The GT500 is a phenomenal car, if you ONLY want straight line speed. But you would probably NEVER find a GT500 for $69,000 when you take into account dealer markup. But since everyone keeps bringing up price, if you really want the whole package you could buy a used Nissan GT-R with some money for mods, and eat GT500s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And throw a couple turns into the mix, the GT500 would be worth $100 in scrap metal.
If i want McDonalds, i'll go to McDonalds. Because for $5 i can get a Big Mac meal and get filled up. Why would i want to eat fine dining?
Oh no I feel ya man. I really do. I've said it before (In this thread even I think) that the higher end Mustangs are for Mustang enthusiasts; there are better cars for the same money.
But then- that's my whole point. It's easy to shoot down the Mustang if you pick the market where it's least advantaged. $21,000 is the MSRP of a lot of compact sedans today and yet it can get you a 300hp V6 hard top Mustang. IMHO, it's the sub $40k Mustangs that are great. The V6, V6 Premium, GT, and GT Premium. They offer a lot of bang for the buck and can be a lot of fun, with great styling, AND be seriously daily drivers. That's something a lot of sports cars can't say (Not when you factor the cost of tires, brakes, and general unreliability). You can get them in a convertible, and with a number of different options and configurations. Everyone wants to compare the GT500 to the BMW/Nissan/etc. variations, but look at what it compares to in the lower price ranges. Is it still beat? Sure, but then that's what we were saying before.
It's not technically faster than a lot of cars out there. There's always something somewhere that can beat it. But so what? Some folks don't buy a car for it's track time- it's for what it does for them. It's also okay if it doesn't do it for anyone else! A Mustang is not a sweet handling car but it is fun, and it has awesome styling, and is instantly recognizable. Those are features that some people want over a half a second advantage on nurburgring or the ability to pass a beemer in a tight hairpin. Not every car is all about half-second advantages here or there- or even great handling. In America, a lot of people prefer straight line speed to anything. Look at how many rice bangers are being modified in high schools all across America with stock suspension and wal-mart tires; but a turbo, fart can, tune, and everything else they could cram in there chasing 1/4 mile times.
Me, personally? I appreciate both. My mom has a Mazda Miata and it's pretty weak in the power department (but it's light), but it's such a blast because of how it handles. It has a nice firm suspension and it's so tiny that, with the top down, it almost has an 'open wheel racing' feel to it. I'm not thrilled with the sound and when you step on the gas after an apex you're kind of left a little disappointed. But it's awesomely satisfying to go around a corner way faster than you could in a lot of other cars and still be confidently in control. For me; that's more fun anyway. I don't go to the track and have zero desire to go way above the speed limit and put myself and others in danger. In the mitata, I can go on a 55mph speed limit road and take tight corners at 50 and have a blast without ever even exceeding the speed limit.
However- I used to have a Mercury Cougar. I've also driven a few mustangs and other big-engine rear-wheel-drive cars. Cornering suffers but you have this amazing sound and the feel of all that torque under your foot.
Two entirely different experiences (though there are cars that do both)- neither one is 'wrong', IMO. And I certainly don't think anyone is making a bad choice going with a 'stang even if it isn't faster than some other car. My wife would love a Mustang, for example. Not because it's fast, or the handling, or anything else like that. But because she loves the sound and styling. For her, putting the top down in a great looking (in her opinion; and if you wanna say 'It's not good looking', well that's just silly- that's purely subjective. If someone likes it, then they like it!) and listening to the rumble is everything she wants in a car.
Me? I dunno- I'd rather have the BMW probably. But that doesn't mean the Mustang isn't a fantastic car.
I get the same arguments about motorcycles, too. I ride a cruiser. It's slow, but it's beautiful, it sounds great, and it's comfortable. I bought it for long distance riding and that's what I do with it. Every now and then someone on a sport bike will tell me how much faster their bike is than mine. So what? I didn't buy it to go fast. By virtue of being a motorcycle it'll do 0-60 faster than a lot of cars- but that's still not why I bought it. But it's a one track mind that says a car/bike/etc., can only do one thing (By the way- I don't mean that statement to be offensive; just saying it for the stake of discussion). For me, the bike makes me happy. It's not faster than a sportbike, but I don't need it to be. It sounds great, looks great, gives me a lot of pride when it's clean and shiny and is a lot of fun. PLUS, it's very exciting to push it to it's limits and satisfying to roll it to full throttle when leaving a corner and hear it roar- especially because it's limits are pretty tame and full throttle isn't all that much power- unlike a fast sportbike (which I enjoy too) which you have to 'respect' a lot more and it becomes a bit more stressful, precise, and technical experience dialing in the right power and having much further 'limits' (which is precisely why some people prefer them!).
In other words 'to each their own'. But I, personally, don't think comparing a Mustang to a $60,000 german sports car is fair, nor do I think comparing it to ANYTHING on the basis of performance alone is fair. There are a lot of subjective things; and if a person loves their car- then more power to them! Even if it isn't 'better' than some other car; lifes too short. Get the car that makes you happy and gives you pride and joy to own! My Cougar had a rusty quarter panel and a ton of miles and it was slow. But I bet you I loved it 1000x more than the other kids whose parents bought them brand new cars! There's just something about a car guy/gal and their car- even if some magazine, track, or measurement says it's not as good as the next guys!