[SCadaddle]

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?