RE: Ford discontinues 2.3-litre Mustang in UK
Discussion
I had an ecoboost rental in North California around 2 years back, had the 10 speed auto. Took it up my some of my favourite roads over there (mount hamilton) and whilst it handled well I just found it infinitely frustrating.
The ecoboost engine felt weak and strained, especially at altitude and the noise was a disappointment. The gearbox just had way too many ratios, great round town and cruising but when out for a real drive you were just permanently swapping cogs and it never felt happy. I had the fore bearer to that engine around a year prior in my 6 MPS (2.3 DISI that was then further developed to create the ecoboost) which kind of worked in a 4wd manual saloon - it had been turned up to over 400bhp though. In the Mustang it just left me frustrated to be honest.
I’ve taken a number of cars over the same bits of roads including Camaro S/S, Challenger R/T, Viper RT/10 and a Dodge RAM Hemi. Despite most of these being dynamically worse cars, even the Ram was a more memorable/enjoyable experience!
The amount of times it went into a reduced power mode due to heat was ridiculous too. Granted it was a hot day, a windy road and altitude but still for a brand new car in a standard state of tune it was pretty disappointing.
Good riddance. I imagine all my issues would have been solved with an N/A V8 and manual box.
The ecoboost engine felt weak and strained, especially at altitude and the noise was a disappointment. The gearbox just had way too many ratios, great round town and cruising but when out for a real drive you were just permanently swapping cogs and it never felt happy. I had the fore bearer to that engine around a year prior in my 6 MPS (2.3 DISI that was then further developed to create the ecoboost) which kind of worked in a 4wd manual saloon - it had been turned up to over 400bhp though. In the Mustang it just left me frustrated to be honest.
I’ve taken a number of cars over the same bits of roads including Camaro S/S, Challenger R/T, Viper RT/10 and a Dodge RAM Hemi. Despite most of these being dynamically worse cars, even the Ram was a more memorable/enjoyable experience!
The amount of times it went into a reduced power mode due to heat was ridiculous too. Granted it was a hot day, a windy road and altitude but still for a brand new car in a standard state of tune it was pretty disappointing.
Good riddance. I imagine all my issues would have been solved with an N/A V8 and manual box.
Had a rental auto 2.3 mustang for over 3000 miles In california all sorts of driving conditions.
Gearbox frustrating.
Engine lacking
Drama lacking
Mpg, not great
Felt like an imposter.
Had a v8 auto for 750 miles in california, all sorts of roads.
Would have preferred manual by a country mile. However it it was far far more enjoyable and the Mpg difference was negligible.
My 68 5.8 fastback manual however... Has them both licked.
Edited for questioning myself not expressing myself
Gearbox frustrating.
Engine lacking
Drama lacking
Mpg, not great
Felt like an imposter.
Had a v8 auto for 750 miles in california, all sorts of roads.
Would have preferred manual by a country mile. However it it was far far more enjoyable and the Mpg difference was negligible.
My 68 5.8 fastback manual however... Has them both licked.
Edited for questioning myself not expressing myself
Edited by FaustF on Friday 5th March 05:59
Edited by FaustF on Friday 5th March 06:03
I love the way people like to diss the 2.3 Mustang - then jump into their Euro-weenie hatchback and potter to the shops.
Sadly its probably the beginning of the end for all Mustangs in Europe. After all, the V8 isn't exactly "on trend" in a market increasingly committed to electrification.
Sadly its probably the beginning of the end for all Mustangs in Europe. After all, the V8 isn't exactly "on trend" in a market increasingly committed to electrification.
rockin said:
Sadly its probably the beginning of the end for all Mustangs in Europe. After all, the V8 isn't exactly "on trend" in a market increasingly committed to electrification.
The future is definitely dog turd for sure. I was gutted when the new 400Z was canned for Europe, and the V8 Mustang is(was) at least a bit of a ray of light. An Electric future is about as exciting as watching paint dry for me.
Wheel_Turned_Out said:
Bennet said:
Well, I must be the only PH member who would have actually opted for the 4 cylinder if I were buying one.
I know the V8 sounds fantastic, but I tend to find I prefer the response and involvement you get from a 4 cylinder. (Or used to...)
All this stuff about the 2.3 being the equivalent of trouser stuffing is risible. Buying any Mustang, particularly the V8, is dangerously akin to trouser stuffing. It's called a "muscle car" for a reason. That's why people buy them.
