S550 VS. S650 Body Style

[MidwayJ]

It got crapped on when it debuted. Too Euro/sports car looking, not enough of a muscle look like S197 had. That was the biggest complaint I remember

There was a faction of Mustang fans who felt that way, but the S550 styling and IRS generated lots of interest from car enthusiasts who weren't fond of previous Mustang generations.

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[MAGS1]

I like the S650, really good car. Looks nothing like a Camaro, I’ll never understand that comparison. Headlights and taillights on the 650 were my biggest complaints, they’ve grown on me though.

The screens are fine, I prefer knobs and buttons but that’s not the way of the world anymore unfortunately. Once you’re behind the wheel and driving the car, the screens don’t really jump out as out of place or anything. I still think that they could’ve integrated them a little differently and I don’t really understand the split screens for the base models and single screen for the premium. Just make them all the premium model screens.

They sell well by me, I see at least a few on the road every day now.

I actually didn’t like the front end of the 2018+ refresh when it first came out, I preferred the 2015-2017 front end initially. The front end on the refresh grew on me to the point I ordered one in 2022. I really like the 10R80, although I think GM tuned it better than Ford. Overall, I still prefer my S550 but wouldn’t hesitate to buy an S650 if I wanted a brand new Mustang.

There was a faction of Mustang fans who felt that way, but the S550 styling and IRS generated lots of interest from car enthusiasts who weren't fond of previous Mustang generations.

No doubt, there’s always going to be a group that pushes back on anything new. I do think the majority reaction was positive as you said.

 

[MidwayJ]

I like the S650, really good car. Looks nothing like a Camaro, I’ll never understand that comparison. Headlights and taillights on the 650 were my biggest complaints, they’ve grown on me though.

The screens are fine, I prefer knobs and buttons but that’s not the way of the world anymore unfortunately. Once you’re behind the wheel and driving the car, the screens don’t really jump out as out of place or anything. I still think that they could’ve integrated them a little differently and I don’t really understand the split screens for the base models and single screen for the premium. Just make them all the premium model screens.

They sell well by me, I see at least a few on the road every day now.

I actually didn’t like the front end of the 2018+ refresh when it first came out, I preferred the 2015-2017 front end initially. The front end on the refresh grew on me to the point I ordered one in 2022. I really like the 10R80, although I think GM tuned it better than Ford. Overall, I still prefer my S550 but wouldn’t hesitate to buy an S650 if I wanted a brand new Mustang.

I'm on the same page with nearly everything you said. I was pleased to find the 10r80 tuning is clearly better in my S650.

 

[K4fxd]

No doubt, there’s always going to be a group that pushes back on anything new. I do think the majority reaction was positive as you said.

Has nothing to do with it being new, I still don't like it. Only thing going for it is V8 and a stick shift.

S550

S650

That said we like what we like and I won't knock you if you like it. Enjoy your Mustang

 

[Strokerswild]

I'll add to what I've said about my dislike for the S650 dash....

I bought the wife a decked-out new Escape ST-Line last March. It features a giant, tacked-on screen in the middle of the dash, as well as a IP screen. Both of us dislike the lack of physical buttons, more so the wife. Touchscreens in vehicles are pointless and a safety hazard. The IP screen is at least housed in a nicely designed nacelle unlike Mustang, but I don't like the lack of depth that the screens have versus analog gauges. Looks cheap, zero design and detail. The rest of the vehicle is great, but I know the wife would take her pre-touchscreen VW back in a heartbeat.

I won't buy another vehicle without physical controls for HVAC and audio. One and done.

 

[Cdvision]

I'll add to what I've said about my dislike for the S650 dash....

I bought the wife a decked-out new Escape ST-Line last March. It features a giant, tacked-on screen in the middle of the dash, as well as a IP screen. Both of us dislike the lack of physical buttons, more so the wife. Touchscreens in vehicles are pointless and a safety hazard. The IP screen is at least housed in a nicely designed nacelle unlike Mustang, but I don't like the lack of depth that the screens have versus analog gauges. Looks cheap, zero design and detail. The rest of the vehicle is great, but I know the wife would take her pre-touchscreen VW back in a heartbeat.

I won't buy another vehicle without physical controls for HVAC and audio. One and done.

Yeah sometimes I miss the physical buttons but then I feel that they have a pretty decent voice command that replaced them as well. I can use voice commands to adjust my temperature quite easily. Don't even have to take your hands off the wheel. I'm just scratching the surface of what the voice commands can do but it seems to be pretty decent and works quite well.

