CTC Review: 2010 Ford Mustang GT

[Jaeger]

As Rrocket knows, I really like this car.

Interestingly, when I drove the RX-8 for a solid week then drove the GT, the GT did feel much more ponderous...relatively speaking.

Yes...that intoxicating sound is enhanced by "an industry-first Induction Sound Tube (IST), which enhances the driving experience by piping the sound of the induction system directly into the passenger compartment."
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=29433

I just find it expensive...

Not an industry first by any means Ford. 

You mean to say we can't count on absolute truth from the Ford marketing types?  Say it aint so!

Jaeger

[Just Bob]

NEVER been a Mustang fan - but I must say I like the LOOK of this new one the best. Having said that there should be some kind of law about how many Mustangs are allowed to be licensed in a given city. I'm sick of them - especially the V6s which every kid seems to own. I welcome the arrival of the Camaro but after having seen the interiors of the two I must say the Ford is much nicer overall.

Just curious about what other vehicles the author has driven around that track? Top Gear is notorious for trashing the handling of any NA sports car - and sadly they are usually right. But if its the only sports car you've driven around a track then I guess it would have performed incredibly.

I've driven many cars around the track, S2000 tons of times, Saab 9-3, Corvette Z06, Mercedes SL55 AMG, Porches, Subaru STi etc to name a few.  I drive more on the track than I do on the road!

TopGear is more about entertainment don't take their stuff to seriously, it's a great show but honestly they like picking on american cars because it's funny not necessarily because it is true. 

Ha ha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MneTKjKHG0Q  5 mins in... 

You're wrong about Top Gear James, they like many American cars.  The reason they rag on the handling of some is because most yank muscle cars are designed to go fast in a straight line, and most of the roads in the UK and Europe are not straight lines.  Plus in the North American market vehicle size is more important than quality, it's just a cultural difference.

I know the new Mustang handles very well indeed, and it would even be on my list if I was looking right now, but you can't honestly say that the rear suspension design is a good one.  It just appeases the drag racers and the accountants.

Great review btw! 

[rrocket]

I know the new Mustang handles very well indeed, and it would even be on my list if I was looking right now, but you can't honestly say that the rear suspension design is a good one.  It just appeases the drag racers and the accountants.

Great review btw! 

But it WORKS.  Not sure if you watch Speedvision racing.....But in the Speed Series, the Mustang has been putting a whooping on the V8 BMW M3 in that series.

It's not the best design, but in this iteration (pan hard bars help alot IIRC) it flat out works...Nothing fancy, just functional.

[Just Bob]

I know the new Mustang handles very well indeed, and it would even be on my list if I was looking right now, but you can't honestly say that the rear suspension design is a good one.  It just appeases the drag racers and the accountants.

Great review btw! 

But it WORKS.  Not sure if you watch Speedvision racing.....But in the Speed Series, the Mustang has been putting a whooping on the V8 BMW M3 in that series.

It's not the best design, but in this iteration (pan hard bars help alot IIRC) it flat out works...Nothing fancy, just functional.

I don't disagree.  So do leaf springs! 

[rrocket]

^^^^Z06 and ZR-1 have a type of leaf spring in the back.....not too many complaints about handling in those.


The suspension in the Stang is about as evolved as can be for this type of set-up.  And it works as well or better than more sophisticated systems.

[Just Bob]

^^^^Z06 and ZR-1 have a type of leaf spring in the back.....not too many complaints about handling in those.

I know I know, I was just prodding... 

[bee6]

any chance the v6 will be reviewed in the future. the v8 might be nice but I feel it's too much for daily driving

[wing]

I think that top gear video just proves the entertainment value.

500 == 447hp on the dyno.  That's the way cars are rated, anyone that knows anything about cars knows that with drivetrain loss that means it probably is dead on at 500 at the crank. 

[toolatecrew]

As Rrocket knows, I really like this car.

Interestingly, when I drove the RX-8 for a solid week then drove the GT, the GT did feel much more ponderous...relatively speaking.

Yes...that intoxicating sound is enhanced by "an industry-first Induction Sound Tube (IST), which enhances the driving experience by piping the sound of the induction system directly into the passenger compartment."
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=29433

I just find it expensive...

Industry first? My GTI has a tube that pipes engine and industion noise into the cabin. and its a 2008.

[Demosthenes X]

I think that top gear video just proves the entertainment value.

