[For this week’s review, I’ll be sharing both my driving impressions and that of my friend, road trip buddy and fellow Curbivore, Jason White]
Will Stopford: If the Challenger was in its element cruising along desert highways, the Mustang was certainly in its stride on Angeles Crest Highway.
Jason White: That’s very true. The Challenger is a much better “GT” car. The Mustang was much sportier in comparison.
WS:
There’s often a perception, particularly outside the US, that American cars are big and bulky and have ungainly handling. But the Mustang handles very well and rides quite decently too. Having never driven a Mustang before, I can only wonder how much the new S550 platform and its independent rear suspension helped.
JW
Yeah, definitely far from the “crowd control” device it normally gets labeled as, hah! And it didn’t feel big or bulky in the slightest.
WS
I hadn’t heard of that meme until you told me. What is it again, that there’s always some putz who loses control showing off in a Mustang? Doesn’t sound too different from some of our Falcon and Commodore drivers…
WS
It’s a bit funny that Enterprise’s American Muscle category comprises the Challenger V8, Camaro V6 and the Mustang EcoBoost, now that the 3.7 Mustang is gone. When we first started the ‘Stang up, it sounded like somebody’s dad’s Taurus. Or mom’s Explorer.
JW
Yeah, I think they have the category a little mis-matched. American, yes. Muscle… ehhh. The Mustang sounded tame. Too tame. Almost no different than an Explorer or Taurus starting up as you said. The “sport mode” sound addition didn’t add too much oomph to it either.
WS
At least it didn’t sound thrashy. It almost sounded like a V6. Mind you, the defunct fleet fodder V6 never had the kit ours had: the big touchscreen with Android auto, power leather seats, adjustable drive modes and, my absolute favourite, cooled (not ventilated) seats. And if I recall correctly, that was the first time you tried cooled seats, wasn’t it?
JW
Yes it was, and I was very impressed with them! They worked so well. I liked the switchgear too, even though it took a while to get used to. I think they nailed the whole cockpit look.
WS
But while we’re on the interior… I hate to be the guy that’s always banging on about interior quality but the cabin isn’t as nice as a Camaro or Challenger. The cockpit-style switches are nice but there are some truly horrid plastics in there too. But then that’s kind of a pony car tradition. Then there were also a lot of switchgear pieces that looked straight out of a 2007 Focus. On a more important, functional note, my biggest gripe with the cabin were the paddle shifters. They were too stubby and awkward to use. Plastic too but I’m not going to be a diva about that. Ford puts plastic paddles in Lincolns too so I wasn’t expecting metal…
JW
No, I understand. When I first grabbed one I was actually surprised it was plastic. I know aluminum is more expensive, but to see the paddles and switchgear and have them feel completely different than you were expecting was disappointing. It looked cool though.
JW
The overall interior quality was definitely better in the Camaro and Challenger. The seats felt a little better to me in the Mustang, but everywhere else was kind of lacking. A lot of cheap plastic that wasn’t present in the other two cars and the center stack was busy and took a little getting used to. Also, still not enough storage space, but better than the Challenger.
WS
The silver trim livens things up but it reflects badly in the windshield. But those seats were comfortable and you sit nice and low. The Mustang feels more like a sports car, as you said. And it’s great how it hangs in the corners and practically begs to be pushed, while having nice, grabby brakes and plenty of feel and weight in the steering. It’s certainly nice, too, that you can hit 60mph in under 6 seconds in the Ecoboost… that was as fast as we managed in the Challenger R/T! But I have another gripe about the transmission: I think we both agreed Sport and Track modes made for some surprisingly lurching shifts. I’d be curious to see if the new 10-speed in the 2018 Mustangs is an improvement; our 2017 had the old 6-speed.