 

[ORRadtech]

Yeah sometimes I miss the physical buttons but then I feel that they have a pretty decent voice command that replaced them as well. I can use voice commands to adjust my temperature quite easily. Don't even have to take your hands off the wheel. I'm just scratching the surface of what the voice commands can do but it seems to be pretty decent and works quite well.

When and while they work. And for as long as they are supported.
Three years ago my '12 Edge lost its APIM 500 miles from home. Thank goodness it has some physical controls or that would have been a very uncomfortable ride home. Even then much of the systems are routed through the APIM so although you can control some functions you can't always tell what's happening. Anyway, my point is that if the touch and voice controls fail how drivable is the vehicle going to be?

 

[MD18EcoStang]

I won't buy another vehicle without physical controls for HVAC and audio. One and done.

Yeah, and it's interesting that Ford was obviously aware of this at one point... The early second gen Fusions (I had a '13 and still have a '14) had a center stack that was almost fully touch sensitive. Later, I owned an '18 and they had reverted all the HVAC controls to physical buttons.

 

[ABEcoBoost]

I would definitely like the interior way more if the screens were more integrated in the dash and it was a tad more classic. I understand trying to be more modern, but I think it's a bit too far. Again, it's my opinion and everyone is different.

 

[Cdvision]

When and while they work. And for as long as they are supported.
Three years ago my '12 Edge lost its APIM 500 miles from home. Thank goodness it has some physical controls or that would have been a very uncomfortable ride home. Even then much of the systems are routed through the APIM so although you can control some functions you can't always tell what's happening. Anyway, my point is that if the touch and voice controls fail how drivable is the vehicle going to be?

The tech has been substantially upgraded since the 2012 model year.
The voice commands you can do now are much more advanced.

 

[ORRadtech]

The tech has been substantially upgraded since the 2012 model year.
The voice commands you can do now are much more advanced.

I'm sure it has. But you totally missed the point.
If that upgraded tech fails just how drivable will the car be?

 

[Cdvision]

I'm sure it has. But you totally missed the point.
If that upgraded tech fails just how drivable will the car be?

Point not missed at all. You're a cup half empty guy I'm at cup half full guy. We just see things differently. I have a little bit more faith in the tech for the time being.
I've seen more physical window switches and heater controls fail than I have touch screen function.

 

[Hack]

Everything fails given enough time. I'm the last person that should complain about our modern throw away vehicles with how often I switch cars, but I just don't like the philosophy of designing and building things to make them more difficult and expensive to repair.

 

[MAGS1]

Everything fails given enough time. I'm the last person that should complain about our modern throw away vehicles with how often I switch cars, but I just don't like the philosophy of designing and building things to make them more difficult and expensive to repair.

Yeah the fact that Farley, a car guy at heart, has said that consumers shouldn’t work on new cars because they’re too complex and require specialized tools makes me mad. I don’t do much of the work on my cars anymore, mainly because of time, but I still want to option to be able to do it myself if I want. The Mustang is still fairly easy to work on. I don’t recall who the interview was with when Farley said it, but he specifically mentioned his Bronco

 

[K4fxd]

I'm a less regulation the better kind of guy at heart, but I'd be all for the removal of screens in cars. Absolutely no reason for them other than to distract the driver. I see more and more cars swerving in and sometimes out of their lanes, they look drunk. No not drunk, navigating some touch screen in the car.


AI Overview




It takes an average driver about 4 to 5 seconds to perform a simple task like adjusting HVAC settings via a modern car touchscreen. Because road safety guidelines (like those from the NHTSA) recommend that individual glances off the road do not exceed 2 seconds, this means a driver's focus is typically interrupted multiple times for a single adjustment. [1, 2]
Studies highlight the difference between touchscreens and physical controls: []

• • Touchscreens: Average reaction times on these screens are notably slower, increasing crash risk. Independent testing by Vi Bilägare revealed that touchscreen HVAC changes require up to four times as much attention compared to older physical buttons. [1, 2]
  • Physical Dials: Tactile buttons and physical knobs allow drivers to make adjustments while keeping their eyes on the road, largely relying on muscle memory to complete adjustments in around 1 second. [1, 2, 3]
  • Voice Commands: Utilizing your vehicle's voice recognition system is an excellent alternative, allowing you to change temperatures without touching a screen or taking your eyes off the road. [1, 2]

at 70 mph you travel 500 feet in 5 seconds, almost 1/8 mile.

Not a fan of voice commands because it never works for me.

Question can you use voice commands with the radio on and loudish exhaust?

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