[saunupe1911]

Guys,

I've been reading the new 2013 Mustang 5.0 reviews and watching their video clips and it got me thinking...2011/12 Mustangs will be borderline collector's items like 2003/04 Cobras or the mid 80s hatchback 5.0s. I say this because...

1. The 2011/12 model years marked the now legendary and game changing (IMO) return of the 5.0 engine in Coyote and Road Runner forms.

2. The 2010-2012 model years established a more modern muscle car front end that looks like nothing else on the road, especially with HID headlights or custom grills.

3. The small suspension tweaks, brake upgrades, and interchangeable steering took the Mustang out of the pony/muscle car world and put in the true performance car category that can hang with or beat the legendary M3. Now that's saying something.

4. The Boss 302 specialty edition was revived in the the 2011/12 model years and all of it's cosmetic parts can be bought separately for standard GT owners.

5. Now here is the kicker that truly distinguishes the 2011/12 model for years to come. The 2013 Mustang 5.0 has the refreshed front grill that may or may not be attractive, but it looks just like a 2013 V6 or GT500. They all of the same exact headlights. Only the lower air dam and hood features single them out. You will never be able to tell from a distance. I feel that the quad headlights just don't belong on 2013 GT front end. It's not proportional. The 2011/12 front end is totally unique and customizable from different standard/HID headlights, grills, and lower factory valances that can be swapped. Again it look like nothing else on the road. I really like that the 2011/12 Mustang models totally distinguishes themselves. Now they all look the same for the upcoming 2013 models.

These reasons make me proud to be an 2011/12 Mustang 5.0 owner. I think the body style, especially the front end, will withstand the test of time because the styling willing only be produced for 3 years (2 for 5.0 owners) so I think they will become a little rare and not be so common. I just think they will stand out from the rest.

 

[JAJ5Point0]

All those things, and best of all, the engines have piston cooling jets! As of 2013, as we all know, they were discontinued by Ford to save money. Those 2011/12 engine blocks will be collector's items, even without the car attached!

 

[davejames86]

You can definitely tell the difference between the V6, GT, Boss 302 and GT500 during the 11-12 model years. When the 13s came out, It was as if there is no cosmetic reward for going up a trim. They all look relatively similar.

 

[jstafford1]

Well....I doubt it. Its the same chassis as the 05-09...and the 2013. So that will hold it back. The Boss' maybe due to their overall packaging. The ability to customize that you mention doesn't help make it a collectors item. In the heart and minds the return of the 5.0 is a substantial point in time. But in the grand scheme of things these are mid model refreshes. Much like a 67-68 are no more collectible than the 65-66.
That being said, who knows. The S197s truly brought back the pony cars. Without them we'd have no Challenger or new Camaro. The S197s are the last of a breed though, with a complete overhaul in 2015 history may see thing differently than I.
As they say only time can tell, but instead of worrying about how collectible these may or may not become, get out and drive them and enjoy them as much as possible.

"Ready to do nothing at a moments notice."

 

[Allez Rouge]

[snip]The 2013 Mustang 5.0 has the refreshed front grill that may or may not be attractive, but it looks just like a 2013 V6 or GT500. They all of the same exact headlights. Only the lower air dam and hood features single them out. You will never be able to tell from a distance. I feel that the quad headlights just don't belong on 2013 GT front end.

Um ... but they don't look the same. I agree that the GT's fog lights don't look well in the 2013 nose, they may not belong, but they're still there. Look at a V6 without fog lights, and look at a GT with fogs, and the two are easily distinguished, even with a quick glance. The GT may not look well, but it still looks different.

I don't necessarily disagree with your essential point about future collectibility, time will tell on that, I just don't understand your logic on this one element.

Now, if you mean that if a '13 GT owner follows the popular practice of installing a Saleen/Roush/whatever grille in his car and deletes or covers the fogs, that it will then look exactly like a V6 ... yes.

 

[2oo5GT]

I would have to say no also. If they made the 2011 5.0 for a year or two and stopped, then definitley. The 03-04 Cobras are a different beast from the previous and stopped after two years of production. They are numbered and not a lot made, which after people wreck them and such, there's even less now. Now the Boss, unless they make them each year, will be a collectors like the 03-04 Cobra.

 

[Guest]

Wishful thinking, but the future can't be foretold.

 

[Zathras]

Didn't Ford produce something like 50,000 -70,000 Mustang 5.0s in 2011-12? That's a lot of cars. Maybe, many years from now, when 95% of them are off the road, a pristine/restored 5.0 will be marginally collectible. But classic cars don't go for big money unless there is something "special" about them; special COPO or racing engine with low production, special racing edition, or a model that had a low production count, etc. A regular Mustang GT is just too "common" to ever be a highly sought after car.

 

[Asphalt Cowboy]

Like you Saunupe 1911, I think the 2011/12 Mustangs are and will hold in the long term as some of the very special Mustangs. Like you said, the return of a myth: the 5.0 and its looks. One of the meanest (if not the most) look ever produced on a Mustang, a mix of classic and modern at the same time.

