'11 Mustang V6 rental

[Quattro Pete]

Had one of these for the weekend with 34K miles on the odo. The only thing that I like about this car is front and side profile styling. The rear is somewhat bland. Interior quality is OK - nothing special. I did like the nice supportive sport leather seats though. However, the speedo and tacho lettering is just tragic. I've seen it in pictures before, and now in person it was just as bad. Hard to read and just awkward looking.

Power was adequate. I think this was the 3.7 305hp engine. The auto transmission seemed a bit lethargic though and took a while to upshift. It would also tend to shift to the highest gear very quickly, and then it has trouble accelerating if it just stays on those low rpms. A fairly significant gas pedal input is needed to force it to upshift. I guess it's a matter of getting used to. As you probably noticed from my other posts, I'm a manual trans fan, so I'd probably complain about any automatic out there. By the way, is this auto really a 6-speed? It felt more like a 4-speed.

I was not impressed with the handling at all. The car kept wandering while on the hwy. It required constant corrections. The tires were some OEM michelins, 215/65/17. In general, the car felt somewhat bulky and not very responsive to steering inputs. Is a sport suspension optional on this one?

All in all, it was nice trying something different for a change, even if I didn't much care for it. Does the V8 GT handle better?

 

[dparm]

Yes, the 5.0 handles considerably better.

The new V6 is certainly fast -- as fast as last generation's GT.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I've driven a GT (a 4.6L one from 2010 or 2011) and didn't like the interior either. I don't like feeling "consumed" by a car, and you felt very buried in that interior. Same with the Camaro and Challenger. That's just a personal thing though.

Yes, the gauge package was very hard to read. I didn't like it a bit.

I wasn't all that impressed with the handling of the GT. It felt very much like a touring car rather than a sports car. It "drove heavy" if that makes any sense. It was fast enough, but didn't drive all that impressive, at least to me.

It drives heavy the same way my brother's C5 Corvette drives heavy. The absolute handling numbers are probably very impressive, but it doesn't feel all that agile in transition.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I don't like feeling "consumed" by a car, and you felt very buried in that interior. Same with the Camaro and Challenger. That's just a personal thing though.



Great way to put it! That is how I felt too.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Had one of these for the weekend with 34K miles on the odo. The only thing that I like about this car is front and side profile styling. The rear is somewhat bland. Interior quality is OK - nothing special. I did like the nice supportive sport leather seats though. However, the speedo and tacho lettering is just tragic. I've seen it in pictures before, and now in person it was just as bad. Hard to read and just awkward looking.

Power was adequate. I think this was the 3.7 305hp engine. The auto transmission seemed a bit lethargic though and took a while to upshift. It would also tend to shift to the highest gear very quickly, and then it has trouble accelerating if it just stays on those low rpms. A fairly significant gas pedal input is needed to force it to upshift. I guess it's a matter of getting used to. As you probably noticed from my other posts, I'm a manual trans fan, so I'd probably complain about any automatic out there. By the way, is this auto really a 6-speed? It felt more like a 4-speed.

I was not impressed with the handling at all. The car kept wandering while on the hwy. It required constant corrections. The tires were some OEM michelins, 215/65/17. In general, the car felt somewhat bulky and not very responsive to steering inputs. Is a sport suspension optional on this one?

All in all, it was nice trying something different for a change, even if I didn't much care for it. Does the V8 GT handle better?


I'm pretty sure the autos are 5 speeds. The sport package includes a 3.31 limited slip diff, bigger swaybars, and a front strut brace. No, the GTs do not handle a whole lot better, unless it's a Boss 302.

 

[semaj281]

I'm surprised C5s feel heavy though. They're so low to the ground and they don't weigh much more than 3000lbs.

 

[thr_wedge]

Ever see a 2007 4.0L automatic rental mustang V6 fly around a road course faster than a lot of "sports" cars? I have it is quite impressive. Guy was using it to get his race license.

Sorry you didn't like the '11.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: semaj281
I'm surprised C5s feel heavy though. They're so low to the ground and they don't weigh much more than 3000lbs.