JW
Oh man, the sport/track modes had terrible shifts! I don’t mind the whole kick in the head when shifting, but that was beyond that. It was like a violent shake, and it was unpredictable and jarring. I’m glad you reminded me of that, I think I was trying to block it out. But overall it did feel very much like a sports car. It for sure wanted to get pushed harder than we were pushing it. You could feel it. Even in the canyons on a road I’d never been on, I caught myself purposely holding back for fear of getting too confident and making a small mistake. Maybe that’s what it’s issue is: it’s too good for some people. It gives some drivers too much confidence, so they push it past their actual skill level. Then you get all these Mustang memes…
WS
I recall you weren’t entirely impressed with the EcoBoost though…
JW
Nope. It was all in the power delivery. It just didn’t feel natural… kind of like an empty or hollow feeling. It’s hard for me to describe, but I don’t think I’d be saying the same thing if it were a V6.
WS
I was satisfied with the engine but I remember thinking how much more I’d probably enjoy the V8, even with the extra weight in the nose. And a V8 just feels right in a Mustang: in Australia it outsells the cheaper EcoBoost by something like 6-to-1. It certainly sounds better. I was disappointed with the gas mileage we were getting in the 2.3 but we were wringing the hell out of it and the 5.0 would’ve probably been a lot worse on fuel.
And, can we just agree: the 2.3 in today’s Mustang is so much better than the weak naturally aspirated fours they put in the Fox Mustangs for years. And with 300+ horsepower, this is the BASE engine. That’s impressive. And it’s more powerful than the Camaro’s four too, although now the Mustang doesn’t have a V6 to rival the Camaro V6. No matter, the Mustang may be down 25 horses from the Camaro V6 at 310 hp but it has a helluva lot more torque: 320 ft-lbs in the 2017 and 350 in the 2018, while the Camaro V6 has 284 ft-lbs.
JW
The Mustang and the V8 definitely go hand in hand. It feels weird with anything less than one. The engine wasn’t bad, I think I just wanted a bigger one. The EcoBoost in this car is good for people who just want a Mustang to drive daily, which… I mean you can, but why economically? Sort of defeats the purpose in my mind.
WS
Agreed. But for people that just want something relatively affordable and sporty, the EcoBoost Mustang is a good option. Ford has managed to keep that enduring Mustang style inside and out while tidying up the driving dynamics and offering all the features expected at this price point. Plus more. I’m also surprised we fit three suitcases in the trunk – I didn’t think that would have been possible, although you certainly couldn’t fit two adults in the back without discomfort. It was great peering over that long hood. and although Brisbane is full of ‘Stangs now, they’ll still occasionally catch my eye.
JW
I can see certain types of drivers buying the EcoBoost, more specifically those who think 400+ hp is too much. Those that just want the curb appeal or are in it for the heritage. I honestly was never a Mustang guy. I knew it was a car I had to drive to actually “get it,” but I get it now.
WS
And now we’ve driven the Camaro, Challenger and Mustang, albeit not a V8 version of the latter. What one is up your alley? Personally, I think I’d need to try a V8 Mustang but I wish I could get the space of the Challenger with the looks of maybe the Mustang or Challenger with the dynamics and interior design of the Camaro
JW
I need to try a V8 Mustang too. And maybe a more powerful Challenger. As of right now though, my overall favorite was the Camaro. The Challenger was great, but I could feel how heavy it was in the corners. It was a fast and fun car, but just less of those than you’d expect. Maybe the 6.4L would have made it feel different, and an overhaul of some of the interior. The Mustang had the best interior feature wise, but quality wise I feel like it was last place. The Challenger had very good interior quality, but some of it felt too bare bones.
WS
You’re already sacrificing a lot of practicality buying a pony car. May as well go silly and get a V8 and something really fun to drive. The Mustang GT is slightly cheaper than Camaro SS and the power gap has narrowed with the 2018 refresh.
JW
If I could have the Challenger’s space with the Camaro’s body and interior, then add whatever features the Mustang had that the Camaro didn’t… that would be the perfect modern American pony car.
WS
So it sounds like we are pretty much in agreement there. Next time, we will have to rent something one of us loves and one of us hates!
Related Reading:
Rental Car Review & Travelogue: 2018 Dodge Challenger R/T – In A Class Of Its Own
Rental Car Review: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS – Having Your Cake And Eating It, Too
The Mustang interior is too busy. It looks like they pieced it together from 5 different cars. To me, a car that doesn’t flow looks cheap. A parts bin job.
