Mustang Hype in Europe is real

"Fred (FreddsterExprs)" (freddsterexprs)
03/16/2015 at 11:35 • Filed to: None

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! had a look at some statistics of the newly launched European Ford Mustang configurator. The car will be available for the first time in Europe, and since Ford introduced the build-your-own tool on their website, 500.000 people clicked through it.

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The most popular combination in total so far has been the 2.3 Ecoboost hooked to the 6-speed manual (37%). Just by engine choice alone, Italy, France and Spain preferred the 4-banger while Germany and Britain took a liking to the big V8. And the V8 was chosen with a manual 66% of the time.

The question is: can the numbers transfer into big sales? At 35.000€, the Mustang Ecoboost could rival the Audi TT, the V8 could find its market niche as a value alternative to Mercedes, Audi and BMW Coupes.

DISCUSSION (13)

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 11:40

Can't speak for the rest of Europe, but the Ecoboost is USD 95k-ish here in Norway, that's less than an Audi A5 Coupe 3.0 TFSI Quattro.. Now that does not mean it'll sell much, but I like to think it would.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
03/16/2015 at 11:48

Right, Norway has some crazy tax laws. In Germany it's a pretty cheap offering, at least for the V8 - fully loaded it's a ~43k € car. The 4-series BMW starts naked at 36, a 245 hp (the Mustang is 400+) 428i with no options will cost you 41k.

Cé hé sin > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 11:49

Last time I heard, Ford of Ireland had precisely one order. I haven't heard from any where else. So, big difference between playing with configurators and actually putting money down.

Cé hé sin > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
03/16/2015 at 11:50

Does anybody actually buy that model of A5 though? If they don't buy the A5, they're unlikely to buy the Ford either.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Cé hé sin
03/16/2015 at 11:52

Well, the car isn't actually on sale yet if I recall correctly, and people for sure will want to try it out before buying, especially with the image of cheap plastic interiors of American cars still very much present.

And I never said they'll sell 500k 'Stangs, there just is some interest in the car. How it'll end up in sales, we'll see.

djmt1 > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 11:52

At £28,000 it easily undercuts it rivals so I'm not surprised it is popular here. Time will tell whether or not people will be bothered about the size and the ride but at least it is off to a strong start.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Cé hé sin
03/16/2015 at 11:54

I see plenty of A5 3.0s around here.. So I really hope the Mustang will sell as well.

Cé hé sin > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 12:03

I'm guessing it'll go like any other coupé: sell for the first two years them fade away until they bring out a new one.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 12:06

I hope it does well in sales, speaking in terms of an american performance car making its first debut in Europe. I would be impressed if they sold a couple hundred to a thousand within the first year of sales.

/noteuropean

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Cé hé sin
03/16/2015 at 12:07

Probably. I just hope that it doesn't get the Redneck image most American cars seem to have - its value for money is so much higher than the domestic competition.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
03/16/2015 at 12:09

130 and 220 cars were registered in Germany back in 2005 and 2006, and those cars were imported and rather costly (think twice the price). Maybe the numbers will grow if the car has proper dealer support and a guarantee?

duurtlang > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 13:01

Interesting. I see they're hit rather hard with CO2 (gas guzzler) taxes here in the Netherlands. Especially the V8, I doubt (m)any will be sold.

Ford Mustang Ecoboost manual: €30k before taxes + €6k VAT + €12k gas guzzler tax (179 g/km) = €48k.
Competes in price with: BMW 328i manual, base. €35k+€7k+€7k(154 g/km)=€49k

Ford Mustang V8 manual: €33k before taxes + €7k VAT + €64k gas guzzler tax (299 g/km) = €104k.
Competes in price with: BMW M4 manual: €74k+€15k+€22k(204 g/km)=€110k

I see some potential for the Ecoboost, assuming it's actually a nice place to spend time in and it's good to drive. That V8 though, it's got no chance at all.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
03/16/2015 at 14:48

It's just....I get it here in the states. The Mustang is stupid cheap here.

But no way in hell would I buy one if it cost like 25% more.....