Currrently enjoying a 3 week long test drive in a sunny state. Yes - work is getting in the way but it's not so bad really.

So the newest Mustangs? I had a brief drive in the base V6 convertible - it sounds nice and if you put the spurs to it it's pretty quick with 300bhp. I also did about 20 miles in the base Ecoboost turbo 4. That has a little more oomph, but a flat engine note and less charisma (prices I wasn't happy to pay for 10% more mpg).

On a positive note, both dropheads have snug roofs, and are big enough to seat 4 adults for an evenings cruise, as long as none of you are very tall.

Anyway I had the chance to swap for a V8 Premium coupe, and jumped at it. Why? Well the V8 has over 100bhp more than the others, it sounds great even with the standard pipes and...I'm not paying for the

fuel. So V8 = more power (at a cost of around $6000) but Premium adds loads too (for another $4000) - Full leather in a choice of colours. Auto heated/cooled seats. Dual zone climate. Media Upgrade. Reversing camera. 3 steering modes. 4 engine/gearbox modes. Line lock (for burnouts) or Launch control (depending on Auto/Manual gearbox choice). Customiseable dash/ambient/kickplate lights. Sequential indicators. Xenons. Etc. Tick that Premium box! Oh and I forgot the pointless indicators inside the bonnet top vents that can only be seen from inside the car! Nice touch that. Like it.

Next...How does it go?

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

Well it goes quite quickly.

For starters I love the remote start feature - not only can you hear the V8 burble but the aircon can be set to come on at this point and get it cool. And then we're off. First impression the bonnet is huge and high, but the steering is nicely weighted, the 6 speed auto is smooth(in normal mode for sure) and the brakes are fine at sane speeds.

It is a lot of fun pootling around town, it's got masses of grunt for the freeway, and the most shocking thing, for a yank, it handles on roads with curves. I love town though with all the Traffic lights. In Normal mode it's a lot of fun. At the next light try Sport+ with more revs and quicker shifts - that makes your passengers swear a bit and annoys the guy in the next lane even more. So then treat them to Track mode. This bins the traction control and gives the gearchange control to the paddles - windows open, stereo muted just to hear the V8, After a few seconds of warp drive, now we find the brakes need a big shove for the next red light. Not too confidence inspiring. But the ECU blipping the V8 on the downshifts makes you grin. Honestly, it's hilarious, if sometimes a little heart stopping when the traction control is slow to catch a sideways moment. I look forward to trying a car with the Performance Package option, which has even more lenient TC...

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

This fun and games does cost though. Only driving in town, with occasional fun gets the mpg under 20 with ease. Lots of fun as per the previous post gets it under 15! This is somewhat balanced out by my commute of 100 miles a day along a cop-infested freeway, where the limit +10% (so 77mph) gives a very welcome 25mpg (and for a Brit gallon thats 30mpg in real money) Thankfully gas prices are down this year.

If it was my car I'd be concerned about the tyre costs as well 255/50R18 P Zero are surely not cheap and they are probably not going to last long at the Traffic Light Grand Prix. Mine have done 9000 rental miles, and whilst they look good and tready, and are fine in the dry, It so wants to spin at T-junctions in the wet. Luckily there is a Rain/Snow mode for the ECU, whuch blunts throttle response and shifts to make the beast controlable again.

Going to the US on holiday? For a family of 4 this is the only way to travel, although a GT Premium Convertible would trump it if available. The boot will take 2 reasonable suitcases too, so rent one and lie to your partner - there were no MPV's left dear...

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

Forgot to comment on comfort.

The leather seats in the front both adjust every way and are really good. Those in the back are fine if the legroom is shared by those up front. 6 footers coud probably only manage short trips in the back though.

The ride on 18's is really good, probably not Citroen/Jag good, but better than most things I've driven in the last 10 years.

The car is also quiet (but only when you want it to be).

To sum up, if I end up working out here full time in future, I'm definitley leasing one.

Today I found a Mountain road that was like driving a video game! (One of the Burnout series I think) About a 20 mile stretch over the top at about 9000 feet linking 2 canyons. The speed limit was pegged at 40, but it's midweek, not tourist season and there were no plods so I let rip in the Mustang. It really has got some go - hitting 120 on any decent straight. The paddle gearshift is smooth and quick in Sport+ or Track modes and the brakes seemed fine when warmed up. I did find the ESP intrusive - entering corners on a trailing throttle it seemed that individual brake applications were being done to adjust my line when not necessary in my book. If anything it made the car feel less stable, and knocked my confidence a little. I know the tyre pressures aren't bang on, but considering how lazy the TC/ESP is at town speeds, it was a bit annoying to have it police my fun when going for it. That said the whole drive was mega - even though I twice was surprised by passing less than obvious police stations within 200 yards of hoofing it away from a Stop sign.

Luckily said road is on the way home from work (if you squint a bit - OK a lot) so it looks like my drive home tomorrow will be about 50 miles longer than normal

Have to give it back on Friday :(

Back in 2 weeks though so i'll be trying to pre-book one for then.

Nice write up. Sounded fun and looks good.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm back in the US - but the V8 is out on rental right now   :(

 

Still  - the brand new Mustang Ecoboost Premium convertible I have instead isn't terrible.

 

Looks very nice in white with tan leather.  (picture to follow).

Edited 2 May, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

Unfortunately, looks is all it has to offer.

 

Compared to the V8 it is very slow (0-60 is worse than the published 6.0 - but the V8 was doing about 4.5 easy). It also has bad turbo lag, a quiet exhaust (but a nasty sounding loud engine), and on a windy day, awful wind noise from the soft top.  And it doesn't even deliver the expected mileage benefits being less than 2 mpg better than the V8.

 

What a shame.

 

I've asked AVIS to swap for a truck - so next week's review should be of a RAM 1500 or a Ford F-150.

Edited 6 May, 201610 yr by camelspyyder