NEARLY 2 YEARS WAITING: New Mustang GT PP is finally mine!

[Gibbo]

Thank you buddy, your photography and videos are epic. You saved me a job posting these in here, as I said in that thread I am surprised how good it looks on video I thought I was driving the car pretty sedately around track as was aiming to be smooth and well being lazy and not using the gears (getting old, hence next one being auto), but even still keeping it smooth and within its limits it looks fast, flat and composed. could have definetely pushed harder and gone faster but that track takes no prisoners so not taking any risk, particular under braking as I've got pads fitted not recommended for track action (low dust).

 

[Gibbo]

Would you bother with the active exhaust though? You're likely to just replace it with something like the Corsa and better headers. May as well save the money on the initial purchase

Everything else though, yus! (I quite like the Orange fury + Black combo, looks mean)

Are we likely to have the US DRLs? They're so much better. I believe the US fogs are LED standard too. No biggy if not, easy mods.

I'd rather get active, I hear its pretty damn loud stock with that option. If its not enough I am sure after market systems will come that retain the toggle switch feature, its nice to have the option inside the car to be quiet or loud. Plus with headers even the stock system would be very LOUD!
Orange Fury is still my favourite, I'd probably fit my black 350 track spoiler and remove the stock Ford one and then put a 350 front-end on the car, so in essence it would become a full blown 350 replica on looks department, would just be missing the FPC.

Yes this time exports do supposedly get the front DRL's and LED fogs.
Rears are still clear and not sequential though.

 

[Gibbo]

Just using that US configurator it seems the black roof cannot be combined with the GT performance package upgrade Fury Orange with black roof and black accents looks best imo. The GT350 can be specced like that though.

Correct not great. As I would want black roof, but it won't let you do it. Not end of the world a gloss black roof wrap cost £120 done, which is cheaper than the £500 painted black roof option.

Also the other gorgeous option is the carbon/suede interior, so the door panel inserts, centre console are all done in suede with carbon dash trim, looks nice, but if you select the premium interior and 12" digital dash you cannot select that either without removing digital dash. But not end of the world because you can just buy the suede parts, carbon dash parts and fit yourself.

 

[Gibbo]

Are the rear lights a straight swap if you can get hold of a US pair?

Nope, but mine are sequential, I plugged in a cable which makes them sequential and only cost me £120. Will make a video at somepoint, for red rears either wrap or spray them, cost about £60 for the pair.

 

[Gibbo]

Still not really seen the definitive account of how the active exhaust valve will be switched.

i know the GT350 has a switch on the steering wheel that goes from quiet to loud.

But then have read that on Mustang it will be controlled by settings within the new MyMode with memory function, and it will be a variable system so you can have varying levels of quiet to loud, and store behaviors in the MyMode system.

Kind of makes it worth having, I've heard it and in full loud, it is LOUD! You want it louder, just fit headers.

 

[Gibbo]

Whoever gave my old man a passenger ride at curborough has created a fan from someone who I never thought would even consider a Mustang.

Been on the US site configuring a 2018 automatic already, his only concern is whether it fits through the gates at the end of the drive!

Lets kill this its too big for UK roads myth off, it is really no longer or wider than many other European cars that frequent our roads in large numbers:


Ford Mustang:

Length: 188.3 in
Width: 75.4 in

Jaguar F-type:

Length: 176 in
Width: 75.7 in

Audi RS7:

Length: 195.8 in
Width: 75.2 in

Nissan GTR:

Length: 183.9 in
Width: 74.9 in

BMW M6:

Length: 192.8 in
Width: 75.56 in

 

[Gibbo]

I came away from my passenger ride in the other Mustang at Curborough very impressed, the way it handles (and especially how it stops) belies the size and weight of it, but theres no getting away from the fact it is a huge car. My first impression on getting in it was how absolutely massive it felt, with that big barn door of a bonnet stretched out in front of you. I felt the same when I passengered in an F Type mind, that seemed huge (although somehow cramped inside and with less space than the Mustang).

There are those that would argue that all of the cars you have listed are too big to hustle along a windy and typically narrow British B road, you've got to admit thats some pretty massive competition you've listed there, its not exactly going to convince anyone its not a huge car!

The point I am making is some people make it like its some huge american boat heavy tanker of a car. Yet its no bigger or heavier than other cars in its class and actually handles a damn site better than most of them and more importantly is a lot more fun to drive. Plus as you said inside it is roomy and the cabin quality is absolutely fine, people say its tacky and cheap inside, to me its a nice place to be.

Hustling down a narrow b-road, yes you gotta be careful just as you would in any other similar car of equal class, its not an old E46 M3 or Porsche 911 and its most definitely not an MX5 but they are very capable cars.

