Test Drove a 15 V6
11/2/14, 09:08 AM
#1
Bullitt Member
Thread Starter
Test Drove a 15 V6
The first units are showing up at the 2 dealers here in Jackson MS now. I test drove a black V6 with auto. and the equipment group w/18" wheels.
The V6 is like a rocket compared to the 2007 version. Wow. And the level of electronics in this car is stunning compared to the last generation. I only saw the usual temp and fuel gauges in the round dials, not the 4-gauge pack I have....until I discovered buried deep in the menu there's not only a voltage and oil pres gauge but temp readouts for air intake, cylinder head, also air/fuel mixture, tire pressure, and many others that I already forgot!
It has driver-selectable steering feel. I tried each of the 3 modes and turned the wheel but I really didn't notice a big difference. Am I missing something? Isn't "sport" supposed to be a tighter feel? The wheel feels tighter than some other cars but I think my 2007 might be tighter. Is this because the new steering is electronic not hydraulic?
A few other observations....
There seemed to be a good amount of road noise or was it exhaust noise and you hear those asphalt strips. Just like 2007.
Also, the rear wheel wells are covered in some kind of material that resembles the hood insulator pad. How does this stuff hold up to all the debris beating its going to get, and water when driving thru rain? My 2007 wheel wells are solid body steel covered in undercoating.
It was interesting to see how they've completely tucked away the battery under a cover with only 2 fully covered wire bundles running out. Looks much better than the S197 in which they had just a red cover over the + cable and just bare metal - cable connector.
Underhood in the V6 there's tons of room and the oil filter relocated to up front of the block where it can almost be removed from above.
Cup holder - good job with the offset design so its not directly behind the shifter. Its to the right, so your arm wont hit the cup when shifting. Also on the console, the parking brake lever is still in the same spot and rock hard tight - something I don't like about my 2007.
The ridges on the hood seem a little distracting when looking out from the driver's seat and that hood seems longer than my 2007.
I'm not sure if I like the foundry black wheels, there's not going to be any contrast with the tire being black too. I wish the wheels were gray but you have to get that package in order to get the LED fog lights. The EB model has the fog lights & power seat standard but retains the base silver painted wheel.
I found out that the Ecoboost will add about $40-50 per year to my insurance over the V6. Why is that? Its not really a more powerful car. I don't know which I'd get. I really don't like the all black cabin, but I learned that when you order Ceramic on the EB model its actually just the seat surfaces, everything else is still black. The salesman said the turbo won't require 93 octane - is this true? I thought it does take Premium.
The V6 is like a rocket compared to the 2007 version. Wow. And the level of electronics in this car is stunning compared to the last generation. I only saw the usual temp and fuel gauges in the round dials, not the 4-gauge pack I have....until I discovered buried deep in the menu there's not only a voltage and oil pres gauge but temp readouts for air intake, cylinder head, also air/fuel mixture, tire pressure, and many others that I already forgot!
It has driver-selectable steering feel. I tried each of the 3 modes and turned the wheel but I really didn't notice a big difference. Am I missing something? Isn't "sport" supposed to be a tighter feel? The wheel feels tighter than some other cars but I think my 2007 might be tighter. Is this because the new steering is electronic not hydraulic?
A few other observations....
There seemed to be a good amount of road noise or was it exhaust noise and you hear those asphalt strips. Just like 2007.
Also, the rear wheel wells are covered in some kind of material that resembles the hood insulator pad. How does this stuff hold up to all the debris beating its going to get, and water when driving thru rain? My 2007 wheel wells are solid body steel covered in undercoating.
It was interesting to see how they've completely tucked away the battery under a cover with only 2 fully covered wire bundles running out. Looks much better than the S197 in which they had just a red cover over the + cable and just bare metal - cable connector.
Underhood in the V6 there's tons of room and the oil filter relocated to up front of the block where it can almost be removed from above.
Cup holder - good job with the offset design so its not directly behind the shifter. Its to the right, so your arm wont hit the cup when shifting. Also on the console, the parking brake lever is still in the same spot and rock hard tight - something I don't like about my 2007.
The ridges on the hood seem a little distracting when looking out from the driver's seat and that hood seems longer than my 2007.
