Is the S550 a disappointment?

[Mike00]

I think Mike is a camaro lover at heart!! Doesnt know what he's talking about!!:ford:

:lol: I post one negative item about the Mustang and I have several people jump down my throat. The funny thing is I've stayed away from American cars for over a decade now for a variety of reasons. So to say I love the Camaro is hilarious.

Frankly if the transmission was so great it would be in GT350. Instead you get a Tremec. Which frankly is the only reason I am considering the GT350 - from a daily perspective everything about the GT is perfect for me except the transmission feel. I'm still driving all 3 and will make a decision then. If the feel is ok I'll go with the GT but I'll do it with the knowledge that there have been plenty of reported transmission issues including on the previous generation. Meanwhile the Tremec is a known quality transmission and the feel of the C7 vette manual is quite nice (which is supposedly close to the 2SS).

In terms of looks the Mustang wins every time particularly on the exterior.

Anyway the Mustang is great but it's not perfect and the transmission is arguably the biggest weakness across the GT. Nothing else about the car even gives me any hesitation.

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[505STANG]

Just my two cents. From an all around stand point, it is great and I like the direction. As a racing guy that frequents the track and scene, and aa huge mustang/Ford guy, I don't think they did enough performance wise. GM made weight a primary issue, and did an awesome job. They are making big power numbers and low weight. Do I think power is a disappointment from the 5.0 compared to the gm motor? No. But we have always have the weight advantage. I just simply think Ford didn't do enough with this car on the performance front. The interior and exterior win imo hands down, but that is honestly not all I want out of my mustang. I know that doesn't mean sales, yes I remember when the slower mustangs outsold the camaro. Just for me personally I care about performance numbers. I just think Ford could have done more. And I hope they come back in 2017 with a badass transmission and power boost that this chassis can handle. Unfortunately most platforms tend to gain weight instead of lose it which is why I'm kind of disappointed in Ford right now. Still love the car so don't hate on me, just being honest!

Yes but your paying a lot more for that performance period, I can understand if the price difference is within a grand but dollar to dollar the Stang is still a better value. The Mustang is a better car to live with period. Ford is way ahead of GM in mass producing all aluminium vehicles. The first was the F150, the tech will trickle down to the Stang. These wars go back and forth and as far as I am concerned Ford performance is still on top with the gt350. GM has nothing in that stable at that price point that will hang with this car.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

But do those $400 dollars produce a 4.0/4.1 0-60 with AT/MT ?

I don't know?:shrug: I don't race to sixty MPH! But it did produce a 1.78 sixty foot and an 12.1@115 quarter mile run.

 

[505STANG]

:lol: I post one negative item about the Mustang and I have several people jump down my throat. The funny thing is I've stayed away from American cars for over a decade now for a variety of reasons. So to say I love the Camaro is hilarious.

Frankly if the transmission was so great it would be in GT350. Instead you get a Tremec. Which frankly is the only reason I am considering the GT350 - from a daily perspective everything about the GT is perfect for me except the transmission feel. I'm still driving all 3 and will make a decision then. If the feel is ok I'll go with the GT but I'll do it with the knowledge that there have been plenty of reported transmission issues including on the previous generation. Meanwhile the Tremec is a known quality transmission and the feel of the C7 vette manual is quite nice (which is supposedly close to the 2SS).

In terms of looks the Mustang wins every time particularly on the exterior.

Anyway the Mustang is great but it's not perfect and the transmission is arguably the biggest weakness across the GT. Nothing else about the car even gives me any hesitation.

Again your basing this on hearsay. Why do you think the Mt-82 is the weak link of the stang? I've never had an problems with mine. You can look in any forums of the 3 Muscle cars and your going to find the same issues, Tremec included.

grinding when cold.
locked out of gear at high RPM.
hard to engage gear when turning.

To me this is all normal..... Just need to learn how to drive it.

 

[evo8904]

The best thing that you can do for the transmission is get a MGW and change the fluid.

 

[Formula]

Anyway the Mustang is great but it's not perfect and the transmission is arguably the biggest weakness across the GT.

I will have to agree with this. I have only 2k miles on mine and it clunks like a garbage truck.

Quite disappointing since this is my first brand new domestic car following a list of more than 40 imports.

 

[Macfarland]

Just my two cents. From an all around stand point, it is great and I like the direction. As a racing guy that frequents the track and scene, and aa huge mustang/Ford guy, I don't think they did enough performance wise. GM made weight a primary issue, and did an awesome job. They are making big power numbers and low weight. Do I think power is a disappointment from the 5.0 compared to the gm motor? No. But we have always have the weight advantage. I just simply think Ford didn't do enough with this car on the performance front. The interior and exterior win imo hands down, but that is honestly not all I want out of my mustang. I know that doesn't mean sales, yes I remember when the slower mustangs outsold the camaro. Just for me personally I care about performance numbers. I just think Ford could have done more. And I hope they come back in 2017 with a badass transmission and power boost that this chassis can handle. Unfortunately most platforms tend to gain weight instead of lose it which is why I'm kind of disappointed in Ford right now. Still love the car so don't hate on me, just being honest!

