Late Fall 2014 ➽ Why?

[ChuckC]

Traditionally, new model years come out in September. Ford has been releasing Mustangs earlier and earlier it seems (February, March, it's pretty crazy). I think Ford is just trying to get back to a standard release cycle with the new one.

But...it seems to me the entire purpose of releasing Mustangs early (e.g. 2013 Mustangs in April 2012...etc) was they wanted to release the 2015 Mustang for the April 2014 anniversary.

So along will come April 2014 and the 2015 won't be available.

Clearly the schedule has slipped.

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[amk91]

Have you guys ever worked in the corporate world? I have and do, and I'm pretty certain that Ford is on the release time schedule they've always had for this car.

If you will go back and look, this is playing out very similar to what happened with the S197 debut and release. Those cars did not go on-sale until very late summer/fall either. I ordered my 2005 a couple of weeks after the order banks opened and took delivery in September. (This pic is after wheels and lowering springs).



Please, can we cease with the conspiracy theories and just focus on this awesome car that Ford is giving us.

How did you get yours in September '04? They began assembly at Flat Rock on September 27, 2004 and didn't launch until October. Anyway, you're right though. The S197 got leaked in December 2003 and presented in January 2004, so that is a good point also.

With the 2005 Mustang, the coupes were for sale in September of 2004 and the convertibles weren't on sale until Spring 2005.

So, given that time gap, it could be that the 2015 coupes will be for sale in Spring and the convertibles in Fall.

I think of it this way - If production starts in April as stated, are the Mustangs really going to sit on a lot for 5-6 months? I don't think so. So I'm not sure why there would be such a time gap. Unless the "start of production" means that they are simply preparing the facilities to produce the car.

This is my first post here. I'm really liking the new Stang!

Production may not be scheduled until at least June/July, as 18 months is the bare minimum(December 2012-June 2014). At the very least, the design re-do delayed the car 6 months. Your April theory isn't far off though, as I've seen Ford work with 16 months between a final freeze and start of production. An April SOP is possible if they can manage completing development early enough.

I've been searching Google archives for information on the "production start date" of the 2005 Mustang. All information I'm finding indicates the production started in Fall (or 3rd quarter) 2004. They were up for sale/order in September. So it makes me think that if 2015 production starts in April, then they'll be for sale/order not too long after that.

Also, according to the Ford website:

Convertible production does start in late 2014. I'm more and more thinking the coupe will be available in Spring

It was September 27, 2004 when S197 Job 1 rolled off the production line, as production started on September 7, 2004. It was launched in October 2004.

 

[amk91]

I was in Dearborn for the event there. This question was asked - why so early? The response was that it was a marketing decision in order to extend the 'buzz', bucking the previous trend to have a shorter lead time. Personally, I like the shorter lead time, but for capturing new people, it makes sense you would want to build awareness as much as possible. A longer lead time would do that. Informally, I was told that indeed, as we've read, the revision from the first design reviewed added time. It was suggested we might see them August next year. That is not certain though.

Thanks for the info, as it now confirms validity of my beliefs on the toning down of the design into last autumn and locking it in last December. Something didn't seem right how we heard it would be radical from the Evos debut in September 2011 through late 2012/early 2013, when that theory started falling silent for now quite obvious reasons.

 

[garagelogic]

How did you get yours in September '04? They began assembly at Flat Rock on September 27, 2004 and didn't launch until October. Anyway, you're right though. The S197 got leaked in December 2003 and presented in January 2004, so that is a good point also.



Production may not be scheduled until at least June/July, as 18 months is the bare minimum(December 2012-June 2014). At the very least, the design re-do delayed the car 6 months. Your April theory isn't far off though, as I've seen Ford work with 16 months between a final freeze and start of production. An April SOP is possible if they can manage completing development early enough.



It was September 27, 2004 when S197 Job 1 rolled off the production line, as production started on September 7, 2004. It was launched in October 2004.

i'll have to go dig up the sales receipt. I've bought and sold a lot of Mustangs through the years, so it very well may be that I have the date all wrong with the 2005.

 

[minicobra]

I'd rather they take their time and get any quality issues buttoned down than rush things and have problems.

Rush things, I think they said they have been working on the S550 plans since 2009. They need to bring this thing out in Summer 2014!!!
It's not such a big deal here in California, but I'm sure dealers back east have a difficult time pushing rear wheel drive sports cars in the winter months.
I said sports car, lol :lol: Hey, it's got independent suspension now.

 

[Wildcat]

Rush things, I think they said they have been working on the S550 plans since 2009. They need to bring this thing out in Summer 2014!!!
It's not such a big deal here in California, but I'm sure dealers back east have a difficult time pushing rear wheel drive sports cars in the winter months.
I said sports car, lol :lol: Hey, it's got independent suspension now.

Plans and design are one thing. I'm talking about the final quality control and testing that gets done when a car goes into production. I'm sure others here with more knowledge can explain better than I can.

 

[S550Boss]

No, I was at the press briefing today and they made it very clear that it is not April or summer. Fall at the earliest... and the ecoboost will be available on day 1.

 

[Wild Stang]

No, I was at the press briefing today and they made it very clear that it is not April or summer. Fall at the earliest... and the ecoboost will be available on day 1.

BLAH! Not the answer I want to hear. :frusty:

- Mr. Impatient

 

[design1stcode2nd]

So probably a year plus before you can buy one without a markup or below MSRP. Not buying a muscle car in the middle of winter. I figured it would have been out by early summer.

Doubt I'll wait that long.

 

[HGFireHazard]

So probably a year plus before you can buy one without a markup or below MSRP. Not buying a muscle car in the middle of winter. I figured it would have been out by early summer.

Doubt I'll wait that long.

I'm slowly conceding that I won't be in this car until Spring 2015, and that sucks. It's mostly the winter that's the problem. I want a very well optioned GT which I'm most likely going to have to order, so on top of the late release plus build time... well I'm not going to get a car in December just to stare at it in the garage.

 

[Patio208]

The fall timeline works well for me here in the Midwest weather. If this launch is anything like the 2005 launch I will order some time in the winter and take delivery early spring. That will allow some time for test drives and an opportunity to see several colors, trims and options in person. Let's just hope there are no delays this time. My 2005 got delayed several times due to the interior upgrade package shortage.

 

[Free Agent]

So probably a year plus before you can buy one without a markup or below MSRP. Not buying a muscle car in the middle of winter. I figured it would have been out by early summer.

Doubt I'll wait that long.

X-plan at a larger dealer. At least that is my plan.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Fingers crossed order banks open march-April

 

[Free Agent]

Fingers crossed order banks open march-April

I hope so too but that would be one long wait of 6 or 7 months from order to delivery. Ugghh.

If I were to venture a guess, I'd say order banks will open in June or July. Just a gut feeling. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Talisman39]

My guess is that they were aiming for April 14 as the target date for launch but something slipped in the schedule. With the intense pressure for spy shots and news they decided to just go with the announcement early and relieve themselves from having to keep it under wraps for another ~10 months as that's impossible in today's world.

Now we'll be treated to interminable shots and videos of cars going around tracks, winter testing, the 'Ring... Will they put the cow camo back on? That seems to be the fashion today, even after having shown a car in full view, which is weird.

It's going to be a long wait...

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