I Rented A Boostang Convertible And Drove It Up A Mountain

"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
07/11/2017 at 13:15 • Filed to: boostang, Vermont, Hot Takes

It cemented a lot of preconceived notions in my mind, but changed my mind about a couple things.

I had the chance to get out of town with my wife, but without kids for a day this weekend, which never happens. Ever.

So, in a moment of impulse, I decided I needed to rent a convertible to drive for the day. Being in podunk Vermont, I had 0 choices at mainstream rental agencies. 0. No convertibles. Ridiculous.

So instead, I turned to something I only know about becasue of Oppo, Turo. I found a convertible (amazing, since there were only 7 cars available locally) and tried to book it ASAP. After a little monkeying around with the options on Turo, I logged the request, which was eventually accepted (it was a little rocky, as the person with the car had not rented it out before).

So I did exactly what you do with a rented car, I drove it up the side of a mountain. I drove it through Smuggler’s notch, then up the Stowe toll road, which provided some great scenery from Mt. Mansfield.

I couldn’t manage to drive up this last part. When will Ford offer the 4x4 package?

Beyond that, it was mostly very normal driving, save for a few weird roads which looked too tempting to ignore.

Look at those strakes. Line em up and run em down!

Overall, I was surprised by the ease of Turo, but I’m sure a big part of it was renting from a very flexible owner. It was generally painless and easy. Having a convertible to tool around in was fantastic, and it really helped to make the very limited time away a blast.

I was in not really surprised by the Mustang. It was what I expected based on my previous understanding of Mustangs (the only other Mustang I’ve driven was a foxbody) but even more extreme.

I know there are multiple Mustang owners on Oppo, so if you are one, and you’d like to, turn back now .

. . . . .

It’s a truck in a sportscar wrapper. I was kind of amazed. This example is a 2015 ecoboost manual with less than 9000 miles on it.

The hood is huge. I couldn’t see anything in front of it. At one point, I jokingly put the power (well, half power, see next point) seat all the way up and looked over the top of the windshield just to see if it helped. It didn’t.

What’s with the half power seats? The bottom half is electric, but the seat angle is a lever. That’s the first time I’ve come across that mix.

No wonder so many owners are running down pedestrians at C&C. It’s got two gun sights right down the hood! Why!?! They’re very large and distracting.

The turbo whistle. It’s always there, and louder than expected. It sounded closer to a turbo diesel pickup than a WRX or FoST. For a while I set the info screen to vacuum/boost because I couldn’t believe I was spooling the turbo up to full blast all the time. And I wasn’t. Even when it was only just getting past atmosphere, it whistled like a schmuck in a hard hat.

That clutch has trucker levels of travel. The shifter has a nice short travel, which makes the clutch even weirder. When I was done and got back in the FR-S, I almost put my foot through the floor pan.

310 HP. Really? The googles said the peak is at about 5500 RPM. I stuck my foot in it multiple times waiting for the thrust. It never amazed me. I feel more grunt from the wife’s A4, which has significantly less HP. It also weighs less than the Boostang, which may help.

When darkness fell and we parked at a restaurant, my wife witnessed the puddle lights as she stepped out. Her eyes nearly rolled out of her head. SEMA called to say your Mustang is ricey.

It still managed to cement in my mind that I need to get a convertible. Just not this convertible. I need to find an E46 drop top in good condition. Somehow.

DISCUSSION (38)

CB > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:22

I’m only going to star this because I spent a lot of time at Smuggler’s Notch growing up and that the roads around there are great.

Tekamul > CB
07/11/2017 at 13:27

I’m trying to set aside a day this Summer to do a notch/gap tour up and down the spine of the Green Mountains on my motorcycle. There are so many good roads carved through the hills.

Decay buys too many beaters > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:28

I agree with your assessment on the motor, just doesn’t feel special to me. All the downsides of a turbo but they’ve become so good at tuning out lag and ramping in boost that modern turbo cars just don’t have the character that old ones did. It’s one of the main reasons I decided to add a turbo to my FR-S rather than buy something that came from the factory with one.

Bytemite > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:32

It is likely the owner just put in regular instead of premium gas. With these modern turbos, they can take both, but will only dole out like 80% of the power. You might have only been driving a 240 hp Mustang, and when coupled with that huge weight and unnecessarily large body, will feel like dog shit.

