GreenS550
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2017
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- 126
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- 2,321
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- Location
- Houghton, MI 49931 Oakland, MI 48363
- First Name
- Bob
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Mustang GT Premium 2020 Explorer Limited
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- #1
**Disclaimer** This is just my opinion, and no criticism of anyone on this forum.
I was totally sold on ordering a Bullitt, until today.
I called a local dealership that I like and trust. They had a 2018 PP premium with active exhaust. The dealership, Skalnek Ford, in Lake Orion, MI treated me incredibly good. Real, decent, very willing to let me test drive. No commitment. Gave me an out the door price (about 4K+ off the 47K sticker). I told the salesman, Ryan, that I was not going to buy the car before I test drove it. He understood that I was testing it to determine if I wanted to order a Bullitt.
He said I could go alone if I wanted (that's a first on a new car for me). He said "drive it as you would the Bullitt, don't worry about it). The car had 2 miles on it and I drove it about 12 more.
The 6 speed manual shifted unbelieveably good. Fairly quiet ride. Better handling than my stock '15 auto with 20 inch tires. He wanted me to really drive it, so I did!
After 10 minutes of driving on the highway I pulled over. Waited for the traffic to clear, pulled out and nailed in 1st, fast shifted in to 2nd, then 3rd. Did near redline in 1st and 2nd. Let off at about 80 mph. The shifter and trans were the best I have ever used on any car including the MGW I had on my '09 Bullitt. Clutch engagement was just excellent.
But, with my LMS tune on my 2015 auto, I am sure my auto car is faster. Especially as mph increased, it seemed that 3rd needed more and 4th, I don't know about. I think Ford made a mistake making the gear ratios as far apart as they did on this '18. 4th is 1:1. That is a serious mistake, in my opinion. Why 2 gears of overdrive? Makes absolutely no sense to me. Now, if you SC the car, OK because the torque is there, but coming from my old '11 6 speed with 600rwhp I liked the ability to have torque on 4th or 5th. Not enough torque in my opinion. Since there is no torque converter, engine torque is necessary for quick acceleration. I just don't get it. I found myself preferring to drive it in 4th under 50 MPH.
Also, don't know if I'd want the active exhaust as the "normal" mode is much louder than my '15 and sounds great.
Summary:
First is OK acceleration and the shifting is wonderful. really smooth shifting near redline. Downshifting really good syncros. Wonderful transmission.
Fairly quiet interior even with the Michelin summer tires. Brakes very good.
handling good. Gear ratios are just incorrect, in my opinion. I don't think the track guys are going to like the gear spacing.
I think the car is worth the money, but the auto transmission is probably the trans to get. Not available on the Bullitt. That's a mistake.
With my '15 auto and the LMS tune, I found myself wanting to get back in mine and drive it again. My car does not handle good enough for me stock, but every thing else, the paddle shifters with the tune are just great. I can keep the car floored and just power shift through the gears. Bang, bang, bang.
Needless to say I am a bit let down. Maybe I'll change my mind, but at this point, I don't think I'm doing the Bullitt. Auto trans, yes. For sure. Stick, not sure. :shrug:
I was totally sold on ordering a Bullitt, until today.
I called a local dealership that I like and trust. They had a 2018 PP premium with active exhaust. The dealership, Skalnek Ford, in Lake Orion, MI treated me incredibly good. Real, decent, very willing to let me test drive. No commitment. Gave me an out the door price (about 4K+ off the 47K sticker). I told the salesman, Ryan, that I was not going to buy the car before I test drove it. He understood that I was testing it to determine if I wanted to order a Bullitt.
He said I could go alone if I wanted (that's a first on a new car for me). He said "drive it as you would the Bullitt, don't worry about it). The car had 2 miles on it and I drove it about 12 more.
The 6 speed manual shifted unbelieveably good. Fairly quiet ride. Better handling than my stock '15 auto with 20 inch tires. He wanted me to really drive it, so I did!
After 10 minutes of driving on the highway I pulled over. Waited for the traffic to clear, pulled out and nailed in 1st, fast shifted in to 2nd, then 3rd. Did near redline in 1st and 2nd. Let off at about 80 mph. The shifter and trans were the best I have ever used on any car including the MGW I had on my '09 Bullitt. Clutch engagement was just excellent.
But, with my LMS tune on my 2015 auto, I am sure my auto car is faster. Especially as mph increased, it seemed that 3rd needed more and 4th, I don't know about. I think Ford made a mistake making the gear ratios as far apart as they did on this '18. 4th is 1:1. That is a serious mistake, in my opinion. Why 2 gears of overdrive? Makes absolutely no sense to me. Now, if you SC the car, OK because the torque is there, but coming from my old '11 6 speed with 600rwhp I liked the ability to have torque on 4th or 5th. Not enough torque in my opinion. Since there is no torque converter, engine torque is necessary for quick acceleration. I just don't get it. I found myself preferring to drive it in 4th under 50 MPH.
Also, don't know if I'd want the active exhaust as the "normal" mode is much louder than my '15 and sounds great.
Summary:
First is OK acceleration and the shifting is wonderful. really smooth shifting near redline. Downshifting really good syncros. Wonderful transmission.
Fairly quiet interior even with the Michelin summer tires. Brakes very good.
handling good. Gear ratios are just incorrect, in my opinion. I don't think the track guys are going to like the gear spacing.
I think the car is worth the money, but the auto transmission is probably the trans to get. Not available on the Bullitt. That's a mistake.
With my '15 auto and the LMS tune, I found myself wanting to get back in mine and drive it again. My car does not handle good enough for me stock, but every thing else, the paddle shifters with the tune are just great. I can keep the car floored and just power shift through the gears. Bang, bang, bang.
Needless to say I am a bit let down. Maybe I'll change my mind, but at this point, I don't think I'm doing the Bullitt. Auto trans, yes. For sure. Stick, not sure. :shrug:
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