RE: Ford discontinues 2.3-litre Mustang in UK
Discussion
I did really fancy a Mustang when I bought my current car but I couldn't quite stretch to the V8 and although I looked at the Ecoboost version a few times I knew I would regret it the first time I came across the V8 version on the road so in the end I bought something different. Forme the Ecoboost in a Mustang is just wrong.
rockin said:
I love the way people like to diss the 2.3 Mustang - then jump into their Euro-weenie hatchback and potter to the shops.
Speak for yourself... After slagging off the 4-pot Mustang that admittedly no-one is forcing me to buy, I jump into my V8 Euro-saloon.I can see you own a Corvette - would you genuinely think it would have been a good decision if GM had offered the 4 cylinder from the Astra in that? Would you have bought it? Even if they'd tuned the nuts off it to produce the same power as the V8 it's just not in keeping with the car.
Problem was its in a Mustang body and everyone gets all bent out of shape and a Bit Rain Man "A Mustang must have a V8" about it`, despite as mentioned by previous posters there were loads of pretty lame Mustangs and the previous gen ones had less power than this as a V8, its a bit like everyone seems to think every Supra in the past was a single turbo modified 1000 bhp example, forgetting all the NA six auto Golf club chest wig chariots.
Had Ford done a slightly smaller coupe and maybe called it something like a "Capri" with the same power then don't think anyone would have complained, well they would have done but not about there being no V8.
Funny how all the comments about manhood, trousers and knob size come out, but mention a Sierra Cosworth, Lancia Integrale and loads of other stuff with much less powerful 4 cylinder engines and they get huge kudos, I get the heritage etc but not sure why a 4 cyl 300 odd bhp coupe is so derided.
I think the reality is probably that its a half decent car but too much in the shadow of the V8, which is in the shadow of the GT 350, which is in the Shadow of the GT 500 and then you will be told you should have bought a 911
Suspect the Mustang will be quietly dropped entirely from the UK fairly soon.
Had Ford done a slightly smaller coupe and maybe called it something like a "Capri" with the same power then don't think anyone would have complained, well they would have done but not about there being no V8.
Funny how all the comments about manhood, trousers and knob size come out, but mention a Sierra Cosworth, Lancia Integrale and loads of other stuff with much less powerful 4 cylinder engines and they get huge kudos, I get the heritage etc but not sure why a 4 cyl 300 odd bhp coupe is so derided.
I think the reality is probably that its a half decent car but too much in the shadow of the V8, which is in the shadow of the GT 350, which is in the Shadow of the GT 500 and then you will be told you should have bought a 911
Suspect the Mustang will be quietly dropped entirely from the UK fairly soon.
Mr Tidy said:
I'm not surprised they hardly sold any 4 cylinder ones in the UK - buying one of those would be like buying a Capri with a Pinto when there was a V6!
If I was buying a Mustang a manual V8 would be the only one I would want - that's what makes it unique.
Exactly, and thankfully the UK market demanded just that. If you want an ecobox automatic there’s plenty of options out there, but very few V8 manuals. If I was buying a Mustang a manual V8 would be the only one I would want - that's what makes it unique.
TREMAiNE said:
irocfan said:
NigelCayless said:
The trip computer on my V8 GT says i'm averaging 20.3mpg which doesn't seem too bad
Really, do you have a particularly heavy right foot? I have to say I'd expect more from it (for reference I'm averaging 22.5 out of my 6.2 Camaro which is a real porker)And on many 2-300 mile runs I've averaged 35-40mpg
I'm clearly not trying hard enough!
This reminds me of a comment made by my (then) 3 year old son.
We were on our way to Cornwall and had stopped off at some services.
A smart looking Mustang pulled up and reversed into the space across from us.
My son was interested and recognised that it was a mustang from his model car.
whether intentional or not, the drier blipped the throttle as he parked..... my son then remarked, “that’s not a V8!”
We were on our way to Cornwall and had stopped off at some services.
A smart looking Mustang pulled up and reversed into the space across from us.
My son was interested and recognised that it was a mustang from his model car.
whether intentional or not, the drier blipped the throttle as he parked..... my son then remarked, “that’s not a V8!”
Genuine Barn Find said:
This reminds me of a comment made by my (then) 3 year old son.
We were on our way to Cornwall and had stopped off at some services.
A smart looking Mustang pulled up and reversed into the space across from us.
My son was interested and recognised that it was a mustang from his model car.
whether intentional or not, the drier blipped the throttle as he parked..... my son then remarked, “that’s not a V8!”
Your son has very good taste! We were on our way to Cornwall and had stopped off at some services.
A smart looking Mustang pulled up and reversed into the space across from us.
My son was interested and recognised that it was a mustang from his model car.
whether intentional or not, the drier blipped the throttle as he parked..... my son then remarked, “that’s not a V8!”
I remember my dad coming home with a Mustang sales brochure(he had a 1979 V8 5.0 Mustang at the time) back in the 80's, I remember being genuinely disappointed to see that they also did a 4 cylinder version as well...because I only associated the Mustang for having a V8.
I think from then on I've always believed that an engine makes the car for me.