This is a car that I wanted to like far more than I actually do. In the end, it almost seems bland, with superficial styling touches to make it a pony car, but no real “spirit.” I prefer the previous generation, as dated as it was, since it seemed more aggressive/fun and more like a “real” Mustang. This one could be a Fusion coupe….
I like your Paul and Anita Lienert-type review… very retro!
As for you thoughts on the Mustang, it’s refreshing to hear that it does handled better than previous generations, especially compared to the Camaro and Challenger. The last Mustang I drove was a 2010 GT convertible, and indeed it was a nightmare if you wanted to do anything but drive in a straight line.
Glad you also got to take it on Angeles Crest Highway. Definitely a very fun road! My only experience on it was driving an Audi TT cabriolet.
As someone who put 80,000 miles on a 2.3 liter Mustang, albeit a 1989 model, it still sounds odd to hear “300 horsepower” and “2.3 liter” in the same sentence.
You must be two of the few who have experienced all three. And, yes, you need to experience a V8 Mustang for a true comparison. As good as turbo fours have become, there still no replacement for displacement.
I’m right there with you. I had a 1990 with the same engine. It was okay in the flat terrain of Southeast Louisiana, but once I decided to move to the Ozarks I knew it wasn’t going to work. US65 outside of Branson once had a long and very steep section, and with the pedal to the floor I struggled to keep my speed above 45 mph.
Not only is there more power now, as a current owner of an S-197 II convertible and previous owner of three Fox-platform hatchbacks, I can also attest that the materials and build quality of ones built in the last dozen or so years are light-years ahead of what the Mustang was in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Yes, but “This is not your father’s [2.3L Lima]”, so there’s that. I had one of those in an ’88 Turbo Coupe. NVH was terrible in that car. Today’s turbo I-4(s) are much smoother if my 2016 Civic is any indication.
But I think you guys wouldn’t have had a turbo in your Lima powered Mustangs, so under-powered back then? Yeah. No doubt. I test drove a ’94 with the Essex engine, and that was pretty lame too. My ex and I ended up buying a ’94 T-Bird with the 4.6L V8 instead.
Thank you for this excellent and helpful review William and Jason. I really like the duel review format, and Jason’s counterpoints.Your photos are excellent as always.
Weird that Enterprise carries V8 Challengers. With them having base-engine Camaros and Mustangs, I would have sworn that all Challengers would come with a V6. Maybe an outlier? A rental Challenger R/T is just asking to be beat to hell.
As to the market for an Ecoboost Mustang, I’m sure it exists. Traditionally, the split between base engine Mustangs and the V8 versions has been something like 50/50. In fact, the original Mustang was something of the first ‘secretary special’; for most women, the smallest engine/automatic combo in their Mustang was just fine.
5.7 Challengers are about a match for these with the added curb weight though, so while you’ll get the V8 soundtrack you won’t necessarily have more potential to thrash one of these any more than you would a EB Mustang
I have yet to drive a Ford EcoBoost of any kind. But after reading your two takes on this one, you confirm what my gut has long told me: something from the V8 is missing in the EcoBoost. It is interesting that the base engine is an EcoBoost instead of a normally aspirated V6.
I like the styling on the Mustang, but I agree that the interior seems a bit underwhelming.
I too enjoyed the point-counterpoint review of the car.
2017 was the last year for the V6 Mustang, a dealer an hour from where I live has a new 2017 V6 Mustang still in inventory.
I haven’t driven any of the newer Mustangs but to me the Ecoboost Mustang needs a better sounding exhaust system. The latest model with the V6 sounded TONS better than the Ecoboost Mustangs that have passed me on the street.
And I agree with a previous comment that the instrument panel looks cobbled together from various other cars.
Folks outside the US probably think the Mustang looks big because it is as a 2 door sporty coupe. And it doesn’t help that roads outside the US are often narrower than those here.
Where do you live Howard? I might be interested in that Mustang.
Dealer is near Lake City, FL. (Alachua, High Springs area) Santa Fe Ford.
Car is V6 with automatic in Magnetic (charcoal) they are ASKING about $22,500.
Ah thank you!
