2014 Ford Mustang V6: Oppo review

"Dasupersprint - base trim is enough" (dasupersprint) 11/10/2015 at 13:00 • Filed to: None

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Yes, that one. The one known as the secretary special, or the one universally used as a new form of currency. It is was mine for 2 years.

I never was a fan of Mustangs. Old tech in a wobbly chassis never appealed to me. I realized that what I hated about Mustangs is what the owners did to them, and with them.

Then came the 2010 generation change (more of a big facelift). I thought they were nice looking. Then came the 2011 engines and I thought yeah, now they’re in business. THEN came the 2013 facelift. Ok now I want one, badly, and I want the 3.7L V6. Why the V6? I can’t put a clear answer on this, but I saw potential in it. 305hp should be enough. Better gas mileage. Lighter. Cheaper. I liked the fact that it was more powerful than the old 4.6L V8.

I found a used 2014 in early 2014. By the magic of marketing, it was already a near year-old car. Good deal. 15 000km. Manual of course (never learned how to drive auto). 19inch wheels and leather. Why not?

Exterior: 9/10

I think this is the most accomplished design they did after the 60’s. They had great ideas for the 2005 gen, but put one side to side with a 2013-2014 it now looks so dated. The 2015 model did not grow on me yet, so this one is the best. It’s the best if you keep it clean, though. No spoiler, NO FAKE VENT (typing angrily) No added chrome, no nothing. I just finished the side skirts with Roush splitters at the side and back. It was now perfect in my eyes. Just a tad too high.

Interior: 7/10

Ok, it’s not the best, but it’s acceptable. All the touch points are good, the steering is awesome, the shifter too. I didn’t like the door. I don’t drive like a douchebag with my hand at 12 o’ clock, I drive with my left elbow resting on the door and that part was hard plastic and I wasn’t confortable on long drives. Seats are good enough, it’s not a racecar you don’t need all the support in the world.

My son’s seat fit in the back easily. A rear-facing baby seat will fit, but not with a normal sized human sitting at front. That’s part of the answer to why I don’t have the car anymore (We’re having a second baby). The trunk has good space, but a small opening. It’s a usable car for the family, if you have a single child.

Acceleration: 7/10

A 305hp, 6 speed manual RWD car, it must pulls! Yeah, it pulls. But it’s held back. The engine is a sweetheart but I only got a sample of what it can do. Why? because of the evil gearing of the transmission! The gears are so long. This is the base, 2.73 ratio final gear, and it basically kills the engine. To me, at the time it felt fast. And it certainly is, but it could be so much more. 6th gear was highway only speeds. Below those speeds, don’t put the 6th gear or any sense of power is gone. My wife’s car is a 120hp Nissan Versa with the 6 speed, or what you could call a slow car. But trust me, if you put the two cars side by side in 6th speed at 60mph, the hatchback would demolish the so called ‘’sports car’’.

Anyways, it could be good, but it’s not until you change the gearing.

Braking: 8/10

Brakes have good feel to them, and are plenty enough powerful. Unless you take it to racetrack, something I did once. Boy I wished I had better brakes that didn’t fade. But no one cares about that, so it’s good for street and everyday use.

Ride and handling: 6/10

At first I thought, well it’s not that bad, that axle...and after about a month I wanted to change everything in the suspension. Body roll is with you here, from side, to side, front when you brake and back when you push the pedal. It accentuated even more when I put super sticky and wider tires on it.

I wanted the Ford Racing handling pack, but couldn’t justify myself the buy.

It’s nowhere near a good handling car, but it’s fun for everyday use and highway.

Gearbox: 9/10

I loved the feel, the precise changes, the cluth, everything. What I hated was the gearing of it but that’s another story.

Toys: 4/10

This was the base model so I didn’t get bluetooth, My Ford thing Sync or the color changing dashboard, or anything. And I was okay with that. It’s a car, not a laptop.

Sound: 8/10

The exhaust makes all kinds of pops and bangs from the factory! I loved the sound but wanted just a little more of it without changing it so I installed the Ford Racing X-Pipe. I think it changed a bit more from the outside because inside, nothing changed. Anyways, the 3.7L has a sweet, sweet sound.