Tekamul > Decay buys too many beaters
07/11/2017 at 13:32

Is the turbo addition to the FR-S worth it? I’ve been back and forth on adding more power, mainly out of concern for the ancillaries that are going to need an upgrade too (clutch, fuel delivery, cooling).

I’m resigned to the fact that the car is not very fast, and rather just throw it into turns at pant-filling speeds.

CalzoneGolem > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:33

I rode a bike up and down smugglers notch once. I’m not sure my breathing was quieter than the Boostang.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Bytemite
07/11/2017 at 13:33

I think 80% is rather exaggerated. But maybe that was your intention, not sure because internet, lol.

Tekamul > Bytemite
07/11/2017 at 13:35

Eh, she was pretty specific about the gas in the documentation, I think she’s aware. Plus, around here the premium is all 93 unless you go for non-ethanol specifically. It should have been up to snuff.

Side note - I dig the capless filler. That was my first experience with one.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:36

“Then darkness fell and we parked at a restaurant, my wife witnessed the puddle lights as she stepped out. Her eyes nearly rolled out of her head. SEMA called to say your Mustang is ricey.”

This is a bit of an exaggeration, puddle lights aren’t useless, nor do they look tacky in my opinion. Now if they were on while you are driving, I’d agree with you.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:36

Turo, like Airbnb, is VERY dependent on the owner/host. This is what makes it so interesting versus the traditionally run businesses. Adds a personal touch and generally saves money. The only issue I have with Turo is that their customer service is kind of trash and mileage limits always piss me off. But its worth it for the unique experiences. Where else would I have affordably driven an FRS, Cayman, Mini Cooper S, 370Z, and C7 Corvette, all in manual?

Anyways, I really want to check out Vermont in the summer time. I have done countless road trips there in the winter for skiing. I’m sure the hiking up there in the summer and backroad cruising would be spectacular.

Oh and if the goal is convertible, then of course the answer is Miata! Or S2k if you have the funds.

Bytemite > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
07/11/2017 at 13:38

Hmm..really I don’t consider it exaggerating at all. I know the regular fuel rated version of my 1.6 turbo goes from 201 down to 164. Same with the 2.0 turbo engines, from ~300 down to 240. 80% is actually very accurate across the board for these turbo engines.

Tekamul > CalzoneGolem
07/11/2017 at 13:39

Ha. You’re insane. Half because of the ridiculous effort required, the other half because you’re chances of getting run over on a bike in the notch is probably between 70 and 80%.

Between the narrow winding road, the hikers parked everywhere IN THE ROAD, and the retired dentists trying to wrestle their Road Kings away from the rocks, nobody’s actually noticing a guy on a bike.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:39

I thought that part was so strange in the C7 I rented. Although overall it operated about the same. The only thing I noticed was it was impossible to hold the filler on the edge to make sure the last couple drips didnt end up on the paint. Since the capless thing would shut as soon as I moved it back enough to see it.

Tripper > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:39

Man I love Vermont. I went to college in Bennington which kind of sucks, but spent just about every weekend in Burlington/Stowe. Also +1 for E46 rag top. I’ve got one that I will never let go of.

Tekamul > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/11/2017 at 13:41

The ‘throat’ on the Mustang was pretty deep, so it seemed to do a good job catching any drips. I have no idea what it looks like in a Vette.

CalzoneGolem > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:41

We did it with 13 guys and no one got run over much.

We had to air down for the descent because all the braking could cause our tires to burst.

Decay buys too many beaters > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:42

Here’s the thing, the extra power is lovely and the chassis can 100% handle it without problem. It’s almost like they initially planned in a higher power spec but pulled it. The stock clutch is good until about 300 wheel (as long as you actually know how to drive a manual) and the stock radiator does great. You would need to consider oil cooling as a turbo adds a lot of heat to that system.

On the other hand, my car isn’t a daily and I have a spare FA20 in my garage “just in case”. If I wanted a “bolt on and forget it” solution I’d go with a Harrop supercharger, helped install one on my buddy’s car and it’s a real nice package. I went with turbo because I prefer the character/sounds of turbo cars and nobody local had done a turbo 86 correctly yet IMO.

