S550 Mustang V6 Models Are Getting Crazy Cheap, Is It Time to Buy?
Six-cylinder models are often the butt of the joke, but S550 Mustang V6 models are now getting so cheap that they’re starting to look tempting.
Ford dropped the V6 offering from the iconic sixth-generation Mustang lineup after the 2017 model year. The Ecoboost four-cylinder variant was taking center stage as the fan-favorite of the entry-level powerplants over the S550 Mustang V6, and frankly, it was rightfully so. It had more power, better fuel economy, and was far more tunable. It wasn’t long after the release that folks were pushing Ecoboost models to similar power levels as V8 GT models. Ultimately, the Ecoboost proved that there is indeed a replacement for displacement: a turbocharger.
Now, though, something strange is happening. We’re looking back on that final two years of the V6 powerplant in the S550 and, unbelievably, we’re looking back on it fondly. The S550 Mustang V6 was never appealing throughout its limited production and didn’t sell well. A quick AutoTempest search has us really thinking about it, though. There is a relatively plentiful selection of manual V6 models for around or under $12,000, and, at that price, it almost makes sense.
Track Day Toy or Weekend Cruiser?
Look, we get it. We love the roar of a V8 and agree that it’s genuinely the proper powerplant for a Mustang. However, we have to pour a bit of respect on the six-cylinder powerplant as a whole. After all, it was offered from the very beginning of the Mustang all the way back in 1964. By the final year of the V6 Mustang in 2017, they came with a respectable power output of 300 horsepower, and, of course, the S550 brought independent rear suspension to the entire lineup. So, for around $12,000, you can land yourself in an IRS rear-wheel-drive sports car with a manual transmission and 300 horsepower.
By comparison, bumping up to a S550 Mustang GT in similar condition costs around $5,000 to $7,000 more than a V6 model. That’s a lot of tanks of gas for weekend cruising in the V6 model! Let’s be honest, here. A healthy portion of folks who buy a GT don’t often use all the power it comes with. So, if you can get the stigma of V6 ownership out of your head, the savings are pretty attractive. In a similar vein, the saved money could be dumped into a lot of high-performance modifications if you’re looking for a good time on track. $5,000 could easily get you a nice set of coilovers, lightweight wheels, grippy tires, and maybe even a limited-slip differential for ripping it up in turns.
If that doesn’t do it for you, how about a little perspective? People love the new-edge Mustang GT and have a lot of fun with it without-of-the-box power to this day. An S550 Mustang V6 has 40 more horsepower, only weighs about 200 pounds more, and has far better suspension geometry. They’re fun cars, and it’s time for us all to come to terms with that.
Photos: Ford
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