10-speed Mustang quick review

[Kaido]

I hate it. End of review

Ugh, it felt like driving a tractor. Do not want! Note that I am specifically talking about the 10-speed automatic transmission here. I stopped by a Ford dealership this week that had an Ecoboost automatic in their inventory. Turns out it got sold, but they had a V8 automatic available. What an awful combination lol. Waaaaaay too much engine for far too many gears. Almost sounded like a first-gen CVT with the way it was trying to shift. Even in Sport mode (where it's supposed to emulate 7 gears, instead of 10) it wasn't great...had that same lurching effect that my 9-speed Jeep Renegade has, except the lurches happened really fast & mostly only mid-speed, not starting out from a dead stop or while cruising on the highway. It was smooth enough around town, but you can feel it shifting if you pay attention (I am overly-sensitive to transmissions over 6-speed automatic, at this point, lol), and it just kind of sounded funny. Like, not at all how you wanted a performance V8 to sound...

I had some extra time between appointments, so I took out the 6-speed V8 manual. Ooooooooooh my gosh, what a world of difference. It was like eyebleach coming from that 10-speed, haha. The 460 horsies just puts a smile on your face. It's zippy in every single gear. It's bananas in the lower gears, though. If I didn't sit in traffic so much, I would love to have one. Although the clutch was surprisingly light, so maybe it wouldn't be too bad...

I test-drove the stick-shift Ecoboost two or three years ago; I'd need to give it another go to compare to the V8, because it was surprisingly fun at the time. I'm also still interested in test-driving the 10-speed Ecoboost because I'm curious to see how the turbo affects the noise/shifts/etc.. Although, my high hopes for having a fun automatic sports car are kind of dashed after test-driving the 10-speed V8. Personally did not care for it at all. On the flip side, holy crap the stick V8 is amazingly fun to drive

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I'm waiting for the 12 speed that's supposed to fix all the problems of the 10.

 

[jlee]

If you liked the 6sp GT, go drive a C7 Corvette. I've driven them both and the C7 is just magical.

 

[pauldun170]

Read up on Mustang 6spd tranny issues.
The Getrag MT82 is apparently garbage even with year by year tweaks.

 

[Kaido]

If you liked the 6sp GT, go drive a C7 Corvette. I've driven them both and the C7 is just magical.

Noooooo that is a bad, bad idea sir

I am toying with the idea of trading in my Renegade for a stick Ecoboost. The V8 is phenomenally fun, but 15/25 MPG as a daily driver makes me want to cry. The 4cyl turbo is 21/31, which is pretty decent. '18 production has stopped & the 19's are due out in a month or so & I've found a couple rides that are $5k off sticker, which is about as good as Truecar & other car-buying services can do. I don't really want to drive manual in traffic, but I miss driving stick-shift, and they do have TACC available on the stick models now (curious how useful it would actually be), so that's something to consider.

 

[Zorba]

I rented a 10 speed Mustang last week and agree, did not like. I never looked at what engine was in it, I assume it was just the base V6, but I've rented V6 Mustangs in the past that were still fun to drive. This one felt more like a family car. If you used the paddle shifters it was better, but who wants to paddle through 10 gears. If you just wanted to down shift to pass, you had to hit the paddle like five times.

After six gears, I'd much rather just have a CVT. I really don't even mind my '14 Forester's lack of simulated shifting, it is definitely less annoying that feeling 10 shifts every time you get up to speed.

 

[Kaido]

I rented a 10 speed Mustang last week and agree, did not like. I never looked at what engine was in it, I assume it was just the base V6, but I've rented V6 Mustangs in the past that were still fun to drive. This one felt more like a family car. If you used the paddle shifters it was better, but who wants to paddle through 10 gears. If you just wanted to down shift to pass, you had to hit the paddle like five times.

After six gears, I'd much rather just have a CVT. I really don't even mind my '14 Forester's lack of simulated shifting, it is definitely less annoying that feeling 10 shifts every time you get up to speed.

They only make 4 & 8's now, no more 6's. I'm kind of leaning towards a stick 4. I'm about to drive my Jeep into a lake at this point...

