Nitro
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
First I would like to point out that I wouldn’t really consider myself a “Mustang Guy” so my initial impressions might not be as forgiving as some of the other members. I am not loyal to any brand of car, I just buy the best car that fits my needs. For the past 10 years I have been into lightweight sports-cars such as the Miata and my current car, the FR-S. I’m now searching for something with a little bit of comfort, while still retaining some sportiness. I don’t subscribe to the mentality that if it goes faster in a straight line, it is a better car.
With all that being said, I am completely convinced that the 2015 Mustang GT will be my next car.
I test drove a Black GT 401a with PP, recaros, adaptive cruise, Nav, reverse assist, and advanced security. These impressions will basically be comparing this car to my 2013 FR-S. Driving the Mustang actually made me more appreciate what the FR-S does well, and I will miss this little car when I have to get rid of it.
Interior and electronics
This is one of 2 areas where the Mustang just puts the FR-S to shame. Everything looked and felt high quality. The recaro seats offered better bolstering that the FR-S, but not by much. Although my car seats aren’t quite as aggressive as the recaro’s, I feel more snug in them. It’s a bad generalization, but I think american car companies make their seats to accommodate wider people. IMO, the seating position could be a little sportier in the mustang, although I do realize this is not a sports car. I felt like I was sitting “on” the seats instead of “in” the cockpit, like I feel in the FR-S. The gadgets in the mustang are fantastic. The little screen in between the gauges let you tweak all sorts of settings in the car. I especially liked the extra gauges I could put there. The shaker sound system sounded good for a factory system, but not fantastic. The 8” touch screen was pretty responsive, but not as responsive as an iPad is. Buttons all felt nice, but I wish the toggle switches went in both directions as I tried pressing down first. Comfort and ergonomics as a whole were very good.
Exterior
Like everybody says, it looks better in person. I have not been a fan of the rear end of the car in pictures, but seeing the proportions of it in person made my worries melt away. I still would prefer that the rear styling match the sleek styling of the rest of the car, but it still looks good in person. The black PP wheels look great. My only gripe about them is that I wish they more closely matched the matte look of the rest of the black trim on the car.
On to driving
Clutch and Shifter
The very first thing I noticed was just how far the clutch traveled from full up, to the floor. In comparison to my FR-S, I felt like I was pressing the clutch pedal of a big rig. The feel is heavier than my FR-S, but I wouldn’t call it heavy. The engagement point gave me very little feedback, but this could be due to the fact that it isn’t broken in yet. My first shift to second was anything but smooth. I also felt the engagement point was very high up in the pedal travel. IMO, the shifter is fantastic. It isn’t as mechanical as my car, but the size, positioning and throws all felt better than the FR-S. I love the shifter!
Go pedal and stop pedal
The second thing I noticed when driving the car is the brakes. Both in a good and bad way. The bad is that they grab early and they grab hard. It felt kind of binary. When moving at speed, they do stop the car very well, I just wish there was a little more feedback for the driver. This could also be because the car is not broken in yet, so just like the clutch feel, take this opinion with a grain of salt. I’ve never owned a muscle car, so when I pressed the go pedal, it put a big smile on my face. The car is fast and the acceleration is very smooth and linear. I was expecting to be planted in my seat in a barbaric way, but instead was treated to a nice refined feeling of “oh crap, i’m already going 60?” The throttle response was still lacking a little bit in comparison to my FR-S even in sport mode, but I should note that my FR-S has a stage-2 tune. I also felt that I had press the pedal too far down to get the revs that I was expecting.
Handling and ride comfort
I know this is an apples to oranges comparison, but overall my FR-S is more fun. And not just by a little bit. I am truly going to miss this little car. With that being said, the GT PP is no slouch. It is flat in the turns (just not as much so as the FR-S) and has very good grip. The steering feel is not as good as the FR-S. Even in sport steering mode (not the drive mode, the steering mode), it felt disconnected in comparison to the FR-S. I don’t know the stats of the two cars, but the steering rack also felt much slower in the mustang. But the biggest factor in me choosing the Mustang is the comfort. This car is the perfect balance of sporty and comfortable. In the FR-S, if I run over a quarter, I know if it is heads or tails. This is a good thing on the track, but a bad thing during everyday driving. The mustang cruised along comfortably, while not feeling overly floaty. In still inspired confidence, but without the “why is your car so bumpy” complaints from the wife. I do think that a popular mod for the 2015 Mustang will be to tighten up the rear suspension, but this mod would be done at the expense of comfort levels.
Sound
Many are complaining about it being too quiet. I thought it was just right in terms of what a car should come with stock. It sounded very sporty from the outside as the dealer pulled the car around. From the inside it sounded fine. I had the windows cracked and would consider the volume as loud enough for most people, but probably too quiet for an enthusiast. In comparison to my little 2.0 direct-inject boxer engine, the Mustang was a heavenly symphony.
Conclusion
In my opinion, in terms of LEGAL, everyday fun on the road, the FR-S is better. But I am getting older and more mature. I need a car that is comfortable, refined, sporty and livable day to day. In this regard, the Mustang exceeds my expectations. The Mustang is overall a better car. In terms of refinement, comfort and adrenaline inducing acceleration; the Mustang is in another league. Ford should be proud that their attempts to attract buyers like me paid off. For every Mustang purist who complains about the lack of solid axle and non-muscular styling, there are probably 2 people like me who would have never bough the old Mustang, but will now. I am putting my order in for a spring 2015 delivery so I can start enjoying without Michigan winter getting in the way.
