Ford Mustang to be released in EU

Totally amazing video for anyone into cars:





Gotta say Ford with the S550 Mustang have built an absolute amazing car, it is punching way above its sticker price to be throwing lap times with the very best sport/super/GT cars Porsche, Ferrari, Nissan have to offer.

Two amazing cars and my pile of bits is becoming a tower, was so tempted to cancel my order and just take one of the cancelled orders, but I want to wait and get the car I ordered. :)
 
Gutted we aren't getting the 350 over here.


You would have to import it.

But you do have to remember so far the only items you cannot buy to fit to a regular GT are the Voodoo engine, magnetic ride dampers and I think that is about it. Rumour is Ford will start to sell the magnetic dampers and engines in the future. :)

They also tested the regular 350, same track, same driver, it did 2:00.48 time so just 2s of the pace of the 350R and less than a second of the Z28. You could easily say the 350's lack of pace compared to the R was majority down to the tyres as the 350 has Michelin MPSS and the 350R cup 2's.

But yes I'd buy a 350 with tech package in a heart beat if available in UK because Ford pretty much got this car perfect from the factory. An American muscle car that is competing with Ferrari 458's, GTR's and GT3's for lap times for vastly less money, vastly less running cost, more usable as a road/daily car and in my opinion bucket loads more character. If the 350 do ever make it to Europe and I hope they do Ford essentially have something that performs at a level cars costing 2-3 times more in money.

Still what you can get in the UK is a GT, fit FRPP complete suspension, change progressive springs to linear, firm up the rear IRS/differential and a few other suspension upgrades along with wider wheels with better Michelin MPSS and you not far from regular 350 handling and it won't cost you insane money.

Where it gets a lot more expensive is if you want that 8000rpm redline, the Coyote can do it, some guys are doing it on completely stock engines, but certainly not recommended. Ideally one should upgrade the oil/gear pump, fit a cobra or BOSS302 intake manifold, larger throttle body, 350/Rousch/FRPP CAI kit, remap the car and your good for 8000rpm and around 500 horsepower, but this will cost you the same as a Whipple supercharger which will produce reliably if you want it around 800BHP, lots more torque and still rev to 7500rpm.

The S550 is a totally awesome car, it is the first Mustang that from the factory is actually very good overall car and for not much money can be made brilliant. Ford have always made Mustangs to be hugely mod friendly, hence FRPP/SVT division being so big in the US, but in the past the factory Mustangs were typically just an average or pretty poor car. They have now just raised the bar hugely on the factory Mustang, no doubt because of their worldwide launch plans, but the great thing is the car is still mod friendly and still has huge potential on the table and all the info is out there as to what works and does not. :)
 
Given you've not driven it yet imagine if it turned up and was a bit rubbish after the thousands you've spent nodding a car that hasn't even arrived yet :p
 
[TW]Fox;28891925 said:
Given you've not driven it yet imagine if it turned up and was a bit rubbish after the thousands you've spent nodding a car that hasn't even arrived yet :p

Given he already has experience of a Mustang and this one is better in every conceivable way with general praise from owners and journalists alike, I doubt it will turn up and be a bit rubbish :P.
 
Given he already has experience of a Mustang and this one is better in every conceivable way with general praise from owners and journalists alike, I doubt it will turn up and be a bit rubbish :P.


What this man said, I was more than happy with the S197 which was a US only car, live rear axle and as a base car rather average, that car needed modifying to make it good and even then with all the money thrown at it this new car out the factory drives, handles and in every way is superior to the S197. The S550 GT PP outperforms the outgoing BOSS 302 which by all accounts was a better setup car than my heavily modified Saleen. :)

Some people like Helios understand Mustangs and others simply do not, they are a modding platform. Difference being now the standard car is actually very good, night and day better than the S197.
I am yet to total everything up but in total I saved nearly $1000 due to thanks giving sales and the exhaust I got lucky with only £80 custom charge so delivered it was under 1k, should be able to keep my visual, handling and sound transformation of my Mustang to sub £4000, pretty impressive really, that would not even buy me an exhaust or suspension on the 911, lol.

If a disaster happens and I hate it, selling it and the parts for what I paid won't exactly be difficult. :)
 
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What cars do you currently have Gibbo? Still got that badass M3?


Yes keeping the M3, that is a keeper simply because its a car I have built to exactly how I want it to be, essentially an M3 Clubsport, as capable as a CSL on the road, more capable on track and very quick in a straight line, might even be quicker than the Mustang until the blower goes on that is. ;)

Porsche is now sold, :( but it pays for the Mustang. :)
 
There's some sort of weird reality distortion effect with Mustangs, where everyone thinks they're amazingly cool. (Not saying they aren't! Just that's what it seems like!)

Surely money is better spent on a 2nd hand C63, better interior and a better engine, and auto!
 
There's some sort of weird reality distortion effect with Mustangs, where everyone thinks they're amazingly cool. (Not saying they aren't! Just that's what it seems like!)

Surely money is better spent on a 2nd hand C63, better interior and a better engine, and auto!


I think you answered it yourself. Mustangs come in manual and are brand new not second hand. :)
Mustang you can also buy with an auto ;) though the Merc 7-speed is better.

I'd agree better interior but but that is where it stops, engine cannot agree, the Coyote is more free revving and just feels more pleasurable. It is hard for me to comment on the drive of the Mustang, only driven older ones, but I've driven the C63 AMG 507 performance package and to me the whole car felt pretty numb, don't get me wrong it went like a rocket and made great noises, but for me the auto ruins the whole car. I want a manual or a DCT/SMG/PDK focused drivers transmission not a boring auto.