I'm not sure if I like the foundry black wheels, there's not going to be any contrast with the tire being black too. I wish the wheels were gray but you have to get that package in order to get the LED fog lights. The EB model has the fog lights & power seat standard but retains the base silver painted wheel.
I found out that the Ecoboost will add about $40-50 per year to my insurance over the V6. Why is that? Its not really a more powerful car. I don't know which I'd get. I really don't like the all black cabin, but I learned that when you order Ceramic on the EB model its actually just the seat surfaces, everything else is still black. The salesman said the turbo won't require 93 octane - is this true? I thought it does take Premium.
11/2/14, 01:23 PM
#4
I just looked quickly on the ford website and it dosent look like the v6 has fog lights. As for sirius it doesn't say if it has, it just says AM/FM 1Cd radio.
11/2/14, 01:33 PM
#5
Mach 1 Member
The available package for the V6 adds the fogs, power driver's seat and something else I think that I can't remember. Lots of standard niceties.
11/2/14, 03:10 PM
#6
11/2/14, 07:34 PM
#7
11/2/14, 10:23 PM
#8
Bullitt Member
Thread Starter
All those items except the Foundry Wheels are included on the base Ecoboost model so, to compare apples with apples, a V6 with 051A and standard Ecoboost, the Ecoboost is only about 500 more. The Foundry Wheels are extra on Ecoboost; standard wheels are the same standard as the bare V6. Hopefully that's not too confusing!
11/3/14, 10:13 AM
#10
Bullitt Member
Thread Starter
11/4/14, 11:50 AM
#13
Bullitt Member
Thread Starter
So I wonder if the output with 87 octane would be less than a V6 with 87, since they are kind of close in spec anyway? And with the V6, would I see any improvement with 93 vs 87 gas?
11/4/14, 02:17 PM
#14
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Its possible that the hp would fall to around the same level as the V6 if you ran 87, but I'm sure there would still be significantly more torque. With the focus the Peak HP stays the same and Torque falls 5 or 7 or some small amount like that. But the torque and power curves are different.
Someone ran dyno on a stock ST with 87 octane and again with 93 octane. I'm hoping someone does that for the EB Mustang.
As for the V6, I'm not certain but I'd doubt it is programmed to take advantage of the higher octane. There are tons of options to flash the computer so that it does, but Ford seems to want to downplay the V6 so they aren't going to put that functionality in it.
Someone ran dyno on a stock ST with 87 octane and again with 93 octane. I'm hoping someone does that for the EB Mustang.
As for the V6, I'm not certain but I'd doubt it is programmed to take advantage of the higher octane. There are tons of options to flash the computer so that it does, but Ford seems to want to downplay the V6 so they aren't going to put that functionality in it.
11/4/14, 10:30 PM
#15
Bullitt Member
Thread Starter
Does anyone know if the electric steering is speed-sensitive? Maybe that's why I did not feel a difference - I was turning the wheel in park or at a very low speed. Maybe the extra effort of Sport Mode doesn't show till you're at road speeds?
11/4/14, 11:26 PM
#16
Cobra R Member
It should be the same as the previous models, it only effects how much effort is required to turn the steering wheel, and is not speed sensitive and does not offer adjustable ratios.
Either way, there isn't a ton of difference in steering feel between the modes. It's more noticeable going from comfort to sport, though (and skipping normal).
Either way, there isn't a ton of difference in steering feel between the modes. It's more noticeable going from comfort to sport, though (and skipping normal).
11/4/14, 11:56 PM
#17
Bullitt Member
Thread Starter
When you say previous models, was the steering electric in 2014? Its hydraulic in '07. I didn't know when they made the change. As I said, I really didn't notice much difference in steering wheel effort. Maybe I missed it.....
11/5/14, 12:11 AM
#18
Cobra R Member
I think in 2011 or 2012 models it went to electric. My 2012 Focus even had it.
The difference is not huge. If you are driving all day on the comfort setting then switch it to sport while at lower speeds it's typically pretty noticeable, otherwise unless you're really feeling for it it's not readily apparent.
The difference is not huge. If you are driving all day on the comfort setting then switch it to sport while at lower speeds it's typically pretty noticeable, otherwise unless you're really feeling for it it's not readily apparent.
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