Bill Goldberg, the former WWE star, recently shared his thoughts on the 2024 Ford Mustang and the evolving automotive landscape on the CarCast Podcast.
Despite Ford’s commitment to V8 performance cars amid industry changes, Goldberg criticized the design of the 2025 Mustang, suggesting a departure from its iconic identity.
While acknowledging the diminishing relevance of manual transmissions due to automatic advancements, Goldberg defended manuals, emphasizing their importance in certain vehicles.
In the podcast conversation with host Matt D’Andria, who owns a twin-turbocharged S550 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Matt highlighted the interior quality and infotainment system as the main improvements of the S650 Mustang over its predecessor.
However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the styling, particularly the black geometrical graphics of the Dark Horse model.
Matt and Goldberg discussed the overall design of the S650 Mustang, with some enthusiasts unfavorably comparing it to a Chevrolet Camaro.
Goldberg echoed this sentiment, expressing his belief that the previous generation Mustang retained its identity better than the S650 model.
Despite Goldberg’s allegiance to Mopar, he acknowledged the significance of the V8 engine in defining a muscle car’s identity.
However, with Dodge shifting away from the Hemi V8, the discussion raised questions about whether styling or the engine is more crucial for a muscle car.
The conversation then shifted to the declining popularity of manual transmissions, particularly with BMW’s recent announcement to phase out manuals due to low sales.
Goldberg and Matt agreed that customer preferences and the convenience of automatics have contributed to the decline of manuals, despite Goldberg’s personal affinity for them.
The discussion also touched on the efficiency of automatic transmissions compared to manuals, with Goldberg emphasizing the continued appeal of manual transmissions for driving enthusiasts.
Later in the podcast, Matt and Goldberg praised the updated Aston Martin Vantage’s performance and styling, with Goldberg sharing a humorous anecdote about his experience with an Aston Martin dealership.
Goldberg concluded by discussing his future plans for his muscle car collection, including refurbishments on his 1968 Plymouth GTX and NASCAR-powered Shelby Cobra, as well as potential modifications to his 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne.
