2005 Mustang prices start at $19,410
By Dale Jewett
Automotive News
Ford's redesigned 2005 Mustang is leaving the corral with a base price of less than $20,000, but not much less.
The automaker said Tuesday that the base Mustang with a V-6 engine and five-speed manual transmission will have a suggested price of $19,410, including a destination charge of $625, when it rolls into showrooms next month.
That's a $635 increase over a base 2004 Mustang with a V-6 and manual transmission -- although that configuration hasn't been available from the factory since last March as part of the changeover to the redesigned model.
Buyers who want a V-8 under the hood of their new Mustang GT will pay at least $24,995, including the destination charge, for a car with a five-speed manual transmission. That's a decline of $475 from a 2004 Mustang GT with V-8 and five-speed manual.
The redesigned Mustang is a key player in a strategy by the Ford Motor Co. to counteract a severe sales decline with a slew of new vehicle launches.
Ford sold 140,350 Mustangs in 2003, an increase of 1.4 percent from a year earlier. Through August of this year, Mustang sales totaled 88,135 units, down 10.2 percent from the same period in 2003.
In the first eight months of this year, Ford Division sales totaled 1.87 million units, down 4.5 percent from the same period a year ago.
Production of the 2005 Mustang has started at the Auto Alliance International assembly plant in Flat Rock, Mich., south of Detroit.
Standard equipment on the V-6 Mustang includes:
210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6.
Five-speed manual transmission.
16-inch aluminum wheels.
Air conditioning.
Power mirrors.
Rear window defroster.
AM/FM/CD audio system.
Four-wheel disc brakes.
Power door locks with remote unlocking.
Power windows.
A Premium trim level for the V-6 Mustang has a suggested price of $19,995, including destination, and adds an upgraded audio system with six-disk CD changer, power adjustable driver seat and different 16-inch wheels.
Options on the V-6 Mustang include:
Five-speed automatic transmission, $995.
Anti-lock brakes with traction control, $775.
Side-impact airbags, $370.
Leather seating surfaces, $695.
Active anti-theft system, $255.
Exterior sport appearance package, $295.
Interior upgrade package, $450.
The base price of the Mustang GT includes:
300-hp, 4.6-liter V-8.
Five-speed manual transmission.
Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and traction control.
Stainless steel dual exhaust.
Front fog lamps.
Tilt steering wheel.
17-inch aluminum wheels.
Air conditioning.
Dual power mirrors.
Rear window defroster.
AM/FM/CD audio system.
Power door locks with remote control.
Power windows.
A Premium trim level for the Mustang GT has a base price of $26,300 and adds:
Upgraded audio system with six-disk CD changer.
Leather-trimmed sport seats.
Options for the Mustang GT include:
Five-speed automatic transmission, $995.
Side-impact air bags, $370.
Active anti-theft system, $255.
Upgraded audio system, $1,295.
Interior upgrade package, $450.
Interior color enhancement package, $175.
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