I'd like to see a smaller and lighter Mustang

They seem to get heavier with each new model. I get the fact that the cars must include regulations for safety.

But the new V-8 cars can go over 3,800 pounds. Why nor use light-weight materials to get it to the <3500 pound range? I'd pay the extra cost.

Same here. The 2016-2018 Camaro is supposedly lighter than its predecessor. I hope Ford will follow suit. But for now, I think the hot ticket is a Coyote swapped SN95. And the trucks could use a major downsizing as well.

They got A LOT lighter in '74. Be careful what you ask for.

But yes, smaller and lighter with the current drivetrains would be nice. Anything bigger than a foxbody feels BIG to me.

A Fox Body-sized car would still weigh 3200 lbs today, but I guess all things being relative, that's pretty light.

tjm73 said:

They got A LOT lighter in '74. Be careful what you ask for.

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The 1974 performance car was heavier and much slower than the 1969/1970 Boss 302.

I agree with this. The S550s are as long as Toyota Camrys with no room in the rear to justify the size. I get that these aren't family cars but better use of dimensions would be nice. There's a reason why fox bodies are going up in value.

The S197 car is the perfect size to me. Getting one down to 3000ish lbs isn’t too hard. Don’t hang a blower off of it and start swapping lighter parts

46addict said:

I agree with this. The S550s are as long as Toyota Camrys with no room in the rear to justify the size. I get that these aren't family cars but better use of dimensions would be nice. There's a reason why fox bodies are going up in value.

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I agree. I wish that I had my old Fox cars:

My first one was a 1984 GT 'vert (great 4-br car).

There was a 1989 LX 5.0L:


And then the 1991 LX 5.0L car. It was a great car.

I then switched to the SN95 cars which include the 1995 Cobra R that I have owned for over 20 years, and it weighs 3300 pounds:

95CobraR said:

The 1974 performance car was heavier and much slower than the 1969/1970 Boss 302.

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There is no way any Mustang II (2952 lbs) is heavier than a 69 or 70 BOSS 302 (3200 lbs).

ox white said:

Same here. The 2016-2018 Camaro is supposedly lighter than its predecessor. I hope Ford will follow suit. But for now, I think the hot ticket is a Coyote swapped SN95. And the trucks could use a major downsizing as well.

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I agree on the trucks.
Imagine if they were a little lower, smaller, better frontal area, better aero.

For the Mustang, lighter materials cost more and you risk not being affordable to the mainstream which is one of the Mustang strenghts

I wish they were lighter too, but I'm glad a Mustang doesn't cost a huge amount with a lot of carbon fiber, and aluminum parts to do so. At the end of the day, they're doing pretty well while keeping the costs within realm imo. While my 91 Mustang gt weighed 328x, my 2011 that weighs about 300 more pounds is leagues above in every way imagineable. I have a friend with a Turbo Coyote swapped fox, and although it is obviously fast as hell, I wouldn't call it nice, and I'd rather be in my S197 in the event of any type of crash.

Just saw on my local news, Ford is going to stop making sedans and only sell the Mustang, Focus electric, SUV's and Trucks plus commercial vehicles. In the near future

that's why I like my classic Mustang. It's small, lightweight, and fast.

Thenorm said:

For the Mustang, lighter materials cost more and you risk not being affordable to the mainstream which is one of the Mustang strenghts

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They don't need to use lighter materials, just smaller dimensions. The Fox and SN95 cars were significantly lighter and used the same materials. They were just smaller. And I would not consider the 18 GT to be affordable to the mainstream. Of course that depends on your definition of "mainstream".

I know more people that can't afford an '18 GT than can. Myself included. I mean I could pay for an '18, but I'd give up far too much to do so.

David Young said:

Just saw on my local news, Ford is going to stop making sedans and only sell the Mustang, Focus electric, SUV's and Trucks plus commercial vehicles. In the near future

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Just saw that. Only cars they are keeping is the Mustang and a Focus variant. Going to end up just a truck and Mustang company shortly because that Focus crossover isn't going to sell. I'm guessing that Lincoln will be gone soon as well. Funny thing is nobody seems to care.

tjm73 said:

There is no way any Mustang II (2952 lbs) is heavier than a 69 or 70 BOSS 302 (3200 lbs).

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Apparently the '76 Cobra II was about 3100 lbs

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1976/857510/ford_mustang_ii_cobra_ii_302_v-8.html


Edit:
Oops, didn't see that you already had a weight listed for the redheaded stepchild

ox white said:

Just saw that. Only cars they are keeping is the Mustang and a Focus variant. Going to end up just a truck and Mustang company shortly because that Focus crossover isn't going to sell. I'm guessing that Lincoln will be gone soon as well. Funny thing is nobody seems to care.

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The Subaru Crosstrek is hugely popular. I suspect the focus active will be too.

ox white said:

They don't need to use lighter materials, just smaller dimensions. The Fox and SN95 cars were significantly lighter and used the same materials. They were just smaller. And I would not consider the 18 GT to be affordable to the mainstream. Of course that depends on your definition of "mainstream".

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The SN95 and the S197 are nearly identical in weight, but no previous Mustang will keep up with the S197 thru the turns and in factory form, a straight line.
THE SN95 cars had heavy composite hood and poor sub frame strength, there is simply no comparison.

tjm73 said:

I know more people that can't afford an '18 GT than can. Myself included. I mean I could pay for an '18, but I'd give up far too much to do so.

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I def agree as far as the expense of the car, but at the same time it's hard to ignore the hoards of people in much more expensive trucks all over the roads in Texas