"twinturbobmw" (twinturbobmw)
08/02/2013 at 14:50 • Filed to: Test Drive
0
3|
"twinturbobmw" (twinturbobmw)
08/02/2013 at 14:50 • Filed to: Test Drive | 0
| 3 |
The first thing you probably think of when you hear the words "Ford Mustang" is a sleek, elegant and powerful V8 muscle car. But what about a V6 Mustang Convertible? Does it live up to the name "Mustang" or is it just a badge on a semi-powerful car like the Mustang II?
( Full Disclosure: As you may or may not know from my previous posts me and my family went on a trip to Hawaii. We rented a Nissan Altima Coupe, something practical and could carry all our luggage. But we got upgraded to a Mustang therefore I can now tell you 2 large suitcases won't fit in the trunk.)
Because I don't have a license yet I obviously didn't get to drive the car, yet I an prepared to do a review.
The car is a rental. It had 9,000 miles on it however unlike a normal rental, it didn't seem abused. No major dents and/or scratches and no real interior problems.
Exterior: 7/10
I'm just going to go straight out and say I do like the exterior of the car. The front end is aggressive and stylish although the headlights do take away from that slightly. The standard headlights on the older Mustangs (2010-2012) were better aesthetically and gave the car a more aggressive look.
Taking a walk down the side of the car highlights some of the lines taken from the classic Mustangs of the 60s. However, one thing that is not retro are the wheels. The black/silver contrast make them pop out. The wheels though are too small. The Mustang has a very bulky stance and 17 inch wheels ruin it. The V8 Mustang with the 18 inch wheels are a much better alternative and should be offered as an option.
Moving to the back, I personally love the new 2013 taillights. They have a modern, clean look to them. What I don't like is how the 2010-2013 Mustang rear bumpers come out to a point; kind of like the Cadillacs. This makes the car look fat in a way.
With Ford supposedly moving to a whole new design next year with a more modern approach, I'll be sad to see the retroness that should always be with the name Mustang, leave.
Interior: 6/10:
(Photo Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
I gave the Mustang Convertible an ok score for a reason, but before I explain I must say I love the seats. They are the best part of the interior because they are so comfy! Even the back seats cocoon you in. I will admit the bolsters could be better. The rental car was a premium model with leather seats so sliding out of your seat through hairpins was inevitable.
One thing you cannot stop playing with is the in-dash lighting. There are so many different combinations, my favorite being blue gauge halos with white numbering. You can also have adjustable ambient lighting in the cabin if you opt for the premium.
Now to the bad part. Right when you climb into the car half your view of the road is cut off because of the dashboard being extremely high. Also, it doesn't seem like something you could get used to. The Mustang doesn't have any outstanding features in the interior; but it doesn't need any. It's a muscle car, not a luxury car. It does have the shaker sound system and SYNC (which doesn't work) but that's about it.
Prepare yourselves now for the worst part about the Mustang Convertible: the roof. It is not how fast the roof is or how it looks. The quality sucks. There is about a one inch gap between the edge of the headliner and the side part of the roof. So you can see whats making the roof move. At least a cloth sheet covering that would help! Also, the part where the metal arms fold into when the top is down is not covered well so when the top is up you can look through the hole and see the body panels and window. I wish I had a picture to show you but I don't.
Acceleration: 6/10
(Photo Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
One word to describe the Mustang's acceleration? Disappointment. The car is powered by a 3.7 V6 engine making a hearty 305HP. But the car feels like it has 200HP. When you put your foot down you don't get that feeling from the G-forces telling you that your accelerating. This could be down to the weight (over 3500LBS) but could also be the rental car company limiting the car's power for safety reasons.
Braking 6/10
Again, this is a heavy car, so you don't expect much from the brakes. The brakes weren't tested during the rental but from just normal, day to day stuff, they seems proficient. You are not getting carbon ceramic braking force but you are not getting bad brakes either.
Ride: 7/10
(Photo Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
Like the brakes, the ride is average. Nothing too astounding, however they do provide a nice balance between comfort for cruising and sport for the mountain roads. I was expecting the newer Mustangs to have a harsher, more sport oriented ride. Maybe it's just how comfortable the seats are that make you forget about the ride.
Handling: 6/10
(Photo Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
If this car were a coupe I suspect it would have gotten a 7. However the convertible gets a 6 because it suffers from the same problem most drop tops encounter; the car rolls because of the lack of a chassis and a roof holding it together. This is true for most convertibles and the only way to solve this is add heavy beams across the bottom of the car. But of course this adds weight, something the Mustang doesn't need more of.
Gearbox: 8/10
(Photo Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
For 2013 the Mustang has an all new SelectShift automatic transmission. I do love the improvements. The shifts are smooth and quick enough. When the car is in sport the transmission revs the engine out all the way and it just works fantastically. It's no double clutch but for everyday and sporty driving, as long as you keep it in auto, your good. However, what ever you do don't go to manual. First of all who's idea was it to but shift buttons on the knob!? What a terrible idea. Also, the shift delay in manual is slow. Push the button...wait for it...shift! On a twisty road the gearbox just can't keep up.
Audio 7/10
(Photo Credit:
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
)
The Mustang premium comes with the Shaker sound system. I will say it works but it is not anything amazing. Decent would be the word to use. The system cannot compare to those found in BMWs, Audis, ETC.
The exhaust note is, well, it sounds like a V6, that's for sure. Think of the Infiniti VQ engine note and you've got it. The Mustang was louder than expected; in fact, much louder than expected. Was it a good noise, I would say border between no and decent.
Toys: 5/10
(Photo Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! r)
The most technological, outstanding feature was the SYNC system. But it doesn't work. It doesn't matter what accent you use or how loud you shout at it, it won't work. Other than the optional Shaker sound system and electric seats, there is not much else to talk about.
Value: 7/10
Base price for the Mustang V6 Premium Convertible is $32,495. Price as driven is about $33,290. The value really depends on what you do with it; if you want to drive it as a sports car and go as fast as you can for the money, you can't really do any better. However if you want a GT car for a road trip, your better off with a 128i.
Total: 65/100
Engine: 3.7 Naturally Aspirated V6
Power: 305HP @ 6,500 RPM 280 ft-lbs @ 4250RPM
Transmission: 6 speed Automatic/6 speed manual
0-60: 6.0 seconds
Top Speed: Electronically limited 112MPH
Drivetrain: Rear wheel drive
Curb Weight: 3,533 lbs
Seating: 4 people
MPG: 19/29
Price as Tested: $ 33,290
dogisbadob
> twinturbobmw
08/02/2013 at 14:59 |
|
Aren't V6 convertibles the most popular version?
|
twinturbobmw
> dogisbadob
08/02/2013 at 15:01 |
|
For rentals, yes. Especially in Hawaii. There is not a single place in Hawaii where you cannot see a Mustang V6 Premium convertible at any one time. And i'm not exaggerating.
JasonStern911
> twinturbobmw
08/04/2013 at 00:46 |
|
The Mazda dealership lent me an older (2009?) one of those when the rotary engine blew in my old RX-8. From what I remember, the motor was respectable power-wise, but the car was a boat. Heavy, big, and a reasonable amount of body roll when cornering. Still was better than any other rental car option available, though.