They have a disconnected feel to how they drive (at least my brother's does). Steering feel is numb...that may be the biggest factor in that.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: thr_wedge
Ever see a 2007 4.0L automatic rental mustang V6 fly around a road course faster than a lot of "sports" cars? I have it is quite impressive. Guy was using it to get his race license.

Sorry you didn't like the '11.

I haven't seen it, but I don't doubt it either.

 

[thr_wedge]

Originally Posted By: semaj281
Originally Posted By: thr_wedge
Ever see a 2007 4.0L automatic rental mustang V6 fly around a road course faster than a lot of "sports" cars? I have it is quite impressive. Guy was using it to get his race license.

Sorry you didn't like the '11.

I haven't seen it, but I don't doubt it either.


This is an '11 but you get the idea:

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/2011-v6-mustang-tech/296172-2011-v6-mustang-track-day-vid.html

The open track weekend I did, a guy in the group I was hanging out with was getting his race license but didn't have a race car yet. He did a couple sessions with stock tires and then either end of the first or the second day put some race tires on. Car absolutely flew and surprised more than a few other cars.

 

[07Wolfie]

Funny coincidence, I just got back from a test drive of a 2012 V6 Mustang with the 6-spd manual. I share your impressions- without a nice appearance package, the 'base' Mustang isn't very good looking. The interior quality and fit rank somewhere above "cheap", but not by much. The V6 sounds pretty good and makes good power above 3K RPM, but it was a little bit of a dog down low. I had a hard time getting over the rev hang, worst I've ever seen, I think. Begin accelerating, rev to 3500, push clutch and let off gas, slowly shift gears, wait, wait, still at 3500 RPM... ugh. It was pretty distracting. The handling was vague, numb. Safe to say I crossed V6 Mustang off the possibility list pretty fast. Going to drive a GT 5.0 6-spd later this week, we'll see if an extra $10K is worth it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

you can get the V6 model with virtually everything except the V8 by specifying various options.

Mostly it's the convertibles that get all the goodies, but if the car is ordered correctly it takes a real enthusiast to see the difference.

But I agree the handling is poorly sorted out. My FIL has a beautiful dark red convertible V6 that is an ok car.

Got to remember they have to hit a price target.

 

[crw]

Hmmm... all very confusing. That is, I see magazines telling me that the newest GT is in BMW M3 territory. Actually, it beats it. Also, the latest Car and Driver track test (VIR) puts the Mustang way over it's class in that test. Basically it's trouncing cars that cost much more.

I'm an old Mustang guy but haven't driven the latest generation much... other than a V6 rental about 5 years ago.

In other words, I'm not questioning anyone's judgement, but I sometimes wonder who to believe? There are two sides to every story (especially things automotive).

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: crw
Hmmm... all very confusing. That is, I see magazines telling me that the newest GT is in BMW M3 territory. Actually, it beats it. Also, the latest Car and Driver track test (VIR) puts the Mustang way over it's class in that test. Basically it's trouncing cars that cost much more.

I'm an old Mustang guy but haven't driven the latest generation much... other than a V6 rental about 5 years ago.

In other words, I'm not questioning anyone's judgement, but I sometimes wonder who to believe? There are two sides to every story (especially things automotive).


You definitely can't trust someone else's opinion that might be subjective and biased. You can't even trust automotive publications all the time either. You just take it with a grain of salt and rely on your own evaluation. I know I've driven vehicles that I felt had excellent ride and handling and others have said it was bad. And I've driven vehicles that were supposedly excellent or "ultimate driving machines" and they were not good at all.

For example, some people think a car has to have heavy steering and a very firm ride and hard seats to be a good driver. While others and I think that a car can have light steering and a compliant ride tuning and still have good driving dynamics. Which tends to be the domestic tuning philosophy.

You just have to drive an evaluate the car yourself and see what you think. Probably a lot of people bought the wrong car for them listening to others' recommendation.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I happen to believe that the new 5.0 in all of it's versions is a fantastic motor. Great power density and decent economy too.

The Mustang is once again a real performer, and Ford should be proud. My Canuck buddy says those Boss's are VERY hard to get around at Callaboogie.

