Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

My wife's 7 y/o already calls 'stangs "belly button cars." This as we're eating and he comments about the '05-ish model sitting out front .....ahhh ....it's karma, now I understand

What option does a Ford owner have for an affordable sporty/performance car other than a Mustang these days?

Well I guess I have a thunderbird, a bellybutton, and an a-hole. :D

What option does a Ford owner have for an affordable sporty/performance car other than a Mustang these days?

SHO's are hardly affordable. They're huge, too.

Well, not to cause a ruckus amongst the forum, but anything Ford has done that was "better" than the Mustang, they've done away with. The Mustang is an awesome car, don't get me wrong, but if another car with the blue oval on it does better, they do away with it. The Mustang is Ford's favorite child, no question.

I'd guaran-ed-tee that if the Fox Thunderbird/Cougar would have come with the same HO 5.0 & 5-speed, it would have stomped Mustang sale something fierce. Same for the MN-12 Cougars and Thunderbirds. Drop a 5-speed behind the MN-12's V-8's & 'stang sales would have suffered.

Aside from the Mustang, Ford doesn't want there to be a choice in their stable (no pun intended) for buyers looking for a pony car with the blue oval on it.

It'd be badassed to bring the Cougar nameplate back, but what kind of vehicle would it go on? We've already got the Fiesta and Focus in the sub-compact class, and that's not where a Cougar should fit in. The Fusion, it's doing an awesome job in the mid-sized (I guess that's what class it's in) cars. The Tortoise, I'd buy one. A Mustang-based Cougar? Wouldn't happen.

The Cougars I was raised with, as many of the members reading this, were luxury coupes. Now THAT is what a Cougar is to me, albeit they just need a little more power Anyway ...why not a two-door version of the Tortoise with the big cat's name adorning the trunk? Ah, sales of the Mustang to the "hip" kids who are in the beginnings of familydom. Now, even my '86 Cougar had more room in the back seat than any Mustang built after '83, and most, in general. Now, if there were an option to the "sport" of the Mustang for the above mentioned hip kids, where might they go? Insurance would be cheaper, no? More room, no? Drop in the Eco-boost and you're getting into (S-197) GT territory.

The Thunderbird name? Remember when it was a two-seat 'vette killer? Now the GT500 is supposed to be the 'vette's competition. How about a two-seat D2C-based (maybe a lighter chassis) sporty convertable? I can see Thunderbird on the 5.0 & optional 5.4L handing some Corvettes their ass. But, that would kill the GT500 & variants there of. So, I don't guess it would matter what "we" think, huh?

The Mustang is the favored child of Ford Motor Company. Just like people thought "Cougar" when you said "Mercury," people think "Mustang" when you say "Ford." Do I blame them for wanting to be so productive of their bread and butter? Not really. Do I think they are severely limiting their options to the blue oval loyal? Most definitely.

Anyway, I hope all of that made sense. I just got home from 15 hours of driving, today, and 18 yesterday. I'm ready for bed :)

Oh and by the way, your statement about the T-bird once being a 'vette killer...I don't think that ever really happened :D.  The Vette had it beat hands down from day one in performance (and I use the term 'performance' loosely, nothing was that fast in the mid-50's).

The early models, 55-57, were a direct result of the Corvette. The early Corvette lacked any kind of power to walk with the Thunderbirds. Then they went entirely different directions, although the 1st gen 'birds weren't marketed as sports car, they personal luxury cars in stead.

But ...

I'm pretty ed jealous we don't have the aftermarket the Mustang guys have. Then, again, maybe I'm getting older and am more interested in a personal luxury car with some pep as opposed to the pony car.

I agree on your point about parts, but that's part of the fun of having one of our cars.  Its always more of an adventure finding parts, good used parts, etc.

SHO's are hardly affordable. They're huge, too.

The early models, 55-57, were a direct result of the Corvette. The early Corvette lacked any kind of power to walk with the Thunderbirds. Then they went entirely different directions, although the 1st gen 'birds weren't marketed as sports car, they personal luxury cars in stead.

But ...

I'm pretty ed jealous we don't have the aftermarket the Mustang guys have. Then, again, maybe I'm getting older and am more interested in a personal luxury car with some pep as opposed to the pony car.