Tuesday 18th April 2017

Ford Mustang GT: PH Fleet

A month in and with the honeymoon period certainly over, the Mustang continues to impress actually

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Understandably, the Mustang has been rather in demand during its first month with us. It's one of those cars you want to have a go in, right? Pleasingly though, while this has been the case, there also appears to be more to the Mustang than simply the initial glitz.

Oh damn, do we have the wrong colour?

Video man Mitch was the first custodian I reluctantly had to surrender the keys to, his road testing instinct finely honed after the Duster epic. He reported back "an overarching sense of fun and ridiculousness" thanks mainly to that engine, but also said the traction control was "ludicrous" in the way it struggles to contain the power. In the car's defence it's fairly benign when it does move, although the threshold's lenience can be surprising when so many other systems are as draconian as they are.

Mitch did have a few grievances though, which I certainly share. None of the steering modes are great, rendering a choice between them rather redundant. The cupholders are in a terrible position, meaning you have to reach awkwardly around your Salted Toffee Macadamia Frappuccino to change gear. With the handbrake not moved from LHD either the problem is two-fold. Hardly the end of the world, but irritating nonetheless if you travel with a drink. Changing a radio station can be a lot of work too, though that's an accusation that can be levelled at many cars now.

The Mustang has a lot of endearing traits that I'm beginning to appreciate as well. The display in between the dials doesn't reset when you turn the car off, meaning the newly discovered oil temp gauge can stay there permanently. The Bluetooth and voice recognition have worked flawlessly so far, which does still elude many other systems. And the fuel filler - of course I'm familiar with that - requires the minimum of faff, with a simple cap and Ford's Easy Fuel neck. As if you might mistake it for a diesel...

Someone forgot the estate car memo

Fuel consumption at the moment is hovering around the 24mpg mark, which is entirely acceptable I think. Around town it's below 20, on the motorway it's nearly 30. There's not a cheap way to run eight cylinders!

Previously I had no issue with the Mustang's ride, simply accepting it as a little tough around town. Having driven an Alpina recently though, which was more supple despite less tyre profile and bigger wheels, the Mustang's relative lack of sophistication was exposed. It's not terrible, but there are better.

It levels out pretty well at speed though, and the Mustang is a supreme motorway car. As proven yesterday, when I pottered up the A1 for breakfast at an OK Diner. Just because it made some sense, and it's nice to drive on roads that aren't horrendously crowded. For two hours there and two hours back it was super relaxing, heated seat on and CarPlay cycling through podcasts. And Alan Partridge's Nomad, to provide some lighter listening. For those of you who have read it, you should know that the Mustang sounds to have a horn borrowed from the rest of the Ford range...

Seemed the right thing to do...

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of vicarious Mustang ownership at the moment though, beyond the noise, the look, the hooligan nature and those lovely seats, is people's response to it. Despite not a single external Mustang badge, people just know what it is. They point, they wave, they chat at petrol stations; indeed a young gent who may well have been born in this century said I had a "cool car bruv", which was most pleasing. Isn't it nice though, in an age where cars are often vilified, that a big old slice of US muscle can still make people smile?

It makes the person behind the wheel smile too, because it offers so much enjoyment at low commitment levels. It's the antithesis of so much on sale today, including the Focus RS in fact. What it's like at the limit we hope to find out this month with a track outing. Pray for the tyres...

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2017 Ford Mustang GT
On fleet since: March 2017
Mileage: 5,229 (delivered on 3,251)
List price new: £36,345 (£38,525 as tested comprising £595 for Lightning Blue paint, £795 for Shaker Pro premium audio system with navigation, £495 for Climate controlled seats and £295 for reverse parking sensors) 
Last month at a glance: Mustang continues its charm offensive!

Previous reports:
Who has that fuel card again? Hello Mustang!

[lee_erm]

"The Mustang's relative lack of sophistication was exposed"

Which part of the Mustang chassis is it which isn't sophisticated? They ride better than a big Audis in my experience; I've never heard an Audi chassis described as unsophisticated.