How Long Before People Accept The Mach-E As A Mustang?

[Jimrpa]

Of course it’s not a “real” Mustang! Everybody knows that a “real” Mustang is - a rebodied, early 1960s Ford Falcon, with various bits and pieces scavenged from different Ford parts bins. Something “sporty” with anemic engines, that would cost little to build and sell to young singles who could not afford (not drive) a proper “sports car” of that era!

??????

All joking aside, if Ford were to have called the vehicle the Galaxie 500 Brougham, I’d still like it. I’m just glad it’s a Mustang and not a Galaxie ?

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[Phillypony50]

Or just do what I do and have both! ???

 

[Mach1E]

Hey, that's me! I've had a Prius and the appeal was the same - driving 20-24k miles/year, fuel costs matter. There was also a BMW X3 in between, because the Prius was joyless and I was financially secure enough to throw premium at something fun to drive (premium, sure, but now maintenance was painful). Now I have both fun and efficient.

As for the Mustang debate, I usually tell people I have a Mach E because fewer people give me the "it's not a Mustang" reply that makes me roll my eyes. My usual response to that is "Ford says it is" and point out that it's faster than the vast majority of the Mustangs on the road. I didn't buy it because I wanted a Mustang, I bought it because I wanted a solid EV and I just couldn't stand the looks of the Tesla. I don't care what some Mustang purist thinks, I'd rather be in my MME than their Mustang for my daily drive and that's all that counts to me.

Truth is, the purists are going to be a pain for a while, but sooner than they realize, there won't be new ICE Mustangs. And they'll keep buying and maintaining used ones until they croak. But before that happens, about 5 years after ICE sales stop (and they will), gas stations will start closing. Eventually, there will only be a few gas stations left to cater to classic car enthusiasts and I shudder to think what gas prices will be like at that point.

Purists will always be that way. And that’s my point.

Some of the same people would get mad at me for putting modern wheels and an aluminum intake on my ‘69.

I do enjoy the discussion though.

So many people here are in the “I don’t care what they think and let me tell you the 10 reasons they’re wrong” camp which is just so much fun to read! ?

 

[2021mustangdan]

I learned to drive in a Mustang in the 70's, in later life I owned a custom built, Saleen 302 Mustang. I am considered a "Mustang guy" by my friends. I have zero problem with MME being a Mustang. Can't wait for delivery in about 6 weeks.

I had 9 different Mustang’s since having my drivers license, most of them being GT’s , but the 1995 was the V6 5 spd manual. I consider my Mach-E to be a Mustang but the first one that is not manual transmission.
I do find 1pd mode similar to down shifts to slow down.

Dan

 

[MellowJohnny]

Purists will always be that way. And that’s my point.

Some of the same people would get mad at me for putting modern wheels and an aluminum intake on my ‘69.

I don't know how many cyclists are on this board but I have the same "purist" view of bikes - if you own a sweet hand-made Italian frame, there is only one option for the gruppo - it must be Campagnolo. Italian bike, Italian parts.

But if someone shows up to a Sunday ride on a Colnago with Shimano Dura-Ace, I could care less. It's all good, even though it runs counter to my "purist" view of what an Italian bike should be. I'll give you a hard time about it, but all in fun

 

[Larry Paul]

Even though I am still about 10 days away from me getting our Mach E GT Performance that we ordered in August of last year, I have also had many comments from friends, colleagues, and others that I have met at car events when I mention I am getting one or started thinking of getting one almost a year ago. Most are very interested and open including many Mustang purists, but some have made negative comments. My comments are always something like:

Mustangs have always come in different forms...and while historically when I think of a Mustang, my first thoughts are to think of the best ones from the 65-71 era:

GT HiPo “K” car 289
Shelby GT350 and 500
Boss 302, Boss 429, Boss 351
CJ428 and 429
etc,

I point out there have also been some exceptionally less than optimal ones too:

The 170 cu in 105HP 1964 1/2 Mustang (0-60 in 16.8 seconds):

The 1970 Mach 1 that came with a 351 Cleveland an optional 2V carb (on a Mach 1!!!)

The 1974 Mustang II that pulled a 0-60 in 13.6seconds and ¼ mile in almost 20 seconds and it took 21.5 MINUTES to get to 100mph!!!

