This is now an '05-'09 appreciation thread.

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 01/18/2018 at 10:46 • Filed to: None

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I still think the pre-facelift S197 is one of the best contemporary muscle car designs. The straight lines, the unabashedly simplistic yet muscular design. The fender flares that would make the most JDM of bros blush. The admittedly crap interior and disappointing engine choices. Don’t care. If the Miata goes away I would likely replace it with an ‘06 manual Mustang GT. As good at autocross? Not close, but definitely more livable as a daily driver and I don’t think I can ever own anything but 2+2 coupes.

Hot take: the facelift is garbage. They got rid of the best styling elements (the hockey stick on the side, the fender flares) and simply took a Shelby GT500 and added MOAR CREASES. Sure the rear quarters and bi-level hood are a lot more faithful to the original Mustang bodystyle but the pre-facelift strikes me as being... I dunno. The unbroken smooth beltline front to back just does it for me.

Throwback to the most modern car I’ve had (and one of the least reliable), my ‘05 V6 auto vert ex-rental Mustang. I liked the platform, the engine was a decent performer (but I’d never want to do timing chains on one), but that particular one didn’t really do it for me. If anything happened to the Miata I’d probably be looking at manual GT coupes though.

Arrivederci > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 11:21

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I never liked it - so bland. I appreciated the facelifted S197s that came out around 2013, though.

Nibbles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 11:22

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Hot take: The S197 is the most generic looking, “this is a car” generation of the Mustang. The Mustang II had more presence.

I could have lived with the styling if the interior had been the least bit usable. But it wasn’t.

Nibbles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 11:22

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Kinja’d

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Nibbles 01/18/2018 at 11:31

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What was wrong with the interior? Perfectly adequate imo.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Arrivederci 01/18/2018 at 11:32

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I hate that argument. “Bland”. It’s what people throw out against these and the Challenger just because they aren’t roided up look-how-many-styling-elements-we-can-cram-onto-a-car extravaganzas.

CobraJoe > Arrivederci 01/18/2018 at 11:35

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You say bland, I say simple is a good thing.

I rather dislike excessive styling elements and bodylines.

Nibbles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 11:36

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Cramped. I’m a small guy (5'7", 150 lbs) and I was claustrophobic

The seats were uncomfortable to the point of causing pain (2007 V6 cloth)

The sea of flimsy plastic works on a Focus, horrid on a Mustang

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Nibbles 01/18/2018 at 11:45

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Flimsy? Odd. It seemed fairly robust to me, and easy to work on owing to Ford’s use of bolts and screws instead of plastic snaps. I’m 5'6" and it felt fairly spacious to me then again I also owned an NA at the same time. I agree on the seats though. They weren’t fantastic.

punkgoose17 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 12:41

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The clean look of the Bullitt up top is the nicest.

My bird IS the word > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 12:50

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I appreciate it for bringing back retro styling, but TBH 2013-2015 is best mustang

Arrivederci > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 13:17

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And that’s fine - but I think something in that category needs to be at least a little flashy. That said, I don’t like overstyled cars either like the new Civic. I did love the 2013+ S197 and love the 2015+ models.

Arrivederci > CobraJoe 01/18/2018 at 13:19

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Simple is good, but like I mentioned to Jake, I like something in that category with a little more flash. Something like the Civic Type R is wayyyyyyyy too extreme, but I like where Ford went with the Mustang in the 2013+ refresh and I’ve always loved the S550.

CobraJoe > Arrivederci 01/18/2018 at 13:32

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Flash can always be added if that’s what you like, but it seems to be much harder for designers to make a simple design with good proportions.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 13:38

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I submit the GS450h from same era. One of my all time favorites.

Stephenson Valve Gear > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/18/2018 at 18:42

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My first Mustang was a 2006, with a 5 speed manual and the 4.slow V6:

I loved the way it looked... still do. But, I wanted more power, a limited slip differential, and another gear in the transmission, so...

I traded for this 2014, 3.7 V6 w/ 6 speed manual and the performance package. I actually preferred the looks of the ‘06 - not that the ‘14 was terrible, just my personal preference. However, the ‘14 was arguably a better car in every other aspect; I just think the ‘06 looked better.

I put about 50k miles on it. Loved driving it. But, I just couldn’t shake the nagging thought in my head, “If 305 HP is this good, how much better is 435 HP?”

Once again, I think the ‘17 S550 is a better car in every way than the other two Mustangs. Of course, the look has changed quite a bit. I really do like the looks of the S550. But, to me, the 2006 just looked more like a muscle car... that grill and front end was just perfect. I still occasionally consider buying an early S197 just because I love the way they look, but honestly, I can’t begin to justify having two Mustangs (OK, can’t justify one Mustang, but I get away with having it).

TL;DR - The S197 caught my eye when it came out in 2005, and I still turn my head to stare when I see one on the road...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Stephenson Valve Gear 01/19/2018 at 01:02

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I agree wholeheartedly with everything you’ve said. The facelift is the objectively better car but the looks don’t give me the fizz like the pre-facelift. The S550, though, is just peak pony car. I drove a manual Ecoboost Premium and it is probably the best value on the used car market right now.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 01/19/2018 at 08:25

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shame they never came in factory RHD