2009 Ford Mustang GT - European Perspective article
12-13-2009, 01:20 AM
#21
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 71
Being a Brit who's now come to live in Chicago, I can say that we Brits generally consider US cars "sub-optimal" - when you send **** over like the Dodge/Chrysler Neon what do you expect 
[to be fair, Rover cars were absolute ****e too]
We're a nation that pays $11 for a gallon of 87 Octane, so our cars are smaller engined with injection/turbo/superchargers to aid and assist. Diesels are popular too - look at the VW family of turbo diesels and you'll see why. V6 and V8 engines tend to be for the high end cars.
The view of the Mustang in the UK is that it's a great car with some flaws (old school suspension, poor MPG, relatively uninspiring interior compared to other available models), but is still desirable for the whole "American dream" idea. It's fairly unique that other brands (GM) aren't bringing their US cars over (save the Saturn range which is in the main delivered through their Vauxhaull marque). Ford in the EU has really turned itself around and it seems this is also happening here which is great news. I would dearly love to see Renault, Citron and Fiat compete in the markets over here - and car companies stop bringing out country specific models - the new focus has been in the EU for a few years now and the Honda Civic is miles apart from what we have here....
Honda Civic Type R:
Ford Focus RS
Incidentally I drove the new Ford Fiesta this year (released in 2010 i believe) - my take on it is that Ford has it right - they're products have the quality and looks to take them forward.
just my 2 pence / cents.
[to be fair, Rover cars were absolute ****e too]We're a nation that pays $11 for a gallon of 87 Octane, so our cars are smaller engined with injection/turbo/superchargers to aid and assist. Diesels are popular too - look at the VW family of turbo diesels and you'll see why. V6 and V8 engines tend to be for the high end cars.
The view of the Mustang in the UK is that it's a great car with some flaws (old school suspension, poor MPG, relatively uninspiring interior compared to other available models), but is still desirable for the whole "American dream" idea. It's fairly unique that other brands (GM) aren't bringing their US cars over (save the Saturn range which is in the main delivered through their Vauxhaull marque). Ford in the EU has really turned itself around and it seems this is also happening here which is great news. I would dearly love to see Renault, Citron and Fiat compete in the markets over here - and car companies stop bringing out country specific models - the new focus has been in the EU for a few years now and the Honda Civic is miles apart from what we have here....
Honda Civic Type R:
Ford Focus RS
Incidentally I drove the new Ford Fiesta this year (released in 2010 i believe) - my take on it is that Ford has it right - they're products have the quality and looks to take them forward.
just my 2 pence / cents.
12-13-2009, 08:56 AM
#23
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 1,599
All the germans I used to work with were in love with my car. They always called it a "Shelby," but I didn't really mind haha. They can't mod cars in Germany like we can here in the US, so they enjoyed hearing how loud my car is with no cats lol.
12-13-2009, 09:11 AM
#24
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
Anything bigger than 2 liters and you get tax rapped. Freaking Socialists!!
That's why I got the F*** out of there and moved in the US.
12-13-2009, 11:33 AM
#26
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: MD
Posts: 377
I am also originally from the UK and it can be confirmed that we all love the idea of the American Muscle Car! Firstly, the UK never had the "Muscle Car Era" so the TV shows and Films that show these huge monster engines and rugged looking cars really appeals!
It is true that gas prices in the UK are extortionate and yes we do get taxed heavily as well. Depending on the size of motor and emissions affects the cost you pay towards something called "Road Tax" which is paid yearly.
I agree with PaulMorgan that in the UK we tend to look at US cars as straight line movers, suspension being below par, heavy on gas when compared to what else is available on the UK market. We are always surprised at the size of US engines and the HP they produce compared to much smaller engines in the UK that can reproduce similar amounts of HP.
Now before anyone gets hot headed about this..... I for one love the US cars, and actually shipped a 2007 Mustang GT Premium over to the UK in 2007 when I was still living there. I was selling my TVR Sagaris and was in the market for a new car, looking at Porsche, Mercs, BMWs, pretty much all the big names that had fast cars, but really wanted a car that stood out on the UK roads. You just don't see Mustangs that often in the UK.
