Why are so many people having to order their new Mustangs from the factory? Why should anyone have to? You don't have to order an Accord (and Honda sells lots more Accords than Ford does Mustangs.) 30 years ago the Mustang had about 55 options (options included every little thing like the console, color keyed seatbelts, read window defroster, etc.) Then the Japanese showed Detroit how to do this. Almost. But Ford never quite got it. There are still too many options.
1. There should be 4 models available; GT Premium, GT Deluxe, V6 Premium, V6 Deluxe. The Interior Upgrade Package should be standard on the GT Premium. The Interior Sport Package should be standard on the GT Deluxe and V6 Premium. Leather should be standard on both Premium models. Traction control and antilock brakes should be standard on all Mustangs. The Shaker 500 should be standard on all Mustangs. The ONLY factory options should be colors and transmissions. Things like upgraded wheels and Shaker 1000s could be dealer installed options.
2. Ford should have built a 30-45 day supply of cars, assorted, based on projections, before they went on sale. They should then have built new cars to replace cars taken out of the supply pool, adjusted for the actual popularity of the 4 basic models, colors, and automatic/manual.
3. They should sell every dealer a small number of cars based on allotment and allow any dealer to pull cars out of the supply pool on a first come, first served basis. Cars would be released from the pool to dealers only to replace their supply of original allotments and for actual sales to customers.
4. Ford knew the upper and lower bounds for sales on the new Mustang (170,000 to 220,000) before it went on sale and should have been able to arrange their just-in-time supply of parts from suppliers to meet actual demand for any contingency in that range.
Ford's system is inefficient and customer-unfriendly (not "55 options" inefficient, but it still sucks.) You should be able to go to your local dealer, pick a model, color and transmission, and have it in less than a week. Ford just doens't get it. Honda does.
Good points, but think most of the problm lies in the fact taht Ford is making 65% of the Mustangs a V6 according to past sales, but the interest in this car lies mostly with people who want the GT. I had heard that they had 4.6 piston problems early on which probably got them even more behind. I have seen some GT's on dealer lots, but they wanted either MSRP or higher. My dealer told me the would only allow a, x, z plans on ordered Mustangs.
I think Ford missed the boat when forcasting demand for this car, they probably judged it on last years sales, ignoring the interest a retro car would generate. It reminds me of the intorduction ot the new Beetle and the PT cruiser. Supply eventually will exceed demand, but it may be by the next model year.
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Ordered 4/26/05. Picked up June 11, 2005. 05 Mustang GT Premium Coupe, 5spd, Performance White, with red accent leather (ICAP), Shaker 500, IUP, active alarm, side airbag, spoiler delete. MODS: Baltimore Street Mods 10' red stripes and red rocker stripe. window tint. K & N aircharger. Pony Package fender emblems. Added 18" Polished Alum. Bullitts Hurst comp shifter
I ordered mine, because if I'm going to fork over $ 28,000 for a new car, then I'll wait and get what I want, and I'm not going to settle for anything less. Though yes the wait is killing me, that was my choice. Orders get pulled tonight, maybe my order will be in the stack, so I can get out of C & U pergatory, if not, then theres always next week.
Tim
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Legend Lime, GT , Tan Leather, Side Air Bags, IUP, Shaker 1000, 5 Speed
Sequential Lights Whooo Hoooo
LL #0018
I know there are faster cars - my penis still works just fine..."
Proud Owner of the New Edelbrock Supercharger, Serial #0001 signed by Vic Edelbrock!!
~pictures in gallery~
I ordered mine, because if I'm going to fork over $ 28,000 for a new car, then I'll wait and get what I want, and I'm not going to settle for anything less. Though yes the wait is killing me, that was my choice. Orders get pulled tonight, maybe my order will be in the stack, so I can get out of C & U pergatory, if not, then theres always next week.
Tim
...there's always next week. Or next month, or next model year. But in the big picture, you get "exactly" what you want. But NO you don't. You (maybe, if they ever build it) get what you want of the six options Ford provides. You can't get satellite radio, a navigation system, a cargo net, a tan interior in a yellow car, Grabber Orange paint or a lot of other things that you might want. And God forbid that you have to suffer with (or without, your pick) side impact air bags. In the meantime, you wait for months, and Ford's business model forces everyone else, who would be just as happy with a standard list of equipment, to wait with you.
Go to your local Honda dealer and tell them that you want a 6-speed, V6, Accord Coupe with red paint and tan leather and it will be here within a week. It should be the same way with a Mustang. (I don't care whether or not you want an Accord, that's not the point.) The point is that Ford's way of making and selling cars is screwed up.
S'long as everyone wants exactly what you do then I guess we're all fine.
I'd rather have the option to be able to order what I want, rather than getting the only thing available....based strictly on what is most profitable for the manufacurer.
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daughter owns '00 GT, bone stock, black on black, rag top
S'long as everyone wants exactly what you do then I guess we're all fine.
I'd rather have the option to be able to order what I want, rather than getting the only thing available....based strictly on what is most profitable for the manufacurer.
