RE: Ford Mustang GT: Driven

[PanzerCommander]

Fartgalen said:

I easily get 28 uk mpg out of my 5.0 2012 GT with mixed driving. 35 on the motorway/taking it easy.

What he said.

If you use the US figures converted to UK figures you will be as near as dammit. The book said mine would get 25mpg (US) at highway speeds. Guess what? before I swapped the 3.31:1 gears to 3.73:1 it did 25mpg at at 70mph on the cruise control. Driven daily to and from work it still gets the book figures (near enough) too.

Unless you are driving like a 17 year old chav in his dads Impreza all the time, the fuel economy should hit book figures (from my experience on a 2006 GT) without any problem at all, of course in stop start traffic any car that isn't a hybrid is going to have horrendous fuel economy.

[renorti]

I do hope it sells well enough for Ford {us} to start selling their cars over here.

[gt750boy]

One thing I forgot to mention. If you are over 6 foot tall the new Mustang is strictly a two seated, unless you know people with no legs at all. The front seat back up into the rear ones completely.

This is a thoroughly flawed car and I think there will be a lot of disappointed buyers in the UK, especially because I predict the residuals will be murderous. Don't do it to yourself. There are much better cars for the money, for whatever reason you would want one of these.

[wildatheart]

I have wanted to like -and almost bought- the new mustang since 2005, but what puts me off is the amount of exterior plastics used. Grilles, badges, panels, lights, it's all plastic and it continues all around the car. I know other more premium cars use much more plastic than they used to, but somehow it shows more on these US cars - it's the same with the Camaro. It's a reason they are cheap, I guess.

[unsprung]

gt750boy said:

One thing I forgot to mention. If you are over 6 foot tall the new Mustang is strictly a two seated, unless you know people with no legs at all. The front seat back up into the rear ones completely.

This is a thoroughly flawed car and I think there will be a lot of disappointed buyers in the UK, especially because I predict the residuals will be murderous. Don't do it to yourself. There are much better cars for the money, for whatever reason you would want one of these.

For a niche vehicle with a mere 1200 units available, your comments sound disproportionate.

Like many sport coupes, the Mustang rear seats are intended for use at a pinch. Few would cross-shop this car with a family hatch or saloon.

This is a forum for people who adore motors. With an abundance of logic visible to all, whom do you believe your criticism is helping?

[skyrover]

renorti said:

I do hope it sells well enough for Ford {us} to start selling their cars over here.

Indeed... here's a few examples we miss out on in the UK

[MikeT66]

foliedouce said:

Quinny said:

MajorMantra said:

I would love a go in one of these, but is there anyone that wouldn't feel a bit silly driving one in the UK? It's just a bit... brash.

I've got one on order, and couldn't really care less what anyone else thinks.... If others think it's brash it's their problem...

I bought it because I thought it was great value, different from the normal euro boxes, should be reliable, and cheap to service, and my big hope is that it puts a smile on my face when I drive it

I'm with you Quinny, can't wait for mine to arrive - best value car on the market on a fun v money equation

I hadn't considered it Brash, maybe that makes me brash!

I'm with Quinny and foliedouce here... apart from being able to afford one, that is!

I don't think it's brash - certainly no more so that a Merc 63AMG or equivalent BMW. To me it's just different - in a great way. Why do so many feel a need to 'impress' others with the badge on their car (see BMW/Audi, etc)?

I'd bloody love one of these. To all those who have put their order in - I wish I was one of you.

[DonkeyApple]

MikeT66 said:

foliedouce said:

Quinny said:

MajorMantra said:

I would love a go in one of these, but is there anyone that wouldn't feel a bit silly driving one in the UK? It's just a bit... brash.

I've got one on order, and couldn't really care less what anyone else thinks.... If others think it's brash it's their problem...

I bought it because I thought it was great value, different from the normal euro boxes, should be reliable, and cheap to service, and my big hope is that it puts a smile on my face when I drive it

I'm with you Quinny, can't wait for mine to arrive - best value car on the market on a fun v money equation

I hadn't considered it Brash, maybe that makes me brash!

I'm with Quinny and foliedouce here... apart from being able to afford one, that is!

I don't think it's brash - certainly no more so that a Merc 63AMG or equivalent BMW. To me it's just different - in a great way. Why do so many feel a need to 'impress' others with the badge on their car (see BMW/Audi, etc)?

I'd bloody love one of these. To all those who have put their order in - I wish I was one of you.

I tend to agree also. I know what the OP is saying and a few years ago I think I would have agreed wholeheartedly.

But in 2015 we live in a world where brash is the norm. Base diesels have body kits and fake pipes etc, people paint their skin to look like a council fence.

I suspect today, this car will look quite plain next to many of the monstrosities that are transporting future reality TV vegetables about.

Of course, this all goes out the window should the owner succumb to having a driving 'uniform' for their 'Stang.

[RobinOakapple]

HeMightBeBanned said:

RobinOakapple said:

Steering wheel is on the wrong side...

Do you live on the moon?

If I lived on the moon it wouldn't matter.

I see a lot of LHD American cars being driven on UK roads. A lot of people really like American stuff and drive it over here no matter how out of context it is.

[SturdyHSV]

RobinOakapple said:

If I lived on the moon it wouldn't matter.

