Performance Pack 1 Mustang GT Manual: Budget GT350 in Hibernation?
Active Exhaust
The manual GT’s exhaust is aggressive, even while in “Quiet” mode at cold revs (which is the factory default). Opening it up by putting in either “Sport” or “Track” turns it into a supremely guttural machination that is sure to piss off all your neighbors early in the morning.
The exhaust sounds so incredibly good that it’s sort of hard to see how it is even legal here in California. We weren’t able to do a decibel rating to get a precise measurement, but we’re quite sure that it toes the legal limit for noise ordinance. Not that we personally care, of course. We don’t hide our ponies voices. We didn’t buy them to be quiet, they need to make an audible statement to us and whomever is near.
Still, this is where Ford’s Active Valve Performance Exhaust (an $895 add-on) does a really good job of appeasing everyone. Compared to the Camaro’s NPP exhaust tech for the same price, it simply sounds better by default. Each exhaust note from “Quiet,” “Normal,” and “Sport/Track” are noticeably different. In “Sport,” the exhaust is so deep and savage that you can still hear it even after it has traveled a great distance. As it stands, the GT’s exhaust note is the gold standard that all American muscle cars should follow.
Final Verdict
The fact is, the 2018 Mustang GT Premium in manual form is loads more fun than driving the automatic GT. No argument there. You also can’t argue with the trendsetting active exhaust tech either. But the gearbox and clutch definitely have a learning curve, and newer manual drivers will have to hit the ground running with this one.
For what it’s worth, this car is absolutely perfect for cruising and little skirmishes here and there. But in order to be truly competitive, the MT-82 simply needs to go. Put a Tremec TR6060 with either one of the Performance Packages and you basically have a budget Shelby on your hands.
At a base price of $39,095, it is a great buy. With the 401A equipment package, Active Exhaust, Performance Pack 1 and the MagneRide system in tow, the price shoots up to $47,880, which is about the same price as the automatic GT with nearly identical performance options. Again, still a great buy.
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