[crysalis_01]

Originally Posted by BlaqWhole

He is only saying that Ford doesn't care because they are losing. Ford obviously cares. Again, why would they make all these drastic changes, up the engine output, invest in and install a 10 speed automatic, increase the price by a substantial amount, and then market the hell out of it to performance enthusiasts if they didn't care? That is a lot for a company that doesn't care. They do care. The Camaro is the Mustang's direct competitor. And they have to keep up or the enthusiasts will riot. The problem is that the Mustang can't beat the SS because the SS is too close to the GT350. In order to beat the SS, the GT would have to get closer to the GT350 or outright beat the GT350 which Ford cannot do because the enthusiasts will riot.

Think about this. Why did the GT not get the Bullitt's 475 hp engine? Why is the Bullitt not getting the PP2 suspension or the A10 trans? It is because the Shelby is hampering the performance. It isn't because Ford doesn't care. That is an excuse losers say when they lose...oh I didn't care...I didn't put my all into it. Nobody goes up against their fiercest competition with a "don't care" attitude. They are trying. But the SS and SS 1LE are just too close to (or better than) the GT350 and GT350R for them to take it out with the GT.

It's not that FoMoCo doesn't care, its that they only care, just enough. Just enough to make profits. They, like most businesses are all about the bottom line.

I bolded a comment that sticks out coming from someone like you. Normally I can see your point if view and do agree often, but this "excuse" seems eerily similar to one you've made on multiple occasion in reference to your somewhat lackluster 1/4 mile times. By all means make the argument, but realize it goes both ways.

These companies make these cars to get us, the consumer, to open our wallets. How they do that is up to them. Make the most profitable vehicle in a segment via an arbitrarily chosen set of metrics, then put it to market. If the buyers bite, good, sell them more, if they want something a little different, tweek the formula, if they don't buy its all, scrap it.

They aren't out to fullfil our set of goals, to have the best handling, to be the fastest, to have the most power. They're out to fullfil their goal, make profit. Sometimes everything lines up and we get a vehicle that meets their goals AND checks many of the boxes we want, sometimes not. Do these companies care? To a point... but its their point, not ours.

GM produces great performers, that sell. Corvette is an icon. Camaro is everybit world class. Cadillac's V-series vehicles bring an awesome level of excitement to luxury.

Ford is selling niche performance left and right, FiST, FoST, FoRS, EdgeST, F-150 RAPTOR.

Mustang sells on a great deal of history AND its performance offerings. Is it the best in class? No. Does it need to be to make Ford money? No. So I wish they would aim to be the best performer in class? Sure, but I also realize that just because it isn't the best in some metrics, that doesn't automatically relegate it to last.

Besides I for one only ever worry about the performance of one vehicle, whatever one is mine at the time. I dont race magazines, I don't race fast lists, I race my car... and it performs at a level I choose.