Well put. The GT is all about performance and that's where Ford fumbled the ball. If you want sales, fine, that's what the Eco and V6 are for, but the GT is a performance oriented machine and Ford didn't delivere as expected. I'm hopeful that Ford wanted to see how the new Camaro specs were and then counterattack in 2017/18 with more V8 power, a track pack (there's a reason why they changed the name from track to performance package) a noisier exhaust, and a less Fusion-like exterior.
If all this is not taken cared of, I'm seriously thinking of buying a 2013 Boss 302 over the S550 GT.

 

[evo8904]

Well put. The GT is all about performance and that's where Ford fumbled the ball. If you want sales, fine, that's what the Eco and V6 are for, but the GT is a performance oriented machine and Ford didn't delivere as expected. I'm hopeful that Ford wanted to see how the new Camaro specs were and then counterattack in 2017/18 with more V8 power, a track pack (there's a reason why they changed the name from track to performance package) a noisier exhaust, and a less Fusion-like exterior.
If all this is not taken cared of, I'm seriously thinking of buying a 2013 Boss 302 over the S550 GT.

Didn't the S550 GT PP out perform the Boss 302?

 

[Sinister]

I'm still reading through the entire thread and the only disappointment I have with the GT stang is the manual transmission. It's obviously the worst manual trans of the three (challenger/camaro etc..)

I'm coming from Audi S4/Lexus GS 350 and I plan to grab either a GT (maybe GT350), SRT 392, or 2SS Camaro next year when my lease is up. I want to own an AMerican V8 before the EPA makes them go away and frankly the new generation of these cars are flat out impressive all the way around.

The GT would be a no brainer for me if the manual trans wasn't junk from what I can tell. Clutches being stuck, lots of tranmission noise, shifts that are not preceise etc... Read the forums and you can see the complaints. VS. the 2ss manual has just been noting but praised. That one piece holds me back.

Otherwise I prefer the looks of the Challenger/Mustang (for different reasons) and love the performance/features of the 2ss. Right now I have no clue which of the 3 I will get.

I also wouldn't want to daily drive the GT350. I'd be putting at least 10k miles on the car and it doesn't seem like it would be a fun daily.

I owned a 2010 SS, trust me, the tranny in that car isn't any better than in the Mustang. After a shifter and fluid change my Camaro still hated high rpm shifts. After a shifter and fluid change in the Mustang it shifts great and I'm spinning it much higher than the Camaro.

 

[Sig556]

Im Happy With The Auto

I have rowed gears all my life,
my last ride was a 2011 GT six speed. I did all the good stuff, Boss 302 intake, exhaust, tune, shifter, you name it. My 2015 GT Prem is the first auto I have had in a long time. Frankly I like it.......a lot!

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Well put. The GT is all about performance and that's where Ford fumbled the ball. If you want sales, fine, that's what the Eco and V6 are for, but the GT is a performance oriented machine and Ford didn't delivere as expected. I'm hopeful that Ford wanted to see how the new Camaro specs were and then counterattack in 2017/18 with more V8 power, a track pack (there's a reason why they changed the name from track to performance package) a noisier exhaust, and a less Fusion-like exterior.
If all this is not taken cared of, I'm seriously thinking of buying a 2013 Boss 302 over the S550 GT.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Huh? Did you just seriously type that out for all to see? Bone stock, the GTPP out runs the Boss 302 by 2+seconds a lap as video evidence has been provided on this very subject.

Straight line speed is = to what the S197 stock for stock. Modding the S550, it is faster vs. the old 5G.

Didn't the S550 GT PP out perform the Boss 302?

:cheers:

 

[Spartan]

Well put. The GT is all about performance and that's where Ford fumbled the ball. If you want sales, fine, that's what the Eco and V6 are for, but the GT is a performance oriented machine and Ford didn't delivere as expected. I'm hopeful that Ford wanted to see how the new Camaro specs were and then counterattack in 2017/18 with more V8 power, a track pack (there's a reason why they changed the name from track to performance package) a noisier exhaust, and a less Fusion-like exterior. If all this is not taken cared of, I'm seriously thinking of buying a 2013 Boss 302 over the S550 GT.

I think Ford held a bunch of things back in the '15 and '16 MY knowing that in 2015 the '16 Camaro was hitting.

By next fall you'll see the '17 Mustang have a nice bunch of new features. You already saw a tester out there camo'd and they don't put that out there just to test a new fascia and lighter trunk deck. There's probably the 10 speed in it getting ready for next fall.

I guarantee you there is NO WAY Ford is going to let Chevy have from now, November of 2015 to September of 2017, which would be the release of the '18 MY Mustang with no changes. That would be 22 months. That's an eternity in car buyer time and the current car industry. This isn't the mid 2000's anymore. They have long planned for the 10 speed in this car and it's ready for it. They already have the trunk deck in aluminum and the casting, they just didn't go forward with it. Front fascia is nothing to change and will most likely resemble the GT350's in some way.