The 1978 "King Cobra" with a 302 that was 0-60 in 9.3 seconds ¼ mile at 17.1@81MPH and that “only” took 30.8 seconds to get to 100MPH

Or the 1979 Mustang 2.3L 4 cylinder also with 88HP etc. etc.

No-one ever said they are not “Mustangs” (although many did not call them good Mustangs including myself).

I had virtually lost all hope for the Mustang badge until I test drove a 1993 Cobra. This gave me hope that the Mustang name would once again mean something…and I am thankful that it does today.

I do appreciate a modern Mach 1, GT350 and GT500 etc...and know that there are a handful of Modern Mustangs that are just slightly quicker than the Mach E GT Performance, I also know that the GTPE is quicker to 60 and 1/4 mile than any Mustang ever built in the golden era (1965-71).

Even a 1970 Super Cobra Jet 428 “Drag Pack” equipped Mach 1 with 3.91:1 and a 4 speed was 0-60 in 5.4 seconds only did a ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds at 98MPH. It only had a top speed 113MPH (that is also slower than the top speed of a Mach E). This “drag pack” car only beats the entry level base model Mach E 2WD by 0.3 seconds to 60MPH.

Whenever I hear anyone diss on a Mach E, I do point out that it is true that a Mach E does not have the same visceral “roaring V8” experience, however, ALL versions of Mach E are quicker than most any stock Mustang ever built and have more Mustang DNA (family affordable performance and style) in my opinion than millions of other Mustangs ever built over the years. It also handles curvy roads, has better seats and also stops better than the vast majority of Mustangs ever made, and I can do that with 5 people comfortably with about 34 cu ft of luggage and at 80-100+ MPGe that no Mustang ever has come close to.

This approach has worked to at least "disarm" them when the few closed minded “enthusiasts” make a disparaging comment that I have had the opportunity to speak to them in person.

So I will see what it is like when I have the car in the real world…but quite frankly, I really don’t care if I ever get 100% consensus. There is not 100% consensus on anything today, and we are getting this car for us and our family and not because we are looking for anyone else’s permission or approval.

 

[CompilerBreak]

Just remind them you can get a "real" Mustang with a auto and a 4cyl and see their response, I'm assuming it'll be some gibberish muttering. (side note, they were actually still quite fun to drive, I rented one for a week, it just made me sad that it had almost as much hp as my V8 from 10 years earlier). At least the Mach E can fly off the line, in my book that is enough to earn the Mustang name.

 

[SpacePony]

Meh. Why is everyone so eager to have their car "accepted" as a "real Mustang?" I'd rather have it be acknowledged as a separate car that is superior in many ways and many more uses.

 

[Pioneer74]

I don't consider the Mach-E a true Mustang. In fact, I believe the name should have been used for the first electric Mustang coupe. But that won't stop me from owning one.

But I also don't consider an Edge ST or Explorer ST a true ST. You can't have an ST without a manual transmission.

 

[Mach1E]

Even though I am still about 10 days away from me getting our Mach E GT Performance that we ordered in August of last year, I have also had many comments from friends, colleagues, and others that I have met at car events when I mention I am getting one or started thinking of getting one almost a year ago. Most are very interested and open including many Mustang purists, but some have made negative comments. My comments are always something like:

Mustangs have always come in different forms...and while historically when I think of a Mustang, my first thoughts are to think of the best ones from the 65-71 era:

GT HiPo “K” car 289
Shelby GT350 and 500
Boss 302, Boss 429, Boss 351
CJ428 and 429
etc,

I point out there have also been some exceptionally less than optimal ones too:

The 170 cu in 105HP 1964 1/2 Mustang (0-60 in 16.8 seconds):

The 1970 Mach 1 that came with a 351 Cleveland an optional 2V carb (on a Mach 1!!!)

The 1974 Mustang II that pulled a 0-60 in 13.6seconds and ¼ mile in almost 20 seconds and it took 21.5 MINUTES to get to 100mph!!!

