Surveying Ecoboost Owners

[kart3l]

I traded in my 13 VW GTI DSG transmission for the 2015 deep impact blue, premium and performance package with 6 speed manual transmission - with a saddle interior color. The combination of the blue with the black wheels, along with the saddle interior puts a huge smile on both my face and the faces of people coming into my car. I have taken plenty of girls out on dates, coming back from the club, and etc... It was definitely an eye catcher and people could not believe the thing has a little 4 cylinder engine in it when I had mentioned it.


1) What do you like/dislike the most about it?

+ Great styling both exterior and interior
+ Premium and performance package
+ Reasonable price for what you get vs going the German or import route - – you basically get a fully loaded 300+ HP RWD car that pulls and handles around 30K out the door including NAV, leather seats, upgraded suspension/handling, lighting, and etc.
+ Very fast. One day I had 2 girls in the back seat, and my guy friend on the front - I WOT'ed it and the girls begged for more trips on the streets to get the push back feel. I had always been a little self-conscious about pushing it with a lot of people in the car due to loss of power, but seeing the girls get excited put a smile on my face.
+ I love the center gauges you get with the PP
+ Ambient lighting
+ Driving and steering modes (although I would much rather have hydraulic steering)

- Stock sound. I hate the stock sound so much, that I put in the order for the Magnaflow street series cat-back when I was signing the papers to pick up the car. I hated the sound, and counted every minute of getting my aftermarket exhaust.
-Fuel economy. A lot of people will say that it’s great – but once you do the math of going premium gas on the EB vs regular on GT, the cost of gas between the two cars are not that different.
- Rattles. After about 10K miles, I am getting raddles from a lot of different places – my light gauge and the glove compartment door. Anything I put in the drink holders also rattle.
- Steering feel. I would love to get hydraulic steering in this car. This along with the rattles would be my top 2 dislikes – asides from the lack of confidence in its reliability for some reason (turbo, DI)
- I wish it would save the driving mode for each drive. It saves the steering feel, but not the drive mode which basically changes the throttle sensitivity. You have to set it up each time you turn off/turn on the car.
- head room in the back seats
- I do not like the auto dimming center mirror


2) If you were considering both models, are you happy that you went with the EB?
If I could get on a DeLorean and go back somehow, I would have waited and gotten the GT model with a 0% APR. I wish I had anticipated this. Driving the GT puts a bigger smile on my face, but so does driving a Porsche, or a Ferrari… I use this reasoning to balance out my “want” to upgrade. So depends on what you like. I would think very carefully about growing out of the ecoboost and wanting a GT. If you could say confidently that you will be happy with the decision for a long time, go for it.

3) If yours got totaled today, would you buy the same thing or not? If not, why not?
I would get the GT, and it has a lot to do with my past of just working so hard and finally being able to spoil myself.


4) Have you experienced any problems or service issues? Did Ford handle them to your satisfaction?
I am beginning to get a lot of rattles – headlight switch, glove box, the dash above the glove box, and basically anything I put in the drink holders. It is started to become annoying to be honest… In addition to the rattles I have 2-3 recalls I think. One is the squeaking brakes that there is TSB for (for stock GT’s and PP ecoboosts which essentially comes with GT brakes), airbags, and the fire hazard. I have yet to get them fixed – dealer is great but the person working my case is very hard to deal with. I will eventually make another visit to the dealer and get everything resolved within one go.

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[murphy]

Like...Very pleased with the performance. With my mods and tunes, my EB is every bit as impressive and fun to drive as a STOCK (key word here folks!) GT. Yesterday while my car was having a routine check up at the dealership, the sales guy gave me the keys to a new GT Premium with manual and 3.55 and with the V8 engine and exhaust note aside, the GT did not pull any harder or feel any faster than my EB. Yes, I have an aftermarket ic, dp, exhaust, and custom tunes but when you think about the dollars spent, my car plus mods, tunes, and labor is still about $5000 savings compared to the Premium GT I test drove yesterday. And not all Premium GT's are over 38k.
Dislike....all of the noises are getting on my damn nerves!

I was not considering both models because I wanted a premium model and the GT was more than I was willing to pay at the time. But with that said, if I would have shopped around I probably could have bought a premium GT for a better price than what was on my favorite dealership's lot. And I'm not very good at haggling either.

No I would not. It seems like the more mods I do, the louder the noises get. From the ticking to the turbo spooling to other annoying noises. Granted this is all my fault by modifying the car. I don't have buyer's remorse, I'm going to enjoy the car for this year while I'm building a house but come next year, I could very well be in a GT.

Knock on wood, I haven't had any issues and no TSB's either.

