“Identity Crisis” but a Happy Article by The Atlantic: A Classic American Car Is Having an Identity Crisis

[Lloydian]

A satisfied customer writes for “The Atlantic”

The Atlantic on Apple News: A Classic American Car Is Having an Identity Crisis”

The Atlantic on MSN: A Classic American Car Is Having an Identity Crisis"

For the record, I am one of those "decades-long Mustang fans who have enthusiastically ponied up... for this model."

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[SpaceEVDriver]

The "not a Mustang" crowd are hilarious.

 

[Screwtape]

The "not a Mustang" crowd are hilarious.

The Mach E is a fantastic vehicle but it’s absolutely not a Mustang. It’s an SUV for the love of God.

This post is a historical novel.

 

[devmach-e]

The Mach E is a fantastic vehicle but it’s absolutely not a Mustang. It’s an SUV for the love of God.

This post is a historical novel.

Ford makes the car. Ford gets to name the car. Ford called it a Mustang. That makes it a Mustang.

 

[Screwtape]

The word ”Mustang” holds extraordinary cultural value to entire generations of Americans.

The Mach E is not in alignment with the multiple decades of ideas and concepts that are universally identified as belonging to that important (to some) word.

Do any of the Mustang forums have MachE sections?

This post is named devmach-e.

 

[Lloydian]

As a former owner of a 1985 Ford Mustang, I'm going to have to point out that Ford has made some decidedly mediocre Mustangs over the years. Mine was a rebranded Mercury Capri, but 20 year old me bought it, in part, for the name. The fact is that none of us gets to choose which cars get the emblem. Ford does. And as a happy former ICE Mustang owner (my last one was a 2015 model), I'm pleased as punch to have my current Mustang.

 

[MellowJohnny]

The word ”Mustang” holds extraordinary cultural value to entire generations of Americans.

The Mach E is not in alignment with the multiple decades of ideas and concepts that are universally identified as belonging to that important (to some) word.

Do any of the Mustang forums have MachE sections?

This post is named devmach-e.

So...there's no room for progress? I'm no automotive historian, but the Mustang has not always been a muscle car - in fact a friend of mine has a '78, which to me, is very much "not a Mustang". Yet it is.

Ford gets to decide the definition, not us. To wit, just about anyone who refers to my car invariably says "Hey, how do you like your Mustang?"

"I'm in favor of progress, it's change I don't like...."
- Mark Twain

 

[Screwtape]

So...there's no room for progress? I'm no automotive historian, but the Mustang has not always been a muscle car - in fact a friend of mine has a '78, which to me, is very much "not a Mustang". Yet it is.

Ford gets to decide the definition, not us. To wit, just about anyone who refers to my car invariably says "Hey, how do you like your Mustang?"

"I'm in favor of progress, it's change I don't like...."
- Mark Twain

Fords marketing team holds no sway over the icon of American culture that is the Mustang. It’s a word that ha enormous cultural identity, in America and around the world, an SUV has never inspired a hit rock-and-roll song.

Progress has been made throughout several iterations of the two-door sportscar that is the Mustang. The ill fated Mustang II from the Malaise Era of automotive manufacturing has been widely rejected as a Mustang yet stays far truer to the foundational aspects of what a Mustang is globally known to be than the MachE.

Progress would’ve been naming this vehicle an Explorer, a transformational vehicle within its own right.

 

[MellowJohnny]

Fords marketing team holds no sway over the icon of American culture that is the Mustang. It’s a word that ha enormous cultural identity, in America and around the world, an SUV has never inspired a hit rock-and-roll song.

Progress has been made throughout several iterations of the two-door sportscar that is the Mustang. The ill fated Mustang II from the Malaise Era of automotive manufacturing has been widely rejected as a Mustang yet stays far truer to the foundational aspects of what a Mustang is globally known to be than the MachE.

Progress would’ve been naming this vehicle an Explorer, a transformational vehicle within its own right.

Just because the Mustang has never been an "SUV" (I'll argue the MME isn't) doesn't preclude it from being one now. Romantic visions of what the Mustang "should be" are being continually redefined with each new iteration. The Mach-E is a new iteration of the Mustang.

Progress.

 

[MacherAWD]

Progress would’ve been naming this vehicle an Explorer, a transformational vehicle within its own right.

Explorers are boxy and more utilitarian.

Its a great debate, the car looks mean, handles well, can be tossed around and have the back kick out. So yeah its a mustang, sort of. If you go around saying you drive a "mustang GT" that would imply you are driving an ICE, I think in general you should say, "mustang mach-e" or "electric mustang" but thats me. Had it been a "real mustang" I never would have considered it, I needed more space, 4 doors and AWD.

 

[Swanlee]

As a former owner of a 1985 Ford Mustang, I'm going to have to point out that Ford has made some decidedly mediocre Mustangs over the years. Mine was a rebranded Mercury Capri, but 20 year old me bought it, in part, for the name. The fact is that none of us gets to choose which cars get the emblem. Ford does. And as a happy former ICE Mustang owner (my last one was a 2015 model), I'm pleased as punch to have my current Mustang.

Yea in my day Mustang was a second class muscle car that was always breaking down and had issues and was ugly as sin in the 80s.

Personally I think the Mach e is actually a better car then most Mustangs and better engineered.
To me the Mustang name actually does more to harm to the Mach E itself then the other way around.
The car is a step above most MUSTANGS

 

[devmach-e]

The word ”Mustang” holds extraordinary cultural value to entire generations of Americans.

The Mach E is not in alignment with the multiple decades of ideas and concepts that are universally identified as belonging to that important (to some) word.

Do any of the Mustang forums have MachE sections?

This post is named devmach-e.

Do you consider the Mustang IIs to be real Mustang? What about 4-cylinder turbos? Or the hatchback Fox Body Mustangs?

I'll point out that Bill Ford, huge Mustang collector, gave his blessing to call the Mach-E a Mustang. Had he not, they would've called it something else.

 

[Screwtape]

Yea in my day Mustang was a second class muscle car that was always breaking down and had issues and was ugly as sin in the 80s.

Personally I think the Mach e is actually a better car then most Mustangs and better engineered.
To me the Mustang name actually does more to harm to the Mach E itself then the other way around.
The car is a step above most MUSTANGS

Maybe a step sideways

Most folks looking to buy a Mustang will not be cross-shopping a MachE, I believe that speaks volumes.

 

[EELinneman]

The word ”Mustang” holds extraordinary cultural value to entire generations of Americans.

The Mach E is not in alignment with the multiple decades of ideas and concepts that are universally identified as belonging to that important (to some) word.

Do any of the Mustang forums have MachE sections?

This post is named devmach-e.

So, let me ask. Would you consider the 1981 Mustang a real Mustang with it's 120 horsepower?

 

[devmach-e]

So, let me ask. Would you consider the 1981 Mustang a real Mustang with it's 120 horsepower?

I asked the same thing. They have yet to respond.

But consider that the Mustang Club of America, the biggest Mustang enthusiast orginazation accepts that the Mustang II, including the aforementioned 1981, is a Mustang. And they also accept the fact the Mach-E is a Mustang. Way back in the day the general membership wanted to exclude the Mustang II. Cooler heads at the director level prevailed and now nobody thinks twice about the Mustang II being a cherished example of the Mustang. And so shall the Mach-E be seen in the same vein. Eventually. Once all the die-hard Mustang fans who all peaked in high school have died off.

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