Thoughts on 2012/2013 Ford Mustang?

[disappoint]

Looks great to me.

I agree it's a good looking car, but I still think it could use some improvement in aerodynamics. Move the bottom of the A=pillar forward and make the nose rounder, especially those headlights.

 

[HAL9000]

Love the Mustang, the 1967+ model was awesome then it got shit in about 1980 or so, until 2005 since then it's looked awesome the 2012/13 model continues that, well done America.

 

[DaTT]

Yeah. Guess you find a big dealer repair invoice pretty sexy, too. Cuz that's what you'll be looking at a lot when you buy any Ford car.

Oh, you're one of "those guys". I thought hating on a specific car manufacturer went out in the 80's.

The only repairs I've had to pay for were the defrost tabs falling off the back window. $50 bucks and they are as good as new....or better I hope. Brakes are coming up this spring.

IMHO, all cars are built equally as shitty as the next.

 

[LTC8K6]

How would you get a big dealer repair invoice on a new car anyway? It's under warranty, so you'd have to have screwed the pooch.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I picked up a 2012 Mustang V6 Premium about a month ago, and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I love the look of the 2012's, the 305 HP engine is enough for this old bastard to have a bit of fun, plus I use this as my daily driver, so I wanted better MPG for the commute. Its been a blast so far, but this is my first American car that I've owned in about 25 years, so we'll see how it goes, but am loving it right now.

 

[Ferzerp]

I still think it could use some improvement in aerodynamics.

It is obvious this was not a design goal.


And yeah, if you're buying a v6 mustang, you probably should just buy something else...

 

[exar333]

It is obvious this was not a design goal.


And yeah, if you're buying a v6 mustang, you probably should just buy something else...

I don't get this. If you want good mileage + a fun car to drive, whats wrong with a V6 version? Sure the GT is better, but depending on whre you are, it can be a lot more $$$ (see OPs comments about this). If you want a V8, get a v8. The current V6 is better than a lot of older 90's V8s anyway, and is a lot more reliable and efficient.

Is the Ecoboost F-150 a joke because it 'isn't a V8'? Even a lot of car magazines say it is a better all-around engine than the standard 5.0 V8, even though the actual MPGs are pretty comparable.

 

[Ferzerp]

There might be people that it is fine for, but it's more the view people have. I'm more talking about people that want a v8 mustang, see the price, then buy the v6 instead. They are either not going to be happy with it, or pretend that they have a much more capable car than they really have.

In my view, the lower end of that type of car is not that great of a value. You have the looks of a really nice car, then neuter it everywhere else. On the mustang side, it seems everything else suffers, down to the interior.

If you're stripping out what makes a performance car a performance car, usually you can get a bit more car with a more equipped lower end car.

 

[Eugene86]

So the fact that the current V6 mustang makes the same amount of horsepower as the pre-2010 V8 doesn't really make a difference?

 

[LTC8K6]

So the fact that the current V6 mustang makes the same amount of horsepower as the pre-2010 V8 doesn't really make a difference?

Well, the 4.6L V8 still had 40ft lbs more torque.

 

[Ferzerp]

The mustangs (other than the special editions like the cobra or GT500) weren't really much of a car from the 80's-2010 to be honest. I'm not sure that that comparison is really saying much.

That's not so say people couldn't make them in to much of a car, but stock, they were a bit anemic.

 

[LTC8K6]

The mustangs (other than the special editions like the cobra or GT500) weren't really much of a car from the 80's-2010 to be honest. I'm not sure that that comparison is really saying much.

That's not so say people couldn't make them in to much of a car, but stock, they were a bit anemic.

Not quite. The 2010 GT was much improved over previous models. The 2008-2009 Bullitt was much improved as well. The 2010 GT was pretty much a Bullitt.

 

[Ferzerp]

Not quite. The 2010 GT was much improved over previous models. The 2008-2009 Bullitt was much improved as well. The 2010 GT was pretty much a Bullitt.

Well, the Bullitt was a special edition. I was mistaken, I should have said 80's-2009. 😉

 

[JackBurton]

The mustangs (other than the special editions like the cobra or GT500) weren't really much of a car from the 80's-2010 to be honest. I'm not sure that that comparison is really saying much.

That's not so say people couldn't make them in to much of a car, but stock, they were a bit anemic.

The 2010 Mustang GT was actually the first Mustang I fell in love with. Before then I was a Camaro guy.

 

[exar333]

There might be people that it is fine for, but it's more the view people have. I'm more talking about people that want a v8 mustang, see the price, then buy the v6 instead. They are either not going to be happy with it, or pretend that they have a much more capable car than they really have.

In my view, the lower end of that type of car is not that great of a value. You have the looks of a really nice car, then neuter it everywhere else. On the mustang side, it seems everything else suffers, down to the interior.

If you're stripping out what makes a performance car a performance car, usually you can get a bit more car with a more equipped lower end car.

Gotcha - that makes perfect sense. Compromies sometimes are OK, other times they come and bite you in the a$$.

If I had 25k to spend (for example) I would choose a 1-2 year old GT over a brand-new V6, if I REALLY wanted the V8 but couldn't afford it brand-new. You either compromise on the age or the engine. In 3-4 years, who cares if the car is 4 or 6 years old, if you have a nice V8!

