2015 Mustang GT and Ecoboost

9/4/2015

A modern obtainable sports car with a power level for everyone.

The Mustang is that rare breed which has managed to stay relevant over time despite failures and many changes. History is relative and with the new generation Mustang there is almost nothing that connects the original with the present.

We had the opportunity to drive the brand new Ecoboost Turbo and the GT which gave us the perspective just how diverse and accessible this platform is. Ford now has a tuner car which allows the younger crowd to tinker with tuning and modification on the 4 banger. And for those who just want it all and don’t want to mess around, the GT with performance pack does most everything a street and weekend track enthusiast wants.

We flat out preferred the Mustang GT, it was one of those purpose built machines that carried a reasonable price tag with amazing power that could be driven in the real world. These cars turns heads. In fact both cars are uniquely Mustang in a world of watered down motoring.

The 4 banger model did most everything the GT could with less horsepower and better fuel economy. It is a car for those who don’t plan on doing much of anything except for street driving. The manual transmission is excellent and overall ride quality livable along with cargo capacity. The tuning is designed for lower RPM action which makes the car always feel fast on the street and pulling out of turns at higher gear. However, revving the motor out is not where it feels strong. That is what the GT is for. The GT and the 5.0L is one of the most exciting production car engines we had been in, namely for the price.

The Mustang has always been the car for the common man, who works hard and wants a cool car that performs. Both these Mustangs are the best at that formula yet.

The negatives? Well at 35k owners can’t have everything and overall interior fit and finish is average, exterior panels did not line up properly on either car we looked at. The suspension is just an average run of the mill strut based application up front, and steering feel is not there yet. Ford is on the right track, the continued use of aluminum and weight reduction has helped and overall for what the buyer gets here… Impressive.

Engine: 5.0L

Amazing, revs smooth, powerful and durable a must own.

Engine: EcoBoost

Street Capable and tuned for daily driving, good MPG for power output along with tuning options makes this an affordable option in the RWD lineup. It’s certainly does not sound all that good and the platform runs hot as we were able to almost max out oil temps driving on street.

Trans:

Both 6 SP manuals are superb, no issues with either. Clutch travel is long however.

Brakes:

The GT performance pack brakes had zero fade in track use and on the street they are hard core, yet progressive.

The EcoBoost upgraded performance pack brakes felt very touchy, on and off switch but had amazing stopping power and initial bit until plenty of heat were in them.

Suspension:

Both cars were very well sorted, compliant and on the soft side but very neutral. The new rear end works and has transformed the car from sloppy to communicative. This is still a floaty ride and the biggest issue with the car is lack of steering feel which could be connected to softer front end.

Fuel Economy: (Observed)

EcoBoost: 20MPG

GT: 14MPG (20HWY)

Interior:

Mixed bag of old and new, plenty of wasted space on trying to showcase retro when what we want on a sports car is usable storage and gauges that can be set for peaks and easily readable with alerts. This is the best Mustang interior yet, but there is still work to do here to bridge the gap. Plenty of panel rattles and plastics buzzed. Very quiet interior in this new generation car.

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