How big are these cars?

[tjm73]

Was wondering about the size of the current car versus previous Mustangs. So I did a little search and compiled this. Surprisingly, not a huge variation in dimensions.

 

[702GT]

I can tell you for a fact there's a crap ton more surface area to a 05-09 S197 than there is to a 99-04. It used to take me no more than 2 hours, maybe 3 hours tops, to do a full wipe down and single coat wax on my old '01. My '08 is 3 hours minimum. Usually 5 hours average. This is by hand of course. I usually bribe a friend and we can have it done in 3 hours or less.

 

[Sky Render]

Mustang hasn't gotten as large as certain other Muscle Cars.

 

[Bill220]

I can tell you for a fact there's a crap ton more surface area to a 05-09 S197 than there is to a 99-04. It used to take me no more than 2 hours, maybe 3 hours tops, to do a full wipe down and single coat wax on my old '01. My '08 is 3 hours minimum. Usually 5 hours average. This is by hand of course. I usually bribe a friend and we can have it done in 3 hours or less.

It takes me FOREVER to detail mine. That hood is fucking huge, lol. And the doors.

 

[pass1over]

I agree ... although a lot of people tell me they always thought the older one's were much bigger

 

[Thenorm]

the old ones seem smaller due to lower beltline and smaller greenhouse.

an interesting comparison would be volume that the entire car displaces.

 

[tjm73]

I gotta say that Kona blue with those wheels looks real sharp.

 

[dre256]

I can tell you for a fact there's a crap ton more surface area to a 05-09 S197 than there is to a 99-04.

Agreed, when my 2003 GT is parked next to my 2013 GT the S197 looks like a boat! Scary thing is S197 looks tiny parked next to a challenger

 

[Thereaper]

I agree ... although a lot of people tell me they always thought the older one's were much bigger

Put the s197 next to a 69 or 70 fastback and it looks smaller.

 

[travelers]

I was behind a '16 tonight and it looked liked it has a fat ass, but not as big as the new Camaro. Now compare the weight of the cars over the years...

 

[702GT]

It takes me FOREVER to detail mine. That hood is fucking huge, lol. And the doors.

Doors are the worst. My damn arm feels like it's going to fall off by the time I get to the rear bumper (I start at the front bumper and work my way to one side, all the way back).

Agreed, when my 2003 GT is parked next to my 2013 GT the S197 looks like a boat! Scary thing is S197 looks tiny parked next to a challenger

I saw a challenger burried into the back of a '98 F350 coming off the freeway last year, the challenger absolutely destroyed the ass end of the F350, ripped the bed off the frame and split the frame in two directions. The challenger lost its hood and peeled the fenders back, but the cab of the challenger was intact and looked like a driver could walk away from it. They may be heavy, but they really are tanks. Fairly fast tanks in Hellcat trim...

I was behind a '16 tonight and it looked liked it has a fat ass, but not as big as the new Camaro. Now compare the weight of the cars over the years...

I feel most of the weight gained over the years is safety and creature comforts. Heated and (now) cooled leather seats, multi-composite speaker music systems complete with subwoofers and touch screen multi-disc head units, 6 and soon to be 8+ speed tranny's, front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, and with the 15+ model year they have brought back an improved IRS, which is and has been in the past, a heavier rear suspension. The S550 has certainly grown on me, but I really feel they nailed the S197 in terms of looks & performance.

 

[pass1over]

I gotta say that Kona blue with those wheels looks real sharp.

Thanks! I was on the fence between gloss gunmetal and matte black. I have been extremely happy with my choice.

Put the s197 next to a 69 or 70 fastback and it looks smaller.

true. I understand I have the smallest of the mustangs to compare it to, but it still doesn't look that much bigger.

 

[Greg Hazlett]

Was wondering about the size of the current car versus previous Mustangs. So I did a little search and compiled this. Surprisingly, not a huge variation in dimensions.

Would be interesting to see the weight comparisons.

 

[pass1over]

64.5-66 2570-3000
67-68 2758
69-70 3122
71-73 3263
74-78 2610-2735
79-93 3160
94-98 3065-3446
99-04 3069-3560
05-09 3336-3601
10-14 3501-3735
15-16 3469-3825


Earlier model years didn't really offer ranges of weights, so +/- a couple hundred?


More than 1000lbs difference between my two, you can feel it.

 

[Greg Hazlett]

Interesting....so in approx 50 years there has been a weight increase from 67/68 avg 2785 to 15/16 avg 3641 of 856 lbs which is not really a lot when you take into account safety, larger rims/tires, leather, etc...

64.5-66 2570-3000
67-68 2758
69-70 3122
71-73 3263
74-78 2610-2735
79-93 3160
94-98 3065-3446
99-04 3069-3560
05-09 3336-3601
10-14 3501-3735
15-16 3469-3825


Earlier model years didn't really offer ranges of weights, so +/- a couple hundred?


More than 1000lbs difference between my two, you can feel it.

 

[pass1over]

A lot more on the newer cars is made of plastic and aluminum. Most everything on the first couple gen cars were metal. Imagine what it would weight if everything on the 15/16's was made of metal. Like skirts, bumpers, etc.

 

[Sky Render]

Interesting....so in approx 50 years there has been a weight increase from 67/68 avg 2785 to 15/16 avg 3641 of 856 lbs which is not really a lot when you take into account safety, larger rims/tires, leather, etc...

And sound deadening.

 

[Greg Hazlett]

A lot more on the newer cars is made of plastic and aluminum. Most everything on the first couple gen cars were metal. Imagine what it would weight if everything on the 15/16's was made of metal. Like skirts, bumpers, etc.

Understand about the bumpers but I think the body is still steel? Not alum like the F150?

 

[pass1over]

doors, roof, trunk, 1/4 panels, fenders are steel. Hood is aluminum, bumpers are plastic of some kind, as is skirting

The interior of my '66's doors are metal, there's this thin leather covered cardboard panel that covers the window access holes, the dash is all metal, not a tube frame with a plastic covering, paneling in the back seat is made of metal, etc. it all adds up

 

[83-88T-Bird Guy]

Interesting data.

Thanks for posting.

My 94 GT auto is within 10 pounds of the weight of my 2005 GT auto