The Mustang actually handles better as well according to the press and again the Mustang platform is so modding friendly, easy to do and for little money can turn them into very capable and special machines. This could be said for the Mercedes it will just cost several times more to achieve same.

A C63 AMG is just another Mercedes, a great car but it is nothing special, it is not iconic and for me it does absolutely nothing for me.

The Mustang is one of the greatest icons of all time, now in the modern world whilst still keeping some of the retro style and its history, plus for the price bracket nothing can compete with, as you have pointed out it can only be competed against when comparing new to second hand. ;)


Also you only have to look at them:

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The Ford simply looks so special from every angle its a stunning car, the Mercedes does not really look anything special at all just a nice C class, you've gotta go up to Black Series at over 100k to have similar aggressive styling with great lines on the Mercedes.

Could go and buy a C63 AMG, BMW M3/M4, Nissan GTR tomorrow all cars that second hand cost similar. I am not I am buying a brand new Mustang and I am a car enthusiast who likes all cars and is not brand loyal. :)
 
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There's some sort of weird reality distortion effect with Mustangs, where everyone thinks they're amazingly cool. (Not saying they aren't! Just that's what it seems like!)

Surely money is better spent on a 2nd hand C63, better interior and a better engine, and auto!

The interior of the previous gen C63 aren't that special tbh. Sure the Mustang isn't great by any means but it's fine. Anyway, the main point is that on the one hand you'll have a brand new car with factory warranty with probably affordable maintenance cost whereas on the other hand you have a second hand Mercedes with all the associated running costs. This is one of those instances where it actually makes sense buying new.

There's also the rarity factor. Sure in the US where the Mustangs are common it won't feel that special, but go to any car meet in the UK, and there's tons of C63s/M3s. The Mustang would stand out more and be that bit more special.
 
The interior of the previous gen C63 aren't that special tbh. Sure the Mustang isn't great by any means but it's fine. Anyway, the main point is that on the one hand you'll have a brand new car with factory warranty with probably affordable maintenance cost whereas on the other hand you have a second hand Mercedes with all the associated running costs. This is one of those instances where it actually makes sense buying new.

There's also the rarity factor. Sure in the US where the Mustangs are common it won't feel that special, but go to any car meet in the UK, and there's tons of C63s/M3s. The Mustang would stand out more and be that bit more special.


A very good point, warranty and maintenance cost, a Mustang cost pennies to maintain, run and insure in comparison. :)
It is simply a yearly oil change, there is no inspection 1 or 2, just yearly oil changes with a major service I suspect every 30-50,000 being spark plugs and filters the only extra. Every 100k miles they tend to like to throw in a differential and gearbox oil change.
 
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Ahhh the age old second hand vs brand new comment ;).

As brilliant as the previous gen C63 is (I loved my test drive) the design is what, getting on for 8 years old? It seems to be generally reliable and a well loved car. But it is not really comparable.

But it doesn't have the "following" like the Mustang does. Which is the whole ethos, in my opinion, of the Mustang. Always known for modding and customisation, working class hero and all that. Something that Mercedes isn't known for.

I definitely think Gibbo is doing the right thing. I wouldn't bother suggesting anything else than the Mustang, especially as he wants to personalise it extensively. It just seems to be the best place to put the money...period.


O and I would give me left teste for a 350R, that flat plane V8 gives me the heebie jeebies.
 
The Mustang and the C63 are aimed at different people/drivers.

The Merc's interior is a bit dull, but I bet it'll squeak less, be far nicer to touch and wear better than the 'stang. For people who like that kind of thing; don't want to mod, don't want to stand out too much and want an auto for lazy cruising (when required), it will be fine. I'm looking at one to possibly replace my S5 when the time comes, but then I am a bit boring :)

Now if the GT350R was sold in the UK, with a warranty, I would be very interested in that.
 
A very good point, warranty and maintenance cost, a Mustang cost pennies to maintain, run and insure in comparison. :)
It is simply a yearly oil change, there is no inspection 1 or 2, just yearly oil changes with a major service I suspect every 30-50,000 being spark plugs and filters the only extra. Every 100k miles they tend to like to throw in a differential and gearbox oil change.
It is a fixed interval service but it works in exactly the same way as comparable service schedules. There are several different sizes of service with varying levels of part replacements and checks that increase the labour required e.g. they only check and grease the bonnet catches on every 2nd service. The Inspection 1/2 system from BMW just made it transparent. Ford define a different service for 10k, 20k, 30k etc., though you see many are the same.

Spark plugs are every 10 years / 100,000 miles, transmission fluid and filter every 15 years / 150,000 miles. Don't see any diff fluid changes!
 
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It is a fixed interval service but it works in exactly the same way as comparable service schedules. There are several different sizes of service with varying levels of part replacements and checks that increase the labour required e.g. they only check and grease the bonnet catches on every 2nd service. The Inspection 1/2 system from BMW just made it transparent. Ford define a different service for 10k, 20k, 30k etc., though you see many are the same.

Spark plugs are every 10 years / 100,000 miles, transmission fluid and filter every 15 years / 150,000 miles. Don't see any diff fluid changes!


What are the Merc servicing cost? I am guessing more than £200?
Oh and yeah it turns out the Mustang now also has an oil life/service built into the car so the service (oil changes) are determined by driving style.
 
What are the Merc servicing cost? I am guessing more than £200?
Oh and yeah it turns out the Mustang now also has an oil life/service built into the car so the service (oil changes) are determined by driving style.
Unless there's fixed price service the costs are determined by the number of hours and parts required.

Ford Etis shows a UK Mustang as having a service interval indicator but the engine oil change still at every 1 Year / 10,00 miles. Etis could be wrong but usually it's pretty good.
 
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