 

[Zorba]

They only make 4 & 8's now, no more 6's. I'm kind of leaning towards a stick 4. I'm about to drive my Jeep into a lake at this point...

Oh, then I am sure it was the 4, as it was definitely new with only 4K miles on it. I was not at all impressed with the performance compared to other sports cars with base engines I've been in. But I blame the transmission, as it was much better with the paddle shifting.

 

[repoman0]

Manual in traffic isn't so bad. When I bought my first car after college six years ago, I went with an automatic because I didn't want to deal with traffic -- and constantly regretted it for the five years I had the car. A year ago I bought nearly the same car with a six speed manual (an old heavy clutched BMW) and I don't even notice if I encounter traffic in it. I can't even imagine my leg ever getting tired from it like some people complain about, and I've made the mistake of taking the GW bridge on a particularly bad day instead of my usual route from Mass->Pennsylvania ... constant clutch in and out for 2.5 hours. Anyone remotely in shape won't notice, and I get the impression you are.

Either way ... too bad about the fuel economy in the V8. That is pretty low for a daily but at the same time a Mustang belongs with a big fast V8. It'd be better as a secondary car. At least they both take regular? Could be worth it to calculate how much fuel you would save per year based on the mileage you expect to drive and decide if you can swing the big engine. Also depends how long you think you'll keep it or if you'll ever use it as a secondary fun car with a more fuel efficient daily.

 

[compcons]

Ford automatic transmissions are pretty awful early on. The computer learns your driving style and things get much better. Most tuners fix shift programming as a main priority if you go that route. The SHO transmission was not nice until the ECU was reprogrammed. More power and better shifting behavior. Being an EcoBoost, the ecu flash is basically mandatory.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Ford automatic transmissions are pretty awful early on. The computer learns your driving style and things get much better. Most tuners fix shift programming as a main priority if you go that route. The SHO transmission was not nice until the ECU was reprogrammed. More power and better shifting behavior. Being an EcoBoost, the ecu flash is basically mandatory.

Taurus is a six speed slushbox. Imagine it being at least 40% worse. I totally get Kaido's point on more gears not necessarily being better.

Agreed on the ECU flash helping with the shift mapping though. Think sport mode where the current setup tries to mimic a 7 speed auto and reduce that down to maybe 5.

 

[slag]

Noooooo that is a bad, bad idea sir

I am toying with the idea of trading in my Renegade for a stick Ecoboost. The V8 is phenomenally fun, but 15/25 MPG as a daily driver makes me want to cry. The 4cyl turbo is 21/31, which is pretty decent. '18 production has stopped & the 19's are due out in a month or so & I've found a couple rides that are $5k off sticker, which is about as good as Truecar & other car-buying services can do. I don't really want to drive manual in traffic, but I miss driving stick-shift, and they do have TACC available on the stick models now (curious how useful it would actually be), so that's something to consider.

LOL, I get 21 with my bmw E46 AWD 2.5 liter. 25 for a V8 is fabulous.

 

[jlee]

LOL, I get 21 with my bmw E46 AWD 2.5 liter. 25 for a V8 is fabulous.

My Z06 is averaging 22.44 now

 

[repoman0]

LOL, I get 21 with my bmw E46 AWD 2.5 liter. 25 for a V8 is fabulous.

25 highway, it's rated at 18 combined

BMW really worked hard to screw up the regular E46 fuel economy. My 330xi barely gets better mileage than my M3, even with the "extra power" from burning all that sweet sweet 0W-40. 5-10% fuel economy hit for >50% power increase and 1500RPM higher red line ... yes please!

at any time from April to November

 

[slag]

Best I've gotten so far is 25.8 on a 400 mile round trip in the old 2002 XIT (wagon). Combined i'm around 18. I get about 2-3 more mpg if I drop from 81 down to 70 or so.

 

[Mandres]

I have the 5.0 v8 and the 10 speed trans in my new f-150. So far, I don't like it much either. It feels overbusy and kind of intrusive. Still < 500 miles on the clock though so I'm hoping it wises up over the next few months.