 

[Tb8983]

No I would not buy the same car I have now. I would buy a GT. I'm on my 2nd ecoboost and I want a gt so bad and I have many things done to my ecoboost(including a tune) and it still just doesn't add up to the power of the GT. I don't base my decision on buying cars by how many mpg's they get.

 

[tsunami]

EB vs GT vs Camaro...the anti-EB people seem to have the same opinion of the EB as 2016 Camaro people have against the GT. The Camaro has deeper exhaust sound, the Camaro has higher HP/Torque, Camaro has higher track numbers, etc. etc.
If you don't like the EB buy the GT, if you don't like the GT buy a Camaro. To each, his own.
PS my DD is a Yaris (LOL), I just laugh when a GT owner sneers at my little shoe box...until I tell them that I get 50+ mpg on the highway and 35+ mpg in town.

 

[BigFloyd]

If you don't like the EB buy the GT, if you don't like the GT buy a Camaro. To each, his own.

Funny that you should mention the Camaro. I've got some friends at the local Chevy dealer, so I went by last week to check out the latest manifestation. It was the first time I'd even vaguely considered any GM product since buying a new 1999 Silverado LT (worst truck I even had) and the frustrating service experiences that followed.

I first tried out the V6 2LT. Nice motor. Wasn't really keen on the 8spd auto tranny. Shifts were fine, but it felt like there were too many of them than were needed for the stout 335HP motor. Visibility wasn't as good as the Mustang. No happy place to rest one's left elbow/forearm. Arm rest too low, window sill too high. Drove the SS 2LT next for about 45 min. 6.2L motor is a powerhouse. Noticed that the raised part of the center console by my right leg tended to dig into the bone just below my knee joint (I have long legs). Became rather uncomfortable after about 30 min. Bad enough to scratch the Camaro off the list of possibles.

Based on the true life experiences of actual Mustang Ecoboost owners (as opposed to some of the EB vs. GT threads that degraded into useless generalities), the EB Premium is looking like a pretty strong contender for the soon to be vacant spot in my garage next to the bicycles and the beer brewing equipment.

 

[BoostedRubyRed]

1) What do you like/dislike the most about it?
I like the look of the car especially in the premium package and the upgraded premium interior. Only dislike so far is the 20 MPG average I am getting, but that may be more due to me driving faster than usual.

2) If you were considering both models, are you happy that you went with the EB?
I never considered the GT, I share the car with my wife and I am not comfortable with her and that much power and neither is she yet. Also being a watch collector the money not spent on the car goes towards my next Daytona.

3) If yours got totaled today, would you buy the same thing or not? If not, why not?
I would not buy the car again, I would probably spend the extra money and get a 4series convertible or a Lexus RC350 F-Sport.

4) Have you experienced any problems or service issues? Did Ford handle them to your satisfaction?
Only minor alignment issues when the car arrived. I have only had is 2 weeks, so hopefully all stays as it is now. My dealer has been easy to work with and has made getting the car a no hassle experience.

 

[bluefirestarter]

I love my EB have had it since August. I originally test drove a v6 model then tried the EB and liked that a lot more plus the great mileage was hard to say no.

 

[thxultra]

Background

I've been checking out the '16 Stang. I've got a '13 Altima 3.5 SL that I'll be turning in at lease end in about 9 weeks and it's time to drive something a bit more plucky. My two cars before the Altima were a 2010 Maxima Premium and an '08 Accord Coupe V6 MT.

I initially had thought the GT would be my choice, but wanted to see what the 2.3L Ecoboost had to offer and decided to drive that one first. My friend (who had driven the GT before and loves them) was thinking that we were wasting time on anything other than the 5.0, but kindly went along since I'm the one seriously shopping.

[FONT=&quot] After checking out the cockpit, I started the EB model thinking "I'm probably not going to enjoy driving this car much, but need to satisfy my curiosity regardless". Funny thing was that, once I got the EB out on the road, started playing with the different modes, taking some corners and getting a feel for what it would do, the more the darn thing kept putting a grin on my face. While it didn't have the raw power I later saw in the GT, the overall driving experience was quite enjoyable and much better than what either of us had expected. About 30 minutes into the drive, my buddy got behind the wheel and remarked that he had previously (out of ignorance) thought that the EB Mustang was a piece of sh**. No longer. That drive lasted about an hour and was an enlightening experience.

Dropped off the turbo-4 and picked up the GT Prem. That drive was, of course, enjoyable in a different way than the first. It's easy to fall in love (or maybe in lust) with the Coyote 5.0 and the way it moves that car from the line, exiting a corner and when passing at highway speed. It handled well, but I could sense the extra engine mass and its affect on weight distribution.

