Hi there
I've had my car nearly six months now and 3500 miles in, average mpg is now sitting around 17mpg, identical to what the 911 did on same style driving.
Still instead of raving how great the car is and how I enjoy driving it I thought I'd share the negative parts of ownership.
- Ford warranty: They are keen to fix things, but then fall flat on their face when it comes to repairing with simple task taking days and parts weeks to arrive, I've given up for now as I refuse to let them have my car more than half a day. My issues are minor, being a scratch to drivers door glass which is hard to see, puddle lamp being dis-storted and boot slightly marking rear bumper when closed. They have agreed to fix them all, but I shall do it in a few months when hopefully they are more experienced.
- Gear box, not a fault of the car its a lovely change at normal speeds or moderately quick, very positive change. If you try to rush it for example doing a quick 0-60 run it feels harsh on the box. As such having mechanical sympathy actually achieving a sub 5.5s to 60 is not easy, let alone sub 5s. Something an auto would day without breaking a sweat. When I am in the mood for a drive the manual is superb and fun plus instant whip lash response. But when one wants to be lazy or have a traffic light grand prix the auto is the better choice, though on paddles its a bit slow. If they make the new 10 speed an option I will probably put my car mostly back to stock and trade in. Again more personal choice than fault of the car, do I wish I went auto, well no, just sometimes it would be nice to have. Right now I enjoy it being a manual more, but would be nice to have best of both worlds, aka 10 speed new auto.
- Wet handling, its poor though I believe its mainly down to the tyres which throw in the towel with little warning very easily. But the car feels nervous on the Pzero's in the wet, I believe its tyres as my 911 also felt nervous on the Pzero's in the wet, but in fairness when it let go it was easier to recover and the 911 grip limits in the wet are way beyond the Mustang could ever dream to be, but that is rear engine mechanical grip for you. I believe some decent wet tyres like MPSS for subjective fee and progressiveness shall improve the car a lot, but it will never match a Porka for wet ability, particular a 911. But in the wet on Pzero the Mustang takes a lot of skill and talent to keep it on the black stuff and pointing in right direction.
On the flip side in the dry I love the handling, the car has such huge grip and high limits, even on Pzero in medium and long sweepers and larger roundabouts it can corner faster than both the 911 and M3. It also moves around so much at the limit and get sideways so progressively and lovely, I think this moving around it does could be why its so loose in the wet, but in the dry its huge fun. Of course tighter corners and quick direction changes both its size and weight work against it, the 911 again was superior and also the M3 though the M3 is not remotely stock weighing around 1300kg and being on coilovers etc.
But now I am sat here, trying to figure out what else I dislike and well I am really struggling, yes some of the interior plastics could be better but I don't notice them and they are certainly not out of place for what the car cost.
I suppose I could say its not fast enough but not really a fault of the car, I just want more power which was always the plan anyway.
So some negatives but a vast amount more positives in the drive and the reactions it brings from people. Finally spotted my 2nd on the road yesterday a race red V8, the owner spotted me and flashed, returned favour. I park up in my drive and seconds later he is there.
Turns out he is the guy neighbours have told me about who owns the other one in Stoke and owns the pub up the road. He got out introduced himself and apologised for turning round and chasing me but he wanted to know what exhaust was on the car as he loved the sound, haha.
So yes, I feel tyres will help change my mind on wet performance, though will never be quite 911 capable and then the only other thing if I could make a wish would be a DCT style gear box.
Hope for July I shall have headers fitted and my new wheels and MPSS tyres.
