Last of a Dying Breed: 5-liter Mustang Battles 5-liter Lexus RC F
While similar on paper, these two naturally-aspirated V8 coupes drive completely different.
Without a doubt the S550 Mustang GT is a car that has grown up in many ways. The platform itself is incredibly competent, quality has improved dramatically, and its now a world class car. Pitting the Mustang against the competition has been an exercise that can be traced back to the day the Mustang first debuted. So is it ready to take on the likes of the Lexus RC F? Dan Prosser, host of the PistonHeads YouTube channel drove both 5-liter machines to find out.
On paper, there’s a lot to compare with one exception. Both make about the same horsepower from their 5-liter motors, with the Lexus having a 14 horsepower advantage at 464. Torque gives the lead back to the Mustang, with 390 lb/ft. A surplus of 7. Weight also favors the Mustang, coming in at 3843 lbs, undercutting the RC F by 57. The big difference is in price. UK prices differ slightly from US prices, but as tested, the Mustang is a full $30,000 less expensive. That’s a big margin to overcome. Can the Lexus justify it?
Driving the Mustang, Prosser notes how old school the car feels. “It feels so distinctly muscle car that you can’t really describe it as anything else.” This is both good, and bad. Because he notes that while there’s nothing wrong with the steering – it feels direct and has lots of feedback – the Mustang does come off as slightly big and bulky. The Mustangs negatives are made up for by one big positive, however. If you opt for the GT Performance Pack that is standard on the Bullitt, Prosser says it becomes “a wonderful car. It’s a muscle car in character, but has the responses and agility of a sports car.”
Compared to the Mustang, the Lexus seems like it is from a completely different school of thought. “The first thing you notice (about the engine) is that it doesn’t make itself known, or felt, or heard anything as much as the Mustang’s V8 does,” notes Prosser. In fact, he feels driving the heavy RC F feels distinctly sports car after hopping out from the Mustang, but notes the Mustang’s V8 dominates the experience.
But really, they are two wholly different cars. Prosser notes, “which car is the overall winner? Honestly, we’re not here to find a winner, the cars are too different for that both in terms of price and personality.”
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