 

[Gibbo]

Same money 2nd hand i'd imagine

Nope.

Clean convertibles V8 are 45-50k and clean coupes are 50-60k. Compared to a used 18 month old Mustang GT which can be found for around 30k for a clean example, so still quite a considerable saving and the money saved can be pocketed or do as I've done and enough left for a supercharger if 800 horses takes your fancy.

I do like the F-Type Coupes lovely things, I'd want a V8 but they struggle like crazy to put power down which is why the V6 is actually the better and nicer car to drive. Alas that the real reason why Jag did the AWD F-Type so it could actually put its power down as the chassis simply cannot handle the power of the V8, AWD is really a must and then your talking 70k plus for used examples.

 

[Gibbo]

Sequential indicators fitted:

Love them!

Easy DIY install, quality same as Ford OEM and the smoked lense I really like.

 

[Gibbo]

Maybe its just the video, maybe it's me, but why do the rears look as though they are flashing two red lights and one amber ?

Because they are, lol.

UK Mustangs have different working rears. So under normal operation you have 2 red brake lights and 1 amber flasher. Normall when you press the indicator just the amber flashes slowly. With the cable mod, they sequence red, red, amber unless you press the brake at which point it resume back to standard operation.

It will look better once the rears are tinted red clear.

 

[Gibbo]

Surely the law requires all flashing indicators to be amber only ??

I believe so, but I do as I wish, if an officer of the law takes offence I can unplug them.

Once tinted they will still be naughty, but in short close to functioning as Ford intended them before EU rules and BS had to disable half the cool stuff on the car.

 

[Gibbo]

Tbh with the Yellow calipers and the indicators it's starting to look a bit "Max Power" rather than American muscle if you ask me.... It's a lovely looking car but I think you have gone a little ott. I think the stock look but with a nice howling supercharger would be my ideal.....

THEY ARE NOT YELLOW! Its acid green, get it right!

I like it, all that matter, people who see the car in the flesh also are really drawn to the brakes and think they look awesome, I of course understand it might not be everyones cup of tea but that is car modding and why all cars particular Mustangs are different and why car manufacturers generally now give so many options to customise new cars as you wish.

 

[Gibbo]

I love the whine, I also love the go go particular in higher gears and though they put power down quite well on a summers day, on other days your writing of the first two gears and even 3rd can be problematic. But yes the whine is addictive.

I am not sure if it sold but the car I posted last week of the GT Whipped used at £36,000 is a total bargain and complete sleeper too as externally it looks totally standard apart from sitting a little lower.

 

[Gibbo]

Yeah a bit more after all.

I thought we were comparing new 2018 mustang to used f type though? For the extra £10k the Jag is a nicer place to be.

Id prefer a new mustang over someone's old Jag, but it's a legitimate point that the V8 F-Types are an option in the same ballpark.

I don't think the Jag is any nicer place to be in all honesty, yes some of the materials are nicer like the window switch controls and centre controls, but I am sorry I do not sit driving my car scratching the cheaper plastics, I drive it for the enjoyment factory which I have to say Mustang and F-Type V8 variants have in dollops, I'd buy them both for their character, interior or lack of not of much interest. Also you have never sat in an MY18 car, nor have I but if what Ford and the press have said is true the MY18 fixes the short falls the first generation had with interior. To drive though I'd take the current gen Mustang all day long its more fun and can put it power down better, the MY18 will only be another huge leap on with that 10-speed, just hoping UK cars can spec the mag ride as its awesomely impressive on the GT 350. Right now MY18 could be 38k or 48k no one actually knows and we don't know what spec Ford will give us and what options we will be allowed. They could gimp it, or they could make it awesome. Because I can tell you an MY18 Mustang with 10-speed, Performance Package and mag ride will be one hugely capable car at everything, performance, corners, handling, comfort, noise, hey even the economy won't be too bad for a V8.

But agreeing with Acme here this is not comparing like for like and simply at double the money the F-type aint double the car, though the F-Type at least still does have character and fun factor which unfortunately now most modern performance stuff is lacking in.

 

[Gibbo]

The cars you have listed are hardly driven in large numbers. I thought it felt massive when i drove it, to be fair an E92 feels massive on the road and that's only 71.7 in wide.

I see GTR's and F-types pretty much every day, my point was Mustang is similar size car to others in it class. Your E92 is no longer made, just like my E46 which in comparison your E92 feels like a tanker to drive.