TLDR; The FR-S handles better and communicates better with the driver, but the Mustang is better in almost every other way. I am buying a 2015 Mustang.
Bonus internet points if you understand my license plate.
With all that being said, I am completely convinced that the 2015 Mustang GT will be my next car.
I test drove a Black GT 401a with PP, recaros, adaptive cruise, Nav, reverse assist, and advanced security. These impressions will basically be comparing this car to my 2013 FR-S. Driving the Mustang actually made me more appreciate what the FR-S does well, and I will miss this little car when I have to get rid of it.
Interior and electronics
This is one of 2 areas where the Mustang just puts the FR-S to shame. Everything looked and felt high quality. The recaro seats offered better bolstering that the FR-S, but not by much. Although my car seats aren’t quite as aggressive as the recaro’s, I feel more snug in them. It’s a bad generalization, but I think american car companies make their seats to accommodate wider people. IMO, the seating position could be a little sportier in the mustang, although I do realize this is not a sports car. I felt like I was sitting “on” the seats instead of “in” the cockpit, like I feel in the FR-S. The gadgets in the mustang are fantastic. The little screen in between the gauges let you tweak all sorts of settings in the car. I especially liked the extra gauges I could put there. The shaker sound system sounded good for a factory system, but not fantastic. The 8” touch screen was pretty responsive, but not as responsive as an iPad is. Buttons all felt nice, but I wish the toggle switches went in both directions as I tried pressing down first. Comfort and ergonomics as a whole were very good.
Exterior
Like everybody says, it looks better in person. I have not been a fan of the rear end of the car in pictures, but seeing the proportions of it in person made my worries melt away. I still would prefer that the rear styling match the sleek styling of the rest of the car, but it still looks good in person. The black PP wheels look great. My only gripe about them is that I wish they more closely matched the matte look of the rest of the black trim on the car.
On to driving
Clutch and Shifter
The very first thing I noticed was just how far the clutch traveled from full up, to the floor. In comparison to my FR-S, I felt like I was pressing the clutch pedal of a big rig. The feel is heavier than my FR-S, but I wouldn’t call it heavy. The engagement point gave me very little feedback, but this could be due to the fact that it isn’t broken in yet. My first shift to second was anything but smooth. I also felt the engagement point was very high up in the pedal travel. IMO, the shifter is fantastic. It isn’t as mechanical as my car, but the size, positioning and throws all felt better than the FR-S. I love the shifter!
Go pedal and stop pedal
The second thing I noticed when driving the car is the brakes. Both in a good and bad way. The bad is that they grab early and they grab hard. It felt kind of binary. When moving at speed, they do stop the car very well, I just wish there was a little more feedback for the driver. This could also be because the car is not broken in yet, so just like the clutch feel, take this opinion with a grain of salt. I’ve never owned a muscle car, so when I pressed the go pedal, it put a big smile on my face. The car is fast and the acceleration is very smooth and linear. I was expecting to be planted in my seat in a barbaric way, but instead was treated to a nice refined feeling of “oh crap, i’m already going 60?” The throttle response was still lacking a little bit in comparison to my FR-S even in sport mode, but I should note that my FR-S has a stage-2 tune. I also felt that I had press the pedal too far down to get the revs that I was expecting.
Handling and ride comfort
I know this is an apples to oranges comparison, but overall my FR-S is more fun. And not just by a little bit. I am truly going to miss this little car. With that being said, the GT PP is no slouch. It is flat in the turns (just not as much so as the FR-S) and has very good grip. The steering feel is not as good as the FR-S. Even in sport steering mode (not the drive mode, the steering mode), it felt disconnected in comparison to the FR-S. I don’t know the stats of the two cars, but the steering rack also felt much slower in the mustang. But the biggest factor in me choosing the Mustang is the comfort. This car is the perfect balance of sporty and comfortable. In the FR-S, if I run over a quarter, I know if it is heads or tails. This is a good thing on the track, but a bad thing during everyday driving. The mustang cruised along comfortably, while not feeling overly floaty. In still inspired confidence, but without the “why is your car so bumpy” complaints from the wife. I do think that a popular mod for the 2015 Mustang will be to tighten up the rear suspension, but this mod would be done at the expense of comfort levels.
Sound
Many are complaining about it being too quiet. I thought it was just right in terms of what a car should come with stock. It sounded very sporty from the outside as the dealer pulled the car around. From the inside it sounded fine. I had the windows cracked and would consider the volume as loud enough for most people, but probably too quiet for an enthusiast. In comparison to my little 2.0 direct-inject boxer engine, the Mustang was a heavenly symphony.
Conclusion
In my opinion, in terms of LEGAL, everyday fun on the road, the FR-S is better. But I am getting older and more mature. I need a car that is comfortable, refined, sporty and livable day to day. In this regard, the Mustang exceeds my expectations. The Mustang is overall a better car. In terms of refinement, comfort and adrenaline inducing acceleration; the Mustang is in another league. Ford should be proud that their attempts to attract buyers like me paid off. For every Mustang purist who complains about the lack of solid axle and non-muscular styling, there are probably 2 people like me who would have never bough the old Mustang, but will now. I am putting my order in for a spring 2015 delivery so I can start enjoying without Michigan winter getting in the way.
TLDR; The FR-S handles better and communicates better with the driver, but the Mustang is better in almost every other way. I am buying a 2015 Mustang.
Bonus internet points if you understand my license plate.
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