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Mustang impressions.

Stubai

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Hi all.

I thought I would start this thread as it may be useful for those who haven't yet got their cars, those who have been reading thread after thread feeling a little overwhelmed. The varying information out there on what would seem every aspect of the Mustang can be confusing. I have been reading since I ordered my car and have now finally picked her up so I wanted to share some first impressions.

I love this forum and the help and advice I have had from here has been absolutely awesome.

I want to preface the rest of this thread by saying I haven't owned my girl for long so I will add stuff as I experience it. I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore car guy who wants flame throwing side pipes and a chrome secondary intake protruding 8 inches out of the bonnet. Nor am I driving Miss Daisy as lovely as she may be. My car is basically a daily driver, coming to work with me three days a week and used for fun on the weekends. This is a car that I intend to keep long enough to at least run over teenage boys who come near my daughter (she is not one yet). So let that be the framework that you read this. I am probably the average Mustang owner but perhaps a little on the conservative side when compared to those on the forum.

Body shape and Colour
I haven't seen a colour mustang in the flesh (metal) that I didn't like. Even the colours I could never have imagined ordering are stunning. I myself got black and despite the fact that I look at it sideways and its dirty again I love it. The body lines and shape are not done justice in photos and videos so get along to a meet and have a look. You don't need to improve this cars look, it is beautiful. It would almost feel like giving Scarlett Johansen a boob job. Would be nice but is really not necessary.

Gear Box
Probably my only beef with the car so far. Now don't get me wrong, it isn't a bad gear box (Manual) but it seems that I will need to get used to it. Sometimes it feels a little clunky but that could be more about me getting the depth of the clutch and accelerator wrong and being a bit more coordinated may help. Overall it is still pretty nice and the shiftier is fine. Its tight, there is a nice short throw and it is got just enough notch for my taste.

Interior
Now I have seen shit poured on the interior on reviews on the internet, so much so I almost expected the seats to be made from semi-dried 95 year old antelope that was killed by a 7 inch howitzer. Not so. The quality is good and even the plastics, they are not all that bad. The toggle switches feel solid, the colour changes and ambient lighting are a bit of fun and the heated and cooled seats are very good and work very well in both modes. The handbrake I always feel like I am back to being an awkward teenager leaning over to stroke an only partly interested girls leg. Its just feels a bit weird. It is only out awkwarded by the bonnet release handle being in the passengers foot well :headbonk:.

Tyres
The p-Zeros have handled themselves well. I don't see an issue. They may not be right for those using them on a track but I work and drive in Canberra, home of the roundabout, and even in the wet they are sticking nicely.

Exhaust
Ok now this is big! The exhaust is great. Should it be louder? I don't know I am undecided but it is not too quiet. In fact the nice throaty burble you get even as you rev through the 3000rpm is still pretty damn nice. I do have a sports exhaust sitting in the garage and it will go on after the fist service but for now, I am not embarrassed that my V8 sounds like the refined war cry of an indifferent viking rather than an out and out blood lusting barbarian.

Power
It may not have the biggest KW number in its brochure but the power goes down well and just builds and builds. There will always be those of us who yearn for a little more or want to hit a magic number like drinking a case of beer and vomiting is somehow better than drinking three six packs and falling asleep on the veranda. I hit the speed limit in every state of this county in second gear yesterday so how much do you need. I guess what I am saying is, it is satisfying and fun. You could have more, you always can but do you need it?

Sync2
Time for some controversy. Sync2 seems to be the most hated and ragged upon part of this car. Its slow, it doesn't recognise my fingers, it cant understand my accent, I asked it for a cappuccino and it gave me a Latte.... Well I like it. It is simple, easy to use does everything it needs to and the nav system is pretty good. I dont use sat nav very often because if I wanted to ask someone for directions I would have reduced my total arguments with female passengers by 7.3%. However from what I have seen and using it on the 200km back road blast from the dealer home, it did not fail me. The only time it didnt work and I found myself at a national park lookout was when I decided as a man I knew better and switched her off. Silly manliness.

I am sure that many will disagree with me but lets face it cars a subjective. If your coming from a kia carnival your going to think this thing is a rocket ship if you have come from a Mini Cooper S JCW like me, it is a well put together very fast boat.

I hope this will be of some use to someone and if you haven't got your cars yet and would like an honest opinion on something let me know. More likely I will be pushed back to page 4 of the forum by tomorrow.
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msweet

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Nice write up mate! Glad you're enjoying the car. I agree with you for the most part. The stock shifter is a piece of work, it's not just you. I also really like the Sync 2 system.

I'm not convinced about how it puts down the power though, think it needs a little work. My last car was much more stable at WOT, the stang moves around and loses traction easily. Mind you I've only gone WOT 3-4 times, up to about 5000rpm, don't want to push it too hard too early.
 

Bagration

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Thank you for the write up - much appreciated - and good to know that there is another Canberra person in here.

Which dealership did you go through - my order is in via the Mitchell dealership. What was the dealership experience like?
 
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Stubai

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Nice write up mate! Glad you're enjoying the car. I agree with you for the most part. The stock shifter is a piece of work, it's not just you. I also really like the Sync 2 system.

I'm not convinced about how it puts down the power though, think it needs a little work. My last car was much more stable at WOT, the stang moves around and loses traction easily. Mind you I've only gone WOT 3-4 times, up to about 5000rpm, don't want to push it too hard too early.
Yeah i keep hearing about the traction loss but I just dont seem to be getting excessive amounts. I will say though that I will be getting the steeda subframe braces though.
 

MC

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"The handbrake I always feel like I am back to being an awkward teenager leaning over to stroke an only partly interested girls leg."

Quote of the week. Creepy and amusing all in one! Great write up Stubai. Thanks.