The GT was a hoot to drive. I'm just not sure that it would be the right choice for the kind of driving that I mostly do and my thoughts are currently inching ever so slightly towards the Ecoboost. My 10-15 min work commutes and errand running are mostly on roads having a 35-50 mph speed limit. Also, when I have the desire to go what my wife calls "stupid-fast", I have a '13 Yamaha FJR that will do 0-60 in 2.8 sec and turn a quarter in 10.98 (albeit with a skinny midget test rider, not me).

The questions for Ecoboost owners

1) What do you like/dislike the most about it?

2) If you were considering both models, are you happy that you went with the EB?

3) If yours got totaled today, would you buy the same thing or not? If not, why not?

4) Have you experienced any problems or service issues? Did Ford handle them to your satisfaction?

Thanks!
[/FONT]

1.) Like the lower insurance and better gas mileage over the GT (but you don't buy these to save on gas do you. Car still has lots of get up and go and plenty of mods. Don't like that it isn't a GT Miss that V8 sound and power.

2.) I sit in traffic about 90% of the time so I'm still happy with my ecoboost. Can't really beat on it too much around here so extra power in the GT would be wasted most of the time. Car is lots of fun to drive. Only regret was not getting the performance pack. Get that for sure.

3.) I would have to look at the price difference vs going to the GT. More incentives on the ecoboost so would probably get another but get the performance pack this time.

4.) no issues so far hoping it stays that way. Put a tune, cold air intake and catch can on no issues reported. Tune really opens this car up. Check the ecoboost forums though a few reported blown motors which is concerning.

 

[MATT1971]

[FONT=&quot]
1) What do you like/dislike the most about it?

To be honest, nothing. I am VERY disappointed in the performance (it is stock), inferior design and performanc of the too small intercooler, the thin paint, misaligned fender, hood and front windshield/rear glass issues and the buzzy/tin can sound of the exhaust. A few cars have had the "blue smoke issue" and also a few have blown their stock engines (I can't remember the acromymn...LSi?) due to implied/perceived/perhaps real? excessive acceleration in an RPM range which is too stressful for the engine to handle and it pops like a pubescent pimple on a fat kids face. Oh and let's not forget how badly Ford "sandbagged" this engine from the factory; but, if you tune it (even if the damn thing doesn't blow up), your factory powertrain warranty is voided. And after almost a year and a half, there is no date for Ford Racing's "warranty friendly (through Ford Racing and and not Ford Motor Company, mind you) tuner. All this taken with the fact the gas mileage isn't (for most drivers) what Ford claimed it would be and an overall abyysimal quality control and build quality from the factory; all of these issues help to produce an immediate depreciation of 5-7K as soon as the car is driven off the lot. What a total POS car from Ford...they really fooled me...and many others as well!!

2) If you were considering both models, are you happy that you went with the EB?

I looked at the GT but I didn't like the heaviness of the front/nose end, caused by the extra 175ish pounds. After driving the EB on three different occasions ( standard auto, PP auto and manual PP), I decided the EB was a "better fit for me", due to the lighter weight and crisper handling. If I knew what I knew now, I would have purchased the GT and found a way in the aftermarket to deal the heaviness and less nimble feeling/handling of the GT. So, to answer your question, no I am not happy AT ALL that I purchased the EB.


3) If yours got totaled today, would you buy the same thing or not? If not, why not?

HELL NO I wouldn't purchase another EB. If I decided to purchase another new mustang, it would be the GT or V6. I, and quite a few more others who purchased the Ecoturd, would have purchased the V6, had Ford elected to allow it to be equipped with a just a few amenities, such as leather, a Performance Package, enhanced security package and navigation. Knowing what I now know, I might purchase the V6 anyway and upgrade the interior to leather and the suspension via the aftermarket. Considering the V6 may be purchased for 23,500-25K Out-The-Door and On-The-Road, there would be at least $2500 to add leather and suspension upgrades; a few dollars more would allow the purchase of a nice catback exhaust and an H or X pipe.


4) Have you experienced any problems or service issues? Did Ford handle them to your satisfaction?

No major issuses. And yes, so far Ford has handled everything to my satisfaction. I have taken the car in for two full synthetic oil changes (7 months old and 6300 miles on the odometer). I also took it in to have the tire pressure monitoring system checked; it was OK, but the gauge works erradically and all four tires are rarely shown on the display as having the same amout of air (33 PSI) in all four tires.
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[White Stallion 11]

Background

I've been checking out the '16 Stang. I've got a '13 Altima 3.5 SL that I'll be turning in at lease end in about 9 weeks and it's time to drive something a bit more plucky. My two cars before the Altima were a 2010 Maxima Premium and an '08 Accord Coupe V6 MT.

I initially had thought the GT would be my choice, but wanted to see what the 2.3L Ecoboost had to offer and decided to drive that one first. My friend (who had driven the GT before and loves them) was thinking that we were wasting time on anything other than the 5.0, but kindly went along since I'm the one seriously shopping.