I see a lot of LHD American cars being driven on UK roads. A lot of people really like American stuff and drive it over here no matter how out of context it is.

And those people can still buy an imported American car like they have been for decades? Whereas now, people who think having a LHD car will be impossible to survive, can also buy a Mustang in RHD should they desire such a thing

[dxbtiger]

Quite a few of these on the roads here now, as an S197 owner I always maintained I drove the best looking 'new' Mustang produced, until I saw this, I LOVE the rear.

I've put over 125'000 kms on mine over 6 years old ownership and the only bill it's thrown at me other than consumables was about 1000 quid, it's been remarkably trouble free in pretty harsh conditions.

I'm due a change at some point soon, think I might be over the Mustang thing now, unless I go to a gt500 but this new one remains a lovely proposition for the roads (and petrol prices) over here.

[Quinny]

gt750boy said:

One thing I forgot to mention. If you are over 6 foot tall the new Mustang is strictly a two seated, unless you know people with no legs at all. The front seat back up into the rear ones completely.

This is a thoroughly flawed car and I think there will be a lot of disappointed buyers in the UK, especially because I predict the residuals will be murderous. Don't do it to yourself. There are much better cars for the money, for whatever reason you would want one of these.

Residuals don't matter.....how many people buy a new Aston at £90k only to sell it 3 years later at £50k??

I bought a 4 year old vantage in 2010 for £38k......the original invoice was for just over £90k.....it had done 12k miles...
The original owner lost £52000 quid in 4 years, and had only done 3000 miles a year.......he didn't give a monkeys, and the only reason he was selling, was that his new Aston was on order...

As for better cars for the money....feel free to name a few........with a V8 and over 400bhp

[croyde]

I've had my BMW for 16 years now and I intend to keep the Mustang when it finally arrives.

Edited by croyde on Tuesday 12th May 10:49

[scherzkeks]

That styling is a major let-down. I think I see some BMW lines in there. For shame.

If I still lived in the States and wanted American muscle, I'd have a Challenger on the drive.

[MadDog1962]

Phil Dicky said:

RobinOakapple said:

Steering wheel is on the wrong side...

Except the UK cars it isn't .

Correct. They're also selling it in Australia where LHD cars are not allowed. The Aussies are very excited about it.

Hopefully the trim will be better than the usual American products (the previous generation Mustangs and the Camaro were a bit disappointing).

[croyde]

I've sat in a new GT and have to say that I was very impressed with the interior but that said, the last new car that I owned for a short while was a 987 Boxster in 2005 so I'm easily pleased

I have to say that I think the interior of the new GT is better than my old 987.

I've owned an older American modernish Ford so I know where you are coming from.

[leighc]

I don't see why it would look that brash when there are plenty of bright orange Elise/Exige/GT3's driving about....

I'd have one in a heartbeat

[MadDog1962]

Skater12 said:

PH'ers will always want to go and opt for a manual over an american slush-box, unless a decent dual-cluth system comes in time.

I've driven a number of 'stangs over the years during visits to the US and based on those experieces i'd actually go for an auto over a manual.
This of course is only if you've opted for the 5.0 V8. Good 'ol boys style.

I had a go in the outgoing model, 4.0 litre V6 auto, 2012. It was really pretty good performance wise. Of course the V8 is more impressive but from memory the V6 had more than 300hp so it wasn't exactly slow. Ride was well suited to Texas roads, but it would feel unwieldy in the UK I think. The back seat is pathetic considering the footprint on the road.

[croyde]

Everyone told me not to get a big Ford V8 sedan as it was underpowered and even in a straight line it would need all 3 lanes of the motorway as the handling and suspension were so bad.

I still went ahead and it was a real laugh. Nothing like a 5.5m long and 2m wide car to bully through the London traffic and OK it didn't handle like my BMW but it was happy cruising at the NSL and err above. It was a bit nervous as the steering was so light but you get used to it.

Also it was bloody fast off the lights for a 2 ton lump.

Journos are used to a diet of top of the range Mercs/BMWs/Audis/VWs and Porsches and seem to have forgotten how to drive lesser, cheaper cars and just slag them off. Although saying that, I've yet to read a damning review from any of the Brits that have been over to drive the Euro version of the Mustang. Some didn't like the smaller engine.

The Mustang is no bigger than a lot of the cars on our streets, it's 3ins longer than a new M3 and more importantly to me it is 3ins slimmer and almost a metre shorter than my dear departed Mercury

[R8VXF]

I really do prefer the lines of the previous generation mustang to this. Also, really not certain on the interior from the photos if I am honest. Compare this:

to the VXR8:


Also, that handbrake, what were they thing!? (I know, I know, I have an electronic handbrake in the GTS, so no handbrake turns for me)

I do understand why people would go for this though if you like the looks. Who am I to judge other peoples perspective. It would be cool to say that you own one, as 99% of the population know what one is. Very few people know what a VXR8 is, so the explanations can get a little tedious. Until you get situations like last night when I was in front of a few Harleys in traffic and we had a bit of a rev off The smiles it brings to my face are immense.

Also, to those who have questioned why VX are only selling low volume, they are only allowed to import max 100 of this model due to fleet emissions regulations iirc which IMO will enable them to hold their price a lot better due to rarity than the 'stang will.

Hope to see some of you at a Sunday Service or V8UK meet at some point and compare notes