Hey I need some opinions. I currently lease a '10 GT that is about to expire so I'm trying to decide what to do next. I absolutely love the car as is but every time I see a 5.0 rolling around I'm very envious. Problem is it would be much more responsible/cheaper to just buy out my current stang or let it go after the lease and buy something more economical. But, well, the heart wants what the heart wants.

So my question is to anyone who has spent a lot of time behind the wheel of both ('10 vs '11/'12) how much of a difference is there in the "real world" sense? My current stang has the 3.73 axle but I'd likely get a '12 with the 3.31 since I'd be doing LOTS of highway driving.

 

1/3 more power? It's as big of a difference as it sounds.
I love the 3v 4.6....but it's a station wagon motor next to the 5.0.

That said, the 10 is still a fairly fast car and the motor will likely give you many years of good service....

You can't go wrong either way but once you drive a 5.0 the answer will be obvious.

 

Yup I've actually been avoiding a test drive since I think you're right it will be obvious. I guess deep down I'm hoping someone will say "it's not thaaaat big a difference" just to save me from test driving one and surely giving in.

 

Double what he said.

 

Well...if raw acceleration is not considered, both cars have the same chasis, similar suspension tuning, similar fuel economy, same great looks...
...there is an argument to be made that the tried and true 4.6L is a known quantity and safe bet.

 

I haven't driven a '10, but my 2005 4.6 was pretty much the same engine. NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

You love your car it does what you like and looks how you want it to look. 5.0 is. Great engine, wisdom says keep the 10 mod it and save your money. What happens when 2015 rolls around? You have a cool 10 you have modded and paid off and then you have a down payment on a 2015!

 

If you do drive an '11, remember to ring that sucker out. This motor revs a lil higher

 

I had a 2007 GT with the 300-horse 3V 4.6L and, while it was a great car, it didn't come anywhere near my 2011 5.0L in terms of performance. It really is a huge difference.

 

A guy I work with has a 10' and refuses to go for a ride in mine for the same reason.

 

I had a decision to make about my '06, the same engine as the '10, but mine is paid for. I got a promotion and thought long and hard about trading it for a 5.0. But in the end I decided to put a Roush M90 supercharger on my '06. Now I have the horsepower of a 5.0 but in a car that's paid for and like a lot. Now I have what feels like a whole new car. I love the sound and power and can't wait to drive it again, and still get over 18 mpg.
Sure you can SC a 5.0 too but you'll still be in for a lot more $$$ than keeping what you got.

 

I think I'm one of the few on the forum that traded my 10 in for an 11. I had my 10 for almost 2 years and put roughly 8,800 miles on it. I've had my 11 for about 3 months and have put a little over 1,500 miles on it. I traded more for the financing rate and the offer I received on my trade-in; the better performance was a nice bonus though.

Now with that said if you're planning on doing a lot of highway driving I'd recommend the 11 over the 10. The extra gear is nice and IMO if there is one spot that the 11 is far better than the 10 it is highway speed acceleration. From a dig they're just about equal to 60, but cruising at 60 to 70 and needing to pass or merge is where the 5.0 shines. It pulls extremely hard thru 3rd and 4th compared to the 4.6 and you've still got 2 gears to go. I'm not too sure as to what was changed suspension wise from the 10 to the 11, but my 11 feels more planted at highway speeds than my 10 as well. My 11 has the same wheel option as my 10 did btw, no Brembo package on my 11.

In city driving I didn't notice much of a difference between the 2. The main thing I noticed when I first drove an 11 was the transmission shifted much smoother than the 10 and the clutch was MUCH lighter. I nearly put my foot thru the floor the first time I drove one! Other than that they feel very similar in all other aspects around the city to me.

Mod wise for my 10 were tune, Roush exhaust, 3.5" driveshaft and a Tri-Ax shifter; my 11 has a CAI, tune and Roush axle-backs. I might get a bit of hate for this, but IMO my 10 sounded better. That's not to say my 11 sounds bad by any means, but my 10 had a much deeper note that I really liked. Oh and exhaust note stock for stock the 10 wins hands down IMO.

Overall to me the 11 has a better overall feel largely due to a smoother powertrain and the power just keeps on coming. In the end I'm happy with my switch, but at the same time if I still had my 10 it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Your best (or worst ) bet would be to go drive one and see if the differences you notice are enough to push you into a purchase

 

just supercharge your 10, it'll be cheaper...

 

Yeah on the highway my '10 really isn't that great and with the shorter gears it's even worse.

Good idea but frankly it's not gonna happen. I have no interest in modding mine.

Thanks I will be sure to keep that in mind!

 

My 2005 NA RACE CAR doesn't hold a candle to my 2011. Two different cars...

 

OP. Are you planning on another lease? If so, then go for it. It's a great motor upgrade. I wouldn't go with a highway gear ratio though. I'm not sure what options are available but you are gonna want the 3.73 back if you go to a higher gear. If it's more highway, I would get 3.55 put in it if not available. Or just go 3.73. The little bit of fuel economy does not outweigh the acceleration and feel of the car. Either way I say go for it, you wont be disappointed.

 

I had an 05 gt, an '07 gt500 and now a '12gt. It's plenty faster than the '05. A good compromise for keeping tires between the two, I think. I got 3.55 gears. Get the 3.73's. You won't lose much on the highway, and faster is always better.

 

I had a 2010.. I sold it and bought a 12 5.0... GET THE 5.0.

I loved my 10 though...amazing cars.

 

I owned a 2010 Mustang GT w/5 speed manual for a year before trading it in on a 2011 Mustang GT w/6 speed automatic. Below are differences I noticed:

1) The 2011 5.0 has significantly more bottom end than my 2010 and pulls strong all the way to the red line. I don't know how much to attribute the bottom end to the 6A's ultra low gear and torque converter multiplication. Regardless, it's a night and day difference.

2) Acceleration difference is night and day in favor of the 2011 5.0.

3) The 2011 5.0 had better build quality than my 2010. The quality issues on my 2010 were very minor (rattles, paint blemish) ...my 2011 was flawless when delivered to me over a year ago and, today, is still flawless. Zero problems. I've heard that a few months after my 2011 was built that Ford sped up the assembly line approximately 30% ...some who have taken delivery of 2012 Mustangs have reported some glaring assembly defects. I don't know if those defects have anything to do with the increased assembly line speed or if they were just a one-off incident.

4) The 2011 5.0 gets the same mileage in city as my 2010, but on the highway, the 2011 gets 1-2 mpg less. Since my 2011 is a 6-speed auto, and my 2010 was a 5-speed manual, it's probably not an apples to apples comparison. With a bigger engine and much more power, I'm not complaining.

5) I do miss the 6-CD changer (Ford discontinued the 6-cd changer beginning in 2011 models) although I'm getting used to the Sync USB port for my music.

6) The 2010 GT had a better-sounding exhaust than the 2011 5.0.

7) Although I didn't know it at the time, my 2010's manual transmission didn't suffer from the issues some 2011/12 manual transmission owners are having with hard/notchy shifting and gear grinding.

Basically, the 2010 GT was a fun to drive car. It just didn't offer competitive acceleration anymore. I hate driving a car with all bark and no bite.

 

I cant see how the 10 is "just about equal to 60" I had an 08 GT and my 11 Gt is noticably better to 60.