The problem was, you couldn’t get any desirable options on the 3.7-liter. It seemed to exist solely to satiate the fleet market. My best friend and I speculated way back in 2015 (when he bought an EcoBoost Premium with Performance Pack) that Ford was going to drop the V6 altogether, just based on how reluctantly they seemed to offer it. And we were correct.
Neither of us was necessarily impressed with the 2.3-liter turbo, either. It had a big dead spot and lots of turbo lag before it would deliver, and we never got above 24 MPG combined.
Here’s my thought about the junky feeling plastic shift paddles. When you and I can get a can aluminum of soda for less than a dollar, is it really that unfair to expect a car company to source aluminum alloy for these important touch points? It can’t be cost. It’s just sheer laziness and lack of resourceful thinkers.
Not having driven any of the three, I’m happy to hear that the Camaro gets the nod from both reviewers. I’ve generally leaned in that direction as well, purely as an observer, and based mostly on styling. I’ve never been a “Ford Guy”, so there’s that, but I loved the early 2000’s Mustangs. I thought they nailed the styling without going way-too-full-on-retro. The Challenger is just too big to appeal to me. I can see the appeal of it as a sort of modern day personal luxury coupe, and I get the heritage behind it, but it’s just too much in some ways and not enough in others. I can’t warm up to it, and the basic design is getting a bit stale to my eyes. It may be function of my age, but I loved the Camaro back in 2010-ish, and while I think all 3 cars have been over-styled during their runs, the Camaro is the only on the the three that hasn’t “Jumped the Shark” IMO. A base Camaro is just sporty enough to appeal to me without the whole “Look at me I’m driving a Camaro” thing going on. Back in my reckless youth when my high school parking lot was littered with late 70’s and early 80’s Camaros and Firebirds I’d never have thought I’d drool over a Camaro, and in truth I’ve never aspired to own one due to old set-in stereotypes of the kind of guys who drive (drove) them back in the day. But If I found myself in the market for any of the three today it’d be a modestly optioned V6 Camaro, hands down.
Have you ever driven a new Camaro? Trying to see out of those gun-slit windows might change your opinion of the preferred choice for a new ponycar. For me, it would be the Challenger, simply because it seems to have the best outward visibility.
It’s a shame because, otherwise, the Camaro does seem like the best car of the three.
+1 on the “new edge” Mustangs.
You know, it’s all personal opinion, The Camaro, to me, looked bad from day one of it’s reintroduction, and the interior didn’t help at all. With every update, it’s gets uglier and uglier, and IMHO the Camaro didn’t jump the shark, it fell on top of it and was horribly disfigured. Hideous, and the newest one is the ugliest yet. The Challenger looked “right” from the start and stays looking great. I like it so much I just bought my second one, a Scatpack 392 to replace my ’10 R/T. Yeah, it’s huge, but it’s comfortable, fast, has a usable trunk, and it gets almost universal positive comments. My friends with Camaros and Mustangs get few comments on their cars and there are negative ones galore. One friend has both and he bought a Challenger SRT to be his car, but his wife drives it and he drives the Mustang GT most of the time. It’s fun, but the Challenger is more fun.
Interesting review. Having owned a few Fox body Mustangs, I have a bias. I’ve driven the latest generation Mustang. Both 5.0 models, never the 2.3 EcoBoost. I also briefly drove a V6 convertible my oldest daughter rented during a business trip she did up here.
I have to say the V6 sounded like it had balls and moved the car along very well. Bad move getting rid of that I engine I think. Overall the latest Mustang in my opinion is too big and bulky. It needs to come down in size. Certainly handles well and very comfortable for a road trip. Just doesn’t excite me as much as some previous generation Mustangs.
Count me in too as a fan of the review format. The only one of the three mentioned that I’ve driven was the Challenger (albeit in Hellcat form, so the others might pale a bit). That being said, at the same (track) event I also drove a GTI which ended up being more fun all the way around the track so power isn’t everything, but it does go a long way and the attendant noise is a huge aspect of these cars which, as you noted, is a bit lacking here. I figure the biggest problem with the EcoBoost in the Mustang is the fact that you CAN (and therefore should since it’s a Mustang) get the V8.
