Mustang Performance Pack: ‘Must-buy’ or Pass?
Is the extra cost of the Mustang’s Performance Pack worth it, or is it just one big headache waiting to happen?
Take a stroll around the internet, and you’ll undoubtedly find countless Mustang performance reviews. But look even closer, and you’ll notice that most of them feature Performance Pack-equipped cars. And for good reason. After all, if you’re measuring performance, why not opt for the top performing model in the lineup? But opting for the Performance Pack obviously costs more money. So the question is, is it worth it? Before plucking down his hard-earned cash, Mustang Source member 2012WhiteGT posed that very question here in the forums.
“The wife and I have been seriously considering trading our 2012 GT 401a 3.73 coupe for an ’18 GT convertible. There’s a really good deal available on a demo with 1,500 miles. It’s a totally loaded 10-speed except for the Performance Pack and the active valve exhaust. I can’t find any road tests or even YouTube reviews of anything but a Performance Pack.
Anybody here with a non-Performance Pack have any insight? Would we be sorry for not getting it? I’m concerned about the 3.15 rear end making the car feel weak and not snappy where I’m used to a 3.73 manual.”
Surprisingly, many who chime in suggest forgoing the Performance Pack. Including roger blose.
“I have an ’18 GT premium w/o the PP. The A10 is amazing and will not disappoint. The PP for street use is way too expensive and the tire/wheel issues are more added misery. Black rims get stone chipped. High wear Michelin Pilot Sports may last 20k. Non-rotational, staggered tires, and no possibility of having a spare tire on board. Yes the six-piston Brembos are a delight. But the 4-piston standard brakes are very strong and look like they came off a Boss 302.
Also, the stock exhaust in the 2018 is perfect except for early morning blast offs. My neighbors seem to love it they tell me. Not sure if the active exhaust will be that durable in the long run. I would hate to have it stick in the quiet blocked mode in the years ahead due to heat, corrosion, and number of cycles.”
And for what it’s worth, 5.M0NSTER doesn’t think it’s necessary either. But he does caution against going for taller gears.
“I would say you don’t really need a PP unless you track the car. Also, 3.31 is not optimal on newer GTs. You could just buy it and spend a few hundred $ to swap the gears to 3.73s.”
All of which are great points. But we want to know what you think! Is the extra expense and higher tire replacement cost worth the extra performance? Head over here and tell us what you think about the Performance Pack.
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