Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

If anyone is surprised a special production Mustang would be $55K-$60K then you've been living in a closet. That's why they're only selling a few thousand at most in a production year. With most jobs now not paying squat, or getting penny raises each year, the '03-'04 Mach/Cobra was the last best buy ever.

Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

Yes you can, even with the new 10 speed auto. Not sure why more people do not go this route; you only save 1-2 mpg with the ecoboost. I think the 5.0 is an 1,800 upgrade.

Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

I have been saying your thoughts for years now, totally out of reach to the average buyer.

Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

I received like a 2 - 5% COLA each year from 1993 - 2003. Felt like I would be able to afford a new car.

I bought a 2003 Mach 1 and didn't get a raise for the next 4 years! :headbang:

From now on the Mach 1 is the last vehicle that I will ever buy NEW.





Big Ron

Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

That was the same thing with my job. From '93-'03 I got at least a $1.00 raise or more each year. Then our 4 year contracts after that sucked. Maybe a .50 cent raise each year, and from'09-'12 no raise at all. Then only .25 cent raises, and that's with a Union job. If you figure the raises we use to get with the raises now, I lost at least $10,000 in pay a year. The only reason I'm doing good in retirement is my pension plus Social Security disability because of my kidney disease. Meanwhile, a vehicle goes up at least $1,500 a year no matter what.

Re: My how the auto industry has changed
 

I've thought a lot about this lately as well. I remember my brother and myself rolling around as 16 year olds with 150HP V6 Mustangs beating up on 90 HP hondas. A 300HP 96 Cobra or 320HP 2001 Cobra was mind blowing. I drove my uncle's 01 Cobra at that time and it blurred my vision and wrapped out to 6800 rpm (compared to my V6's 4850 redline). Now my 600 rwhp Cobra is among some of the normal cars these days lol. Makes it nice for the new generation lol.