On an aside, am I alone in thinking that Utah currently has the most attractive license plate design of the 50 states? I’m a fan of the New Mexico teal ones as well and always liked the Ohio farm scene one (that one is sadly discontinued now?).
This review was great guys! Like a Motor Trend comparison article, only WAY better written. I love this kind of format.
I haven’t test driven an EcoBoost Mustang yet, but was really surprised when they dumped the 3.7L V6. My Dad had one (of the previous S-197 generation), and I felt it was a great compromise if you wanted a little performance without going over the top. And while his car did not sound as good a that V8 burble (nothing does ;o), his engine had a better sound than that EcoBoost in the current generation Mustang.
No surprise either that you guys liked the handling. As I shield myself the arrows that will likely come my way from my fellow Mustang enthusiasts, this car has needed independent rear suspension for YEARS. I had IRS in my ’94 & ’97 MN12 T-Birds, and despite being bigger and heavier, I felt that they handled better than my own S-197, a 2007. And I have the V6, so none of that extra weight up front. As much as I love the sound of a V8 Mustang, I think my Dad’s V6 with the Pony package would’ve out handled one every time.
Now for the VERY WEIRD CC Effect I experienced this morning….
“What is it again, that there’s always some putz who loses control showing off in a Mustang?”
I was awoken suddenly this very morning from a dream where my Mom was driving my Dad’s 2014 Mustang, way too fast on a curvy road (downhill) with me riding shotgun and my Dad and wife in the back seat, when she came up on a curve to the left and I knew she wasn’t gonna make it. The front end started to slide, and off the road we went down an embankment…. Thankfully, everyone was ok….
After I woke up and got my coffee, this was the very first CC I read for the day at 6 am. When I read that line, I felt a chill recalling that vivid dream. CC Effect indeed.
However, dreams are always filled with things that are weird, and not always possible.
For example:
A) My Mom is not a putz, or an aggressive driver by any means.
B) Let’s be real… Adults, in the back seat of a Mustang? – That’s the stuff of Science Fiction ;o)
C) In reality, the car would not have ‘pushed’ in its loss of control. The back end would’ve come around, especially if there was a bump on that curve to wake up that damned live rear axle!
Speaking of interiors, they got it right with my Dad’s 2014; I too am not a fan of the 2015 to 2017 interior. Maybe Ford will improve it the way they did during the Retro ‘Stang era between my 2007 and my Dad’s 2014. I can’t find a shot at the moment of his interior compared to mine, although I have a few. I wanted to write a CC entitled “A Tale of Two Mustangs” comparing mine and my Dad’s cars, and took a bunch of pictures while he still had it. But life gets in the way and I haven’t had a chance. And sadly, like Metallica, my Dad sold out and traded his Mustang in on an Accord. :o( At least it didn’t get wrecked like in my weird dream this morning. And just in case that dream was a premonition, I might want to take it easy with my own Mustang for a while. ;o)
Father and Son Mustangs:
Is it even possible to make a ‘bad’ choice in the current crop of muscle cars? I’ll allow that none of them are perfect, as is to be expected considering just how much bang you get for the buck. And it’s possible for someone to make a bad choice for their specific needs but that’s still splitting hairs.
There seems to be a lot of gnashing of teeth over base Camaros/Mustangs moving from N/A V6’s to turbo 4’s. Some people will NEVER be happy unless they find something to bitch about. First off, it’s a moot point since most of the loudest complaints come from the V8 guys who were NEVER gonna consider a smaller engine. Secondly, these are sporty performance cars. People buy them with some interest in modifying them at some point. Turbo 4’s are a tuner’s playground and big gains can be had without cracking into the motor itself. N/A V6’s are a total dead end if you’re looking for something easily hopped up. It’s nothing inherent to the design, it’s more the fact that the overwhelming bulk of them are used in pedestrian applications like sedans, minivans, CUVs etc. that no one would ever choose as the basis for a hotrod. The economies of scale just aren’t there.