 

[Trackaholic]

Unfortunately a manual transmission is a complex assembly with many tight tolerances and several friction based interactions (the syncros). Therefore the variability from unit to unit will likely be pretty significant, and you will have ones with less than optimal performance. This isn't limited to Ford and the MT82.

My 350Z has a pretty tight transmission, that grinds from 1st to 2nd when cold. Clearly the syncros aren't working optimally, and you either learn to get the timing right, let it crunch, or double clutch. It's just part of the "character".

Going into each gear can also cause a thump as the syncros engage. And the throwout bearing is noisy when released. But it feels precise and solid when moving through the gears, especially after it's been warmed up.

I drove a friend's 2013 Mustang Convertible, and was very impressed with the MT82 on his car. It felt very fluid between gears and very precise when a gear was engaged. I've driven an older Porsche Cayman with a 5-speed manual that was horrible. It had so much play that you couldn't tell if you were in first or third when starting.

I have also seen several reviews mentioning how great the Mustang's transmission is.

I therefore believe that the transmission isn't inherently bad, it just has too much variability from unit to unit (and maybe people's expectations are off as well). I test drove a 2015 GT, and the transmission felt pretty dang good. Maybe not quite as precise as the one in my Z, but it was much more fluid getting into the gears. I think just testing the actual car you plan to buy would help, and if you order one, then be sure to test it when it arrives.

-T

 

[Trackaholic]

I think Ford held a bunch of things back in the '15 and '16 MY knowing that in 2015 the '16 Camaro was hitting.

By next fall you'll see the '17 Mustang have a nice bunch of new features. You already saw a tester out there camo'd and they don't put that out there just to test a new fascia and lighter trunk deck. There's probably the 10 speed in it getting ready for next fall.

I guarantee you there is NO WAY Ford is going to let Chevy have from now, November of 2015 to September of 2017, which would be the release of the '18 MY Mustang with no changes. That would be 22 months. That's an eternity in car buyer time and the current car industry. This isn't the mid 2000's anymore. They have long planned for the 10 speed in this car and it's ready for it. They already have the trunk deck in aluminum and the casting, they just didn't go forward with it. Front fascia is nothing to change and will most likely resemble the GT350's in some way.

I don't think Ford purposefully held anything back, I just think they focused on the areas of primary concern (suspension, interior styling, exterior styling, and refinement).

They almost always do a "tick-tock" strategy with the Mustang, sort of like Intel with CPUs. Intel separates the process technology changes from the CPU architecture updates, in order to minimize risk. Ford has done this before for the Mustang as well. Changing the platform while carrying over the engines, then revamping the drivetrain while maintaining the same platform.

I agree that 2017 is a likely time for some updates. I personally think the Mustang looks fine (if you look at that montage of the three mustangs and the Fusion, it's clear that the S550 looks very much like the Mustangs of the past, while the Fusion has taken on some Mustang cues as well as some Aston Martin cues. I'd say the Fusion looks like a Mustang rather than the other way around).

If you are not happy with the Mustang now, waiting is definitely a good strategy, until the day they eliminate the V8 and you get the EB 3.5 instead. For many that may actually be an upgrade, but I want that V8. I hope the day it goes away is quite far in the future.

-T

 

[505STANG]

Unfortunately a manual transmission is a complex assembly with many tight tolerances and several friction based interactions (the syncros). Therefore the variability from unit to unit will likely be pretty significant, and you will have ones with less than optimal performance. This isn't limited to Ford and the MT82.

My 350Z has a pretty tight transmission, that grinds from 1st to 2nd when cold. Clearly the syncros aren't working optimally, and you either learn to get the timing right, let it crunch, or double clutch. It's just part of the "character".

Going into each gear can also cause a thump as the syncros engage. And the throwout bearing is noisy when released. But it feels precise and solid when moving through the gears, especially after it's been warmed up.

I drove a friend's 2013 Mustang Convertible, and was very impressed with the MT82 on his car. It felt very fluid between gears and very precise when a gear was engaged. I've driven an older Porsche Cayman with a 5-speed manual that was horrible. It had so much play that you couldn't tell if you were in first or third when starting.

I have also seen several reviews mentioning how great the Mustang's transmission is.

I therefore believe that the transmission isn't inherently bad, it just has too much variability from unit to unit (and maybe people's expectations are off as well). I test drove a 2015 GT, and the transmission felt pretty dang good. Maybe not quite as precise as the one in my Z, but it was much more fluid getting into the gears. I think just testing the actual car you plan to buy would help, and if you order one, then be sure to test it when it arrives.

-T

I think people have to remember how much HP is going through these muscle car tyranny's, To me this plays a big part, I mean if your coming from a Honda accord to a 5.0 with way more beefier components then your going to feel it during engagement period, its not going to be as smooth primarily due to heavier components in the drivetrain.

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