S550 big? Who's coming from a small2 seater to the S550?

[smdandb2]

I think it is much easier to get used to a bigger car.

When I got too lazy to raise the suspension on my slam city Mazda3 I bought the Crown Vic to use as a winter beast. Every time I drove the Mazda after that, it took a while to get adjusted to the close quarters.

Going from the Vic to the Mustang will probably give me the similar feeling. Oh well, still excited!

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[Trackaholic]

I have a 350Z and GTI. I test drove an EB Mustang and IMO it felt much more similar to the Z than the GTI (which I consider a good thing).

The driving position wasn't as low as in the Z, but it did feel much lower than in the GTI. I always feel like I am sitting up too tall in the GTI, and I like the feeling in the Z, that I am down inside the car. The Mustang felt somewhat between the two, but I was very comfortable with the driving position.

The hood is long on the Mustang, but so is the one in the Z (relative to the driving position, and compared to the GTI). That didn't bother me at all.

The rear hangs out a bit more on the Mustang than on the Z, and I was driving at night so it was a but tough to get a feel for reversing. But with the camera and the small windows behind the B-pillar I was able to reverse fine. I think that will take the most time to adjust to. On the GTI the rear ends basically right where the window is, so gauging the back end of the car is very easy. Also, the large rear windows and short wheelbase make it easy to reverse.

Overall I really liked the driving position of the Mustang. I was able to get a comfortable position with the seat relative to the wheels and pedals (always a challenge for me on the GTI). Unfortuately, my test drive was with the A6, so I didn't get a feel for the clutch position and shifter action, but otherwise I really liked how the driving position of the Mustang felt, and I never got the impression that the car was overly large. But it was a pretty quick test drive.

-T

 

[Gungnir888]

I'm giving up the Miata in part due to the small size. I'm a big boy and spend too much time in traffic to continue with the NC. It is a great car as far as dynamics go, but I am looking for something larger, more comfortable, and a bit quieter for the daily commute.

 

[robb]

Howdy, I owned 3 fox body stangs back in the day and contemplating coming back into the corral with the GT350.

Since the fox body I have tended towards compactish 2 seater sports cars. Currently have a 2014 Cayman S.

I do wonder whether the S550 will feel a little too big for me. I need to go sit in a S550 and see for myself, but how many here have moved into the S550 from a small 2 seater? How's that going for ya? Have you adjusted such that the S550's size is a non-issue?

Coming from a Boxster myself I can say this long hood will be an adjustment for you. The Boxster/Cayman nose dips hard and gives excellent road visibility. This pony has a very long hood but you'll get used to it. I'm a big fan of the Porsche but also love this new GT. You'll need to get used to this long drivetrain too. It can be a little hurky jerky compared to the Cayman.

 

[asphal]

Funny I hear mustang fans talk about they dont want the car to be too sleek and small. I think it's just right. Still has some muscle car presence and trimmed some of the excess while keeping good interior size. Seeing it next to the S197 it looks much tighter.

 

[Sal]

coming from is350.. definitely feel the different.. but didn't have issues getting used to the car.

 

[DeColores]

You have time to sell the Cayman, get that Crown Vic until the GT 350 is ready.

 

[doulos4jc]

it wasn't a 2 seater but I came from an older 99 328 vert. The S550 feels a tad bigger overall, but doesn't feel too big at all. It reminds me of a 2007-2012 3 series size wise.

 

[baege]

Yeah I feel you. Low end torque is the difference maker for me. A RWD V8 "feels" tangentially different to me than any other driving experience, it is in a word unique. It cant be replicated in the same way by other car types like the small roadsters, nor can the Mustang replicate those cars driving styles. I have to tell you though, that my perspective is decidedly from a wide open roads, miles of freeways, west coast USA perspective. In those road conditions nothing makes you happier than a GT with al that low end torque and power on demand at any point. On a freeeway going 60, gun it and smile. At a stop light anr want to take off? Gun it and smile. If I lived in Europe with narrow roads and windy roads I might not smile as much. But for American suburban and especially west coast driving, hands down the Mustang.

In my driving environment, urban with lots of traffic, I am also coming to appreciate that low end torque might be the most accessible and so most fun aspect of a car. The ability to rev the cayman's engine out and use its fun nimbleness is reserved pretty much for the odd on or off ramp, for the most part I am constrained by traffic and can't take the engine to higher rpms or take a corner at a speed that makes it interesting. Low end torque on the other hand can be fun even in a bit of traffic (as I recall from my fox body mustangs).

 

[baege]

Coming from a Boxster myself I can say this long hood will be an adjustment for you. The Boxster/Cayman nose dips hard and gives excellent road visibility. This pony has a very long hood but you'll get used to it. I'm a big fan of the Porsche but also love this new GT. You'll need to get used to this long drivetrain too. It can be a little hurky jerky compared to the Cayman.

Cheers for the useful very direct comparison. I had a Z4 coupe before the cayman so I am somewhat used to a long hood.

 

[Bay1Stang]

Coming from a 4 door 2006 BMW, it feels huge. I'm 400 miles into my car and I'm still getting used to it. I love it though. Seeing those aggressive lines on the hood is amazing.

 

[Potrillo]

I had a 99 Mustang and after that I drove our TSX. Coming from both of those, the S550 is bigger. It is also planted and feels very solid. It took a few days to get used to the size. The nerves of driving a brand new car didn't really help. Now it feels good. I do wish it were the size of the 99. That car was sized about just right.

 

[BoomBoy]

I come from a VW GTI. Mustang only feels slightly big. It's not too big. I love the long hood. It takes some getting used to the long front.

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