[FONT=&quot] After checking out the cockpit, I started the EB model thinking "I'm probably not going to enjoy driving this car much, but need to satisfy my curiosity regardless". Funny thing was that, once I got the EB out on the road, started playing with the different modes, taking some corners and getting a feel for what it would do, the more the darn thing kept putting a grin on my face. While it didn't have the raw power I later saw in the GT, the overall driving experience was quite enjoyable and much better than what either of us had expected. About 30 minutes into the drive, my buddy got behind the wheel and remarked that he had previously (out of ignorance) thought that the EB Mustang was a piece of sh**. No longer. That drive lasted about an hour and was an enlightening experience.

Dropped off the turbo-4 and picked up the GT Prem. That drive was, of course, enjoyable in a different way than the first. It's easy to fall in love (or maybe in lust) with the Coyote 5.0 and the way it moves that car from the line, exiting a corner and when passing at highway speed. It handled well, but I could sense the extra engine mass and its affect on weight distribution.

The GT was a hoot to drive. I'm just not sure that it would be the right choice for the kind of driving that I mostly do and my thoughts are currently inching ever so slightly towards the Ecoboost. My 10-15 min work commutes and errand running are mostly on roads having a 35-50 mph speed limit. Also, when I have the desire to go what my wife calls "stupid-fast", I have a '13 Yamaha FJR that will do 0-60 in 2.8 sec and turn a quarter in 10.98 (albeit with a skinny midget test rider, not me).

The questions for Ecoboost owners

1) What do you like/dislike the most about it?

2) If you were considering both models, are you happy that you went with the EB?

3) If yours got totaled today, would you buy the same thing or not? If not, why not?

4) Have you experienced any problems or service issues? Did Ford handle them to your satisfaction?

Thanks!
[/FONT]

This discussion is often framed as if talking about a "better car" (the GT) and a "lesser car" (the EB). Sometimes it reminds me of this Amazon review where this fellow said that the 7 inch tablet he was reviewing was perfect, except it was not a 9 inch tablet...

Considering these two cars look exactly the same, you got to ask yourself what is it that you want/need. If you must have the V8 because that is the "only Mustang to have", because you crave that sound, because you need the power to take it to the track, then talking about anything else makes no sense. Get the V8 and forget the rest.

Personally I am not into track or mods or a lot of the things that attract so many folks to the Mustang. The same goes for exhaust sound, which is not that important to me. Sure, I like the growl of the V8, but I don't need to have a car that sounds like that... I was never a Mustang guy. But I was attracted to the car NOW because it is simply a beautiful thing to behold inside out, and because I wanted a piece of the Mustang mystic.

And what am I going to do with the car? driving it on weekends, take long trips, see some country. For me getting the EB was a no brainer: lots of power, better fuel economy, and none of the extras I was not going to use. Do I think it is a "better" option than the GT? no, I think that for me this was the option that made sense, since it gives me the style, the handling, the comfort that I was looking for.

So, as obvious is might sound, ask yourself how the car will be used, how often, city, highway, primary, secondary car, how (extra)talented you are as a driver (as in, can you do a controlled skid?). Then, all things being equal, I think the answer should be easier.

(and on a personal note, I am upgrading from a 2001 Ford Escape, so you get the picture :-)

[FONT=&quot]It seems to me that you've answered your own question and please note what I've highlighted ZuluEcho's response.

As a preface, and for what it's worth, I've owned five Mustang convertibles over the past 50 years, four of which had eight cylinder engines. I currently own an EcoBoost. Now, on to your questions

1) What do you like/dislike the most about it?

Likes: The power and the torque in that small of an engine, not mention the great gas mileage. However, I didn't buy it for getting good gas mileage.

Dislikes: The growl that's missing by not having the 302.

2) If you were considering both models, are you happy that you went with the EB?

I drove the GT, the V-6, and the EcoBoost convertibles (with and without the perfromance pack on the GT and the EcoBoost) in making my decision, and the EcoBoost had more power and torque than the eight cylinder engines (stock) that I had in all of my previous Mustangs. I have no regrets in buying an EcoBoost.

3) If yours got totaled today, would you buy the same thing or not? If
not, why not?

I would--no question about it--simply for the fact that I have intention of running it on a track. Having said that, however, I would recommend that you get the performance pack. I have it on mine, but keep in mind that it comes with summer tires.

4) Have you experienced any problems or service issues? Did Ford handle them to your satisfaction?

None, and my Ford dealer is first rate and well respected in our community.
[/FONT]
Final Comment: In my mind, the decision to buy at GT or EcoBoost is purely an emotional and/or vanity decision, or both. It depends on what you plan to do with the car and image want to project.

Just sayin . . .

RJ

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