Personally, the Challenger R/T wins best all around in my book. I’ve had my ‘09 6spd for 2.5 years, just paid it off actually. It’s been dead reliable, has all the power you can use on public roads, fits my bulky 6’1 250lb frame perfectly, turns reasonable mpgs, has a cavernous trunk, goes around corners pretty well, and has the classic muscle car look and feel. As said, for bombing through the desert for extended periods at illegal speeds, the Challenger is in its glory. It’s my only ride yet for all its reputation as a playtoy/ego-mobile, the Challenger is just a damn good car. When it comes time to upgrade, I’ll probably buy another. Plenty of my Mopar buddies 2-3 LX’s deep themselves.
A co worker leased a stick shift eco boost Stang last year and he tossed me the key for a spin. I took it to the nearest highway and slammed the gas… it didn’t impress me much.
Nice review! And nice scenery.
It’s very familiar to me, as I used to spend a lot of tie on it, including with my ’83 T-Bird Turbo Coupe, whose 2.3 L four had a whopping 145 hp! I used to have to go out to the tv station’s auxiliary studio in San Bernardino, and I’d often take the long way, over the whole spine of the San Gabriel mountains on the Angeles Crest Highway.
The Turbo Coupe was not quite ideal for that stretch, as its powerband was a bit narrow. But the TC handled well for the times. I really enjoyed my paid excursions on it.
This summer I took a trip to see my parents in Albuquerque, and I lucked out at the rental counter. I had the choice between a Nissan Frontier or a Ford Mustang. Since I had owned two previous Mustangs (2001 GT 5-speed convertible, 2006 GT 5-speed convertible), I obviously chose the Mustang.
As I walked out to the lot to the space where my white coupe was located, it was actually hidden behind the Frontier I could have had. The first thing I noticed was the refreshed front end, a new 2018 Mustang. Then I saw it, the 5.0L badge on the side! WOO HOO, a new 2018 GT Mustang with that wonderful Coyote 5.0L V8 engine. I was excited to be writing this pony out for the next few days. Of course, being a rental car I knew that it would be backed up by an automatic. In this case, it was the all new 10-speed automatic.
Did not like it! I was really disappointed with that automatic. The only thing I liked about it was the fuel economy it returned. I drove normally, and drove it like a rental car as well. Freeway, around town, and a blast up the backside of the Sandia mountains to the Sandia peak. With all of that, it returned an average of 24 mpg.
But that transmission is terrible. With moderate acceleration (say 50%), the car would get up to speed nicely. But once around the speed limit if felt like the trans was slipping as it would hunt down to find the appropriate gear for maximum efficiency. The same when it came time to downshift. Give it a little gas, and it felt like it would slip as it hunted to find the right gear for the amount of throttle given. There wasn’t any definitive downshifting and surge of RPM. The gears are just too closely spaced.
When I went up the backside of Sandia, on the very twisty road, it was much the same. I wanted spirited driving, and I could never really get a feel for controlling the car with the throttle. Sometimes it would shift early… sometimes it would hold the RPMs before downshifting. I switched over to sport mode, and that actually made it worse. The car would hold the RPMs way too long after letting off the gas before upshifting 2-3 gears. It was just all over the place.
Other than the serious letdown of the transmission, i loved the car. The V8 pulled strongly, and it handled really really well. I would consider getting one, but only as a manual. That auto sucked.
I had a similar experience Brain with a Charger back in the spring of 2015 when I went to Florida on vacation.
We lucked out with an upgrade to this car, and it came with a 292 hp V6, but it had an 8 speed automatic.
Like you, I loved the engine’s pull, but that transmission was awful as it tried to figure out what gear it should be in based on my throttle inputs. And the paddle shifters didn’t help much either.
And Florida is FLAT! I can’t even imagine how bad that would’ve been to drive on hilly terrain.
I guess you get used to it, but I much prefer only having 5 gears in my Mustang’s automatic. Heck, I’ll take my 2016 Civic’s CVT over one of these automatics with way too many speeds.
