New Mustang selling big

From cnnmoney.com;

Ford boosts Mustang production
After announcing the Thunderbird's retirement, the automaker to
increase another icon's output.
March 17, 2005: 10:52 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Ford Motor Co. announced Thursday that it will
boost production of the new Mustang by 70 percent this year in
response to rising sales.

The automaker said it will increase Mustang production to 192,000 in
2005, from 112,000 in 2004.

"We're planning to increase production well beyond what was initially
planned. This will allow us to sell 160,000 - 165,000 Mustangs in the
U.S. this year," Steve Lyons, Ford Division president, said in a
statement.

In the U.S. market, Mustang sales are up more than 45 percent on a
retail basis over last year, boosted by sales of the convertible
model, according to the company.

"Ford Mustang is the hottest car in the industry, and its performance
on the street and in the showrooms is beating everyone's
expectations," Lyons said in the statement.

More than 8 million Mustangs have been sold in the 41 years since its
introduction. The 1 millionth Mustang was sold by March 1966.

Last week, Ford announced plans to halt production of its Thunderbird
sports car after the current model year ends production in July. Top
of page

In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark the
return of the Camaro, Charger etc. That can only mean good things for
us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. It also shows that when Detroit
produces a quality car that gives the public what it desires decent
sales volume will follow.

RichA wrote:
> From cnnmoney.com;
>
> Ford boosts Mustang production
> After announcing the Thunderbird's retirement, the automaker to
> increase another icon's output.
> March 17, 2005: 10:52 AM EST
>
> NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Ford Motor Co. announced Thursday that it will
> boost production of the new Mustang by 70 percent this year in
> response to rising sales.
>
> The automaker said it will increase Mustang production to 192,000 in
> 2005, from 112,000 in 2004.
>
> "We're planning to increase production well beyond what was initially
> planned. This will allow us to sell 160,000 - 165,000 Mustangs in the
> U.S. this year," Steve Lyons, Ford Division president, said in a
> statement.
>
> In the U.S. market, Mustang sales are up more than 45 percent on a
> retail basis over last year, boosted by sales of the convertible
> model, according to the company.
>
> "Ford Mustang is the hottest car in the industry, and its performance
> on the street and in the showrooms is beating everyone's
> expectations," Lyons said in the statement.
>
> More than 8 million Mustangs have been sold in the 41 years since its
> introduction. The 1 millionth Mustang was sold by March 1966.
>
> Last week, Ford announced plans to halt production of its Thunderbird
> sports car after the current model year ends production in July. Top
> of page

On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:05:14 -0500, "Michael Johnson, PE"
> wrote:

>In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark the
>return of the Camaro, Charger etc. That can only mean good things for
>us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. It also shows that when Detroit
>produces a quality car that gives the public what it desires decent
>sales volume will follow.
I'm wondering who in their right mind
would consider the Charger and Mustang
to be competitive with each other?
The GTO has apparently increased the pace
of it's sales since the power increase though.
-Rich

RichA wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:05:14 -0500, "Michael Johnson, PE"
> > wrote:
>
>
>>In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark the
>>return of the Camaro, Charger etc. That can only mean good things for
>>us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. It also shows that when Detroit
>>produces a quality car that gives the public what it desires decent
>>sales volume will follow.
>
> I'm wondering who in their right mind
> would consider the Charger and Mustang
> to be competitive with each other?
> The GTO has apparently increased the pace
> of it's sales since the power increase though.
> -Rich

What other car do you think DC will look to take a chunk of market share
from should a Charger become reality? It won't be the Corvette.

On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 01:42:54 GMT, Joe > wrote:

>"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:
>
>> RichA wrote:
>>> On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:05:14 -0500, "Michael Johnson, PE"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark the
>>>>return of the Camaro, Charger etc. That can only mean good things
>>>>for us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. It also shows that when
>>>>Detroit produces a quality car that gives the public what it
>>>>desires decent sales volume will follow.
>>>
>>> I'm wondering who in their right mind
>>> would consider the Charger and Mustang
>>> to be competitive with each other?
>>> The GTO has apparently increased the pace
>>> of it's sales since the power increase though.
>>> -Rich
>>
>> What other car do you think DC will look to take a chunk of market
>> share from should a Charger become reality? It won't be the
>> Corvette.
>
>What's the Charger expected to cost? That'll play a big part in who
>gets what part of the market share.