Mr Tidy said:
I'm not surprised they hardly sold any 4 cylinder ones in the UK - buying one of those would be like buying a Capri with a Pinto when there was a V6!
If I was buying a Mustang a manual V8 would be the only one I would want - that's what makes it unique.
But the Pinto engined Capri sold in bigger numbers over its life than the V6 did....If I was buying a Mustang a manual V8 would be the only one I would want - that's what makes it unique.
Personally I wouldn't buy a Mustang but I have driven a 2.3 fairly extensively, and truth be told there's nothing wrong with it.
I've never had so much attention driving a car as in that.
The V-8 burble was always part of the appeal. The eco-boost didn't cut it for most of the sort of people that buy a Ford Mustang.
I've only ever driven the V-6 of the previous generation back in 2014. It really wasn't too bad, and build quality felt better than the press gave it credit for. It just wasn't all that inspiring although it had more than adequate performance for most people's real-World driving. My guess is that much the same for the eco-boost cars. The same applies to the equivalent Camaro, which was also available with a turbocharged 4-cylinder and (at one points) the dreadful 3.6 litre ecotec V-6).
These American cars look very stylish, and actually drive fairly well. But they're poorly packaged (poor trunk space and useless rear seats), and usually have particularly poor wet-weather handling. It may seem boring, but a Golf GTI makes a much better choice most of the time. It'll be quicker from A to B, more economical, more practical and better to drive. It just won't look as good. And that's the point. These particular American cars are for poseurs. At least in the USA they're really cheap, and not that expensive to run. In the UK they make no sense really.
I've only ever driven the V-6 of the previous generation back in 2014. It really wasn't too bad, and build quality felt better than the press gave it credit for. It just wasn't all that inspiring although it had more than adequate performance for most people's real-World driving. My guess is that much the same for the eco-boost cars. The same applies to the equivalent Camaro, which was also available with a turbocharged 4-cylinder and (at one points) the dreadful 3.6 litre ecotec V-6).
These American cars look very stylish, and actually drive fairly well. But they're poorly packaged (poor trunk space and useless rear seats), and usually have particularly poor wet-weather handling. It may seem boring, but a Golf GTI makes a much better choice most of the time. It'll be quicker from A to B, more economical, more practical and better to drive. It just won't look as good. And that's the point. These particular American cars are for poseurs. At least in the USA they're really cheap, and not that expensive to run. In the UK they make no sense really.
I half toyed with one of these and was only after the 2.3 auto. I just wanted a convertible that was a bit different, wasn't interested in the noise, or the performance (live in the London area), but was interested in buying as cheap as possible and running it as cheap as possible. But I couldn't find a 2.3 auto convertible in grabber blue. Maybe they don't even make such a thing.
But the point is, there was a market for the 2.3, but clearly not a big enough one.
But the point is, there was a market for the 2.3, but clearly not a big enough one.
I've owned my supercharged S197 for 15 years and with suitable premium rubber, they handle just fine.
Ford used to fit rubbish tyres which would let the back end wander but there is no shortage of grip, wet or dry. I've never once had an unexpected slide, not even on track.
Of course it's not as chuckable as a hot hatch because it isn't a hot hatch and where a hot hatch might forgive your stupidity, any powerful rear wheel drive car will be less forgiving but that's usually the driver...
Genuine Barn Find said:
This reminds me of a comment made by my (then) 3 year old son.
We were on our way to Cornwall and had stopped off at some services.
A smart looking Mustang pulled up and reversed into the space across from us.
My son was interested and recognised that it was a mustang from his model car.
whether intentional or not, the drier blipped the throttle as he parked..... my son then remarked, “that’s not a V8!”
Sounds like he's on the right track!We were on our way to Cornwall and had stopped off at some services.
A smart looking Mustang pulled up and reversed into the space across from us.
My son was interested and recognised that it was a mustang from his model car.
whether intentional or not, the drier blipped the throttle as he parked..... my son then remarked, “that’s not a V8!”
otolith said:
Thought this was an account of a nasty trouser fly accident.
Alice Cooper dedicated a whole album to that particular hazard,https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zipper-Catches-Skin-Alice...
I think I speak for many an American car enthusiast when I say that the noise of the V8 is what first got me hooked (custom car show RAF Woodvale around 1978 - a black 57 Chevy)
I think Ford misread the U.K. market and thought that a turbo 4 would entice people out of their German ubersaloons but from what I can gather, any that were tempted went for the V8 to get the full experience (and then went to Mustangs forums to b
h abut the quality of the out of eyeline cabin plastics).
I think Ford misread the U.K. market and thought that a turbo 4 would entice people out of their German ubersaloons but from what I can gather, any that were tempted went for the V8 to get the full experience (and then went to Mustangs forums to b
h abut the quality of the out of eyeline cabin plastics).Chewbacca NE said:
I think I speak for many an American car enthusiast when I say that the noise of the V8 is what first got me hooked (custom car show RAF Woodvale around 1978 - a black 57 Chevy)
I often say to my friends that I should've been born in America, because I'm obsessed about the noise that a nice grumbly V8 makes for sure. I just love the noise they make and it makes me happy. 
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