I drove a new Mustang and I liked it
 

Confession time.....

I've been eyeing the 2017 Mustangs in the V-6 trim lately and finally this afternoon went and drove one. Well, I rode in 1 and drove 2.

Car #1: V-6 trim. I jumped in the passengers seat so the salesman could get it out of the tight spot it was in. Low oil pressure light came on. So he drove it to the service department.

Car #2: Well, this is the same color as Car #1 but its a 4 cylinder eco-boost model. Lets drive it anyway. Quite nice and quiet, not much road noise.

Car #3: Hey hey, its a V-6 trim and I'm in the drivers seat. Push the start button and "click click click" no "v'room". I look at the salesman and tell him I think the motor has a "knock" on this one (with a dead battery).

Car #4: It's a V-6 trim and it starts! Light tip in of throttle and holding through 3 of the 6 gears and we're already doing 50 mph. Not quite as quiet on the road. More like sitting alone at the beach and hearing the constant sound of the ocean. I suspect its the Hankook tires. But it drives really nice and tight. 70 mph is about 1800 rpm. Light throttle and we're doing 85 in no time flat on the interstate.

Why the V-6?
There won't be a V-6 for 2018. Only the Eco-boost 4 with direct injection (my friend fixes direct injection BMW's by taking off the intake manifold and walnut blasting the backsides of the intake valves that get crudded up so I'm not sold on direct injection from a long time maintenance standpoint as I typically keep cars a long time) and the other option for 2018 is the V-8 model. The V-8 is out of the budget for both the cost and insurance. Both the 4 and 8 spec premium fuel. The V-6 making 300 hp and 280 ft. lb. torque is happy with regular fuel in a 3500 lb. vehicle.

Then there are the incentives: $3000 customer cash back and another at $1900. These guys are ready to snatch $5,000 off the retail price of high 26k to low 27k. That's a LOT of car for mid 21k to low 22k.

What say you fellows?

I say 2/3 of them had problems!

If budget is an issue, why buy new? They have been making the Coyote 5.0 since 2011. Take your time and track down a garage queen. Let someone else soak up the depreciation, and walk away with more car for less $.

I bought my 2016 5.0 for $29,000. No options except for a full-size spare.

Do you like to play pool?

I rented a new Mustang, V6 convertible.

I actually popped the hood to verify it was only a six.
Had more oomph than my old 5.0.
Impressive car.

Good car for the money but why do they have to make them so angry looking?

It's a visual aid for Cars & Coffee spectators, so they know to run for their lives.

I drove a Ford 5.0 8 in the f150 and honestly loved the motor. Not sure I'd go v6 over that pretty sound.

and yeah, that many bad vehicles brand new would have me nervous.


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Better stay away from Cars & Coffee events or at least raise your insurance limits. ; )

I don't care for the front. But there aren't many new cars I like.

I had an old 2001 Ford Explorer with a V-6 and was surprised at how well it moved the great big vehicle around. I suspect the newer mustangs with the V-6 are probably much better.

This. All day.

I agree that the most fun option in budget would be a slightly used 5.0

However, V6 mustang is a great value. ITs hard to argue with rear drive and 300HP for normally econocar pricing.

I do keep seeing very low mile C6 corvettes for low 20s as well.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1495728441.jpg

The current V-6 Mustang is only 500 lbs. heavier and 55 HP less than an early GT3.

Let that sink in for a minute!

I had to figure out all the "cars and coffee" comments. Yeah, sad when people do stupid stuff. I'm in my mid 50's, no wife no kids, always had fun cars in the past that I tinkered with as a "car guy" but quite opposite of the fellow going through a "mid life crisis" I'm just looking for a new car with nice handling, good value and a full warranty for when things go wrong. Not ready to put down the wrenches completely, but I'm starting to think maybe there is more to life than maintaining old, fun cars.

The V-8 and Eco-boost Mustangs would surely be an invite to the "gold tooth wear your cap backwards flash inverted Star Trek hand sign hip hop culture". Those are the guys crashing the cars at the "cars and coffee" events. I want no part of that.