Just another opinion...

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: 07Wolfie
Funny coincidence, I just got back from a test drive of a 2012 V6 Mustang with the 6-spd manual. I share your impressions- without a nice appearance package, the 'base' Mustang isn't very good looking. The interior quality and fit rank somewhere above "cheap", but not by much. The V6 sounds pretty good and makes good power above 3K RPM, but it was a little bit of a dog down low. I had a hard time getting over the rev hang, worst I've ever seen, I think. Begin accelerating, rev to 3500, push clutch and let off gas, slowly shift gears, wait, wait, still at 3500 RPM... ugh. It was pretty distracting. The handling was vague, numb. Safe to say I crossed V6 Mustang off the possibility list pretty fast. Going to drive a GT 5.0 6-spd later this week, we'll see if an extra $10K is worth it.


The 5.0 is a much better drive than the V6 and is an awesome car. When I was shopping for a performance car, I test ended up test driving 3 Mustangs, all with the 6MT:

- Base V6 with the 2.73 axle: Very disappointing, did not feel quick whatsoever.
- V6 with the 3.31 axle: Better, but still basically as you describe. Somewhat lethargic until high RPM, and even then doesn't have much of an impressive kick, despite the fact that is actually is pretty fast.
- GT: Oh. My. God. Phenomenal engine. Scary fast in first and second gear. Sounds great. Nice shifter, though the throws were a little short and stiff for my taste.

The V6 was scratched off my list for reasons similar to yours. The GT ended up getting crossed off for a few reasons -- mostly price and practicality related -- but also partially because the car does "drive big" as another poster mentioned and I don't think that's really my type.

That said, if the price and practicality hadn't been an issue I would've loved to snap one up. Have fun on your test drive. IMO it is worth $10k over the V6, although honestly I don't think the V6 'Stang is the GT's greatest competition in terms of driving fun.


More on topic, I'd love to have a V6 Mustang rental at some point. I don't get to rent cars very often but sometimes I wish I did. I do like variety.

 

[Cujet]

There is a local guy with a 2011 Mustang V6 manual who frequents the drag strip.

He's done a few mods like drag tires, headers, exhaust and air filter. I don't know if he has a tune.

He ran 13.4@105 last time I saw him run. Yes, I know that's not Corvette or 2011 5.0 territory. But his car was inexpensive, and is certainly cheaper to insure. So, I give him and his Mustang V6 credit for being a very quick, inexpensive daily driver.

 

[Spazdog]

It's odd to hear that the 3.7 is "slow"

When the current model of Mazda6S with the 3.7 first came out, I pulled alongside one at a stoplight. I guess I was staring a bit too long, making mental comparisons with my own Mazda6S 3.0 and either intimidated or agitated the female driver.

When the light went green she rocketed away from me. Seriously. I was actually impressed with how quick that thing left.

I left much slower. putt putt putt. That thing would have killed me.

Got to drive one and it feels much more powerful than it's numbers suggest. Quicker than the new CVT/3.5 Maxima did. It's bigger, quieter, and a bit softer than it's predecessor but still the driver's car in the fwd mid-size class (as long as you want one with an automatic)

The 6 and 'stang should weigh in at around the same give or take a couple hundred and the Ford has like a 30 hp advantage.

I can't imagine the V6 Mustang being "slow". Not compared to a 3.8/3.9 Mustang or 3.4/3.8 Camarobird.

 

[SteveSRT8]

As shown by Cujet it is NOT slow. But it is so smooth and lacks a bit in torque off the line stock, so many people get their butt-o-meter confused.

A simple aftermarket tune really changes their behavior. Totally transforms the car.

 

[Quattro Pete]

For the record, I didn't necessarily think the 3.7 was slow. It was more of a gearing/transmission issue that would cause it to shift to the next gear too soon for my liking and then struggle at super low rpms. A different (sport) trans programming would have probably fixed the problem (at the expense of MPG); so would a manual trans.

By the way, according to the computer, it averaged about 24-25 mpg in mixed driving which I thought was very good. That's on par with my 530i that's less powerful, smaller, and doesn't have auto trans.