I guess I've been in a cave; new 26 Mustang GT well equipped for 64-67k??!!

[Strokerswild]

Well $40k in 2015 is around $54k now applying inflation for those 10 years. Not sure about any taxation or registration changes since then in the US plus the 'drop dead gorgeous' S650 is significantly improved from a 2015 S550 and all of a sudden it is not that far adrift of where it should be. That ignores several thousand of tariffs too.

Ah, but I have no DESIRE for the S650, so there's that.

I'm more apt to buy a new boat these days. You want to talk expensive....

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[BullittBoy]

If you look around, you can find a low mile 2023 MACH 1 for mid to upper 40's. Low mileage I mean less than 30K, I just found one and bought it last week. It has PPF, Recaro's, tint and a H pipe, else it is bone stock (for now) and in pristine condition. Or you can buy a GT350 if you are stuck on the Tremec and can't find a MACH 1, but now add ~15-20 K to the price easy. My 20 Bullet was a 25K mile car and even though it has the MT82, I still enjoy the car. Tremec is making the new trans now that supports DSRM and back up camera, so you can make a Bullitt even better with a bit more cash. I see many Bullitt's for sale in the mid 30K range, plus 10K for the new tremec (trans and install), so you spend ~40-45K and have a nice S550 Bullitt that is still as good as a GT350. The new Tremec is around 7K plus a couple of grand to install unless you do it yourself, so you could covert it even cheaper if you are competent with tools. The MACH 1 I bought is a A10 car to be used for Drag and Drives. All in I spent ~87K for both cars. Unless you really want a DH or a S650 variant, there are some good deals out there for used S550, low mileage cars. And I got both of mine from dealers with 1000 mile, 3 month warranties. Used is the way to go IMO. A lot of guys will overlook dealer cars, but I prefer them over private sales.

 

[bKennedy]

Mustang sales are up 22% YTD. Clearly some must have a different opinion to you.

I'm sure about 50% of the population has a different opinion than I do. If you like the MT82 transmission, by all means buy a Mustang with one in it. I have owned 2 Mustangs prior to the one I own with that transmission and I was not happy with it. They have improved it some, but the list of problems when it first came out was numerous. Ford has this trans built in China as a cheaper alternative to the Tremec. If it were any good, it would come in the Dark Horse, Mach 1, GT350, GT500, etc. Ford won't even make it an option in the GT as they are afraid it will cut into the sales of their high-end Mustangs. I don't need a Dark Horse and will not buy another Mustang until the GT has the Tremec as the standard transmission or an option.

 

[TonyNJ]

did not sell for 6 months. Only mod was the factory wheels were powder coated white to match the factory stipes.

That window sticker isn't showing factory stripes.

 

[geep81]

Define 'foreign cars' mind you?

If you're trying to get me to admit that I don't consider Kia/BMW/Honda/Merecedes/et al, companies that only opened factories to assemble cars here because it benefits them, as domestic manufacturers you are god damn right.

When they bring parts supply production over here, start up a ton of machine shops supporting tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of additional USA jobs, I'd consider them a domestic mfg.

Right now all they do is ship parts to Tennessee and assemble them. Factories make stuff, but these plants mostly only assemble parts for the foreign makes.

I will point out every one of those foreign companies demanded major tax breaks and incentives to build a factory in the state they are in, and they almost entirely targeted red states more desperate for jobs and willing to make concessions. If they are so beneficial to the USA why did they have to do that.

And then they all opened up non-union shops that pay less than actual domestic factories. With less ability for you to make a life and career and retire at the job.

Mercedes uses so many robots in their plant, you see them more than people. Some job creators. The robots are also not made in the USA.

When Honda is supporting millions of jobs in the USA like Ford and GM do, I'll give them some credit.

Until then they are only doing what they are doing because it benefits them.

Henry Ford famously paid his workers more because he understood the economics that would benefit from that. When I hear of a foreign car mfg doing the same here, I'll be fucking surprised - because it will never happen.

 

[Trout1]

Okay, so you are saying every part on the Coyote comes from Canada? Let's ignore all the other Ford motors for the time being.

Just trying to understand where all the parts come from. The Coyote foundry is in Canada, the electrics are sourced and produced there, all the machining, everything?

• Windsor Engine Plant: Located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada; currently the primary production site for North American market Coyote V8 engines.

• Romeo Engine Plant: Located in Romeo, Michigan; manufactured the engine historically until the facility concluded operations in 2022. [1, 2, 3]

 

[Bit-Image]

That window sticker isn't showing factory stripes.

I dont have the original sticker, the one pictured is a recreation from carfax. Stripes look factory but I am not 100% sure, regardless I am happy with my purchase.

 

[TonyNJ]

I dont have the original sticker, the one pictured is a recreation from carfax. Stripes look factory but I am not 100% sure, regardless I am happy with my purchase.

I see your avatar now. These cars came with the euro rally (one wide, one narrow stripe). Your car looks to have either OEM GT350 stripes or aftermarket.

Either way, looks great.

 

[Gregs24]

If you're trying to get me to admit that I don't consider Kia/BMW/Honda/Merecedes/et al, companies that only opened factories to assemble cars here because it benefits them, as domestic manufacturers you are god damn right.

When they bring parts supply production over here, start up a ton of machine shops supporting tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of additional USA jobs, I'd consider them a domestic mfg.

Right now all they do is ship parts to Tennessee and assemble them. Factories make stuff, but these plants mostly only assemble parts for the foreign makes.

