Okay, so I was reading a few posts a few days ago and I realized that the mustang is a rear-wheel driven car and people were saying that it slid and that it handled a lot differently in adverse weather conditions. I got a little concerned, but then I realized that my explorer is rear-wheel drive and I have no problems with that at all. So, is this going to be a major driving difference switching from an SUV with rear-wheel to a 5speed rear wheel mustang? Any info or personal experience would be great. Thanks.

 

it wont be too different, an suv will definately feel different than a mustang, but the type of things they are talking about is the back end coming around quicker, less understeer than with a forward drive car. Youll get the feel for it really quick but to answer your question, well kinda anyway, you will see some similarity to the way you explorer handles in those driving conditions, but it is still an suv which is heavier, and a little more slugish handlingwise so it is hard to feel the way a rwd car will handle just by driving the suv. and as a side note i like driving a rwd car about a hundred times more than a fwd, so i like the difference in drving feel that the rwd gives.

 

I moved into this mustang from a 98 Mustang Vert and a 94 Toyota 4Runner. I have absolutely no trouble making the transition. Matter of fact going from the llllllong throw on my 4Runner transmission to the short throw on the Mustang was totally awesome and really cool. My vert, on the other hand, was an auto so my only challenging transition was losing the ability to drop the top and enjoy the Arizona sunshine. Oh well... maybe I trade this one for a Vert in a few years.

 

Our snow test drive was a little aggressive in a local parking lot; this 05 Mustang did not have traction control or anti-lock brakes or snow tires. I like how when you power the back end it starts to come around it instantly settles down when you let off the gas. This is much better than big blocks rear wheel drives form the 70’s once you got the rear end coming around too much the whole car would spin like a top.

I think it’s because of the cars balance it performs so well. But you have to respect winter with preparation; this is not just for RWD it is for both or our cars.

We will have the anti-lock brakes, traction control, snow tires with chains and a bag of salt or kitty litter in the trunk (for ice traction, weight is not needed or advised with this cars great balance).

 

I personally love the way the new mustang drives compaired to other RWD vehicles.

I have owned many different mustangs along with a grand national, a few F-bodies and 2 trucks. I've also driven a markVIII, and other misc. luxiury cars... all drove alright... but the '05 just handles great!

great in the rain, great at high speed, great braking, it doesn't fishtail as easy esp. w/ the TCS... the car is amazing!

 

You took the words right out of my mouth

 

There are other RWD coupes?


j/k

 

oh yeah the transition is fun. i transitioned from a 1993 integra to a 2002 v6. in the 2nd week of owning it, i fishtailed, did a 360 and hit the curb really really hard. but i learned from that and havent fishtailed since!

anyway, the transition is so much fun and i now vow to never buy a front wheel drive car.