Chysler seems to be in love with the $40k figure for their
Hemi cars and trucks.
-Rich

"Joe" > wrote
> What's the Charger expected to cost? That'll play a big part in who
> gets what part of the market share.

That, and it's a butt ugly 4-door.
--
Scott W.
'66 Mustang HCS 289
'68 Ranchero 500 302
'69 Mustang Sportsroof 351W
ThunderSnake #57

Joe wrote:
> RichA > wrote in news:lsck31hrcv8np8ciapcu4av7snunqssea0
> @4ax.com:
>
>
>>On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 01:42:54 GMT, Joe >
>
> wrote:
>
>>>"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:
>>>
>>>
>>>>RichA wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:05:14 -0500, "Michael Johnson, PE"
> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark
>
> the
>
>>>>>>return of the Camaro, Charger etc. That can only mean good
>
> things
>
>>>>>>for us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. It also shows that when
>>>>>>Detroit produces a quality car that gives the public what it
>>>>>>desires decent sales volume will follow.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm wondering who in their right mind
>>>>>would consider the Charger and Mustang
>>>>>to be competitive with each other?
>>>>>The GTO has apparently increased the pace
>>>>>of it's sales since the power increase though.
>>>>>-Rich
>>>>
>>>>What other car do you think DC will look to take a chunk of market
>>>>share from should a Charger become reality? It won't be the
>>>>Corvette.
>>>
>>>What's the Charger expected to cost? That'll play a big part in who
>>>gets what part of the market share.
>>
>>
>>Chysler seems to be in love with the $40k figure for their
>>Hemi cars and trucks.
>>-Rich
>
>
> Rich, what are you smokin'? Try subtracting 10 grand from that.

I say $28k-$30k for a base model and $34k-$36k for a loaded one. Any
more than this and it will take sales away from the hopped up 300.

66 6F HCS wrote:
> "Joe" > wrote
>
>>What's the Charger expected to cost? That'll play a big part in who
>>gets what part of the market share.
>
>
> That, and it's a butt ugly 4-door.

It definitely needs to lose two of those doors.

Joe wrote:
> "Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
> :
>
>
>>Joe wrote:
>>
>>>RichA > wrote in
>
> news:lsck31hrcv8np8ciapcu4av7snunqssea0
>
:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 01:42:54 GMT, Joe >
>>>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>>"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>RichA wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:05:14 -0500, "Michael Johnson, PE"
> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark
>>>
>>>the
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>>>return of the Camaro, Charger etc. That can only mean good
>>>
>>>things
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>>>for us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. It also shows that
>
> when
>
>>>>>>>>Detroit produces a quality car that gives the public what it
>>>>>>>>desires decent sales volume will follow.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I'm wondering who in their right mind
>>>>>>>would consider the Charger and Mustang
>>>>>>>to be competitive with each other?
>>>>>>>The GTO has apparently increased the pace
>>>>>>>of it's sales since the power increase though.
>>>>>>>-Rich
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What other car do you think DC will look to take a chunk of
>
> market
>
>>>>>>share from should a Charger become reality? It won't be the
>>>>>>Corvette.
>>>>>
>>>>>What's the Charger expected to cost? That'll play a big part in
>
> who
>
>>>>>gets what part of the market share.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Chysler seems to be in love with the $40k figure for their
>>>>Hemi cars and trucks.
>>>>-Rich
>>>
>>>
>>>Rich, what are you smokin'? Try subtracting 10 grand from that.
>>
>>I say $28k-$30k for a base model and $34k-$36k for a loaded one.
>
> Any
>
>>more than this and it will take sales away from the hopped up 300.
>
>
> Well, the Magnum RT (Hemi) starts at around $31k, and you can get a
> Ram 1500 with a Hemi for under $21k. The 300C (Hemi) starts at around
> $34k, and the SRT8 goes for $42k and change.
>
> ---
>
> From the Charger web site:
> "The target market for Dodge Charger includes trendsetting, young
> affluent males with incomes from $65,000 - $90,000. Customers looking
> for the thrilling ride and handling characteristics of a sports car,
> but with the added convenience of a functional, five passenger
> vehicle, will be able to experience the best of both with the 2006
> Dodge Charger."
>
> "Production of the 2006 Dodge Charger begins this spring at the
> Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The Dodge
> Charger will join the Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300 vehicles already
> built there."
>
> "The Dodge Charger will be available in North American markets early
> this summer and in select markets in Latin America and the Middle East
> in late 2005."
>
> ---
>
> What I don't get is why the guys slamming hi-power 4-door sedans don't
> have much to say when you mention BMW or Mercedes.

