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I used to be a Ford maniac, eagerly reading all the technical coolness that was "just around the corner". Throughout the 80s, they offered up TBI, single cam in block, 2 valve head, 2 wheel disc brakes, live axel suspensions, etc. They never delivered.

What in the heck were you driving? Are you sure you aren't thinking of GM?! :) My 88 Thunderbird has a fuel-injected, turbocharged, intercooled OHC engine putting out 190 hp, ABS, big 4-wheel disc brakes, an electronically controlled suspension that stiffens up the ride when you flip a switch or corner/accelerate/brake hard, it has a switch that changes the boost and timing for either premium or regular fuel, two extra shocks to hold the axle in place on hard acceleration, and a bunch of other cool stuff.

The next year, Ford released an all-new Thunderbird with pretty much the same goodies, plus a supercharged V6 and 4-wheel independent suspension. That was also the same year they came out with the Taurus SHO, which had a 220hp 24v DOHC Yamaha engine. I think 0-60 was about 6.8 seconds. That's great by today's standards, let alone 13 years ago!

I'd say Ford was really on the ball back then! They sure have slipped though. They used to have a ton of sporty, very good cars (T-Bird, Cougar, Merkur XR4Ti, Mustang, Taurus SHO, Mark VII, Mark VIII), but now they're trying to make a bunch of different Mustangs in hopes that everybody will be happy with one or another. Looks great on paper to the beancounters, but it sure sucks in real life. Personally, I'm getting kind of bored with Ford's "Mustang of the Week" gimmicks.

Personally, I'm getting kind of bored with Ford's "Mustang of the Week" gimmicks.

Good point! It's getting kinda hard to tell 'em all apart much less which one is the latest "hottest" version.

Before I suggested having numbers on the minor guages, and after looking at the "Stang page I have another, more radical comment.

Wouldn't be funtional at all but would generate a TON of PR. How about Ford fit the "new" Mustang with gullwing doors? Similar to the old Mercedes 300sl AND of course highly identifiable with the GT40. In fact in the pictures of the new Mustang it looks to me like te roof line and rear deck have been altered just a tiny bit to make it appear more related to the GT40.

Maybe just my imagination.

prisoner6

The next year, Ford released an all-new Thunderbird with pretty much the same goodies, plus a supercharged V6 and 4-wheel independent suspension. That was also the same year they came out with the Taurus SHO, which had a 220hp 24v DOHC Yamaha engine. I think 0-60 was about 6.8 seconds. That's great by today's standards, let alone 13 years ago!

Wow, that's impressive on the 'bird! I know a lot about the SHO, another great car. There was also the SVO program which was really cool. Was that the same 2.3 in the Turbo Coupe they stuck in the Mustang SVO? I was driving a Camaro (had TRX tires) first and then 5.0 Mustang during those years. In spite of the fact they were rather awful cars, I did like them. Proves they had a decent package - they just walked away from the ball on the 15 yard line like they always do. Then I spent 5 years in GM Hell with a Fiero. :)

(T-Bird, Cougar, Merkur XR4Ti, Mustang, Taurus SHO, Mark VII, Mark VIII),

The MKIII doesn't count. :) I owned one and put a lot of miles on one. Nice car, but just an anemic 5.0 on the standard 'bird chassis. I still liked the car. Build quality awful. Was rather strange some 25 year old kid with a Lincoln as his car.

Personally, I'm getting kind of bored with Ford's "Mustang of the Week" gimmicks.

Yup, if you look at the "detailed specs" of the Mach 1, they prattle on about trim stuff. Pretty lame. I'm hoping with the new 350Z that Toyota gets the message. They're usually the last to the party, but they usually arrive with the most goodies.