Brit Mustang buyers favour V8s...
...but lose 5hp with a more constricted exhaust manifold to clear the RHD steering gear
You sense there's a 'but' coming don't you? And it comes in the form of a letter from Ford to those who did go for the V8, already discussed amongPHers who have orders in for a Mustang. The long and the short of it is that the conversion from left- to right-hand drive has robbed the V8 of 5hp after a new, more constrictive exhaust manifold had to be designed to clear the steering gear. Yes, you'd have thought someone might have considered that sooner in the development process but seemingly not.
Ford UK's marketing director has 'fessed up in the letter concerned, admitting "this has had a small impact on peak power at the very top of the engine's range. The power of the V8 GT models is now officially rated at 306kW (416hp) for the UK and not as previously communicated 310kW (421hp)." Oops. "Torque, acceleration and fuel consumption are not affected," says the letter. Nor, it states, are engine sound or power delivery.
PHers in the thread seem relatively sanguine about it, crediting Ford with being upfront about the changes. "For me this is a fairly positive communication from Ford at a time when we need it most," says a fairly typical comment from steiom. "Now get my car built, on that boat and stop writing letters!" Modding is, of course, a big part of Mustang culture and it seems the biggest concern would be whether or not aftermarket manifolds will clear the steering gear though, as one PHer points out, "I have a grinder and a welder and I know how to use 'em!"
Whatever the impact (or not) on the performance of the car it's clear there is a lot of excitement about the Mustang's arrival in the UK and plenty of PHers keenly awaiting their cars. We've put our hands up for an early drive on home turf - watch this space.
At Goodwood I was expecting there to be at least a couple of these to have a poke around in but no, just the one that was cordoned off with railings 5ft away from it and someone keeping an eye on the car at all times.
When asked why I couldn't even peer through the window to see if my daughter would stand a chance of fitting in the back all I got was "sorry, no ones allowed near it, Ford UK won't allow anyone to get close to one until the RHD ones are available.
Wandered over to the shelby stall (who had THREE mustangs!) and told them about the Ford stall. Guy immediately got the keys to his LHD mustang and let me have a look around it.
Emailed ford uk to ask why such a poor show, especially considering Shelby were so accommodating and got nothing in reply.
So my money went on a used RS6 instead. very different cars but my only constraint was it had to be a V8 or bigger, modern with toys and fast!
At Goodwood I was expecting there to be at least a couple of these to have a poke around in but no, just the one that was cordoned off with railings 5ft away from it and someone keeping an eye on the car at all times.
When asked why I couldn't even peer through the window to see if my daughter would stand a chance of fitting in the back all I got was "sorry, no ones allowed near it, Ford UK won't allow anyone to get close to one until the RHD ones are available.
Wandered over to the shelby stall (who had THREE mustangs!) and told them about the Ford stall. Guy immediately got the keys to his LHD mustang and let me have a look around it.
Emailed ford uk to ask why such a poor show, especially considering Shelby were so accommodating and got nothing in reply.
So my money went on a used RS6 instead. very different cars but my only constraint was it had to be a V8 or bigger, modern with toys and fast!
It may be a more rounded package than before, but people are still drawn to the Mustang as a big brash muscle car. I certainly am. Ordering that with an inline four would be like asking for a Jager bomb with orange squash in place of Red Bull.
Oh and this one has 700bhp so it's got enough to keep me interested for a while!
Reason being, chances of this being a success here are low. V8 anything doesn't really sell well in the UK these days. So there is a high chance Ford will can the RHD model, or at least for the UK. When they do this, they'll no longer care about parts support either.
So buying these RHD manifolds will likely become impossible or stupidly expensive in years to come. Along with all the E-marked items the Euro models have that their US cousins don't.
And obviously you can forget about some nice long tube headers from the States for your Euro model too. And likely many of the bolt on mods, which frankly is part of the appeal of such cars.
Oh and this one has 700bhp so it's got enough to keep me interested for a while!
But when Nissan struggle to shift the 370z in the UK and the Monaro/VXR8 managed to sell just enough to not keep people interested, things don't exactly look promising.