Have you done a header yet? The addition of a Tomei UEL wakes up the midrange nicely. It’s still slow, but feels better rolling on.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:43

I probably could have gotten used to it, it was a minor gripe. I was more distracted by the limitless torque and V8 noises.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:43

I drove a 2015 V6 mustang for about 3 days and was actually quite amazed at the amount of power it had and it’s ability to accelerate. I was completely unimpressed with the cars handling and ride though. The truck comparison is accurate IMO.

Bytemite > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 13:45

Pay no mind to the power-bros, they don’t know anything beyond spec sheet racing. You just experienced a car that would have even more power than your turbo’d FRS, and you still didn’t like it.

As you mentioned, adding a turbo to your FRS means you need bigger clutch, fuel delivery, cooling, maybe even mounts. Add to that list the stiffer and heavier tires and wheels to deal with the extra power, much more unsprung weight such as underbody bracing, stiffer shocks and springs, antiroll bar to handle the added weight up front and front-heavy weight distribution, possibly even bigger brakes and hubs and axles...so on and so on. What do you end up with? An ecoboost Mustang.

Tekamul > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/11/2017 at 13:46

Yeah, the owner in this case was very relaxed. She could probably get taken advantage of fairly easy (I was her first rental, but she said she just had a couple more booked) because she was lax about pictures, mileage, etc. But, the relaxed attitude made it very painless. It was more like borrowing from somebody I knew.

As for VT in the Summer, it’s the typical outdoor fair - hiking, paddling, driving , plus lots and lots of beer.

Tekamul > Decay buys too many beaters
07/11/2017 at 13:54

I have done essentially 0 with it performance wise, outside of consumables (better brakes/tires).

I was thinking I’d rather go SC over turbo, but I saw the Innovate SC was catching some flak for engine failure issues.I hadn’t heard of Harrop before. Wow that price.

Tekamul > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
07/11/2017 at 14:00

...wait. I’m not sure what the use for a puddle light is. Like you’re going to use them to spot puddles when you’ve just parked somewhere with your headlights on which would show the puddles? I figured they were strictly bling items, especially since manufacturers like to exclusively use it to flash their logo all over.

Decay buys too many beaters > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 14:06

Out here in the Northwest we have a pretty active scene, so I’ve seen and played with just about every kit/kind of forced induction on the 86 platform. The Innovate/Sprintex cars are the weakest. They don’t make much power (even intercooled) and run way too hot. This coupled with the instant on torque tends to put a lot of unnecessary forces on the bottom end at low RPMs. The centifugul kits (Jackson Racing, Kraftwerks, HKS, Vortec) are pretty reliable, but not all that fun. I hate their power curve. The bigger PD blowers (Harrop, Edelbrock, Cosworth) are the sweet spot for daily drivable fun power IMO. They aren’t cheap, sure, but they are the same price or cheaper than a GOOD (non chinaparts) turbo kit. Think I’m about $5k into components on mine (Garrett GTX Turbo, Turbosmart gate and BOV, custom Garrett intercooler, PRL hot parts) but I’m making the same power as the supercharged guys with noticeably less boost pressure, so less strain on the motor for any power level.

Tekamul > Decay buys too many beaters
07/11/2017 at 14:11

Yeah, I’ve got no interest in the centrifugal SCs. After deciding Innovate was going to be a bad idea, I looked at the Edelbrock, but it kind of crossed the cost/benefit line for me in a car that gets far fewer miles than it deserves.

Decay buys too many beaters > Bytemite
07/11/2017 at 14:13

Not a power bro, was singing the praises of staying NA for years, but a great deal on a turbo setup fell into my lap. A low boost turbo (about 270-300 wheel) on the FR-S is wonderful, doesn’t require supporting mods, and feels so very right in the chassis

Textured Soy Protein > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 14:18

Yes, the half power seats are dumb. They are one of several touches that make the Mustang feel very much like it was built to a price point.

You probably didn’t feel the power because the base, non-performance package gearing on the Mustang is very tall. Actually it looks like you still can’t get the performance pack on the convertible Boostang, just the GT, but you can get a shorter final drive gear on the Boostang.

