Rented a 2018 Mustang ecoboost for some New England highway driving. Ugh, it's half the car the GT is.
The engine is poorly tuned and "tip-in" is problematic. At first I thought it was me. But after configuring the boost gauge to front n center on the display, it's easy to see what's happening. The throttle slams open at the slightest provocation, then closes to where it should be. Leading to herky-jerky starts at the light. Just like someone learning to drive a clutch car.
This is a car that is quite simply, impossible to drive smoothly. Smooth gas pedal movements DO NOT translate into smooth throttle opening. Look at manifold pressure for clues! In fact, the car seems to have pre-set throttle openings and just jumps to the next preset as the pedal is pushed down more. BIZARRE.
The 10 speed automatic shifts well, and matches the engine's groaning "mid range only" torque curve very well. Even so, the car is not fast in real world driving. It is fast enough from a standing start, as the transmission gets to keep the engine around 5000 RPM. But once on the highway, it falls flat. Climbing hills and passing is exactly like every minivan ever made. Acceptable, but not fun.
I've driven turbocharged cars forever. This one is tuned so weirdly, it's actually difficult to drive smoothly, and nearly unpredictable when asking for varying levels of power.
The steering feel is adjustable and I found that "normal" was just fine.
The ride is stiff, the car harsh, the steering less precise than the competition, (or even an Altima for that matter) and the engine is so wonky, it's difficult to enjoy. To make matters worse, the brakes don't work well until hot. At which point they are quite powerful.
Sport+, Track and winter modes do their thing, but don't satisfy. As none of them improve the awkwardness that exists.
Get the V8, which is a whole bunch more fun on every level. It is actually hard to believe they are even based on the same car.
The engine is poorly tuned and "tip-in" is problematic. At first I thought it was me. But after configuring the boost gauge to front n center on the display, it's easy to see what's happening. The throttle slams open at the slightest provocation, then closes to where it should be. Leading to herky-jerky starts at the light. Just like someone learning to drive a clutch car.
This is a car that is quite simply, impossible to drive smoothly. Smooth gas pedal movements DO NOT translate into smooth throttle opening. Look at manifold pressure for clues! In fact, the car seems to have pre-set throttle openings and just jumps to the next preset as the pedal is pushed down more. BIZARRE.
The 10 speed automatic shifts well, and matches the engine's groaning "mid range only" torque curve very well. Even so, the car is not fast in real world driving. It is fast enough from a standing start, as the transmission gets to keep the engine around 5000 RPM. But once on the highway, it falls flat. Climbing hills and passing is exactly like every minivan ever made. Acceptable, but not fun.
I've driven turbocharged cars forever. This one is tuned so weirdly, it's actually difficult to drive smoothly, and nearly unpredictable when asking for varying levels of power.
The steering feel is adjustable and I found that "normal" was just fine.
The ride is stiff, the car harsh, the steering less precise than the competition, (or even an Altima for that matter) and the engine is so wonky, it's difficult to enjoy. To make matters worse, the brakes don't work well until hot. At which point they are quite powerful.
Sport+, Track and winter modes do their thing, but don't satisfy. As none of them improve the awkwardness that exists.
Get the V8, which is a whole bunch more fun on every level. It is actually hard to believe they are even based on the same car.
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