mustang#16
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2014
- Threads
- 19
- Messages
- 322
- Reaction score
- 90
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Vehicle(s)
- 2015 Mustang GT
- Thread starter
- #1
Summary
I've owned my car for a week now and after 450 miles, thought I'd share my initial impression of my car. It was built on Oct 22 and was, I believe, among the first retail 2015 Mustangs to be built. Delivery was very late, however, due to a quality control hold for three weeks at the Dallas rail yard. I don't know what was checked during that time, but I can say that the car was delivered to me in flawless condition. Everything works as it should and alignment of fenders, doors, hood, and trunk seem perfect. The interior is tight as a drum with no buzzes, rattles, or wind whistles. You can see my signature below for details on my car and a list of past Mustangs that I've owned. Photos are in the comment below.
Driving
This is Mustang #16 for me. My experience with previous Mustangs over 35+ years gives me an opportunity to compare the new with the old. The 5.0L power delivery feels very similar in performance to my 2013 GT/CS and 2011 GT. It's very strong from low to high RPMs. It purrs like a kitten during normal driving but will roar to life whenever needed. At low RPMs, the exhaust note is almost perfect to my ears. It has a good bass rumble that you can feel and hear. At higher speeds, the volume seems to go down significantly. I would enjoy a bit more exhaust volume at higher speeds.
I still find myself reaching for the ignition key when arriving at my destination to turn the engine off. I suppose the push button start is neat but it still takes a bit of getting used to.
I have the base GT suspension (but with the 19" X 8.5" wheels that come with the 50th Anniversary Pkg). It is noticeably more firm than the 2013 GT/CS base suspension but still has a nice and very compliant ride. It corners flat, the tires have a very good grip (you never hear them squeal), and is not "floaty." The improved handling on everyday street surfaces is what I notice the most. It feels as though pot holes, washboard, and other irregular surfaces are practically ironed flat by the new suspension. The car is always well composed no matter what I encounter on the street. Also, the new suspension is very quiet. By that I mean, you don't hear any rattles and clunks when going over rough surfaces. Everything seems bolted down tight as it should be.
Love, love, LOVE the updated 6-speed manual transmission and shifter. The shifting feels so precise and the transmission feels so solid and quiet. I haven't missed a shift yet and the feel of the gear changes really gives a sense of quality and precision. The clutch is relatively light compared to my previous Mustangs. And, clutch engagement is very smooth and predictable. The hill assist feature was a pleasant surprise. When I first heard of it, I thought it would be something that only people inexperienced with manual transmissions would appreciate. Nope, I've learned to appreciate the convenience, too. It's really nice not having to worry about rolling backward when starting up-hill.
Lastly, the visibility is much improved, particularly when looking to the rear. There are practically no blind spots anymore.
Interior
The quality of materials in the 2015 Mustang GT Premium with 50th Anniversary Pkg combined with better interior design really take the car to a whole new level in terms of refinement and quality. I've told Ford before that, as much as I liked my previous 2005-2013 Mustangs, I always felt like I was sitting in a Rubbermaid tub. So much hard plastic everywhere (esp with the 2005-2009 models ...it got a little better with the 2010-14s). The new soft touch door panels and other surfaces, aluminum panels and trim really look and feel good.
The seats are amazing, too. The only reason I can think of that someone would want the Recaros is if they track their car. The base seats are great for just about anything you'd encounter on the street and they are very comfortable on long trips, too. I haven't tried the new telescoping steering yet ...it seems fine the way it was delivered to me. But, it's nice knowing I can adjust it if I'd like to.
My 70+ year old parents went for a ride in my new car with me a few days ago. We drove about 30 miles round-trip, went shopping, then to a restaurant and back home. My mother (5'5") rode in the back seat behind my dad. Dad (5'11") rode in the front passenger seat. Amazingly, it wasn't too bad for my mother as long as you slide the passenger seat up all the way first. After she was settled in, the front passenger seat could be moved back to a little more than half way and my dad was able to get in. I would describe the experience as being similar to flying economy class/coach -- not the most pleasant experience for an adult but you manage. The 2015's rear seats seem to sit lower and the front seat backs have more room for the rear passenger's knees. This, combined, seemed to make it a bit more tolerable than previous Mustangs for adults to use the back seat for short distances.
