporting image of the base V6
> > model. *Did you really then have to equip it with that cheap looking
> > steering wheel, AND make that same cheap-looking, family-sedan style
> > steering wheel standard in the base GT? *Next time, make one, the
> > upgraded GT interior steering wheel standard in ALL Mustangs!

> otay...

I looked at a standard GT steering wheel today. It's not nearly as
bad looking as I remembered. In fact it's the same as the upgraded
wheel except for the lack of aluminum trim.

> > More interesting exterior color palette. *Not that any of them are
> > terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
> > the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?
>
> My only real complaint. No dark green metallic. Not many metallic
> choices period. For some reason dark green is now reserved for the
> bullitt models... blah.

I know! I wanted a dark green when I ordered my LX in '87. And when
I ordered my '11 GT. I love that color.

> > Rear-end styling. *The '05-'10 rear end had the right idea but didn't
> > quite hit the mark. *For one, the material used for the tail light
> > lenses looked a little cheap. *The '11's look slightly better, and the
> > sequential blinkers are a very nice touch, but the rear end
> > proportions seem off. *The rear quarter panels over the tires, and the
> > rear bumper, are a little thick.
>
> discussed that in earlier thread... 6 of one, half a dozen of the other
> IMO. I am not fan of the giant bumper covers but that's the thing these
> days. So many cars have them. Not really much getting around it.

Looking at Mustangs again today, I found it's more the body line/rear
quarter panel behind the rear tire that needs correction. But maybe
it'll grow on me.

> > Would you suggest other changes? *Post 'em.

> they've fixed most of my complaints with the 2011 model. I still think
> they should have an IRS suspension, at least as an option. But there's
> probably expensive government compliance regs in the way.

As you know the Challenger and Camaro both have IRS and neither handle
as well as the Mustang. Plus IRS generally adds weight, something the
Mustang doesn't need.

Patrick

On Jul 25, 1:30*pm, "Jim Warman" > wrote:
> Wow.... deleting the wheels and tires would save an easy 200~300 pounds....
> all of it unsprung weight, no less... That nasty assed gas tank... when it
> is full, it must be a couple of hundred pounds...

It all amazes me when you start striping a car down at how much
poundage you find.

> I'll bet that they could get the weight of the car down to almost 2000
> pounds by using some exotic materials and construction techniques.... And
> that would give some of you guys the opportunity to bitch about the
> price....

Hey, how about a car that's 7/8s the size of the current car? (Oh
yeah, now that most Americans are either overweight, obese or
massively obese a smaller car would likely hurt sales.)

> Mustang... it is what it is.... I like mine and it's only a V6.... I push
> the button and the top goes down... Nice for some days.... I push the button
> and the top goes up.... Nice for some days... It takes my wife from here to
> there.... and it brings her back....

The car needs to continually get better.

> What would I like to see in future generations? Affordable would be nice....

Well we all wanted a 6-speed, bigger/better brakes, more HP, etc. It
all comes at a cost.

> We have SuperDuty trucks on our lot with stickers pushing $80,000 - Mustangs
> close to $50K....

There's new 2011 GT sitting on a local deal lot that has a sticker
just over $30K.

> If your Mustang is too chunky, you could say **** that and buy a Veyron....

The Vette has been able to cut weight over the years. There's no
reason the Mustang can't.

> Just thinking out loud, ya know...

Patrick

On 2010-07-25, NoOp > wrote:
> On Jul 24, 8:42*pm, Brent > wrote:
>> On 2010-07-25, NoOp > wrote:
>
>> > Weight: (Disclaimer -- It could weigh 3,200 pounds and I'd like to see
>> > 3,000; 3,000 and I'd like to see it under 3,000, etc.) *But the
>> > current 3,600 is too chunky. Pony cars, IMO, should never exceed
>> > 3,500... ideally less than 3,200. *Please Ford, in the coming years
>> > look for ways to cut the poundage.
>
>> It is going to be difficult to achieve that without making the car
>> unsellable to most people spending enough to buy the car. It won't make
>> it all that much cheaper from a manufacturing POV either.
>
> I believe if there's a will there's a way.

All you're going to be able to remove are creature comforts and trim.
Everything else is going to have to stay for performance or regulation.
The next option is lighter materials. This will cause the price to sky
rocket. Why does a Ford GT or Ferrari cost so much? Low volume parts
made of expensive materials. If Ford had wanted to it could have
delivered a GT like car for upper range corvette pricing. Much the same
with a light weight mustang in this day and age. Ford can make it, but
it's gonna cost.

>> > Optional rear seat delete. *Some of us are never going to use the rear
>> > seats. A flat floor in the back would be nice.

>> Why? It's not difficult to remove a rear seat if you really want it
>> removed.

> So you don't have to pay for the seating and the floor is nicely/
> factory finished without it.

You're not going to have a flat floor unless they add some sort of
structure in there, then carpet it, so there goes your weight savings.

> Factory shifters have begun to get better, but why seating remains
> below par is a mystery.

Cost.

>> > Optional functional ram-air hood: *A Boss '9 style would be boss.

>> Why? it's a feature that didn't do much in the era of 4bbl carbs and
>> will do even less today.

> 1) Ram air can increase HP.

By what? 0.0002?

> 2) These are retro cars with swagger. Hood scoops are part of the
> image so IMO they should be offered.

I just see something to suck up/in crap from the road and air and
something else to clean along with a touchy mechanism exposed to all
sorts of environmental damage.

>> > More interesting exterior color palette. *Not that any of them are
>> > terrible, but there's nothing that catches your eye, IMO, except for
>> > the grabber blue. How 'bout a green, orange or a yellow?
>>
>> My only real complaint. No dark green metallic. Not many metallic
>> choices period. For some reason dark green is now reserved for the
>> bullitt models... blah.

> I know! I wanted a dark green when I ordered my LX in '87. And when
> I ordered my '11 GT. I love that color.

I still wonder if a dealer can be offered enough cash if a special
color can still be done.

>> they've fixed most of my complaints with the 2011 model. I still think
>> they should have an IRS suspension, at least as an option. But there's
>> probably expensive government compliance regs in the way.

> As you know the Challenger and Camaro both have IRS and neither handle
> as well as the Mustang. Plus IRS generally adds weight, something the
> Mustang doesn't need.

Chicago roads have frost heaves... and heat heaves. and pot holes. and
places where heavy trucks have rutted or caused the pavement to 'flow'.
I've been driving live axle cars since the 80s and while ford has made
it handle, fixing one part of the complaint, it's still likely to do the
things live axles do on bad pavement.