Choosing between the 2014 gt or 2015 gt is hard

Norm Peterson

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Most of you that like the S550's seem to have something in common, you say something to the effect of "when I first looked at it, I wasn't impressed", etc, but then go on to praise the chassis and engine, etc.

In my opinion, if you look at a car, and don't immediately think, "yep, that's a hot looking car" then there is something wrong. One of the major factors of a muscle car is a "wow" factor when you look at it.
As long as it's immediately recognizable as a Mustang, that'd be enough for me in terms of outward appearance. The goodness - or at least the potential for goodness - that I would be looking for is mainly in the chassis and the ability to fit a better/wider wheel/tire package.


Norm
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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I think the 550's are beautiful cars, and I also think they are faithful to the overall mustang design. I look at the S197 as being close to the '69-70' fastback design, while the 550 follows the enlarged '71-'73 design, but also the early fastbacks. If you look at the difference between a 66 coupe and a fastback, they really invoke, at least for me, a very different vibe. Same with the last two major designs we have now. I noticed something at the few mustang car shows I made a few years ago. There were quite a few gorgeous 550's, tastefully modded and just a few S197's that were tastefully modded. At every show that had a well planned and executed S197, the S197 took best of show and peoples choice every time. A lot of folks commented that the 550's "were just too pretty". I've got the same comments from onlookers when I've parked next to a new mustang. They tell me they like mine better. (2007) I would still love to have a new one myself, but I'm not selling my Shelby, ever. I love how it feels. I love how it sounds. I love that it is very much a handful. With my "no Lift" tendency it is a lot of fun. It's gone grazing more than once.
For myself personally, I look at the S197 as being closer to the early 65-66 fastback design. The 67-70 fastback design had more of a sloping roofline which extended all the way towards the back into the rear deckid, whereas the S197 fastback roofline has a shorter slope and horizontal decklid similar to the early 65-66 fastback models. As for the S550, every time I look at it from a visual point of view, I look at the S550 as more of an evolution of the new edge (99-04) SN-95 Mustang than anything else. That being said, I agree the S550's are very beautiful cars that are indeed instantly recognizable as a Mustang. However, IMHO, the S197 cars are by far the most faithful to the overall design of the original 1st generation 65-70 Mustangs.
 

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I have driven both numerous times and just like how S197s ride more. I was looking for a 13/14 for a few years and finally found one I liked. The 13/14s have the best looking rear end and tail lights of any Mustang out there. 2015+ models have some of the most hideous. The S550s do have a slightly better interior but no where near the jump from New Edge to S197 interior. I like Mustangs that look like Mustangs...S550s look more like Fusions than anything else.
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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For myself personally, I look at the S197 as being closer to the early 65-66 fastback design. The 67-70 fastback design had more of a sloping roofline which extended all the way towards the back into the rear deckid, whereas the S197 fastback roofline has a shorter slope and horizontal decklid similar to the early 65-66 fastback models. As for the S550, every time I look at it from a visual point of view, I look at the S550 as more of an evolution of the new edge (99-04) SN-95 Mustang than anything else. That being said, I agree the S550's are very beautiful cars that are indeed instantly recognizable as a Mustang. However, IMHO, the S197 cars are by far the most faithful to the overall design of the original 1st generation 65-70 Mustangs.

I also want to follow up by mentioning the S197 Mustangs also took design cues from the 69's, such as the placement of the headlights/fog lights in the front grill and also the shape as well, while also taking design cues from the 67-68 with the dual eyebrow style dashboard and instrument cluster gauges. Also the tail lights sort of evoke the design styling of the 1970 models. At any rate, the design for the S197 models were indeed inspired by not just one certain model year, but from every first generation Mustang produced from 1965-70. IIRC, former VP of design for Ford, J.Mays referred to the S197 Mustang as retro-futuristic :waytogo:
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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I have driven both numerous times and just like how S197s ride more. I was looking for a 13/14 for a few years and finally found one I liked. The 13/14s have the best looking rear end and tail lights of any Mustang out there. 2015+ models have some of the most hideous. The S550s do have a slightly better interior but no where near the jump from New Edge to S197 interior. I like Mustangs that look like Mustangs...S550s look more like Fusions than anything else.
I beg to differ on the S550 having just a slightly better interior over the S197 interior. In comparison, the S550 interior is light years ahead by having improved leather seat quality, leather door panels and console. The S197 interior on the 05-10 cars were mostly hard/cheap plastic, especially the door panels, switches and dash. IMHO, the quality differences are night and day between the S550 and S197 cars lol.
 