I’ve driven a variety of FCA vehicles with the 8speed auto (Pentastar V6 Challenger, 300, 5.7 Hemi Charger, Dakota, Ram, and my personal 3.0L EcoDiesel Ram)… and I haven’t had anywhere near the same hunting/slipping impression that I had with the Mustang. I think that the 8speed is the perfect combination of acceleration as well as fuel economy. I wish that there was an easy way to adapt it to my 6.1L Hemi in my Magnum.
Drive a newer Challenger with the 8 speed, there’s no “trying to figure out what gear to be in”, at least with an R/T or a 392 car. I drove an early V6 8 speed Challenger and I had no real complaints about it, but the programming is different in the new ones.I don’t see how it could be improved, to be honest, unless it could read your mind somehow. If you put it in manual sport mode and use the paddles, the shifts are almost instantaneous. And the auto will stomp all over the stick shift side by side. 3rd gear in the 8 speed is the same ratio as first gear is in the stick. If you hook it up, it flies.
The data points are starting to mount with me. The CAFE-hobbled cars of the early 80s were saddled with ridiculous axle ratios which made them total dogs. The trick for gaming the testing numbers these days is with the transmission. 10 speeds is just silly for anything with a moderately wide torque band.
Not to sound like a broken record, but therein lies the appeal of EVs: instant torque at any speed and no gears or shifting.
I used to try to convince you to drive a well-done downsized turbo; never mind. Just skip that obsolete technology and find a good EV to take for a drive.
The funny thing with Mustang interiors is every generation constantly gets heaps of praise for them upon debut, but once people actually experience it and live with it it suddenly hits the collective that they’re the same flimsy plastics as before with a different layout and finish. The current gen especially, unlike the 05 and 10 interiors which I thought looked great in press photos, the S550 just looked clunky and busy from the outset. First one I sat in I had similar disappointments in the faux aluminum switches, which truly looked the part but felt as light and flimsy as the faux aluminum controls on a 90s Sony boombox, and similarly I feel they’ll fatigue and break over time. I was also disappointed that the door cards are still hard plastic as well. I’m not a “soft touch” snob but these are the one thing I demand to be that. I agree with the preference of the Camaro and Challenger, both felt and looked better, but the ergonomics and ingress/egress is way more in the Challenger and Mustangs favor than the Chevy.
I’m not often so hot and cold on a car design as I am the 2015-current Mustangs. Generally I kind of find all Mustang generations good looking designs(even the IIs without the usual gingerbread brougham options/colors), but these new ones I can’t decide whether they’re sleek or blocky, retro or contemporary, clean or busy, etc. Closest historic Mustangs they remind me of is the 94-98 generation, but they’re much larger and (even)less practical. I don’t particularly like the morph the Mustang took from sporty car to sports car either, with mandatory fastback styling, V8s only available for pointlessly high power levels and big sticker prices. The 65-68s may not have been practical family cars but they were perfectly practical for singles in the notchback bodystyle, with a relatively normal trunk and full sized opening, with multiple levels of V8 power and affordable sticker prices.
I’ve driven a 15 EB everyday, for over 3 years and love it. A good set of winter tires, and it will handle a Southern Ontario winter no problem . The EB checks all the boxes for me , anyway.
Now for fun, and the sheer pleasure of driving this is my car of choice .
I did 2 weeks in Maine in July, and despite reserving an economy car, Avis gave me a virtual twin to this car, although perhaps it was a 2018. The agent practically begged me to take it, because they were running out of cars and everyone else wanted an SUV.
I’m not a pony car guy, so I managed to squeeze about 30mpg out of it, which was pretty impressive. I didn’t do a full rental car review on it because I simply didn’t find too much to write, certainly not as much as you guys.
My cousin had a turbo four Mustang rental while he was in the US last year nice enough car according to him and with the top down a nice cruiser, performance was weaker than the Alfa Romeo diesel he commutes in though, but you dont get the four and expect performance its all about the look of it. 0-60 in quick time is nice but what you want is acceleration from 60 on up, I think his was a 6 speed auto
I test drove a used 2.3 turbo Mustang in 1980 or 1981. I bought a V8 … Firebird that is. I find the idea of an EcoBoost 4 cylinder modern Mustang appealing, but just the idea. It either needs a diet, or a V8. And the more I think about the Challenger, the more appealing it seems. Perhaps even the V6 AWD version.