The V6 will always be a V6....😉

 

[Throckmorton]

I agree it's a good looking car, but I still think it could use some improvement in aerodynamics. Move the bottom of the A=pillar forward and make the nose rounder, especially those headlights.

No, then it would look like a cab forward jellybean, like most other cars. The long hood, relatively steep windshield, and shark nose are what make it look like a musclecar. It gets 31mpg highway with the V6.

If you really want a cab forward jellybean, buy a 90s Mustang.

 

[Throckmorton]

Gotcha - that makes perfect sense. Compromies sometimes are OK, other times they come and bite you in the a$$.

If I had 25k to spend (for example) I would choose a 1-2 year old GT over a brand-new V6, if I REALLY wanted the V8 but couldn't afford it brand-new. You either compromise on the age or the engine. In 3-4 years, who cares if the car is 4 or 6 years old, if you have a nice V8!

The V6 will always be a V6....😉

The V6 gets much better gas mileage though, and is cheaper to insure.

Though I bet if Ford gave the GT a taller top gear it would get almost as good highway mileage.

 

[Throckmorton]

It is obvious this was not a design goal.


And yeah, if you're buying a v6 mustang, you probably should just buy something else...

Really? For $22k what other car has RWD, ponycar styling, and 300hp?

 

[Ferzerp]

Really? For $22k what other car has RWD, ponycar styling, and 300hp?

And if you buy the $22k version you get the (relatively) poor handling, and plastic insides. (back to my comment about pretending the car is better than it is, HP rating isn't everything).

 

[disappoint]

No, then it would look like a cab forward jellybean, like most other cars. The long hood, relatively steep windshield, and shark nose are what make it look like a musclecar. It gets 31mpg highway with the V6.

If you really want a cab forward jellybean, buy a 90s Mustang.

I meant more like the Ford GT. Not a 90s Mustang.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

And if you buy the $22k version you get the (relatively) poor handling, and plastic insides. (back to my comment about pretending the car is better than it is, HP rating isn't everything).

You sir are an absolute moron when it comes to Mustangs... Particularly the newest ones.

As far as poor handling goes the new V6 stang making 305HP has a near perfect 50/50 weight bias due to the lighter v6 engine... makes for a very neutral handling car. That along with Ford's Performance Package option that adds the 19" rims, upgrades the brakes, rear axle ratio, and adds a host of GT and GT500 suspension goodies makes this car a track day special. Interior options are whatever you make of them.. Order it how you like, cloth, leather, premium, the choice is yours and the newer cars have more soft touch surfaces and refinements than the outgoing 05-09 models for sure.

Back to the handling, I race autocross with a local car club and have a mustang (v8) my self that's pretty heavily modded. There is a guy in our club who has the new V6 with said performance package and he was killing it in the PAX all last season - including me.

I drove that car myself and for a showroom factory vehicle the handling IS superb. It's just a very well balanced machine and the power is not lacking in that V6 for anything short of doing open track events... In fact I was ready to go trade mine in for one just like it.

Of course if ultimate handling is really your thing, then there is the BOSS 302 and if that's not good enough there's the BOSS 302 Leguna Seca. Those are a pair of road course monsters without any aftermarket goodies applied.

Oh and if Mustangs are all so shitty handling,.. go ask Sam Strano (8X SCCA Champion) what he drives...

-Next Please...🙄

EDIT: Oh yeah, and when I was going to trade it was for a V6 couple w/ leather and the performance pack... It was going to be $22,000.00 after rebates out the door and I was basically getting a net $0.00 wash for my car in trade vs the payoff.

 

[exdeath]

Don't know why people rag on the 300 HP V6 Mustang...

But not a 300 HP 370Z, G37, etc all the other cars with 300 HP V6s that don't even offer a V8 option.

 

[DaTT]

Don't know why people rag on the 300 HP V6 Mustang...

But not a 300 HP 370Z, G37, etc all the other cars with 300 HP V6s that don't even offer a V8 option.

Probably because Mustang is associated with Muscle Car, and Muscle car is associated with V8.....although, you do bring a up a good point. I had never thought of that.

 

[exar333]

Don't know why people rag on the 300 HP V6 Mustang...

But not a 300 HP 370Z, G37, etc all the other cars with 300 HP V6s that don't even offer a V8 option.

I agree 100%.

These are people who are stuck in the 90's. The V6 Mustang with performance package is an amazing value for a great-handling and decently-powerful car. Great mileage too.

The V8 definitely has more power, but both are great. Now if there was a 170hp 4-cyl, THEN I would be all over that as a poser car, but the current V6 is a great motor.

This is an enthusiast site, but most folks couldn't care less what engine is in their car. 300HP is actually probably better for most normal folks than 400+ anyways...drivers around here are dangerous enough with a 3000lb, 200-hp sedan....🙁

 

[exdeath]

Now if there was a 170hp V6, THEN I would be all over that as a poser car, but the current V6 is a great motor.

FTFY

170 HP 4 cyl wouldn't be bad at all. Don't forget it was almost a 170 HP V6 until very recently 😛 Even the V8 used to only be 260 HP 😡

All the current engines are finally as good or better than any competition import or domestic.