What Ford should have done.

[ttocs]

Thought this to myself as I took this pic and thought that it could be a fun topic to carry on.

I have been busy modifying my consol since I got it but now I think I am close to the final Rev where I can say this is "What Ford should have done". Ashtray? Who the hell smokes anymore, I know no one will in my car so why not a switchbank for 8 additional items(line locks-bottle openers/warmers) as well as controls for addional gauges? Also coin holder WTF is that crap about I think it will work much much better as the controls area for my bell escort 9500CI radar detector. Finally the cup holder WTF is up with that dinky little thing and who wants the possibilities of stains on their leather/suede seats? Not me so I think molding a media player into the cup holder is a MUCH better idea. Sure, the radar detector/media player were not made till 15 yrs later but I still think that its What Ford shoulda done!

Anyone else have any pieces that you have taken and upgraded yet and think that its just the way the Mustang should have been delivered? Lets hear about them and of course share a pic of your recent victory.

 

[Orange 94]

I was always wtf about the coin folders... Like stuuuuuupid. I would have been annoyed with the ashtray too if i didnt switch to 00 interior.

 

[grilla]

and whats up with the pull out head light switch that they used for 40 years??? I been really wanting to do sumtin wit my interior. I was goin to do the same thing wit the purge button in the ash tray

 

[DeepList]

The ash try was stupid. I'm glad they got rid of that with the new edges. The coin holder in the sixers is pretty dumb too, but it makes a nice hole to place a switch or button for something else.

 

[Ferocious]

I use my ash tray as a coin holder.

 

[LilRoush]

I think the cup holder there is almost as dumb. Insert drink, hit second, grab napkin, hit fourth, grab napkin again.

 

[DeepList]

The cup holders aren't too bad.... certainly not as bad as the ash tray. I use them primarily to put stuff like sunglasses, keys, change, etc. They also work okay for small drinks like a can of pop or even a 20 oz bottle. It's pointless to put large drinks in here, the like 44 oz fountain pop from the gas station. That's certainly a no go.

 

[ttocs]

They all served their purpose back in the day. Just serving a better one now.

 

[MustangChris]

thats where I hide my hopes and dreams.... small compartment, huh? ? ?


nice work man!

 

[wildride02gt]

I think that there is ALOT of things that Ford could have done different at the time, things that were current generation tech at the time. Of course, at the time we are talking about a company selling a platform that had been in use for about 20 years already with minor improvements. Plus, anything that could be shared across platforms, was.
The headlight switch for the 94-04's was an ancient design when it was placed in these cars, but worked and was cheap. Personally, I thought the headlight switches in the Foxes was pretty cool, and worked well. Ford didn't update headlight switch design at all through the 90's and 00's. Better options were available, but cost more.

All in all, I think that all the complaints about the mustangs can always be explained by cost cutting.

 

[Rallim]

I think the cup holder there is almost as dumb. Insert drink, hit second, grab napkin, hit fourth, grab napkin again.

Look at E39 BMW cup holders, THEN complain about the one in Mustangs. They break, and are such a horrible design they're practically useless anyways. Haha.

The ash tray and coin holder are completely useless though. My cigarette lighter doesn't even work, that whole console area of my car is pointless

 

[ttocs]

man I was thinking someone would follow up showin a pic of a turbo/supercharger, a sweet suspension system or something cool they did as an upgrade and thought that this is the way it should have been done. Didn't really expect to debate the usefullness of the ashtray/coin holder....

 

[FrankenStang]

ford should make a new cougar....kinda do how tgm did with the gto looking retro, do the same with the cougar....

 

[Steven]

03-04 console is the best design period. It has depth for the drinks, two different sizes. It's built differently that makes it way sturdier. It also has a factory e-brake boot that looks good. Thats why I did the swap. I had of course the stock 98 black cup holder setup. Much happier with this one though.

 

[ttocs]

kinda do how tgm did with the gto looking retro

The only thing that I thought was retro on the GTO was the name other wise I would say they dressed up the GTP body a bit, slapped a bigger motor in it and pulled the GTO name outta their ass imo.

 

[DeepList]

03-04 console is the best design period. It has depth for the drinks, two different sizes. It's built differently that makes it way sturdier. It also has a factory e-brake boot that looks good. Thats why I did the swap. I had of course the stock 98 black cup holder setup. Much happier with this one though.

Do you remember what you paid for yours? I've already swapped out the cluster, radio and shifter bezels in my 99. I'd like to do the center console as well. There's two of them on eBay right now in parchment, which is what I need. One is $80 shipped... but it seems faded and looks like a piece of shit. The other is $122 shipped and seems to be in pretty nice shape over-all.

 

[Nightmare]

ford should make a new cougar....kinda do how tgm did with the gto looking retro, do the same with the cougar....

Will never happen, as Mercury is no longer a brand. Ford wont resurrect it either.

03-04 console is the best design period. It has depth for the drinks, two different sizes. It's built differently that makes it way sturdier. It also has a factory e-brake boot that looks good. Thats why I did the swap. I had of course the stock 98 black cup holder setup. Much happier with this one though.

I would have to agree. As retarded as this sounds, it was one of the selling points of my car, as I constantly have coffee or soda in the cup holders. I was rather annoyed with the Fox Mustangs that I had since they had this stupid ashtray that was in a dumb location and no cup holder. The ebrake boot was actually carried over from the 2001 Cobra, something that is kinda cool too.

The only thing that I thought was retro on the GTO was the name other wise I would say they dressed up the GTP body a bit, slapped a bigger motor in it and pulled the GTO name outta their ass imo.

QFT. Damn thing looked like a cavalier.

Do you remember what you paid for yours? I've already swapped out the cluster, radio and shifter bezels in my 99. I'd like to do the center console as well. There's two of them on eBay right now in parchment, which is what I need. One is $80 shipped... but it seems faded and looks like a piece of shit. The other is $122 shipped and seems to be in pretty nice shape over-all.

I come by them from time to time. I can see if I can get you one from my parts department/salvage network that we use.


Now as far as things Ford/didnt do.....I personally feel that 03/04 was the pinnicle of the sn95 body and interior styling. The powerpoint in the center council is nice, and it gave me plenty of room to mount a toggle switch for the DVD player.....Over all, I have no real complaints with it, except for how dirty over time the shifter area gets. I also think it would be cool if they put some extra gauges below the fog/trac/defrost switches......looked at possibly adding some, however there is not enough space to mount them right.

 

[DeepList]

I come by them from time to time. I can see if I can get you one from my parts department/salvage network that we use.

That would be great. The interior of my car is nearly flawless, so I don't want to waste my time putting something in there that's faded or looks jank.

 

[Nightmare]

Deep, give me a few days go get you an estimate on the price and availibility.....should have an answer for you by friday (going to check a local yard that we use a lot....usually have something for a reasonable price).

 

[DeepList]

Awesome and thank you. No hurry.