Value: 8/10

You get what you pay for. No, it is not refined, the interior is crap compared to others but, at that price, who can complain? This is the base model. I would complain if I had some kind of higher spec GT that cost double, because I would have the same interior and crap suspension in a 40k car! Seriously, I think the V6 is best value. for this reason.

Gas mileage is superb. I could easily achieve the theoretical numbers, and more. This is due to the mentioned gear ratios but still.

Thing is, with a Mustang, you start with an okay car, and you always want more. I wanted to have a complete suspension kit, final gear, a tuner, to make it, someday, perfect. I realized everytime I drove it, I just thought about those things I wanted to do, because it wasn’t perfect for me.

I miss it but not as much as I thought I would.

Chariotoflove > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:02

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never learned how to drive auto

Comedy gold right there.

People get all down on the “secretary special” or “rental car stripper” monikers, but this is what the Mustang was originally conceived to be, isn’t it? It was to be a sporty, stylish daily driver for people with budgets and no performance ambitions. I’d say this is the “pure” Mustang.

Party-vi > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:05

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what’s a cluth?

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:17

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The flaws seem minor given what you get and the low price of entry. It’s too bad the gearing is too long. If the shifter/clutch feels as great as you say, shorter gearing wouldn’t have been a bad thing since it would actually be a pleasure to use the gear change.

You’re right about the looks - just a touch lower and it would be perfect; I think there’s a touch (a metric touch, not sure how that converts to imperial) too much space between the fender and tire.

Moves-Like-Senna > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:24

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T’es Quebecois?

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Moves-Like-Senna 11/10/2015 at 13:25

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ben oui

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > gin-san - shitpost specialist 11/10/2015 at 13:27

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I measure in metric touches too. I know a rear end ratio seems to be a common thing to replace, but I know after this I would want something else, and something else.

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Party-vi 11/10/2015 at 13:27

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Something

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Chariotoflove 11/10/2015 at 13:31

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It’s kind of a joke and kinda true. I never owned an auto, and the only autos I drove are rentals during travelling, and I get confused and a bit frustrated driving them. My wife is the same.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:36

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THAT interior is 7/10 to you?

Jeez, your standards are quite low.

Having been in a 2014 Mustang GT, I wouldn’t give it anything over 5/10, but everything else is spot-on, aside from the brakes. They’re adequate and I wouldn’t give them more than 6/10. For 3800lbs, they leave a lot to be desired. Rotors crack easily and pads get glazed VERY fast (even track-only ones)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Moves-Like-Senna 11/10/2015 at 13:38

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Domage :-P, haha

Moves-Like-Senna > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:40

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Sick! d’Montreal?

Moves-Like-Senna > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 11/10/2015 at 13:40

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Haha, un troisieme Quebecois ici?

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 11/10/2015 at 13:42

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On a 25k V6, I consider this interior 7/10. The same interior in a 50k convertible GT California? 3/10.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Chariotoflove 11/10/2015 at 13:43

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true. the first one was a baby blue 1964.5 baby blue convertible bought by a woman in Chicago.

http://jalopnik.com/see-the-first-…

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Moves-Like-Senna 11/10/2015 at 13:44

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Saint-Hyacinthe - ish

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Moves-Like-Senna 11/10/2015 at 13:44

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chuis po le 3eme.

Je viens d’autre part, mais j’avais une meuf quebecquoise, donc ca peut compter?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:48

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I don’t agree. Lots of other v6 cars at that pricepoint have model interiors that blow this one out of the water.

the S555 interior is a major step up and can easily be a 8/10 for the same price as the S197 new

Chariotoflove > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 13:49

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You know, I kinda understand. I learned on an auto and picked up manual later, but my dad learned on manual. To this day, he still uses his left foot for the brake pedal like it’s searching for a long-lost clutch pedal, even though he buys autos. I guess your muscles just get trained a certain way.

Chariotoflove > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 11/10/2015 at 13:50

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I remember reading about that. Beautiful car!

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 11/10/2015 at 13:51

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Ok, let’s say my standards are low then

Jonathan Harper > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 15:24

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I realized that what I hated about Mustangs is what the owners did to them, and with them.

But...aren’t you one of them?

Brian Silvestro > Jonathan Harper 11/10/2015 at 15:24

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Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Jonathan Harper 11/10/2015 at 15:39

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hehe

Jonathan Harper > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 11/10/2015 at 15:46

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nice GT!