RE: Ford discontinues 2.3-litre Mustang in UK
Discussion
MadDog1962 said:
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 have no problem getting both my kids in the back of Mustang. And the boot is big enough for a buggy, travel cot and a couple of good sized weekend bags.Re your comparison with a Golf GTI, agree not much difference A to B but a V8 manual RWD is a totally different driving experience and for me far more enjoyable. And they are cheap to run in the UK. £140 a year tax, £250 a service and unless you do big mileage they aren't even that bad on fuel.
Fair enough they aren't your cup of tea, but to dismiss anyone that does like them as a poseur is pretty narrow minded.
CaptainSensib1e said:
V8 manual RWD. And they are cheap to run in the UK. £140 a year tax
Hang on a minute, that must surely be a US import with LHD?? This thread is principally about UK market cars in RHD and whilst I don't know the annual road tax I'll be staggered if a V8 can be taxed for £140 p.a.
rockin said:
Hang on a minute, that must surely be a US import with LHD?? This thread is principally about UK market cars in RHD and whilst I don't know the annual road tax I'll be staggered if a V8 can be taxed for £140 p.a.
Nope. UK supplied car in RHD. Any Mustang registered after 1 April 2017 costing less than £40k is only that much to tax.
cerb4.5lee said:
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. 
CaptainSensib1e said:
MadDog1962 said:
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 have no problem getting both my kids in the back of Mustang. And the boot is big enough for a buggy, travel cot and a couple of good sized weekend bags.Re your comparison with a Golf GTI, agree not much difference A to B but a V8 manual RWD is a totally different driving experience and for me far more enjoyable. And they are cheap to run in the UK. £140 a year tax, £250 a service and unless you do big mileage they aren't even that bad on fuel.
Fair enough they aren't your cup of tea, but to dismiss anyone that does like them as a poseur is pretty narrow minded.
GTEYE said:
But the Pinto engined Capri sold in bigger numbers over its life than the V6 did....
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.
True, I don't know why Pinto Capris outsold V6s. I never wanted one - might as well pay less for a Cortina that's just as quick! 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.
I'm sure you got plenty of attention in a Mustang that colour, until you started the engine and everyone cringed for you.
Loads of Pinto-engined Capri owners probably got attention in Ford "Signal" colours in the 70s, but not because of the sound-track!
It's a balance of Show and Go after all.
LuS1fer said:
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.
Apart from American car nerds it’s known, rightly or wrongly as a muscle car. The only 4 cylinder one I have heard sounded wrong, and it’s irrelevant if it’s a ‘better, Capri 1.3GL because that’s still the spot on comparison, 300HP or not. These, and the similarly disappointing rental spec V6 aren’t much cheaper to run, sound dull and miss the cars USP. You buy one because it offers a V8 experience and a throw back to the American way, you’re not going to tempt buyers out of the usual suspects just because it’s a slightly lower tax bracket or returns 2-3 more mpg. 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.
The correct Mustang configuration is a supercharged V8, preferably a Rousch.
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..
ddom said:
you’re not going to tempt buyers out of the usual suspects just because it’s a slightly lower tax bracket or returns 2-3 more mpg.
How about because it's 95kg lighter up front?For a driving enthusiasts' website there's a lot of prattle about sound and not a lot about driving...
FA57REN said:
How about because it's 95kg lighter up front?
For a driving enthusiasts' website there's a lot of prattle about sound and not a lot about driving...
For me the best drivers cars don't actually offer the sound bit(Caterham/Elise etc), so this is where cars like the V8 Mustang really appeal to me. Even at 95kg lighter the 4 cylinder Mustang will still be a heavy car and not something that you'd throw down a twisty back road. So you still end up with a big heavy car that only has an engine from a shopping car...and that just doesn't make sense to me. For a driving enthusiasts' website there's a lot of prattle about sound and not a lot about driving...
I'd want the V8 Mustang for the noise and the history/legacy that it offers. When I think of a Mustang I think of a V8 5.0 engine...not a poxy 4 pot(I've already got one of them in my Mini!).
FA57REN said:
How about because it's 95kg lighter up front?
For a driving enthusiasts' website there's a lot of prattle about sound and not a lot about driving...
I found it handled nicely but was let down by the lack of grunt (the convertible I had was a pretty heavy car) and the gearbox that wouldn’t settle just exasperated the issue. The sound also just distracted. Don’t get me wrong though it was still more fun than your typical rental, it just didn’t click for me.For a driving enthusiasts' website there's a lot of prattle about sound and not a lot about driving...
I think the Evo review sums it up pretty well - 90% as good as the V8. But it’s that last 10% that gives the car it’s character.
They do also touch on the slight advantage the ecoboost has on turn in but that any advantage it has is lost to the adjustability of the V8. Having not driven them back to back I can’t really form my own opinion on this though.
For me a mustang is never going to be the last word in driving dynamics, which is fine! I do however expect it to be characterful, and the ecoboost didn’t quite deliver.
I have a v8 convertible . Drove an eco in America and it did go quite well if you put the pedal to the floor, found it hard work. The v8 can go up an incline without dropping a gear ! But that’s no surprise.
When the new v8 with two leccy motors on the front is available, I will most certainly pop down a deposit.
When the new v8 with two leccy motors on the front is available, I will most certainly pop down a deposit.
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