Not really the point of the metaphor, as clunky as it was, though was it? I know the V8 sounds fantastic, but I tend to find I prefer the response and involvement you get from a 4 cylinder. (Or used to...)
All this stuff about the 2.3 being the equivalent of trouser stuffing is risible. Buying any Mustang, particularly the V8, is dangerously akin to trouser stuffing. It's called a "muscle car" for a reason. That's why people buy them.
The idea was it has muscle car looks, without the growl to match it
No. Jut no.
ZX10R NIN said:
Ford missed a trick by not putting the Barra engine in this car.
would have diluted sales of a niche car even further no, while being neither one thing or the other, ie too juicy for the turbo4 girls and too "not a V8" for the men.A mustang (especially so in the UK) is a specific kind of indulgence, having one without a V8 burble would be like PG rated porn, or being served low-alcohol lager on a Friday night.
Teddy Lop said:
ZX10R NIN said:
Ford missed a trick by not putting the Barra engine in this car.
would have diluted sales of a niche car even further no, while being neither one thing or the other, ie too juicy for the turbo4 girls and too "not a V8" for the men.A mustang (especially so in the UK) is a specific kind of indulgence, having one without a V8 burble would be like PG rated porn, or being served low-alcohol lager on a Friday night.
FaustF said:
Had a rental auto 2.3 mustang for over 3000 miles In california all sorts of driving conditions.
Gearbox frustrating.
Engine lacking
Drama lacking
Mpg, not great
Felt like an imposter.
Had a v8 auto for 750 miles in california, all sorts of roads.
Would have preferred manual by a country mile. However it it was far far more enjoyable and the Mpg difference was negligible.
My 68 5.8 fastback manual however... Has them both licked.
Edited for questioning myself not expressing myself
Same, we had one for two weeks in California and perfect summary. We had a V8, but it literally felt dangerous, steering was as loose as gandalfs sleeve, brakes felt poor, pullign to the right. We gave it back next day as we had sGearbox frustrating.
Engine lacking
Drama lacking
Mpg, not great
Felt like an imposter.
Had a v8 auto for 750 miles in california, all sorts of roads.
Would have preferred manual by a country mile. However it it was far far more enjoyable and the Mpg difference was negligible.
My 68 5.8 fastback manual however... Has them both licked.
Edited for questioning myself not expressing myself
Edited by FaustF on Friday 5th March 05:59
Edited by FaustF on Friday 5th March 06:03
t load of driving to do, and the 2.3 was the only one they had. More agile but soo sterile. I really hope the extra power in the focus transformed the enginesilva bika said:
998420 said:
Like going to a nightclub with 10 spare socks stuffed down your trousers, a 4 cylinder (or electric) Mustang may seem like a good idea initially, but its useless when you try to have any real fun
You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers
I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..
Dripping your trousers usually puts wimen off - so I'm told.......You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers
I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..
ddom said:
The V6 Mustang was bad enough, a 4 pot which pops and farts has no place in a muscle car IMO. Can’t believe they delivered the 2.3 when total Mustang sales over here aren’t going to be huge? What’s the ratio against the V8?
The Mustang is a pony car, not a muscle car. Pony cars started with 4 cylinder engines and grew into their V8s. The majority of Mustang sales, throughout its long history, have been four and six cylinder cars.These lesser models were always cheap and low spec with speed limiters, cheap tyres and not even a rear anti-roll bar. However, rather like SUVs permit 911s to continue, the cheap fodder permitted V8 s to be made. Only thanks to the Americans does the Mustang still exist - Ford tried to replace it with the Probe.
In the UK, the Ecoboost accounted for 15% of sales so Ford decided they could probably lose those few sales even though it seems to me that the price differential probably means those buyers wouldn't buy the V8.
It is not the equivalent of a Capri 1.3. 310hp was not to be sniffed at but modern emissions equipment take away any voice a 4 pot may have.
The Mustang has been a big success for Ford - best selling sports car in the world in 2017 but you can bet they weren't all V8s, especially in Europe. Sadly, the coupe, as a breed is on the decline and Mustang sales in Europe appear to be on the decline.
hyphen said:
998420 said:
Like going to a nightclub with 10 spare socks stuffed down your trousers, a 4 cylinder (or electric) Mustang may seem like a good idea initially, but its useless when you try to have any real fun
You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers
I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..
But women visit nightclubs with wonderbra's and pull You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers
I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..
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