X-S197 owners...opinions wanted..

TnWHTMARE · Mar 13, 2018

Spork3245 said:
I’m just saying the leather is certainly thicker and softer on the 2016 Premium, I’m not entirely sure that is debatable as reviewers stated the same... buuuuuut, maybe at the base trim with cloth seats the 13/14 offered more comfort, or even with the recaro seats? There’s a lot of options!
The seats on my 2013 had the white race stripe trim and certainly, visually, looked more appealing, though. However, I noticed that at just 18k miles the leather on the driver seat was beginning to show signs of wear, whereas my 2016 still looks practically brand new at 16.5k miles.

There are definitely some things I liked better in my 2013, though!

To the OP: My 2013 and 2016 are both automatics, the 2016 is definitely tuned better from the factory. IIRC, in reviews (at stock), the 2013/2014 A6 strongly lagged behind the manual, slowing a 4.5-second car to a 5.1-5.2 range, where-as the S550 with an auto seems to run the same to 60 as a manual. Throw a tune (Ford Racing Power Pack 1) on the S550 and the thing supposedly becomes a monster.

Thanks for the heads up on the A6 on the 13/14...I had in my memory that for the first time ever, the auto was showing up the manual in stock form. Clearly got my wires crossed.

Did you find the steering on your S197 to be heavier or the S550(I think the steering effort is adjustable on both wasn't it)? The 2011 GT that I drove, the steering was super easy which I honestly liked. To me the polar opposite of my SS.

Big Boss · Mar 13, 2018

Jeff's FRC said:
I totally agree the S550's don't feel nearly as "raw" as the S197's. This seems to happen whenever a new chassis is introduced. The more rigid and superior chassis car will always feel more subdued. Ever been in a 500 hp Fox? They feel crazy and are a chore to drive. Step into a 500 hp S550 and it'll feel like a Lincoln...lol

I think the S550 is a much better looking car and I really like S197's...

This ^

I had the same feelings when I got my S197 that I missed the "rawness" of my 04 GT. It felt lighter and felt way faster. The timeslips showed otherwise

TnWHTMARE · Mar 13, 2018

GreenS550 said:
I have had 4 S197s before the current 2015 auto premium GT. I felt as you did to some extent, but after a tune on my A6 the light quick throttle just came alive. If I wasn't doing the sc install, I believe it was undoubtedly the fastest, funest of all the Mustangs. I strongly agree that the S550 is better in every way. 3 of my S1972 were sticks, one auto. One coyote the rest 4.6. But the S550 is the best.

So after you had the tune put on the S197, you felt it was more fun that your S550? :ninja:

jacknifetoaswan · Mar 13, 2018

gmcvt said:
So after you had the tune put on the S197, you felt it was more fun that your S550?

I can only comment on my MT S197 GT, but yes, the tune made a WORLD of difference. When I went to sell it, I took the tune off and removed the CAI, and it was boring to drive.

I feel as though the drive modes of the Premium models make up some of that gap (Sport+ and Track), but the throttle in Track mode is nowhere near as aggressive as the Brenspeed tune on my S197.

JR

JohnD · Mar 13, 2018

I went from an '11 premium brembo car to a '16 PP base. Weight wise, I think they're actually pretty close, there's a lot of crap in the premium that adds weight and not a lot else IMHO.

Feel wise, the '16 is just so much more refined in ride and handling it tends to mask a lot of the harsh direct feedback the '11 had. But that's not a bad thing, the '11 was a buckin' bronc at times, whereas the '16 is a thoroughbred. No question in my mind which car is better in all respects, but especially on the track. I'd never go back.

Spork3245 · Mar 13, 2018

gmcvt said:
Thanks for the heads up on the A6 on the 13/14...I had in my memory that for the first time ever, the auto was showing up the manual in stock form. Clearly got my wires crossed.

Did you find the steering on your S197 to be heavier or the S550(I think the steering effort is adjustable on both wasn't it)? The 2011 GT that I drove, the steering was super easy which I honestly liked. To me the polar opposite of my SS.

A tuned 2015-2017 S550 in Sport+ mode will beat a tuned manual 100% of the time. At stock, they are roughly even afaik, though, the auto will be more consistent due to lack of “user error” in shifting.

I *think* the 2013-2014 have the same A6 as the 2015-2017, so a tune on the 2013-2014 should yield the same/similar results, it’s just from factory the S550 has its auto tuned better.

I always kept steering feel in “sport” (heaviest mode) on my 2013 and the same for my 2016. I never really noticed a difference in the “weight” of the steering feel between the two, only that the S550 made me go “holy crap!” the first time I took a turn as it was ridiculously better. :lol:

Nomadic · Mar 13, 2018

Had an '08 GT. Test drove a 2011. Now have a '15. Would never go back to the non-IRS versions of the Mustang. The S550s ride so much better.

Spork3245 · Mar 13, 2018

BTW, if it helps, here’s a couple things (comforts) that are on the S550 that I cannot imagine losing by going back to a 2013...
Remote start
Sync 3 (on the 2016+)
Back up camera and sensors (option on the 2013-2014, standard on a S550 Premium)
Blind spot monitoring (I’m honestly not sure if this was available for the 2013-2014...?)
Heated and cooled seats (heated seats were an option on the 2013-2014, standard on an S550 Premium)
Drive mode selection
Paddle shifters
Push button start

Ebm · Mar 13, 2018

.

Spork3245 said:
I’m just saying the leather is certainly thicker and softer on the 2016 Premium, I’m not entirely sure that is debatable as reviewers stated the same... buuuuuut, maybe at the base trim with cloth seats the 13/14 offered more comfort, or even with the recaro seats? There’s a lot of options!
The seats on my 2013 had the white race stripe trim and certainly, visually, looked more appealing, though. However, I noticed that at just 18k miles the leather on the driver seat was beginning to show signs of wear, whereas my 2016 still looks practically brand new at 16.5k miles.

There are definitely some things I liked better in my 2013, though!

To the OP: My 2013 and 2016 are both automatics, the 2016 is definitely tuned better from the factory. IIRC, in reviews (at stock), the 2013/2014 A6 strongly lagged behind the manual, slowing a 4.5-second car to a 5.1-5.2 range, where-as the S550 with an auto seems to run the same to 60 as a manual. Throw a tune (Ford Racing Power Pack 1) on the S550 and the thing supposedly becomes a monster.

No doubt the leather is more durable in the S550. As far as seat comfort, I prefer the 13-14 seats to the 15-17, leather for leather. As far as bolstering, the S550 wins hands down.

1mic · Mar 13, 2018

Like someone else already said, Only boss 302 or GT500 when it going back to an S197.

If you have a decent budget I would get a Boss 302 any day over an s550 5.0.

Theres an owner here who had both and ended up selling the GT350. I think he got another GT350 though. If i had the funds I would get a School Bus Yellow Boss or Grabber Blue for a daily driver.

X-S197 owners...opinions wanted..

TnWHTMARE

Well-Known Member

Big Boss

Well-Known Member

TnWHTMARE

Well-Known Member

jacknifetoaswan

Well-Known Member

JohnD

Legend in his own mind

Spork3245

Well-Known Member

Nomadic

King of Europe

Spork3245

Well-Known Member

Ebm

Well-Known Member

1mic

2 mph so everybody sees u