The switchgear is also much better than my 2013. Operation is much smoother. Some of the switches on my 2013's steering wheel felt like they were easy to break and creaked and popped when using them. All the switches on the 2015 feel very precision. Lastly, I really appreciate the new tire pressure display. Finally, Ford shows on one screen the tire pressure for all four tires! My previous Mustangs would leave me guessing which tire was low when the "low tire pressure" warning came on!
Exterior
I love everything about the new 2015 exterior. I couldn't say that about the 2010-14s. I've had more people tell me that Ford finally got the back-end of the Mustang right with the 2015 design. I agree with them. I've never liked the 2010-14 rear-end but put up with it because the rest of the car was so good. Also, to my eyes, the 2010-14 front-ends looked good up close but from a distance, it did not look as good. Not so with the 2015. To my eyes, it looks better up close, far, and from just about any angle compared to Mustangs from 1974 - 2014.
I love the "hips" of the rear fenders and I love the nose (esp with the 50th Anniversary pkg). I've also come to appreciate the security feature that unlocks the doors when you grab the exterior handle. You can also lock the doors by touching the exterior handle (as long as you have the fob). Really a nice convenience. Same with the trunk -- you can push the button on the bumper to unlock the trunk -- no need to dig for the fob.
This car (esp in Race Red) really turns heads. Practically every time I get out of the car, folks want to talk to me about it and tell me they really like it. I also get folks showing off around me, LOL.
Economy
My first tank averaged 19MPG on 87 octane. My 2nd tank (93 octane) is currently about half full and averaging 20.2. Driving mode for both tanks was half-city/half-highway. For the most part, I've driven the car very easy except for a few moderately aggressive "demo" runs.
Conclusion
Overall this is the best Mustang I have ever owned. I'm very happy with it. The 2015 Mustang makes no apologies. Based on my experience, it now has the refinement, quality, suspension, and styling to take on the world. I know that the 2015 is just the beginning and that Ford will evolve this car to compete with whatever they want it to compete with. It's a great platform and it looks like Ford has the commitment. To the 2015 Mustang Team: Great job!
.
.
I've owned my car for a week now and after 450 miles, thought I'd share my initial impression of my car. It was built on Oct 22 and was, I believe, among the first retail 2015 Mustangs to be built. Delivery was very late, however, due to a quality control hold for three weeks at the Dallas rail yard. I don't know what was checked during that time, but I can say that the car was delivered to me in flawless condition. Everything works as it should and alignment of fenders, doors, hood, and trunk seem perfect. The interior is tight as a drum with no buzzes, rattles, or wind whistles. You can see my signature below for details on my car and a list of past Mustangs that I've owned. Photos are in the comment below.
Driving
This is Mustang #16 for me. My experience with previous Mustangs over 35+ years gives me an opportunity to compare the new with the old. The 5.0L power delivery feels very similar in performance to my 2013 GT/CS and 2011 GT. It's very strong from low to high RPMs. It purrs like a kitten during normal driving but will roar to life whenever needed. At low RPMs, the exhaust note is almost perfect to my ears. It has a good bass rumble that you can feel and hear. At higher speeds, the volume seems to go down significantly. I would enjoy a bit more exhaust volume at higher speeds.
I still find myself reaching for the ignition key when arriving at my destination to turn the engine off. I suppose the push button start is neat but it still takes a bit of getting used to.
I have the base GT suspension (but with the 19" X 8.5" wheels that come with the 50th Anniversary Pkg). It is noticeably more firm than the 2013 GT/CS base suspension but still has a nice and very compliant ride. It corners flat, the tires have a very good grip (you never hear them squeal), and is not "floaty." The improved handling on everyday street surfaces is what I notice the most. It feels as though pot holes, washboard, and other irregular surfaces are practically ironed flat by the new suspension. The car is always well composed no matter what I encounter on the street. Also, the new suspension is very quiet. By that I mean, you don't hear any rattles and clunks when going over rough surfaces. Everything seems bolted down tight as it should be.
