I've owned my Ecoboost Mustang for a year, AMA

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/21/2017 at 11:19 • Filed to: None

According to Facebook I bought my Mustang a year ago today. AMA.

Here’s a picture from when I picked it up

DISCUSSION (40)

Nerd-Vol > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:20

Can you summarize the car in 12 words?

64Mali > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:20

Have you hit any crowds yet?

Chuckles > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:21

Any regrets? Would you have spec’d it out differently if you could do it again?

For Sweden > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:22

How many total pounds have you boosted?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:23

How hard is it to drive economically (i.e. stay out of boost)? What is your average MPG? Have you run over any crowds? Or is that only included with V8 Mustangs?

Chariotoflove > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:24

Do you lust after the refreshed 2018, or does this one still hold your heart?

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:26

Is it fast, fast, or FAST!?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:33

Do you still have a love-hate with it?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:36

How many miles have you put on it?

Jayhawk Jake > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/21/2017 at 11:36

I’ve never had a love hate. I still have two nagging noise issues (high pitch speaker whine and front end chatter at highway speed), but I’ve gotten used to them. I’ve always really liked the car, and I’ve grown to like it more and more with time.

Jayhawk Jake > For Sweden
02/21/2017 at 11:37

Considering the amount of time it spends as vacuum when cruising at regular speeds, probably approximately zero cumulatively.

Jayhawk Jake > Chariotoflove
02/21/2017 at 11:38

I’m not totally sold on the look of the ‘18, but I do want the digital dash and magride.

I’ll think about one, but I think I’d rather wait a bit longer and go for a GT350.

Jayhawk Jake > Chuckles
02/21/2017 at 11:40

I sort of wish I had the Performance Pack. I don’t think it would have made all that much of a difference, but it would be nice to not have to wonder.

It also would be nice to have the 5.0 just to not have to deal with misinformed opinions about the EB, but I test drove a GT over the weekend and came away realizing I wouldn’t pay much to get one now.

Jayhawk Jake > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
02/21/2017 at 11:41

It’s not hard, but it’s fun to drive fast. My average MPG is typically 23-24, and I don’t spend a ton of time on the highway (~30 mph average speed). Pure highway is 30-33. I haven’t reset the second trip computer since shortly after I bought it and that one says my lifetime MPG average is 25.6

Jayhawk Jake > Nerd-Vol
02/21/2017 at 11:43

No, a Mustang really does not need to come with a V8.

Jayhawk Jake > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
02/21/2017 at 11:43

16,600? I’ll have to look later. Many

Jayhawk Jake > 64Mali
02/21/2017 at 11:47

No, but I did hit the shit out of a Prairie Chicken once

Jayhawk Jake > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
02/21/2017 at 11:48

It’s fast. It’s not insanely fast but then again I guess that depends on what you have to compare it to.

I’ve driven a C6 ZR1, that car is FAST! By comparison the EB isn’t as fast (obviously), but it’s no slouch.

Justin Hughes > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 11:59

I can confirm.

Kinja'd!!!

This was my mostly highway trip back from upstate NY home to Massachusetts from Black River Stages in 2015, where we drove an EcoStang press car for course opening . That’s better than my BRZ gets in my mixed driving commute (about 28MPG).

I have no idea what my MPG was during the rally itself. I imagine quite low, though I couldn’t exactly push the Performance Package summer tires on gravel roads very hard. But with traction control off it was easy to induce some excessive oversteer past spectator areas without going all Cars and Coffee on them either.

Chariotoflove > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 12:01

Good bet. I’m interested in the convertible. I like both faces; so, the decider for me is which has a nicer interior, because that’s what I’ll be looking at most of the time. I’m sure that means the newer one, but I haven’t sat in one yet, of course.

Jayhawk Jake > Justin Hughes
02/21/2017 at 12:13

If I’m going hard and blasting through the rev range a lot on a tank, I’m closer to the 21 calculated number. Right now I’m on one of those tanks and I’m showing 24.6 on the car’s computer with a quarter tank to go. Usually the computer seems to be about 2 MPG high.

Considering the car has more than twice as much power as my Sonic did and only gets about 4 or 5 mpg less on average I think it’s quite impressive.

Jayhawk Jake > Chariotoflove
02/21/2017 at 12:14

From what I’ve seen the interior isn’t significantly changed. More options for appearance, but overall layout and materials look the same. The digital gauge cluster looks really nice though.

64Mali > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 12:29

That sounds disgusting, and doesn’t count if it was only 1.

mazda616 > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 12:47

How has it been, reliability wise? Any major issues?

09GT - now boosted > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 12:48

Did you do a tune yet? I just got a 17' Ecoboost convertible - about 500 miles on it so far so I haven’t gunned it much yet. Wondering if the fall in POWAH after 5000 rpm is that significant. Was thinking of a Ford Performance tune that supposedly adds 100 hp at the top end (I think only 25 hp at peak to 330-340 or so).

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 13:16

If you had to, what would you replace it with?

Jayhawk Jake > 64Mali
02/21/2017 at 14:49

It hit my A pillar, bounced off, then hit the trunk. Didn’t leave any marks or blood, so I got lucky

Jayhawk Jake > mazda616
02/21/2017 at 14:50

No major issues. I have two noises that Ford says are normal, that’s annoying, but I ignore them.

Jayhawk Jake > 09GT - now boosted
02/21/2017 at 14:51

I have the Ford Performance tune. It’s way faster than stock. Stock the power does fall off at 5000, doesn’t do it with the tune.

Jayhawk Jake > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back
02/21/2017 at 14:53

An S550 GT. I’d consider a Porsche (Boxster/Cayman/911), but I’d end up getting another Mustang.

64Mali > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 14:55

Wait a prairie chicken is a bird? And you are lucky, a friend killed a turkey like that and smashed up the A pillar

Jayhawk Jake > 64Mali
02/21/2017 at 14:57

Yeah it’s a black and white chicken thing

Kinja'd!!!

64Mali > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 15:38

That is a bit odd looking...

ranwhenparked > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 18:44

Any paint bubbles? Specifically, at the leading edge of the hood, or on the bottom of the trunk lid.

Jayhawk Jake > ranwhenparked
02/21/2017 at 19:18

Nope

ranwhenparked > Jayhawk Jake
02/21/2017 at 19:43

That’s good to know, honestly that fear is what put me off trading in my 2013 Mustang on a 2016. I might come back to one eventually.

uofime-2 > Jayhawk Jake
02/24/2017 at 14:31

Do you still look back at it every time you walk away?

Jayhawk Jake > uofime-2
02/24/2017 at 15:41

Everytime? Yes.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Jayhawk Jake
02/25/2017 at 00:25

How is autocrossing it compared to your Sonic? Obviously, it’s faster and rwd etc, any other thoughts? Adjustments you’ve had to make? Tips?

...From a Sonic owner who is getting ready to dive into more regular autocrossing next season.

Jayhawk Jake > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
02/25/2017 at 13:51

It’s a different animal. Much faster and RWD is totally different (and more fun!). It’s also significantly larger with worse visibility so cone hits have increased.

I think the biggest adjustment is accounting for what happens at the limit. At the Sonic’s limit it kinda just understeers or maybe gets a little tank-slapper, but it’s nothing beyond reasonable control. The Mustang is far more likely to get into a situation beyond saving.