Car dealers are pretty much on their own when it comes to setting prices. The auto manufacturing overlords can suggest prices, but it is up to the dealers to actually set it. So it comes as no surprise that this Mustang Shelby GT 500 is priced above the MSRP. But $100,000 over that price? C’mon! Would you pay $205,890 for this 2020 Mustang? Especially if you could potentially find it somewhere else for half of that amount?

Maybe the question should be: Is any new Mustang worth over $200,000? Ford cranks out about 5,000 Shelby GT 500s a year. It has been doing so for years. It is usually the fastest Mustang made, and the only Ford with a flat-plane crank. Besides higher revs, less rotational mass, and higher performance, it makes the best exhaust sound.

The sticker price for this Mustang GT 500 is $105,890 so the markup is $100,000

Being the most powerful Mustang at 760 hp and can sprint the quarter-mile at a bit over 11 seconds, it is a desirable car. But is it over $200,000 desirable? A dealer in California is going for that number. The sticker price is $105,890 so the markup is $100,000. 

Though GT 500s should start in the $70,000 price range this one has a number of desirable options including the Track Pack which can definitely hike up the price. But is the price justifiable? It depends on what your benchmark is.

Once you get into this price range this Mustang goes up against some brutal competition

Once you get into this price range you go up against some brutal competition. For instance, a McLaren 570s Coupe can be bought for $195,000. A Mercedes-AMG R Pro Coupe will set you back by $200,645. If Lamborghinis appeal to you a 2020 Huracan Evo RWD can be yours for $212,226. 

Does the Mustang GT 500 normally run in those circles? We don’t think so even though it is an amazing machine. A Mustang is a Mustang, not a Ferrari or Lambo. We like to think that the Ford GT is more in the realm of those cars, not a Mustang. 

Nevertheless, we’ve seen other GT 500s going for well over $100,000, so this isn’t exactly unique. Whether for manufacturing concerns or just to keep the values up, the 5,000 per year production should be increased if Ford dealers are feeling bold enough about supplies to ask for a $100,000 markup.

Increasing the inventory of GT 500s would squash dealers getting away with predatory markups

Increasing the inventory of GT 500s would squash dealers getting away with predatory markups. Another way to keep the lid down on these Mustangs would be to make ordering on spec requiring dealers to see at MSRP only. Or, if a customer backs out no more than a certain markup to cover the dealer costs and hassles of ordering it. This way the dealer doesn’t lose money for the time taken to place the order. State laws may block manufacturers from doing this. If so there should be other ways Ford could hold the dealer’s feet to the fire. 

In some ways Ford can look at the Mustang GT 500 as a halo car much like the Corvette is for Chevy. It gains a certain amount of marketing and PR just by the fact the GT 500 exists. It shouldn’t be in the hands of the dealer to make such obnoxious markups.