Targeting affluent males making $65k-$90k a year is a mistake IMO.
Sounds like they shouldn't even use the Charger name as the original car
was a muscle car for those on a budget. IIRC, there were very
affordable stripped down models that sold quite well in the late sixties.

Joe wrote:


Joe =A0 Mar 18, 6:50=A0am =A0 =A0 show options
Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang
From: Joe > - Find messages by this author
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 14:50:03 GMT
Local: Fri,Mar 18 20056:50=A0am
Subject: New Mustang selling big
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"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:


- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

> Joe wrote: >> RichA > wrote in
news:lsck31hrcv8np8ciapcu4av7s nunqssea0 >> @4ax.com:

>>>On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 01:42:54 GMT, Joe >

>> wrote:

>>>>"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:

>>>>>RichA wrote:

>>>>>>On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:05:14 -0500, "Michael Johnson, PE"
> wrote:

>>>>>>>In a twist of irony large volume Mustang sales just might spark

>> the

>>>>>>>return of the Camaro, Charger etc. =A0That can only mean good

>> things

>>>>>>>for us sports/muscle car enthusiasts. =A0It also shows that
when >>>>>>>Detroit produces a quality car that gives the public what
it >>>>>>>desires decent sales volume will follow.

>>>>>> I'm wondering who in their right mind >>>>>>would consider the
Charger and Mustang >>>>>>to be competitive with each other? >>>>>>The
GTO has apparently increased the pace >>>>>>of it's sales since the
power increase though. >>>>>>-Rich

>>>>>What other car do you think DC will look to take a chunk of market
>>>>>share from should a Charger become reality? =A0It won't be the
>>>>>Corvette.

>>>>What's the Charger expected to cost? =A0That'll play a big part in
who >>>>gets what part of the market share.

>>>Chysler seems to be in love with the $40k figure for their >>>Hemi
cars and trucks. >>>-Rich

>> Rich, what are you smokin'? =A0Try subtracting 10 grand from that.

> I say $28k-$30k for a base model and $34k-$36k for a loaded one. =A0
Any > more than this and it will take sales away from the hopped up
300.
Well, the Magnum RT (Hemi) starts at around $31k, and you can get a
Ram 1500 with a Hemi for under $21k. =A0The 300C (Hemi) starts at around
$34k, and the SRT8 goes for $42k and change.

---

>From the Charger web site:
"The target market for Dodge Charger includes trendsetting, young
affluent males with incomes from $65,000 - $90,000. Customers looking
for the thrilling ride and handling characteristics of a sports car,
but with the added convenience of a functional, five passenger
vehicle, will be able to experience the best of both with the 2006
Dodge Charger."

"Production of the 2006 Dodge Charger begins this spring at the
Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The Dodge
Charger will join the Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300 vehicles already
built there."

> What I don't get is why the guys slamming hi-power 4-door
> sedans don't have much to say when you mention BMW or Mercedes.

I can't tell you why anyone would slam a hi-po 4-door just because it
has four doors. But a few diffs:

1=2E The BMW and MB 4-doors haven't been clock-stopping ugly, and the DC
Charger is. (In fairness, so are the new BMW 5's and 7's. The new 3
won't stop a clock but it's still pretty nasty. So this factor is
going to be changing.)

2=2E MB and BMW make lots of cool and incredibly high performance 2-door
coupes as well. DC makes the strange Crossfire and that's it. A
revived Charger was DC's big chance and they took a pass.

3=2E Probably the biggest reason is the heritage. (If we overlook the
K-car "Chargers.") The '68-'70 Charger was an icon. DC is borrowing
on that heritage for promotional purposes and betraying it . (Sorta
like the not-really-a-hemi Hemi deal.)

180 Out

P=2ES. to Michael Johnson: the Charger was available with a 318 small
block, as well as a taxicab level 383, and with these engines the car
could accurately be described as a stripper. But the R/T was upmarket
and was available only with a 440 or a Hemi. The Super Bee with a 383
Magnum was the Dodge muscle car for people on a budget, with the
Coronet R/T somewhere in between.