Don't get me wrong, nothing would please me more than to see it being a success. I just highly doubt it will be.
But when Nissan struggle to shift the 370z in the UK and the Monaro/VXR8 managed to sell just enough to not keep people interested, things don't exactly look promising.
Don't get me wrong, nothing would please me more than to see it being a success. I just highly doubt it will be.
If Ford had even acknowledged my email query I would have remained interested but seeing as they couldn't be bothered to get back to me (nearly 3 months now) I figured they must have sold out completely and therefore not needed my business.
"WTF", I thought, "It'll struggle to pull the skin off a rice pudding and Nuns in Micras will burn me off at the lights whilst giving me the finger"... Not for me!
I bought a fat German saloon instead...
M
PS Some of the above may be true...
But when Nissan struggle to shift the 370z in the UK and the Monaro/VXR8 managed to sell just enough to not keep people interested, things don't exactly look promising.
Don't get me wrong, nothing would please me more than to see it being a success. I just highly doubt it will be.
Excuse me while I pick mysylf up off the floor.
Excuse me while I pick mysylf up off the floor.
I currently own a Euro spec 4th Gen Camaro, sold 1998-2002 at selected Vauxhall dealers. It's a great car, but too many "Euro" only E-marked bits, that GM simply don't care about.
Door mirrors, rear lights, fog lights, bumpers, etc.
Last time I checked a door Euro door mirror if you could find one was £1000-1200!!!! While a US spec one is about $100.
Not only that, dealers over here just aren't familiar with engines and transmission used by the US market. Basically the last place I'd take my Camaro was a GM dealer in the UK.
I can't see Ford being any better.
Buying brand new with the intention of selling it in 3 years time, you don't really have to care or worry about such things. But cars like this are beyond my budget to buy new. So I'd be looking at the used market.
For the record I'd not buy a Euro spec Corvette or 5th Gen Camaro either. I'd buy a LHD US spec import.
I currently own a Euro spec 4th Gen Camaro, sold 1998-2002 at selected Vauxhall dealers. It's a great car, but too many "Euro" only E-marked bits, that GM simply don't care about.
Door mirrors, rear lights, fog lights, bumpers, etc.
Last time I checked a door Euro door mirror if you could find one was £1000-1200!!!! While a US spec one is about $100.
Not only that, dealers over here just aren't familiar with engines and transmission used by the US market. Basically the last place I'd take my Camaro was a GM dealer in the UK.
I can't see Ford being any better.
Buying brand new with the intention of selling it in 3 years time, you don't really have to care or worry about such things. But cars like this are beyond my budget to buy new. So I'd be looking at the used market.
For the record I'd not buy a Euro spec Corvette or 5th Gen Camaro either. I'd buy a LHD US spec import.
Excuse me while I pick mysylf up off the floor.
I currently own a Euro spec 4th Gen Camaro, sold 1998-2002 at selected Vauxhall dealers. It's a great car, but too many "Euro" only E-marked bits, that GM simply don't care about.
Door mirrors, rear lights, fog lights, bumpers, etc.
Last time I checked a door Euro door mirror if you could find one was £1000-1200!!!! While a US spec one is about $100.
Not only that, dealers over here just aren't familiar with engines and transmission used by the US market. Basically the last place I'd take my Camaro was a GM dealer in the UK.
I can't see Ford being any better.
Buying brand new with the intention of selling it in 3 years time, you don't really have to care or worry about such things. But cars like this are beyond my budget to buy new. So I'd be looking at the used market.
For the record I'd not buy a Euro spec Corvette or 5th Gen Camaro either. I'd buy a LHD US spec import.
Fwiw I nearly went with V8 manual coupe in Guards with black interior. Surprised racing red is the favourite colour tbh....
Edited to add, had they released the GT350 in RHD I probably would have pulled the trigger, but will now wait and see what the new Cossie TVR has to offer.....
I think the Mustang actually looks quite practical to a lot of people as well. Four decent seats and a usable boot.
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