Love, love, LOVE the updated 6-speed manual transmission and shifter. The shifting feels so precise and the transmission feels so solid and quiet. I haven't missed a shift yet and the feel of the gear changes really gives a sense of quality and precision. The clutch is relatively light compared to my previous Mustangs. And, clutch engagement is very smooth and predictable. The hill assist feature was a pleasant surprise. When I first heard of it, I thought it would be something that only people inexperienced with manual transmissions would appreciate. Nope, I've learned to appreciate the convenience, too. It's really nice not having to worry about rolling backward when starting up-hill.
Lastly, the visibility is much improved, particularly when looking to the rear. There are practically no blind spots anymore.
Interior
The quality of materials in the 2015 Mustang GT Premium with 50th Anniversary Pkg combined with better interior design really take the car to a whole new level in terms of refinement and quality. I've told Ford before that, as much as I liked my previous 2005-2013 Mustangs, I always felt like I was sitting in a Rubbermaid tub. So much hard plastic everywhere (esp with the 2005-2009 models ...it got a little better with the 2010-14s). The new soft touch door panels and other surfaces, aluminum panels and trim really look and feel good.
The seats are amazing, too. The only reason I can think of that someone would want the Recaros is if they track their car. The base seats are great for just about anything you'd encounter on the street and they are very comfortable on long trips, too. I haven't tried the new telescoping steering yet ...it seems fine the way it was delivered to me. But, it's nice knowing I can adjust it if I'd like to.
My 70+ year old parents went for a ride in my new car with me a few days ago. We drove about 30 miles round-trip, went shopping, then to a restaurant and back home. My mother (5'5") rode in the back seat behind my dad. Dad (5'11") rode in the front passenger seat. Amazingly, it wasn't too bad for my mother as long as you slide the passenger seat up all the way first. After she was settled in, the front passenger seat could be moved back to a little more than half way and my dad was able to get in. I would describe the experience as being similar to flying economy class/coach -- not the most pleasant experience for an adult but you manage. The 2015's rear seats seem to sit lower and the front seat backs have more room for the rear passenger's knees. This, combined, seemed to make it a bit more tolerable than previous Mustangs for adults to use the back seat for short distances.
The switchgear is also much better than my 2013. Operation is much smoother. Some of the switches on my 2013's steering wheel felt like they were easy to break and creaked and popped when using them. All the switches on the 2015 feel very precision. Lastly, I really appreciate the new tire pressure display. Finally, Ford shows on one screen the tire pressure for all four tires! My previous Mustangs would leave me guessing which tire was low when the "low tire pressure" warning came on!
Exterior
I love everything about the new 2015 exterior. I couldn't say that about the 2010-14s. I've had more people tell me that Ford finally got the back-end of the Mustang right with the 2015 design. I agree with them. I've never liked the 2010-14 rear-end but put up with it because the rest of the car was so good. Also, to my eyes, the 2010-14 front-ends looked good up close but from a distance, it did not look as good. Not so with the 2015. To my eyes, it looks better up close, far, and from just about any angle compared to Mustangs from 1974 - 2014.
I love the "hips" of the rear fenders and I love the nose (esp with the 50th Anniversary pkg). I've also come to appreciate the security feature that unlocks the doors when you grab the exterior handle. You can also lock the doors by touching the exterior handle (as long as you have the fob). Really a nice convenience. Same with the trunk -- you can push the button on the bumper to unlock the trunk -- no need to dig for the fob.
This car (esp in Race Red) really turns heads. Practically every time I get out of the car, folks want to talk to me about it and tell me they really like it. I also get folks showing off around me, LOL.
Economy
My first tank averaged 19MPG on 87 octane. My 2nd tank (93 octane) is currently about half full and averaging 20.2. Driving mode for both tanks was half-city/half-highway. For the most part, I've driven the car very easy except for a few moderately aggressive "demo" runs.
Conclusion
Overall this is the best Mustang I have ever owned. I'm very happy with it. The 2015 Mustang makes no apologies. Based on my experience, it now has the refinement, quality, suspension, and styling to take on the world. I know that the 2015 is just the beginning and that Ford will evolve this car to compete with whatever they want it to compete with. It's a great platform and it looks like Ford has the commitment. To the 2015 Mustang Team: Great job!
.
.
Sponsored
Last edited:
