NHstang

Well I for one still love that "new car scent", even if it is killing me

Yeah that bugged me too at first. It is way, way louder than the previous generation stang. That's actually the first thing I noticed driving home from the dealer. Overall there just seems to be way less sound insulation in key areas of the car than other things I've driven, including other fords. That was fine for a 68 mustang, but in these days of competing with more refined sports cars it just makes the car seem cheaply-built.

I'm actually thinking of taking the car to the place I got my truck's spray-on bedliner done, and having them spray the rear wheel wells. That stuff's bullet proof.

This is exactly what I was talking about. Just about everyone who rides in the car asks me what that noise is! I've never heard this noise in a vehicle before, and I've had some mighty crappy cars. I wouldn't want to supress the music of the engine or exhaust (just put on flowmasters), but to me the lack of sound damping around the rear wheel wells is not "muscle car" noise, it's just where Ford was too cheap. The car would be even more fun to listen to if I didn't have to hear every grain of sand I run over. This is really the only thing I don't like about an otherwise fantastic car. That's why it bugs me so much. Ford4v429, Thanks for the tips about the missed areas of undercoating, from your description I'm sure that there's some missing on my car as well. I'll take a closer look this spring.

I'm sure it'll be nice. Looks like it took a lot of styling cues from the late 60's. Oh yeah, didn't Ford do something like that about 3 years ago? Late to the dinner table again, GM. And I'm sure the Mustang will kick it's a** in sales like it always has.

Something I didn't see mentioned: The Ridgeline is one BUTT-UGLY vehicle. I wouldn't drive it just for that reason alone.

I've got about 1000 miles on my new Mustang GT. It's a terrific car to drive, fit and finish is nice, it's got a great engine and exhaust note, and a very, very addictive gas pedal. My only pet peeve: The road noise coming from the back wheel wells. I think this is one area where Ford was a little scimpy with the sound insulation (there isn't any). I love to hear the exhaust, but you can hear every little grain of sand come off the tire and hit the underside of the wheel wells, and it's especially noisy when it's raining. I had a 1989 Dodge Omni that didn't have any where near this much noise in the back, and that car was a real cheap POS. I think this is a little rediculous in a car that otherwise has a great, comfortable interior. Just my 2 cents. If there were something I'd want Ford to change for future Mustangs, it would be to put some sound insulation around the rear wheel wells. I'll be doing my own next spring with dynamat. Maybe some around the transmission tunnel as well. That's a lot more noisy than past generations as well. Great car otherwise though, as your sales certainly show. The most comfortable Mustang ever. Also the best looking car Ford's made in many years. Keep up the good work.

Ford should spend some money on the Ranger and redesign it. I've owned two, a 1999 and 2002, the latter being riddled with quality issues. I know some are just fine, but mine had a leaky driver's door that the dealer never could fix, a driveshaft that wore out at 7000 miles, adjustable driver's seat lumbar that broke, along with other smaller bugs. I finally got sick of getting a wet arm at the car wash and traded it in on a Tundra. It's too bad, it could've been a great little truck. But the competition's all now bigger mid-sized trucks that are way more modern in the design. C'mon Ford, you've redesigned the F-150 twice since the Ranger. You're gonna lose the compact-truck market if you don't redo this antique platform.