So with the car shipped, I gave it to Roush UK, who did the work to my engine, SuperCharger etc, handling to make it corner and then off to the body shop to get the Cervini body kit painted and fitted! The car was almost one of a kind on the roads.... and everywhere I went my car would be gathering the crowds more than supercars!
However, when I moved to the US I tried selling it but no one was interested in buying! With the economy beginning to fail and the fuel prices rising the cost to run this monster scared most interested buyers off. So luckily for me I still got to keep the Mustang.... unfortunately I had to ship it back to the US so it was an extra expense but well worth it.... I will keep this car til I die!
I will say this though, with a bit of suspension work these cars handle pretty well... as well as other fast Euro cars I have driven!
I now reside happily in the USA with my loves for US metal. My garage consists of:
2009 Dodge Challenger RT
2008 Chevy Suburban LTZ
2007 Ford Mustang Roush SC
and love the fact that gas is just over 2 bucks!!
It is true that gas prices in the UK are extortionate and yes we do get taxed heavily as well. Depending on the size of motor and emissions affects the cost you pay towards something called "Road Tax" which is paid yearly.
I agree with PaulMorgan that in the UK we tend to look at US cars as straight line movers, suspension being below par, heavy on gas when compared to what else is available on the UK market. We are always surprised at the size of US engines and the HP they produce compared to much smaller engines in the UK that can reproduce similar amounts of HP.
Now before anyone gets hot headed about this..... I for one love the US cars, and actually shipped a 2007 Mustang GT Premium over to the UK in 2007 when I was still living there. I was selling my TVR Sagaris and was in the market for a new car, looking at Porsche, Mercs, BMWs, pretty much all the big names that had fast cars, but really wanted a car that stood out on the UK roads. You just don't see Mustangs that often in the UK.
So with the car shipped, I gave it to Roush UK, who did the work to my engine, SuperCharger etc, handling to make it corner and then off to the body shop to get the Cervini body kit painted and fitted! The car was almost one of a kind on the roads.... and everywhere I went my car would be gathering the crowds more than supercars!
However, when I moved to the US I tried selling it but no one was interested in buying! With the economy beginning to fail and the fuel prices rising the cost to run this monster scared most interested buyers off. So luckily for me I still got to keep the Mustang.... unfortunately I had to ship it back to the US so it was an extra expense but well worth it.... I will keep this car til I die!
I will say this though, with a bit of suspension work these cars handle pretty well... as well as other fast Euro cars I have driven!
I now reside happily in the USA with my loves for US metal. My garage consists of:
2009 Dodge Challenger RT
2008 Chevy Suburban LTZ
2007 Ford Mustang Roush SC
and love the fact that gas is just over 2 bucks!!
12-13-2009, 11:36 AM
#27
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Montaner
Posts: 6,193
12-13-2009, 12:02 PM
#28
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
Although it looks bad right now, I'm not so sure this Country is gonna fold under its Gov. like in Europe...
Remember, the mass never fix problems, only a few make the difference.
I still have faith in this Country...
To be back on topic, since Europe is older and cities were designed before cars with narrow streets, it only make sense to have smaller cars there to begin with.
Because of that, Europeans became good at making them more efficient with smaller displacement, with the help of Turbos etc...
Also, their driving skills are far superior than their American counterpart so that makes up for the loss of cubic inches.
Remember, the mass never fix problems, only a few make the difference.
I still have faith in this Country...
To be back on topic, since Europe is older and cities were designed before cars with narrow streets, it only make sense to have smaller cars there to begin with.
Because of that, Europeans became good at making them more efficient with smaller displacement, with the help of Turbos etc...
Also, their driving skills are far superior than their American counterpart so that makes up for the loss of cubic inches.
12-13-2009, 12:12 PM
#29
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Montaner
Posts: 6,193
I thought it was the Japanese who became good at making little 4 cylinder cars with turbos?
I admire your positive attitude Pascal. Wish I shared it. At least 45-50% of this country wants us to be just like our European friends both economically and socially. Over time it seems to have just got worse.
But we digress... Back OT.
I admire your positive attitude Pascal. Wish I shared it. At least 45-50% of this country wants us to be just like our European friends both economically and socially. Over time it seems to have just got worse.
But we digress... Back OT.
12-13-2009, 12:13 PM
#30
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 229