The 1978 "King Cobra" with a 302 that was 0-60 in 9.3 seconds ¼ mile at 17.1@81MPH and that “only” took 30.8 seconds to get to 100MPH

Or the 1979 Mustang 2.3L 4 cylinder also with 88HP etc. etc.

No-one ever said they are not “Mustangs” (although many did not call them good Mustangs including myself).

I had virtually lost all hope for the Mustang badge until I test drove a 1993 Cobra. This gave me hope that the Mustang name would once again mean something…and I am thankful that it does today.

I do appreciate a modern Mach 1, GT350 and GT500 etc...and know that there are a handful of Modern Mustangs that are just slightly quicker than the Mach E GT Performance, I also know that the GTPE is quicker to 60 and 1/4 mile than any Mustang ever built in the golden era (1965-71).

Even a 1970 Super Cobra Jet 428 “Drag Pack” equipped Mach 1 with 3.91:1 and a 4 speed was 0-60 in 5.4 seconds only did a ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds at 98MPH. It only had a top speed 113MPH (that is also slower than the top speed of a Mach E). This “drag pack” car only beats the entry level base model Mach E 2WD by 0.3 seconds to 60MPH.

Whenever I hear anyone diss on a Mach E, I do point out that it is true that a Mach E does not have the same visceral “roaring V8” experience, however, ALL versions of Mach E are quicker than most any stock Mustang ever built and have more Mustang DNA (family affordable performance and style) in my opinion than millions of other Mustangs ever built over the years. It also handles curvy roads, has better seats and also stops better than the vast majority of Mustangs ever made, and I can do that with 5 people comfortably with about 34 cu ft of luggage and at 80-100+ MPGe that no Mustang ever has come close to.

This approach has worked to at least "disarm" them when the few closed minded “enthusiasts” make a disparaging comment that I have had the opportunity to speak to them in person.

So I will see what it is like when I have the car in the real world…but quite frankly, I really don’t care if I ever get 100% consensus. There is not 100% consensus on anything today, and we are getting this car for us and our family and not because we are looking for anyone else’s permission or approval.

Performance is the one thing that gets some respect from the purists.

Just hopefully they don’t find out that sometimes it takes almost a minute to hit 124 mph!



Add it to the list of reasons Ford needs to fix the 5 second limit.

 

[nvabill]

I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, but we have yet another review (wired this time) which starts off with "THE NAME THROWS everybody." Yet they go on to say "Even transposed to a four-door SUV form, the Mach-E looks like a Mustang, with angular design elements carved into its swooping, curved bodywork and beefy haunches over the rear wheels". So...*looks* like a Mustang, but still not a Mustang.

Are we really still here debating this? So...how long before the Press / general public stop raising eyebrows at the name?

a) This year
b) Next Year
c) Eventually
d) Never

Review here: https://www.wired.com/review/ford-mustang-mach-e/

Does it really matter?

 

[Larry Paul]

Performance is the one thing that gets some respect from the purists.

Just hopefully they don’t find out that sometimes it takes almost a minute to hit 124 mph!



Add it to the list of reasons Ford needs to fix the 5 second limit.

Yes, but this car is not about top speed...it blows away almost every Mustang ever made in the 1/4 mile even with the 5 second limit and it even has a faster top speed than the "drag pack" Super Cobra 428.

Could/should it be even faster/quicker-sure. But that is not what it is built for, nor does it make it any less of a Mustang.

 

[MellowJohnny]

Does it really matter?

Of course not - but it sure does make for some interesting conversation!

 

[Larry Paul]

Of course not - but it sure does make for some interesting conversation!

I completely agree with both points!

 

[Mach1E]

Yes, but this car is not about top speed...it blows away almost every Mustang ever made in the 1/4 mile even with the 5 second limit and it even has a faster top speed than the "drag pack" Super Cobra 428.

Could/should it be even faster/quicker-sure. But that is not what it is built for, nor does it make it any less of a Mustang.

It does…… until it’s cold out, or the battery is cold or the battery is hot, or a low state of charge etc etc.

The video I posted is about acceleration. And in ideal conditions it’s awesome.

Anything but ideal conditions? It’s embarrassing. There’s a long list of excuses to be made when racing against an ICE mustang.

And yes, that limit (list of excuses) does make “less of a Mustang” IMO.

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