I’ve had my Mustang for six months now and wanted to pass along my thoughts on it.



Some background: I’ve had convertibles since just after I retired in November of ’99. The ’98 Jaguar XK8 was gorgeous, fun to drive, very comfortable, and not as reliable as it should have been. The ’91 Morgan 4/4 turned heads everywhere she went and was a lot of fun, but definitely not comfortable and very cramped. The ’07 Honda S2000 was an incredible driver’s car, but a harsh ride over less than great pavement and pretty snug. Having rented a V6 Mustang convertible in Hawaii last November, I concluded that I could have fun and be comfortable at the same time. So just after the first of the year I ordered my new Mustang (our first domestic car in 40 years) and put my S2000 up for sale. It was definitely a great move and I have had no regrets at all.

Appearance: I had no way of knowing just what the 2015 would look like, but I considered waiting for it for the IRS if nothing else. However, I REALLY like the looks of the current car and decided to go ahead with a purchase. I think the styling of the 2013/14 is outstanding and the only thing I have changed is a stubby antenna from CravenSpeed.com. I didn’t want that ugly front license plate mount on my bumper so I devised a way to mount the front plate that would be secure, satisfy the State Patrol, and not be too ugly. I’ve been delighted with my choice of colors and have had numerous compliments on it. I very much like the look of the stock 17” wheels and have never before had wheels that were so easy to keep clean. I wish the top folded down lower, but would not give up luggage space or fuel tank capacity.






Fit and Finish: Generally the car is very good in this respect, but there are a few issues that are trivial enough that I can live with them. There are wrinkles in the top just behind the rear windows where the vinyl for the roof could have been cut more accurately. The dash panels on the passenger side are not as flush as they should be. Some of the trim around the windows could have been cut more accurately. These seem like little things and they are, but I come from several decades of owning Hondas that were assembled more precisely.



Design/Features: I am surprised that the outside mirrors don’t fold in against the body, but I love the convex inserts in them. I’ve never before had a car that provided better visibility in that respect. The fold down rear head rests are a clever feature that improves visibility in that direction. I appreciate the auto down and up door windows and am glad I opted for the comfort package to get a power passenger seat and heated front seats and mirrors. I also got the security package to get backup sensors. I would have preferred a backup camera but did not want a spoiler. It’s unfortunate that they couldn’t have designed the speedo and tach so that they used more than 180 degrees of sweep, but removal of the odd speed increments (30, 50, etc.) from the speedo made it easier to read. I like the fuel filler without a cap but would have preferred an internal release for the outer fuel door. Being able to set steering feel is a real plus.

Performance/Economy: The car has more than enough power to keep me happy. I know a tune would resolve the shifting lag in the automatic, but won’t do anything to jeopardize the warranty. I don’t miss a stick shift. The SelectShift automatic is very well done and I have used manual shifting quite a bit when running twisties or on long uphills. My experience with the rental told me that it handles surprisingly well, but I thought with its size and weight it would not be too nimble. Boy was I wrong. I got to chase S2000s along highway 1 in California and a couple of them used turnouts to let me pass. The others just couldn’t get that ‘red thing’ to get out of their rear view mirrors. Even with a lot of playing on that road trip of almost 2,000 miles, I averaged 26.4 MPG. On our latest trip of the same length I averaged 28.15 MPG and got 32 MPG on the first leg. We have a little over 10,000 miles on the car now and the size and comfort have made it possible to take road trips of reasonable length and have my wife accompany me.

Entertainment System: I spent a lot of time preparing for delivery and have some 280 albums on a very small 32GB USB thumb drive that I leave plugged in. I have found Sync works very well if things are properly setup, and have sent a document I prepared on that subject to a number of members of this forum. There have been a few hiccups, but nothing serious. Obviously, when you are cruising with the top down you can’t request a different album by voice. But then you can’t hear music that well under those conditions anyway. Being able to take and make calls with my BlueTooth connected Android phone is a great feature.

Comfort/Capacity: We’ve actually had adults in the back seat for reasonable length drives. They weren’t really big people, so that helped. The trunk is large enough for the luggage we require for a road trip, as well as a cooler and some other stuff. The fuel tank capacity is fine and I have gone as far as 437 miles on a tank full. The ride is terrific and the seats provide plenty of support for spirited driving.

My 2014 Mustang V6 Premium convertible is a wonderful car and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. I’m especially pleased that Ford was able to produce it without having to stick their hands into taxpayers’ pockets for a bailout.

 

Niice writeup

 

Very nice write up! :-)

 

Always loved your color combo. Glad you're enjoying your sixer! I wish they made those wheels 18s though. Any plans to mod it at all? Maybe some GT500 mufflers and reso delete, and a tune after warranty is up?

The CDC light bar would look really good too!

 

Another excellent review, Tom

It's great to see you enjoying the Stang and 10k in 6 months is pretty impressive.

Do you see yourself hanging onto it, or will you be tempted to take a look at the '15 S550?

 

Thanks for the write up Tom. I'm happy to hear the car is good on a road trip, and the trunk is ample enough to carry what's needed. We are readying ours for a long trip (approx. 5K miles) starting this coming Sunday.

Like your ours has been great, not perfect with a few annoying minor problems, but can't wait to get in her and ride.

BTW, I love the color combo on your ride. Some may call me a bit biased though.

 

Thanks. At this point I have no plans to mod it. A tune would be nice to improve throttle response, but I won't risk warranty issues. By the time it is out from under warranty I will likely be satisfied with it as is.

Two road trips of near 2,000 miles and two round trips to Grants Pass, OR of 750 miles each really add up. I have no plans to look at the '15s, other than curiosity. I'll hang onto it.

We travel light anyway, but having made road trips in our S2000 (which has a trunk just over half the size of the Mustang's) we find this trunk spacious. My wife appreciates that she is no longer looking UNDER 18 wheelers.

 

Tukatz,

I liked the write up. That's just what we need from new owners. Don't have your engine model but the MPG is temping. Its good to know that a V6 can give a s2000 hell! I use to own a 96 Honda Prelude - besides the power (131hp), it was the best handling car I ever drove. Once I get This shifter changed, I might have a new claim...

 

Thanks. It was a blast riding the heels of S2000s and I'm sure it surprised them. Being able to leave it in second gear while running tight twisties really helped.

 

I do understand. Our last road trip was done in my Corvette Vert. Compared to it the Mustang's trunk looks like the Grand Canyon. And your right about the 18 wheelers. It drove the Wifey nuts riding beside those things.