Mustang And A Wedding
My oldest son and his fiance recently rented a white Ford Mustang convertible instead of leasing a limo and hiring a chauffeur to ferry them to their California wedding site and reception. The choice of the Mustang seemed fitting since the couple, dressed in linen beach clothes, exchanged vows in the sand at the ocean's edge in Malibu.
In the parking lot at the beach reception, among the silver, gray and black sedans and SUVs, the Mustang was a sporty upstart just raring to go. It was also my son's vehicle of choice for a major event in life, which reminds me that Ford's iconic sports car remains a focal point of American car culture because it continues to meet many customer desires and needs.
The first "pony" car debuted in 1964, a product based on the idea of a 2-door, 4-seat sports car. Today's Mustang was completely redone in 2005 with styling hearkening back to the original's design cues and heritage. Its success is evident in sales figures, and the Mustang has also received awards in two recent J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction studies.
Just this month, the 2007 Mustang ranked as the most appealing midsize sporty car model in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.SM And, Mustang is the most problem-free model in its segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). Both studies collect verified owner feedback about quality, design and performance after 90 days of ownership.
Mustang continues to hold its cachet, from the romantic and sporty convertible lover to the muscle-bound Shelby GT street racer and enthusiast. Despite an 11% drop in U.S. sales through the first six months of 2007, the Mustang's year-to-date performance outpaced the midsize sporty car segment, which slumped 19% compared to 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report.SM
Mustang offers consumers a sporty and pleasing performance model at more modest price points but also offers an array of gutsy, muscle car models for the enthusiast. A Ford marketing official's recent comment about the company's goal to offer "a steed for every need" is certainly apt. I know from personal experience that my son had a lot more fun driving America's original pony car along the beach with the top down than he would have had he hired a stretch HUMMER or Cadillac limo and driver. Besides, Mustangs get just as many looks as limos, especially at California beach weddings. What's your favorite Mustang story? We would love to hear about it.
