It's a perspective thing?
When the mustang was first released in the US it was a cheap preppy's car designed to be the reward for getting through university. It was intended to be a feeder car, your first car that made you love Ford and stay with them through the years ahead. A bit of freedom on a low budget. Then it went muscle car and the Vette appeared etc. If you take EU volumes, import taxes, VAT, expectations then it starts to look a little odd here. As others have said in the US with their discounting and lower tazes the 2.3T and V8 are good value if a little cost-engineered in some places.
I enjoyed a few fruity rentals during my visits. A Hertz Mustang GT350 with an autobox was among the most enjoyable until the gearbox literally fell out of the car as I pulled off 101! I guess the rentals probably get a lot of stick. The Camaro V8 was actually a bit more impressive. It felt taughter more responsive and faster.