An earlier "garage queen 5.0" is out as well, especially pre 2015 models with the live rear axle. This new generation with the independent rear suspension are totally different animals. And I imagine even the nicest of "garage queen 5.0's" have been run pretty hard in their day.....caffeinated.

Rest assured, there is life after Porsche ownership. Some of it pretty good, matter of fact. There are more areas of life to explore. In a bit, I'll be driving a dirty from rain driving '09 Mustang to my favorite pool hall. There I'll be welcomed by people who couldn't care less about cars. Many of them have more money in their cues and cases than in their cars. Oh, I'll clean up the Mustang eventually..it's just that the past couple of weeks have been full of Medical appointments, getting the yard in shape, other aspects of life.

The Porsche? I got burned out. One can go to only so many car events before realizing it's awfully repetitive. Owning a car that became a sought after collectable while I owned it became a drag. An albatross around my neck, if you will.

However, I can tell you that my now obsolete old and slow by today's standards Mustang has been dead reliable transportation over it's 25,000 miles. Nothing more than a set of replacement tires, a battery replacement, and routine service. It's been a well balanced driver. Since that's what you seem to be looking for, by all means go for it!

finding a good condition used current gen mustang is a beyond trival task. They are everywhere, tons of people buy them as nice "sporty" commuter cars. Just make sure the owner is over 35 and you'll be fine

It might be a tall order at 22k though, probably have to get the live axel variant.

But did it taste like cherry chapstick?

Man, you guys are brutal! And that's what I like about this place.

2 showers and a change of clothes later and I STILL smell like a new car!:D

I currently drive a 2004 Mustang GT, and in a few years will be looking for a Coyote motored GT....probably another convertible. I have tried to like the V-6, and really appreciate what it does, but I just can't get past the sound of a healthy V8.

Could you elaborate more on the eco-boost turbo 4 diving experience, if it were not for the direct injection would you consider buying one?

I ask because I am mildly interested, won't be buying for years but they have my attention.

Mustang is an insanely great performance value. Always has been.
I remember the Fox body was a V8 engine for $11k.

Solid rear axle? Put down the useless auto magazines.
and don't go off-roading in your Mustang.
Oh, and don't floor it when there are potholes in a turn.
Problem solved.

I only drove the eco-boost 4 cylinder car on a 45 mph highway for a couple of miles and then on a backroad at 35 mph for another couple of miles. The 6 cylinder car I drove the same route and then jumped on the interstate for about 5 miles out of town then the 5 miles back. Seeing as how both these cars had only 3 or 4 miles total on the odometers, I didn't stomp down on them looking for horsepower. I imagine a lot of the difference in the road noise was due to the eco-boost car having better tires than the Hankooks on the V-6 car. Not that Hankooks are bad tires, there are just better tires out there.

Would I buy the eco-boost 4 cylinder car if it wasn't direct injection? Probably not. Like they say, "there's no replacement for displacement" and I just can't see a turbocharged 2.3 liter inline engine that makes 320 HP in a 3500 lb. car living a long easy life as compared to the 3.7 liter normally aspirated V-6.

Coffee anyone?:D

Mustangs are great cars, I’d happily drive a new GT with the performance pack. Or a used GT350.:D

One note regarding direct injection, it’s been pretty standard in most cars for years and most don’t have the BMW problems. I think even BMW has sorted the carbon buildup issue by now.

My daughter rented a 2019 and I drove it on some nice twisty roads in Kentucky a few weeks ago. As far as I could tell, it was pretty much a base model with the Eco-Boost 4 cylinder turbo. It did have several modes (Sport, Track, Drag Racing, etc.) so maybe there was some sort of performance package option on it? Anyway, pretty awesome car. Surprisingly good power and power delivery - turbo lag almost non-existent (I actually thought it was a normally-aspirated V6 until I opened the hood). Handling/ride was excellent. Fit & finish was excellent. I could see it as a daily driver for someone so inclined.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569415011.jpg

I've got the 5.0 and it is an absolute hoot. It handles better than any other car I've owned, and the includes a pair of well set up 944s. The suspension is tuned such that it doesn't lean in corners, but soaks up road imperfections with ease.

Just be careful around large crowds of people...