For the 2013s, that mean and classic look is already gone, and the changes they made makes them look alike with a big wide mouth open and some ricey looking "aftermarket Japanese" tail lights. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it's just a start to what's coming next...

I'm also very proud and happy to have gotten my hands on one of these awesome Mustangs, and I plan to keep mine for a very long time. :bigthumbsup

 

[AcePilot]

I can see the 2012 Boss becoming a collectors item. But I don't feel that way about the GT.

 

[blkandgud]

I doubt it will be a collectors. Maybe the boss 302.

 

[Allez Rouge]

Note that the OP said, "borderline collector's items like 2003/04 Cobras or the mid 80s hatchback 5.0s." Key word being borderline.

I don't think he's claiming the 11/12 GT will become the next Boss 429 or split-window Corvette. Rather that if some years hence someone wants a nice, affordable, driver-quality S197, the 11/12 GT will be considered the one to get, for all the reasons he lists.

Could be. Could be.

 

[5.0 Coyote]

Didn't Ford produce something like 50,000 -70,000 Mustang 5.0s in 2011-12? That's a lot of cars. Maybe, many years from now, when 95% of them are off the road, a pristine/restored 5.0 will be marginally collectible. But classic cars don't go for big money unless there is something "special" about them; special COPO or racing engine with low production, special racing edition, or a model that had a low production count, etc. A regular Mustang GT is just too "common" to ever be a highly sought after car.

There were only 21,296 Mustang GT"s built in 2011 model year the REST were all 6 bangers.

 

[dmp0001]

Mine will have too many miles and mods by then to be worth anything...:winks

 

[saunupe1911]

Great comments guys. Again, I'm not saying it will be a definite collectors item. I'm saying it may be a borderline collectors item like at an 95-96 Impala or a 91 5.0 or 98-2000 Integra or the original Harley Davidson F-150. These are all cars that we see everyday, but today's car enthusiast absolutely love them. They aren't necessarily rare, but you enjoy when you see a nice, clean one rolling on the freeway. I think the 2011/2012 5.0s will be the seen in this light. The funny thing is that I already get that vibe from people at the gas station. Numerous non-car enthusiasts ask, "Dang what is that!" because my car doesn't have any large pony symbols and there's no Ford logos on the body. All they see is 5.0 and GT symbols.


All I'm saying is that 15 years from now people will be like "Man I sure wish I still had 2012 5.0 with those mean quad head lights"

 

[forensicsteve]

Nice car for sure and you should be a proud owner, but it's mass produced for a large audience. 2011 Ford Mustang production numbers over 50,000. Don't know about 2012.....so no way.

I wouldn't consider my srt10 coupe a collector's item borderline or not either and there have only been around 22,000 vipers made since their beginning in 1992, with sometimes only a few 100 in a single year and none at all like in 2007.

 

[manolith]

i seriously doubt that the 2011-2013 gt will be anything more than a mustang gt. not a collection item. but if you want to keep one in a barn for 50 years it will be worth some cash but not because it was ever a rare car or a limited production car. but because by then there will be very little 2012 cars period in the world.

 

[YerBuddysPony]

Sadly, all V8's may be collector's items in the near future. :winks

 

[Bizzaro]

5. Now here is the kicker that truly distinguishes the 2011/12 model for years to come. The 2013 Mustang 5.0 has the refreshed front grill that may or may not be attractive, but it looks just like a 2013 V6 or GT500. They all of the same exact headlights. Only the lower air dam and hood features single them out. You will never be able to tell from a distance. I feel that the quad headlights just don't belong on 2013 GT front end. It's not proportional. The 2011/12 front end is totally unique and customizable from different standard/HID headlights, grills, and lower factory valances that can be swapped. Again it look like nothing else on the road. I really like that the 2011/12 Mustang models totally distinguishes themselves. Now they all look the same for the upcoming 2013 models.

The most distinguishing characteristic between 10 through 12 GT and V6 mustangs is the grille mounted foglights. When it doesn't have that, it looks like a V6. If I see a 10-12 without fogs, I think it is a V6 unless I get close to inspect it. This includes CS models. So I guess I don't understand why everyone is bagging on the commonality of the 13 nose when most people seem to want to remove the grill mounted fogs from their 10-12s (or they bought the CS package).
It is instantly apparent to me the difference between models for the 13. V6: no grill fogs. GT: grill fogs. GT500: No grill. If you remove the grill fogs on your GT or buy a CS, that is on you, and be prepared for the average joe to think you've got a V6 at first glance.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of the 2011-2012. It is the first American car I ever considered buying. I wish I could have styling elements from the 12 and the 13 in one car. But all in all, I am psyched to get my 2013 and am pleased with the way the freshening went. And all of this looking at the 13s online (coupled with the first round of reviews) is starting to make the 10-12 look (dare I say it?) old.
Different strokes and all, I guess.

 

[BlkPony11]

The 2011-12 Muatang GT will not be anymore collectible than any other. Maybe the Boss. Maybe the 650 hp GT500 for '13.