The diverter valve (not blowoff valve since it doesn’t vent to atmosphere) on many modern turbo cars is active well before the car reaches peak boost. My BMW 335xi makes all sorts of silly whooshy whistly turbo noises. They are of course amplified by my aftermarket intake. Thankfully my wife is entertained by my car making these stupid noises.

Decay buys too many beaters > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 14:19

That’s understandable, it isn’t cheap. That said, I’ve been driving mine WAY more often post turbo than I did pre turbo. Makes it a much nicer street car if you’d believe that lol.

Tekamul > Textured Soy Protein
07/11/2017 at 14:24

Yes, the gearing. I had overlooked mentioning that.

It definitely had a very tall final gear. At ‘crusing’ speeds (45-55) I could not leave it in 6th, which was a departure for me. My FR-S is no beast, but it’s happy puttering around in 6th, mainly because it’s geared to “LOL, what’s MPG?” My wife’s A4 is fine, too, but that’s mainly because the turbo is quick to go to full boil at 1750 RPM and beyond.

Instead, when cruising this ride stayed in fifth. Straight to third when I wanted to get it going.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 14:32

Welcome to convertible mania!

I say every true car nut should own a nicely running convertible at least once in their life.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 14:47

Most of the guys I rented from were definitely car guys in the truest sense. It was only strange one of my latest rentals of an Infiniti Q40 because it was done through a small company operating on Turo. They turned out fine but it just seemed sketchy.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Bytemite
07/11/2017 at 15:15

Okay, I drive a 2010 SHO, from what I remember the performance penalty for 87 octane isn’t nearly as much as what you are quoting above. But these engines could certainly be different.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 15:16

What if you go to a restaurant and while you are eating it rains, as you come up to the car, you’ll be able to see if any puddles have formed that you’d want to avoid. I doubt it does much good as you are parking, because who can see directly next to their door from inside their car unless they crane their head out?

Tekamul > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
07/11/2017 at 15:21

This feels like a stretch, but I’ll not belabor my gripe. I’m just not their target demo.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 15:28

Whose target? Lots of cars aside from Mustangs have puddle lights.

My SHO has it and I appreciate it! When I get up in the morning, it’s still dark out and it’s been raining or snowing all night, I like to see what’s on the ground in the vicinity of my door.

Again, my gripe is that you called it “ricey”, I strongly disagree as it’s a reasonably useful and innocuous aspect of a car. Sure the fact that it projects a logo for some cars is maybe a little tacky, but I wouldn’t go as far as “ricey”.

Tekamul > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
07/11/2017 at 15:47

They aren’t needed when I’m parking, my eyes work, and I can see where I’m parking.

They aren’t useful when I’m walking to the car. It has proximity sensors, meaning I’m never going to touch the key fob, I’m just going to walk up and slide my hand onto the handle, and it will unlock. The system isn’t smart/calibrated enough to turn them on from 30 feet away. By the time they turn on, I’m already in any puddle they would illuminate. There is no point of having the proximity fob if I’m going to be poking at my keys to see if a puddle formed when I wasn’t (and am still not) looking. There’s no point to having the puddle light if I’m going to use the proximity fob as intended.

It’s tacked on lighting used to display the manufacturer’s logo, not for the owner’s benefit, but so anyone around them can watch it light up and go ‘oooooo’ (or at least they hope so).

It’s the OEM equivalent of purple ground effects. If a car I was going to buy had them, it’s not like they be a deal breaker, but I would disable/remove/fire them out of a cannon so as to not look like an attention whore.

Jayhawk Jake > Tekamul
07/11/2017 at 16:26

I always have to ask if you put it in sport or track mode, because the ‘normal’ mode tune on the EB is really lackluster.

I don’t know how much weight is added with the convertible, and I haven’t driven a stock ecoboost in a while, but I do know the car felt MUCH faster after a tune. A tuned EB can actually hang surprisingly well with a GT from a roll.

Agreed on the clutch. I kinda hate the clutch in these, even in the GT. It’s very hard for me to be happy with my seating position because my right leg feels too close to the gas and brake but my left leg never really feels close enough for the clutch. Doesn’t help that the grab point is really high too, so you are doing nothing with 2/3rds of the travel.

Tekamul > Jayhawk Jake
07/11/2017 at 16:44

It was in Sport for most of the time, but towards the end I just left it in normal.

I feel like having the tighter final drive option would have been a big help.