500 == 447hp on the dyno.  That's the way cars are rated, anyone that knows anything about cars knows that with drivetrain loss that means it probably is dead on at 500 at the crank. 

That video still annoys me.  It's an outright lie, and there's no defensible reason for them to lie about the power output of the Mustang.  FWIW, 447 HP is actually very good - if you figure that average crank loss is 15%, then the Mustang should have put out 425 HP - that it put out 450 suggest real crank HP is more like 530.

[wing]

It's for pure entertainment, I somewhat agree with you though, it's false information but I'm sure they know this and do it for the entertainment factor.   Even Hammond's own mustang did well!

[Nik in Toronto]

The Mustang GT is over-priced junk compared to the competition!

Lexus IS350 $44,550.00, 306 HP
Infiniti G37 Coupe $45,200.00, 330HP
Nissan 370Z $39,998.00, 332HP

Anyone of these cars puts that GT $45,079  to shame. The competition offers value, reliability, high re-sale and a cache that a Ford Mustang will never provide.

[wing]

okay....

[Just Bob]

okay....

 

Best retort ever.

[Demosthenes X]

It's for pure entertainment, I somewhat agree with you though, it's false information but I'm sure they know this and do it for the entertainment factor.   Even Hammond's own mustang did well!

I don't mind when they bend the truth for entertainment's sake.  The Tesla they tested didn't actually run out of power, but the math indicates it would have after 56 miles (or whatever they claimed it did), so there's some integrity there.

But the Mustang thing was simply a lie.  :/

Still a great segment, though.  I love Hammond's Mustang!

[ovr50]

The Mustang GT is over-priced junk compared to the competition!

Lexus IS350 $44,550.00, 306 HP
Infiniti G37 Coupe $45,200.00, 330HP
Nissan 370Z $39,998.00, 332HP

Anyone of these cars puts that GT $45,079  to shame. The competition offers value, reliability, high re-sale and a cache that a Ford Mustang will never provide.

Not that such a post should even be replied to, but Ford now has their "Ford Family Pricing" on for July and Aug, and I think the Mustang GT would likely be about $6k or so less than the $45K quoted above. Guess one could check the Ford website and be sure.

EDIT - just built a pretty loaded 2010 GT coupe for $35,700 under the new incentive. Cdn.

[Mitlov]

I think that top gear video just proves the entertainment value.

500 == 447hp on the dyno.  That's the way cars are rated, anyone that knows anything about cars knows that with drivetrain loss that means it probably is dead on at 500 at the crank. 

That video still annoys me.  It's an outright lie, and there's no defensible reason for them to lie about the power output of the Mustang.  FWIW, 447 HP is actually very good - if you figure that average crank loss is 15%, then the Mustang should have put out 425 HP - that it put out 450 suggest real crank HP is more like 530.

 

[Just Bob]

The Mustang GT is over-priced junk compared to the competition!

Lexus IS350 $44,550.00, 306 HP
Infiniti G37 Coupe $45,200.00, 330HP
Nissan 370Z $39,998.00, 332HP

Anyone of these cars puts that GT $45,079  to shame. The competition offers value, reliability, high re-sale and a cache that a Ford Mustang will never provide.

Not that such a post should even be replied to, but Ford now has their "Ford Family Pricing" on for July and Aug, and I think the Mustang GT would likely be about $6k or so less than the $45K quoted above. Guess one could check the Ford website and be sure.

EDIT - just built a pretty loaded 2010 GT coupe for $35,700 under the new incentive. Cdn.

Wow that's an amazing price for a lot of car!!

[Jaeger]

Edmonds just picked the Camaro over the Mustang and Challenger:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=144526?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..2.*

Jaeger

[Greg B.]

The Mustang GT is over-priced junk compared to the competition!

Lexus IS350 $44,550.00, 306 HP
Infiniti G37 Coupe $45,200.00, 330HP
Nissan 370Z $39,998.00, 332HP

Anyone of these cars puts that GT $45,079  to shame. The competition offers value, reliability, high re-sale and a cache that a Ford Mustang will never provide.

Not that such a post should even be replied to, but Ford now has their "Ford Family Pricing" on for July and Aug, and I think the Mustang GT would likely be about $6k or so less than the $45K quoted above. Guess one could check the Ford website and be sure.

EDIT - just built a pretty loaded 2010 GT coupe for $35,700 under the new incentive. Cdn.

Plus all those cars are Japanese, V-6s, and their potential buyers are not likely to look at a Mustang. Mustangers would almost never look at one of them as even a possibility.