I will point out every one of those foreign companies demanded major tax breaks and incentives to build a factory in the state they are in, and they almost entirely targeted red states more desperate for jobs and willing to make concessions. If they are so beneficial to the USA why did they have to do that.

And then they all opened up non-union shops that pay less than actual domestic factories. With less ability for you to make a life and career and retire at the job.

Mercedes uses so many robots in their plant, you see them more than people. Some job creators. The robots are also not made in the USA.

When Honda is supporting millions of jobs in the USA like Ford and GM do, I'll give them some credit.

Until then they are only doing what they are doing because it benefits them.

Henry Ford famously paid his workers more because he understood the economics that would benefit from that. When I hear of a foreign car mfg doing the same here, I'll be fucking surprised - because it will never happen.

Not actually correct, they are US manufacturers as you define.

BMW do everything in the US from body pressings to assembly starting in Spartanburg. Don't forget BMW export some cars from the US as certain models are only made there (X5, X6 etc)! There is no way they can be 'kits'

BMW Group Plant Spartanburg

Toyota likewise, full body pressings at Georgetown - not kits

Same with Kia, Same with Honda

They use US steel to do that as well where it can be sourced in the US, some steels have to be imported as they are not produced in the US.

Many parts are then made in the US to supply all carmakers including Ford, GM etc such as Brembo.

I very much doubt there is any difference between all of them in terms of US sourced production and manufacturing.

As mentioned before Ford is a NA company with production spread and integrated between Canada, US and Mexico. I would argue some of the 'foreign' brands are more US centric than Ford!

American Made Index - Most American Cars 2026 | Cars.com

Highest Ford is No.13 below many 'foreign' cars

 

[geep81]

Not actually correct, they are US manufacturers as you define.

They make a few body pieces as you said.

How that at all makes up for the thousands and tens of thousands of components in a vehicle does not compute.

They do not have a network of shops working here in the north americas making all the parts that go into vehicles.

I don't count them making some large pieces that would be very expensive to ship as doing too much for manufacturing here at all. Not a lot of people employed by these groups at these plants, compared to the hundreds of thousands working to support the domestics here.

Why don't you talk numbers that really matter - how many people does BMW employ here in the USA at their factories, and how does that compare to Ford for example? That says it all to me.

I'll never give Merecedes credit because as I said their factory is mostly robots. I would be pressed to believe BMW's stamping plant isn't employing some minimum of humans and using a ton of automation, probably brought from overseas.

 

[Gregs24]

They make a few body pieces as you said.

How that at all makes up for the thousands and tens of thousands of components in a vehicle does not compute.

They do not have a network of shops working here in the north americas making all the parts that go into vehicles.

I don't count them making some large pieces that would be very expensive to ship as doing too much for manufacturing here at all. Not a lot of people employed by these groups at these plants, compared to the hundreds of thousands working to support the domestics here.

Why don't you talk numbers that really matter - how many people does BMW employ here in the USA at their factories, and how does that compare to Ford for example? That says it all to me.

I'll never give Merecedes credit because as I said their factory is mostly robots. I would be pressed to believe BMW's stamping plant isn't employing some minimum of humans and using a ton of automation, probably brought from overseas.

They make ALL of the body pieces!

OEM part suppliers are global for all carmakers but many are made in the US / Mexico / Canada for use in many different car makers factories in the US

What you count doesn't really matter - a more objective method than yours suggests you are wrong as per my link. Many Honda's have MORE local content than Ford's or GM cars - fact.

BMW has one plant in the US, of course it employs less than Ford, but that was not your original point. You said they don't make cars from scratch in the US - they do, made by US workers using US made parts.

Ford use 'robots' for construction and paint, all car makers of volume do. KUKA make nearly all robots used in nearly all car factories (including Ford and GM) none of which are made in the US - so again no difference. Robots make cars reliably, humans don't.

 

[detamble13]

The elimination of tariffs and a renewed USMCA would provide more predictability and stability in pricing.
Also looking forward to renewed competition when the Camaro comes back.

As for "Red States" attracting foreign automakers I had always assumed companies looked to places that were unlikely to unionize. Michigan has gone both red and blue but traditionally a union stronghold. Pretty sure Rivian manufactures there but not sure if they're a union shop.

 

[robvas]

As for "Red States" attracting foreign automakers I had always assumed companies looked to places that were unlikely to unionize. Michigan has gone both red and blue but traditionally a union stronghold. Pretty sure Rivian manufactures there but not sure if they're a union shop.

Rivian is in Illinois and they are not union. But they won't be around much longer so...

https://stories.rivian.com/america-vehicle-assembly-javier

 

[Gregs24]

Rivian is in Illinois and they are not union. But they won't be around much longer so...

https://stories.rivian.com/america-vehicle-assembly-javier

They have a strong balance sheet and the R2 coming out soon plus strong links with VW so I think they will be fine.

 

[geep81]

You said they don't make cars from scratch in the US - they do, made by US workers using US made parts.

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/how-much-of-your-car-is-really-made-in-the-usa/

No BMW on this list has more than 10% parts made in the USA.

You are a fool or a liar if you really think BMW makes cars from scratch here.

You don't get the difference between ASSEMBLING parts made elsewhere and shipped here vs MAKING FROM SCRATCH and it's either because you're dumb or have an agenda I'd say.

Some body panels made here mean it's made from scratch to you. Why am I talking to dumb people.

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