S197 Mustang owners could have had IRS for $100.00 per car but Ford said nah.

[EJ25RUN]

Autoblog

It seems that any discussion about a modern Ford Mustang inevitably turns into a debate about its solid rear axle. While Ford has done an incredible job of optimizing the pony car's suspension, many still find it unacceptable that such an antiquated technology is used on a modern day performance car. Motor Trend boss Angus MacKenzie, however, says that the S197 Mustang platform almost received an independent rear suspension a while back – and for a lot less than you might think.


According to MacKenzie, the 2005 Mustang was set to get an independent suspension shared with the BA-series Falcon sedan built in Australia. Even when it was decided that the two cars would use different platforms, Ford designers set about designing an independent suspension specific to the Mustang. So why did it still end up with a solid rear axle? According to MacKenzie, product development executive Phil Martens convinced Bill Ford Jr. that they could save $100 per car if they dropped the IRS and went with the solid axle. For all of you non drag-racing types that wish the Mustang had an independently suspended rear, this news probably makes you sick to the stomach.

But wait... there's more! MacKenzie's sources say that the cost of sorting out the current Mustang's suspension actually cost $98 more per car than the IRS that could have gone in the car. Like Angus, we love the current Mustang but have to wonder if it could have been that much better.

[speedminded]

How many people are gonna road race them out of the box though. What can you pick up one used for now with the infamous Ford depreciation? That's plenty of dough saved to replace all the suspension with something more applicable and probably have enough left over to supercharge it lol!

As much as I hate solid rear axles, Carroll Shelby achieved a few things back in the day with them on the Daytona Coupe against the Ferrari's.


*edit*
Briefly going through Craigslist the 2005's appear to be selling for 50% or less of the MSRP 4 years ago. That means a drop of $10k for the cheapest model. Actually there's an '05 GT for $10k so that means a $15k depreciation in 4 years, exactly a 60% depreciation not counting the price being negotiable. $15k is enough for a supercharger and ALL new suspension making it an almost decent car for $25k

[EJ25RUN]

As much as I hate solid rear axles, Carroll Shelby achieved a few things back in the day with them on the Daytona Coupe against the Ferrari's.

That was a long time ago. A really long time ago.

Carbs, Polyglass tires, and leaded fuel were popular in those days.

And besides, can you really make a decent argument when the final SN95 Cobra was IRS equipped?

[man]

How many people are gonna road race them out of the box though.

How many people are gonna road race them period? Ford made the right move economically and 99.99% of owners won't ever notice a difference in performance.

[RUFFIAN]

Ford always lets a few Stone-aged mentality Purists put their NADS in a death grip. This same mentality is what killed the SVO that was going to run a DOHC 2.3 turbo engine that was putting down 240 hp back in 1987. just to pander to the V8 guys. this also the mind set that killed the Mustang III which morphed into the Probe.