And welcome to the world of black cars (I have a black XR6T). They need to come with a microfibre-towel-wielding assistant.
 

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G RUSH

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Yeah i keep hearing about the traction loss but I just dont seem to be getting excessive amounts. I will say though that I will be getting the steeda subframe braces though.
Yeh I don't know about this either.

In the dry, if the car is pointing dead straight and you are rolling in 1st, and you floor it through the gears, mine doesn't light up. Maybe a very, very small amount between 1st and 2nd sometimes, but essentially it has plenty of traction like this if you're smooth on the clutch.

In the wet, if you floor it pointing forwards you get axle tramp (hence I will install BMR CB005 cradle lock out when I get a chance).

In the dry, if you give it the beans around a bend, depending on your traction setting, you will likely get very sideways in 1st/2nd.

In the wet, don't give it beans around a bend on the stock tyres haha

Ya better be good at playing catch!

But overall, i'm happy with the straight line traction scenario.

I'm 6100 km's in.
 

msweet

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Yeh I don't know about this either.

In the dry, if the car is pointing dead straight and you are rolling in 1st, and you floor it through the gears, mine doesn't light up. Maybe a very, very small amount between 1st and 2nd sometimes, but essentially it has plenty of traction like this if you're smooth on the clutch.

In the wet, if you floor it pointing forwards you get axle tramp (hence I will install BMR CB005 cradle lock out when I get a chance).
With mine I can floor it in 1st or 2nd from a roll (dry), but I feel the back lose/gain/lose/gain traction constantly. It's like it just hates any tiny imperfection in the road surface. I don't think everyone experiences this, seems one of those 50/50 things.

Anyway I'm thinking about a CB005 group buy if anyone is interested, might start a thread.
 

G RUSH

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With mine I can floor it in 1st or 2nd from a roll (dry), but I feel the back lose traction pretty quickly. It's like it just hates any tiny imperfection in the road surface. I don't think everyone experiences this, seems one of those 50/50 things.

Anyway I'm thinking about a CB005 group buy if anyone is interested, might start a thread.
Ok when you say 'loose traction'

Are we talking:
A) a whole bunch of slip and then wagging of the hips, or

B) still pointing in a straight line, but feeling like you're either just slipping (controllably) or at the very limit of the grip?

I'm in B).

Never really had A), like you would get when, say driving a 500+ Hp NA vehicle or when a rather large Turbo drops some boost all at once and you feel like you're in fast forward :headbonk:
 

msweet

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Ok when you say 'loose traction'

Are we talking:
A) a whole bunch of slip and then wagging of the hips, or

B) still pointing in a straight line, but feeling like you're either just slipping (controllably) or at the very limit of the grip?

I'm in B).

Never really had A), like you would get when, say driving a 500+ Hp NA vehicle or when a rather large Turbo drops some boost all at once and you feel like you're in fast forward :headbonk:
I'm talking B. I just don't think we should be experiencing that at 240-250rwkw. I am comparing it to my SS which had slightly more power, but always put the power down smoothly in dry conditions
 

PO55NY

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Fantastic commentary, well done.
Regards exhausts, they seem to overtake every thread and it gets very confusing.
When I get my car in August, I will see if I am happy and if not I will shop around, or wait until a local supplier comes onboard.
It's all a matter of preference.
 

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Stubai

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Thank you for the write up - much appreciated - and good to know that there is another Canberra person in here.

Which dealership did you go through - my order is in via the Mitchell dealership. What was the dealership experience like?
Hey mate

I actually purchased in Sydney and drove back down to Canberra. My Family use the same dealer in Sydney so I went with that as they are a known quantity. I would say with the dealers, expect nothing and smile if they are remotely helpful. Reading this forum you will know better than them. When you are close to pick up send them an email with what you want them to inspect before they deliver and they will get it right.

Also mate if your in Canberra and you want to meet up with some of us with cars we are trying to do monthly get together. join the facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/476884885829556/

or search ACT mustang owners on facebook if that doesn't work
 

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Stubai, Great review - done with humour and great insight! Thanks.
 

IngoStang

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Well written Stubai. Before I took delivery of mine, I assumed from all the posts on these forums that my GT was going to sound like a pedal car, with the only noise coming from me going "weeeeeeeeeeee" but I am totally happy with the stock exhaust and the note it puts out.

Sure it doesn't make people stop in their tracks and look at you, but the car turns plenty of heads at a stand still, and I never bought this car just so people look at me and make my manhood feel infinitely bigger.

A lot of fellow forum members had thousands of dollars worth of parts ready to go on before having their cars, and whilst there is nothing wrong with that at all, it may make some of you, yet to take ownership feel like you are buying a car that is inadequate from factory. Drive it stock for a while, Im sure you will be pleasantly surprised. :thumbsup:
 

mustang mick

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Hi all.

I hope this will be of some use to someone and if you haven't got your cars yet and would like an honest opinion on something let me know. More likely I will be pushed back to page 4 of the forum by tomorrow.
How do you find the sound coming out of the stereo Stubai? In my experience it depends on where you are coming from and what you had/have in your car.

I have a current gen mazda 3 and the magazine reviews said that the mazda has a lot of road noise. Compared to my other car it was quiet as a church mouse when I test drove it.

Cheers
Mustang Mick :shrug:
 

V8KOOP

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Great review Stubai, pretty much my experience as well. I have a manual, I find it loses traction pretty easily, but I had a WRX before this and that thing was pretty grippy. I just love my CO GT, I too read all the threads before I took delivery and quite frankly I dont notice misaligned panels or bonnet pinch or the spoiler colour is not exact match to the paint, funnily enough, no else does either. I've numerous people say "nice car mate"!
I've only had her for 5 weeks, it is my everyday car and I just love her so much, I have a stupid grin on my face everytime I start her up.
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