Norm Peterson

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I beg to differ on the S550 having just a slightly better interior over the S197 interior. In comparison, the S550 interior is light years ahead by having improved leather seat quality, leather door panels and console. The S197 interior on the 05-10 cars were mostly hard/cheap plastic, especially the door panels, switches and dash. IMHO, the quality differences are night and day between the S550 and S197 cars lol.
How much better tends to be in the eye of the beholder, and I think as far as OP is concerned being a bit rough around the edges making for 'character' would extend to perceptions of interior quality - where the older-generation interior is not necessarily seen as a negative. Personally, I never saw the Mustang as having pretentions of luxury, so as long as everything works and doesn't break/fall off there isn't much that's particularly bad about even the 4.6L S197 year interiors.


I recently sold my 05 GT and got myself a 2017 Ecoboost (I know, blasphemy), and after a month in that body...I'm having doubts about getting a 2014 GT. Between the 197 and 550, the 550s have better suspension, stock ride height, trans, interior, handling, saound system, engine, aerodynamics, and I'd say a better side profile. BUT, it feels like it has less of a character, it feels less of a mustang and less American. It feels like a less refined BMW

the 2014 has the sexiest front and back in any mustang imo, and I love the crude feeling of the car. It's rough around all the edges and just has more character than any 550 I've been in or seen.


Norm
 

Anti

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Well, to be clear, the 2014 premium door cards are much nicer than 05-09. The sync system is outdated, but so will the s550 system be in future. That Dude in Blue's YouTube channel just successful swapped his center console/radio, or whatever you want to call it, for a Tesla touch screen setup. I love the dashes on the 05-09's though. Mine has the 07 dash, 2014 gt500 door cards, and s550 front and rear seats. Now if I could get the infotainment portion handled.
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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How much better tends to be in the eye of the beholder, and I think as far as OP is concerned being a bit rough around the edges making for 'character' would extend to perceptions of interior quality - where the older-generation interior is not necessarily seen as a negative. Personally, I never saw the Mustang as having pretentions of luxury, so as long as everything works and doesn't break/fall off there isn't much that's particularly bad about even the 4.6L S197 year interiors.





Norm
I never said nor implied that the older-generation interior was seen as a negative. I was just responding to Joseph's post regarding the differences in interior quality materials between the S550 and S197. As for myself personally, the lack of interior quality materials on the early S197 models had nothing to do with wanting to own one. My reasons were due to the appeal of the S197's retro styling inspired by the 1st generation 65-70 Mustang fastback models and the engineering of the 4.6L 3v power train. Needless to say, my reasons have not changed and therefore remain the same lol.
 

Norm Peterson

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You may not have meant it as a negative and it certainly is possible to not see the early S197 interior as a deal-breaker (I like mine just fine). But "hard/cheap plastic" is still generally considered to be a put-down.

FWIW, hard/cheap plastic is still a significant upgrade from the painted (and unpadded!) stamped sheetmetal dashboards that were in cars when I was growing up.


Norm
 
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MrAwesome987

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You may not have meant it as a negative and it certainly is possible to not see the early S197 interior as a deal-breaker (I like mine just fine). But "hard/cheap plastic" is still generally considered to be a put-down.

FWIW, hard/cheap plastic is still a significant upgrade from the painted (and unpadded!) stamped sheetmetal dashboards that were in cars when I was growing up.
When I bought my first S197, on the way home with it, I remember thinking how nice the interior was lol I guess I have low expectations, but I have never once thought the S197 interior was lacking.
 

Midlife Crises

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I like that beautiful painted steel interior on most of the old cars. Add a little chrome and some padding and it could be any classic.
 

JJ427R

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I like that beautiful painted steel interior on most of the old cars. Add a little chrome and some padding and it could be any classic.
I remember very vividly the steel dash of the 1950 Ford 1 ton I learned to drive in on my uncles farm.
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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You may not have meant it as a negative and it certainly is possible to not see the early S197 interior as a deal-breaker (I like mine just fine). But "hard/cheap plastic" is still generally considered to be a put-down.

FWIW, hard/cheap plastic is still a significant upgrade from the painted (and unpadded!) stamped sheetmetal dashboards that were in cars when I was growing up.


Norm
Just to clarify! The statement regarding hard/cheap plastic was referring to the opinions of others, especially from those who upgraded from the early S197 cars to the later 11-14 S197 and current S550 models. As for myself personally, I have no negative issues with the interior of neither my previous 2005 S197 and current 2006 S197. However, I do understand where your coming from and therefore stand corrected for any misinterpretations on my part, as I should had been more specific in the previous post from the very start. That being said, I've been very pleased with my S197 "06" GT and have no intentions of selling it for the reasons mentioned from the previous post.
 

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