2019 Mustang Bullitt: From Hollywood Superstar to Supercar
Same Transmission
The MT-82 seems to be a mainstay on the S550 Mustang GT—and on the 2019 Bullitt. In my previous reviews, I’ve mentioned how lackluster the manual transmission is on the GTs. However, seeing as though it wouldn’t make much business sense to cannibalize the GT350’s Tremec-flavored gearbox onto the Bullitt, I’ll say this much: The active rev matching is a godsend.
Despite still having such a wide gearing ratio and annoying rev hang, the rev matching tech on the GTs and the Bullitt really make rowing the gears a pleasurable experience. Moreover, the high 7,400 RPM limit on this car makes aggressive acceleration not only fun, but competitive, too. Take second gear, for instance. It’s good for going nearly as high as 85 miles per hour before shifting, and that’s well beyond its peak HP and torque at this point. The cue ball shifter knob (another ode to the original car) feels big in the hand but you get used to it rather fast. It definitely feels much better, and ironically more ergonomic, than the stock GT shifter that’s for sure.
The clutch also feels lighter. Not sure if its because Ford finally did away with the assist spring, or just finally put softer springs in, but it is loads better than a stock GT. And that’s saying a lot.
Handling & MagneRide
With the grippiness of the Pilot 4S tires and the super-connected steering, the MagneRide suspension is really just icing on the cake. The beauty of this car’s handling is that you really have to try hard to oversteer/understeer it while in Sport+ mode. It’s rather precise, even with slight movements.
Bear in mind that MagneRide is not a standard option on the Bullitt, but if you get no other add-on, please do yourself a favor and order it. The latest iteration of this magical damper system, compared to the 2018 PP1 GT, seems even more refined and focused. The difference isn’t exactly night and day but if you’ve driven both cars long enough, you may notice the improvements almost immediately.
Demographics
It’s not hard to see who this car is geared toward. Nor is it difficult to see why he/she would want it. On paper, the Bullitt has great specs, and offers a little something extra for anyone looking for a new Stang.
The car I have is equipped with the Bullitt Electronics package ($2,100), Recaro seats ($1,595) and MagneRide suspension ($1,695). This equates to a grand total of $52,885 ( as tested, $900 delivery charge included). As you can imagine, that’s a pretty hefty sum for a car that is essentially a better-tuned equivalent of a Performance Package 2 Mustang.
Final Verdict
A car with stock 480 hp is most definitely nothing to cough at. In almost any street driving scenario, that is more than enough. But, if you’re looking for a beefy 5.0 that has great handling, girthy sound and gobs of stock horsepower, a GT or GT Premium will do you just fine. For enthusiasts (not necessarily of the movie), the conundrum lies in what you can do for less if you simply do a few simple mods on a cheaper GT (with or without active suspension).
Do you need the Electronics Package? Most certainly not. Do you need the Recaros? Not really. Do you need MagneRide? Personally, I can’t live without it, but no. You don’t. So, without all the extras, is it worth the $47,690 price tag? Well, that depends. Even if you aren’t a diehard fan of the film, this car is still a good option. Especially if you’re not keen on doing any mods.
The 2019 Mustang Bullitt is a marked improvement over previous year models. It is faster, it looks cleaner and it performs better than its brethren. Plus, it’s got a few exclusive goodies you can’t find on any other car. However, unless you’d like to have a special edition pony for the sake of having one and don’t mind absurd dealer markups, you can easily get a regular GT for less and still be happy.
Need more visuals? Check out the gallery below!
Photo & Video: Derin Richardson
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