2005-2014 Ford Mustang S197 Buyer's Guide (Common Problems, Engines, Options)

2005-2014 S197 Mustang Buyer’s Guide!

History

The Mustang’s history dates all the way back to 1964, but the 5th generation's older brother is the SN95 Mustang, built from 1994-2004. Once the 1999 “New Edge” SN95 Mustang was put into production, Ford’s engineering and design team started working on the 5th generation Mustang, AKA the S197. Pre-production design sketches show that the Mustang went through several design studies before being penned with its final design. When designing a car as iconic as the Ford Mustang, you have to consider all the different design aspects and come up with a holistic look. These sketches and clay models show here start to show us the streamlined look that included many of the S197 signature touches, like the hockey stick curves running down the profile, the rectangular grille with integrated fog lights, and the glass greenhouse. The taillight design was revised many times over, as evidence by these clay models with different tail light designs.


Design

The public was given a look at the new Mustang’s design direction with the introduction of the 2003 Mustang GT and Convertible Concept cars shown at the North American International Auto Show on January 5, 2003. The following year, Ford revealed the look of the Mustang as drawing inspiration from the 1964-1970 Mustangs. Management called the look retro-futuristic, with bold, American styling that was unmistakably a Mustang and authentically American.


Exterior

2005-2009
According to J Mays, Ford’s group VP of design at the time, "We weren't just redesigning a car, we were adding another chapter to an epic.” The exterior look of the 2005 Mustang was very well received - it had a look was powerful, brawny and invoked memories of Mustangs from long ago. The profile of the Mustang had a rake that made the car look like it was moving when standing still. The combination of long hood, short deck, along with c scoops on the side and galloping Horse in the middle of the grille certainly gave the Mustang a sense of occasion. Additionally, the close-coupled greenhouse, haunched shoulders and aggressive flares added to the American Muscle look. The get a decidedly rear-wheel-drive look, Ford moved the front wheels forward, reducing the front overhang by 4.6 inches compared to the SN95. The look was 4.4 inches longer, 1.4 inches taller, and almost an inch wider than the 2004 model. The Mustang V-6 and GT models were made to be clearly distinguishable. The GT offered a more aggressive nose, with circular fog lamps in the black grille, while the lower fascia is upright, with an incorporated "air dam" look. V-6 Mustang has an egg-crate grille and a swept-back lower fascia that incorporates horizontal vents. The GT had body-color lower rocker panel extensions to created a planted and aggressive look. GTs also had a rear spoiler and cutouts on each side of the rear bumper for the dual exhaust pipes. Both models boasted tri-bar tail lamps and a chrome Mustang badge centered in the rear face of the decklid.

2010-2014
From 1964 to 2009, over 9 million customers had purchased a Mustang. To keep sales strong, and fend off competition from the then-new 2010 Camaro, Ford redesigned the Mustang for the 2010 model year. Except for the fast-back roofline, the exterior sheet metal was all-new for 2010. The revised front featured new headlamps, lower fascias, fenders and grille were joined by a powerdome hood with a muscle car appearance. Front rear fenders featured taut, sculptured wheel flares while the rear featured aggressively angled rear corners, a sculptured decklid. There was an optional rear-view camera incorporated into the spoiler available on some models.

Redesigned yet again for the 2013 model year, the revision sported a more aggressive design with a prominent front grille. The GT model now featured functional heat extractors on the hood that were specifically placed and designed to help move air and keep the engine cool. Rocker panels were now body-color which made the look of the vehicle more cohesive. For the rear, a new high-gloss black panel surrounds the new taillamps. The taillamps now featured a smoked appearance that matches the more purposeful look upfront.