Interesting review on the car and interesting comments on the EcoBoost 2.3. On paper the engine seems to look good, i.e., around town where engine demand is not that great, seems to be adequate and economical. When power demand is needed, the turbo kicks in and deliver power as needed. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to work, yes?
Has the engine been reliable over the years? Does it require premium-grade gas? I read it seems to be happier on 91-octane gas diet and 87-octane gas seems to be the culprit of the engine problems.
I just traded in my 2015 Mustang– I other than not being able to use it as a 4 seater I’ll never say anything bad about it.
My buddy, who is a long time Mustang nut has owned two 2015 convertibles. The first was a white one with the 3.7 and automatic and the second one he currently has is the 2.3 with automatic in premium trim. The white one was sadly totalled. I got to drive both extensively and much prefer the V6. Now in all fairness he did modify the V6 with a performance exhaust and chip that made that car really move but i’m referring more to the power delivery, NVH characteristics and overall feel of the car. The V6 just had better drive-ability, moved off the line much better, sounded better, was smoother and quieter and actually got one better combined MPG at 24 overall. The 2.3 car seems to like settling into the 23 bracket in the same types of driving. Now he does use 87 octane gas with the 2.3 as he did with the 3.7 so that may have a little to do with the lower MPG and duller around town power.
But the thing that shocked me the most was the loud throbbing engine when first started in 40 degree weather that actually vibrates the steering wheel.
If given the choice between a 2015-2017 2.3 or 3.7 I would go the latter every time. Now I haven’t tried out a 2018/2019 with the fortified 2.3 and 10 speed which might help on the low end power issue and maybe better MPG so that needs further investigating.
I recently spent a week and 500 around-town miles in a rental 2018 Hemi Challenger R/T from the Hertz Adrenaline Collection, and I really liked it. When I made the reservation I was a little concerned I’d get one that had been flogged to death, but the one I got had only around 3k miles, was still very tight, and smelled new. Typically with a rental car it takes a while to get used to it and comfortable with the seat positions, switch locations, visibility, etc. Many times they never feel completely right and I’m not sad when it comes time to give it back, even “premium” rentals like the BMW 640 convertible I had a couple of months ago (very nice but just not “me”), but the R/T fit me like a glove right off the bat. I could easily see myself living with it as an every day vehicle.
I’m *semi* in the market for a new toy and the list of possibilities includes a new V8 pony car, but even though my first car was a ’69 SS 396 Camaro and I’ve had three older generation Mustangs over the years, of the new generation pony cars only the Challenger hits the sweet spot for me. Oddly enough, it’s the Challenger that most reminds me of my ’69 Camaro in size, profile, seating position, attitude, and overall feel. You’d think I’d be a natural customer for a new SS Camaro or at least a Mustang, but neither do anything for me. I don’t like their half-melted exterior shape, low seating position, poor visibility from the driver’s seat, or interior feel and layout. Other than the name, IMO they don’t have a lot in common with their classic ancestors. I know they’re the better handling cars of the three, but I prefer the more raw, brute feel of the Challenger. If I were going to get one, weighing cost against HP (bang for the buck) I’d probably go for a Scat Pack Shaker. To me, it’s the closest thing on the market to late ’60s/early ’70s Big Three muscle.
That being said, I’m having a hard time bringing myself to part with over $40k for any pony car. All three are so common on the streets here in CA, and there are so many great choices in the same price bracket with well-equipped, mid-range V8 pony cars that I suspect I’ll probably end up going in a different direction.
Having owned many V8 Mustangs and a current GT350, my ’15 EB 2.3 PP Mustang that I sold to my son, is actually the best for daily driving. The right now torque, light nose and excellent FE make it a keeper in our family. I was also able to do faster AutoX times vs a ’17 GT PP I had before the GT350. No problems, and winter driven (with proper tires natch).
Just remember the ecoboost was for the outside of usa as gas is a lot pricier than $4 a gallon or whatever it is – the mustang is generally at porsche pricing too and there are still plenty of bucket lists out there looking to tick owning a mustang off – regardless of engine