 

[local]

I wonder if you could tune it to edit out all the odd number gears and end up with a 5 speed? I have ridden in an 8 speed and it seemed ridiculous to me.

 

[Kaido]

I wonder if you could tune it to edit out all the odd number gears and end up with a 5 speed? I have ridden in an 8 speed and it seemed ridiculous to me.

I've driven CVT, 8-speed, 9-speed, and 10-speed automatics.

I like Subaru's CVT, and Nissan's newer CVT's. Don't like Honda's CVT.

I don't like FCA's 8 & 9-speed transmissions. Ford's 10-speed automatic is smooth but feels & sounds funny to the point where I have decided not to go with their automatic. OTOH, Kia's 8-speed is actually pretty good (in the Stinger), so I'm not going to rule out ALL 6+ speed transmissions (the newer 5 & 6-speed transmissions are generally exceptional, btw...I can't tell my brother's 5-speed Versa apart from my parent's CVT Versa, they are both crazy smooth), but I'm going to personally skip them for now. I also think whatever I get now will be my last ICE car; I'd like to go with a Model Y in a couple years & just have a 'one-speed' to deal with, haha.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I've driven CVT, 8-speed, 9-speed, and 10-speed automatics.

I like Subaru's CVT, and Nissan's newer CVT's. Don't like Honda's CVT.

I don't like FCA's 8 & 9-speed transmissions. Ford's 10-speed automatic is smooth but feels & sounds funny to the point where I have decided not to go with their automatic. OTOH, Kia's 8-speed is actually pretty good (in the Stinger), so I'm not going to rule out ALL 6+ speed transmissions (the newer 5 & 6-speed transmissions are generally exceptional, btw...I can't tell my brother's 5-speed Versa apart from my parent's CVT Versa, they are both crazy smooth), but I'm going to personally skip them for now. I also think whatever I get now will be my last ICE car; I'd like to go with a Model Y in a couple years & just have a 'one-speed' to deal with, haha.

You should review the GM 9 speed if you get a chance. Love to hear your thoughts on it.

I have a versa and it is smooth for the most part.

 

[Kaido]

You should review the GM 9 speed if you get a chance. Love to hear your thoughts on it.

I have a versa and it is smooth for the most part.

The Kia (Stinger) was the first one I've ever not hated. I'd have to test their SUV with their in-house 8-speed to compare though.

What cars are offered with GM's 9-speed?

 

[Herr Kutz]

The Kia (Stinger) was the first one I've ever not hated. I'd have to test their SUV with their in-house 8-speed to compare though.

What cars are offered with GM's 9-speed?

There may be more, but here are a few off the tip of my head.

Chevrolet
Malibu 2.0t
Cruze Diesel
Equinox 2.0t
Traverse

Buick
Regal FWD
Enclave

 

[Kaido]

There may be more, but here are a few off the tip of my head.

Chevrolet
Malibu 2.0t
Cruze Diesel
Equinox 2.0t
Traverse

Buick
Regal FWD
Enclave

Hmm, Cruze Diesel would be an interesting option. Although with the VW backlash, I wonder what the future is for diesel cars, outside of trucks...somebody hurry up & make a diesel-hybrid already!

 

[Herr Kutz]

Hmm, Cruze Diesel would be an interesting option. Although with the VW backlash, I wonder what the future is for diesel cars, outside of trucks...somebody hurry up & make a diesel-hybrid already!

Funnily enough, VW used to have a diesel hybrid. May still have one in other markets? *shrug*

 

[Viper GTS]

If you're concerned about gas mileage you're going to have to drive that really, really conservatively. I'm averaging about 15 MPG in my RS. Granted AWD but still. 15 MPG combined.



Viper GTS

 

[Kaido]

If you're concerned about gas mileage you're going to have to drive that really, really conservatively. I'm averaging about 15 MPG in my RS. Granted AWD but still. 15 MPG combined.

Ended up with the 6-speed manual Ecoboost. 32 MPG highway! Maybe. Haha.