It seems to be the direction things have gone past 20-30yr, every new generation gets bigger, 911's perfect example, 991's are much bigger than a 996. BMW same, they've all got bigger. My E46 which was not a small car when released now feels like a 90's hot hatch to throw around in comparison to current cars unless you buy a shopping trolley like a VW Up.

I've had the Mustang over 18 months now, I drive it nearly every day and though its got the turning circle of Titanic and I am aware of its size to drive it feels lighter/nimble than what it is, but with everything you get used to things so where at first it felt big, it becomes the norm. You say your M3 feels big, it is, but I am sure compared to the first day you drove it your now more than confident to press on it even down some narrower roads because your used to.

 

[Gibbo]

Is that indicator noise in the video above standard on Mustangs? Would drive me mad "ticky tock tick, ticky tock tick"...

Yes must say I never noticed it and don't really hear it when driving, but I have a V8 so don't need to worry about such sounds as when the engine is on I hear all motor baby.

 

[Gibbo]

Ok I know its an old video but I have only just come across it, so apologies if people have seen it before.

Can someone please double check what he says at about 6:55 to 7:25, as I am wondering if my ears are playing tricks

He talks about his tenth "hate" about the Mustang, in that it can have excessive wheel spin when pulling away, which we all know is likely and not really a big issue, if you have a car like this the first thing you learn, very quickly, is to NOT have a lead foot

However the bit that got me and I had to rewind several times, and still can't truly believe he says it, (and is the part I would like others to check I am not hearing things), is when he actually says "Even if you pull away slowly, although it's rear wheel drive, the front wheels will tend to spin away from you ."

How can a petrol head with a car like a Mustang really have zero idea about traction and basic physics of a car .

Stew is a nice guy, but really knows very little mechanical about cars or driving them fast from my encounters with him.
Too address a couple of things:

1. The stock car on Pzero when cold has aweful rear traction for the first couple of minutes driving, Pzero is a very poor tyre cold. MPSS cures 99.9% of this! Also the traction system when in normal mode will allow a lot of wheelspin and slip angle! Only wet mode calms things down somewhat and makes it react more like regular DSC on a BMW.
2. I've never had any sensation of the front wheels spinning, I can only assume he had understeer or he mistook rear spin for coming from front wheels.

He did make that video pretty early into his ownership.

 

[Gibbo]

Sorry Gibbo, I was not trying to put the guy down, I did know from your posts, and his videos of the Ford Wolverhampton meet, that you guys had met at least once I had no idea of the level of acquaintance.

Like you say the video was pretty early in his ownership, and a lot of the points are quite nit picky from my perspective to be quite honest, it just struck me that someone who appears to be a bit of a petrol head, and appears to be trying to educate others through his videos, did not seem to have the basic understandings I would have expected.

Again some one getting this kind of vehicle I would have expected to have previously owned a reasonably powerful RWD car of some kind, so would have known the basics.

Rather than possibly go straight from even a very good FWD with its very different handling and traction characteristics, straight to a very powerful RWD which could be rather dangerous if unaware of the way it would hand;e compared to what you have come from.

I've only had a test drive in a couple of dealers Mustangs, so obviously not really been able to get close to any of the current cars handling limits, or even give it some to test out traction limits.

But I have driven RWD for many years at work and privately so know all the pitfalls and I know my limits very well, so when I get my Mustang, I will be bale to push it and have fun after I have learnt its individual quirks.

Certainly from the few reviews about, of the way a 2018 Mustang handles on its new magneride and new stock tyres, (seriously hope we get them as standard in UK, will save me having to add them instantly the car gets delivered) then it does sound rather calmer than current stock car, and obviously the 10 speed auto, if chosen, will make a big difference to the way the car pulls away from start and the way it delivers traction.

You'd be surprised, I think a big BIG percentage of Mustang owners have gone from FWD hatches to these, it is also one of the reasons why so many have unfortunately being crashed, particular during Winter months. The Mustang allows people who would normally only be able to afford FWD saloons, hatches or Coupes into a RWD powerful V8 coupe, as such many get caught out.

 

[Gibbo]

Are there any decent UK Mustang specific forums about? Noticed most are dead quiet.

We reside here and the Simply Mustang Group on Facebook is very active.
http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=92

 

[Gibbo]

Oh you will always hear the charger don't you worry.

It is such a different sound that the exhaust would never over ride the sound of a super winding up.

On massive top fuel dragsters with open pipes you can still hear the super wind up if you listen for it.

This, Mal clearly has not heard one of these cars with a Whipple. My mates yellow one has a louder exhaust as he also has full headers, but oh my his Whipple over powers it and that is standard air intake on Whipple, you can mod a Whipple to also whine like the old school ones did, the two noises are very distinct.