As I've already pointed out, you CAN'T order what you want. In the 1950s you could order new cars with paint colors that weren't offered on the car, including colors from other manufacturers. Ford will not build you a 2005 Mustang painted in Ultra Violet from the 1970 Plymouth. In 1975, as I said, there were 55 Mustang options. Assuming that they were all "yes or no" options (not true, some had more than one choice, like color, others had dependencies on other options) that adds up to
36 million billion combinations (36*10^15)
which is a few too many for the manufacturer to carry in stock. Today, the GT has 10 colors plus 13 other options. That adds up to almost 82,000 combinations; still too many to stock. If Ford limited this to 2 models of GT with 10 colors each and only two other options, interior color and transmission, then they'd have only 80 different combinations, which they could easily stock. Then cars could be built to replace inventory in stead of to dealer and customer orders. The Camry XLE has 3 options and 6 colors, hence 48 combinations. The Accord EX V6 has 1 option, the transmission, and 5 colors, making 10 combinations. All other options are dealer installed.
This isn't some nutty idea of mine, it's standard operating procedure for the Asian companies. The last thing Ford needs to be doing now, with its shrinking market share, is alienating the few customers who actually want to buy their cars.
I don't know... I'd take less options or pay the dealer 10% more to have them put in at/after delivery... But for a car like this?!? 9 outa 10 probably are named, beeing claimed as an dependent, getting more rubdowns than the hubby/wife... etc, etc... You wanna put a personal touch on it, ICAP, Sonic w/ Tan etc. etc.
Fact is, Ford screwed up andhopefully they'll catch up soon, me for example was moved from a 4/4 build week to a 3/28, maybe 3/21 after tonights pull...
S/ABs should be standard, so should painted mirrors and a self dimming mirror! Moonroof, heated seats, and HomeLink should be avail options! Also a full Bassani system should be a $37.50 option, okay 49.99!
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KJ, poorer but happier
Thanks to: Modular Depot Fox Lake Racing Tunable Induction Power House 411 Sun Coast Creations
The thing I haven't seen mentioned here is because they simplify the ordering process not only does the manufacturer of the car benefit but the consumer also benefits. Because of the cost savings you get so many more options for the same or less money than a car made in detroit. For example I owned a 2000 Accord Coupe EX V6. The only option was exterior color. Then interior color was based on the exterior color. Now they offer Manual tranny or GPS as options. I got the car for 22,500. Where else can you get a midsized car with leather, moonroof, climate control, nice wheels, automatic, etc... for that price. The closest competitor was Toyota with the solara and it was 3k more for the equivelant car.
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2005 GT Coupe Premium, Redfire, Dark Charcoal, IUP, Manual, Bullits, and active theft.
Ordered 2/21 - Serialized 4/21!
Build Week 5/16
Built 5/18
Shipped via rail car 5/21
Arrived at ramp 5/30
Arrived at dealer 5/31
Got the call 6/2
Picked up at dealer 6/4
Original Dealer Estimate 4/25
Updated Dealer Estimate last week in May first week in June
(Last GT dealer will receive)
true true. I don't own that car anymore. Anyways I am looking forward to getting my car even though it is a pain. I was just stating how much more you get for your money when the manufacturer does not have to spend extra money handling all the option and ordering hassles.
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2005 GT Coupe Premium, Redfire, Dark Charcoal, IUP, Manual, Bullits, and active theft.
Ordered 2/21 - Serialized 4/21!
Build Week 5/16
Built 5/18
Shipped via rail car 5/21
Arrived at ramp 5/30
Arrived at dealer 5/31
Got the call 6/2
Picked up at dealer 6/4
Original Dealer Estimate 4/25
Updated Dealer Estimate last week in May first week in June
(Last GT dealer will receive)
As I've already pointed out, you CAN'T order what you want. In the 1950s you could order new cars with paint colors that weren't offered on the car, including colors from other manufacturers. Ford will not build you a 2005 Mustang painted in Ultra Violet from the 1970 Plymouth. In 1975, as I said, there were 55 Mustang options. Assuming that they were all "yes or no" options (not true, some had more than one choice, like color, others had dependencies on other options) that adds up to
36 million billion combinations (36*10^15)
which is a few too many for the manufacturer to carry in stock. Today, the GT has 10 colors plus 13 other options. That adds up to almost 82,000 combinations; still too many to stock. If Ford limited this to 2 models of GT with 10 colors each and only two other options, interior color and transmission, then they'd have only 80 different combinations, which they could easily stock. Then cars could be built to replace inventory in stead of to dealer and customer orders. The Camry XLE has 3 options and 6 colors, hence 48 combinations. The Accord EX V6 has 1 option, the transmission, and 5 colors, making 10 combinations. All other options are dealer installed.
This isn't some nutty idea of mine, it's standard operating procedure for the Asian companies. The last thing Ford needs to be doing now, with its shrinking market share, is alienating the few customers who actually want to buy their cars.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!..........of course you cant get everything you want..............not in anything!..........You can't get Violet because Ford doesnt offer it .......ya can't get a washing machine in a 05 Mustang either. .........get it?
A manufacture gives you certain options..............if you want all of them,you order the car.................instead of getting a lot car that dosnt have'm.
Geeeeeeeeeeez......go buy a Violet Honda...........you dont make sence.........
Go to a Honda or Toyota forum tellem you want to order one in Violet Blue with a Toilet in it............ would that be the Premium or the Deluxe with the toilet uuuuuuum not sure, better check the options sheet.
PS:The Plymouth Color was called "Plum Crazy" not Ultra Violet
go buy a Violet Honda...........you dont make sence.........
PS:The Plymouth Color was called "Plum Crazy" not Ultra Violet
What a remarkably well reasoned and well written response! And for me, oh, the shame. Yes, you really straightened me out. The whole Plymouth/Dodge Plum Crazy/Ultra Violet mixup completely invalidates my thesis.
Order? Shouldn't have to order! 
.......ya can't get a washing machine in a 05 Mustang either.
.........get it?
