I Was Right About The Future Of The Ford Mustang

I saw this coming from a mile away.

Now that pricing for the 2024 Ford Mustang has hit Ford’s website, enthusiasts are anything but happy. Back when the S650 was revealed and Ford made a big deal about how it wasn’t dropping the Coyote V8 from the lineup after news spread Dodge is dropping the Hemi V8 for 2024, I knew there would be a catch. After all, Ford has been leaning hard into the green initiative, especially electrification, even slapping the Mustang name on an EV crossover. Back then I told people no doubt the cost of a Mustang GT would go through the roof.

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Once again I was right. While starting MSRP for the 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback isn’t exactly cheap at $30,920, you’ll have to shell out an obscene amount if you want that Coyote V8. But first, keep in mind that for 2015 EcoBoost Mustangs carried a starting MSRP of just under $26,000 and the Mustang GT started at about $33,000. I think Ford and apologists are going to try gaslighting us all into believing the price gap between the two has always been as great as what 2024 introduces.

For the privilege of owning a V8, which apparently will absolutely kill the planet, starting MSRP for the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Fastback is an obscene $41,495. That’s over $3,000 more than for the 2023 Mustang GT and about $8,000 more than for the 2015 Mustang GT.

Now you know why so many Mustang enthusiasts are seeing red. In their rage I’m not sure they’re thinking clearly, but this I don’t believe is a cash grab, an accusation that’s floating around. Instead, I think Ford is trying to corral people into buying the EcoBoost or just going for it and getting the Mach-E. Sounds ridiculous? Well, it is, but the fact is Ford has to worry about CAFE and so it doesn’t want to sell many Ford GTs with that big, nasty V8 engine.

That said, I’ll bet dealers are going to be marking the sales price of the S650 Mustang GT higher than MSRP because supply will be constrained and there will be those who will fork out top dollar. After all, with the V8 Mopar twins gone and the Camaro’s future uncertain, a lot of modern muscle car enthusiasts are putting all their chips on this pony. I think it’s a poor bet to make since Ford is pouring virtually all its R&D into electrification. Soon enough, the Mustang will get electrified and you’ll be told it’s no longer necessary to have a V8 muscle car, just like the story Dodge is trying to push on everyone.

But what about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, you say? Starting MSRP for the most powerful production Mustang ever is $57,970. But let’s be honest, nobody will be getting a stripped-down spec like that. And if you think dealers won’t gouge for that bad boy, you’re being rather naïve.

By the way, if you like the feeling of the air flowing through your hair while you hear and feel a V8, the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Convertible is going to set you back a whopping $51,515 MSRP! Eat the fake meat, stop buying V8s, and comply with all that you’re told – those are the prevailing winds in today’s corporate politics. If you thought all that wouldn’t affect modern American muscle cars, you were wrong.

Images via Ford