2014 V6 vs 2015 EB or GT

[Stonehauler]

Hey all,

Last night I missed my connection, so I decided to rent a car and drive back to my house. I was lucky (?) enough to get a 2014 V6 Mustang, but being honest, I was kind of underwhelmed at how it drove. I was hoping that some of you would be able to share your opinions on how the 2013/14 V6 Mustangs compare to the 2015 EB or GT.

First off, I do understand it's a rental (base) model. Most of the driving I did was highway, some new, some older.

Right away I noticed was that even on familiar roads, I was constantly having to remind myself to speed up so that I was driving at the speed limit. That is very different from my DD or my wife's car as I constantly have to let off the gas to keep at the limit in both of those.

The suspension was ok. If anything it was softer than I expected. I know that run flats and bigger wheels have a huge impact on suspension and the rental had much wider sidewalls than my current non truck vehicles. Still, it seemed like it should feel a little bit more....stable. This was true on the freshly paved long straights as well as on old pavement and in corners. I guess the word I would use is...tame....instead of a horse, it's like one of those riding ponies you would put your 5 year old on. While I wasn't expecting a race horse, I guess I was left wanting something...more....wild, solid, or maybe dynamic.

The engine was....lacking. I never felt it had 300 horses, but maybe I needed to put my foot into it more. Maybe I am just more used to a different/more sensitive throttle response. However, it is worlds ahead of the Camry I rented a few months ago.

I never got into real corners/cornering, as there really are not too many corners out where I live except at stop lights/signs.

Anyway, I am going to drive it once more this afternoon up to the rental place, but since my wife and I are considering a 2015/16 Mustang for her next car (and she likes performance even more than I do), I was wondering if the new generation (or even just moving up to the GT) will be her cup of tea.

Thanks in advance all!

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[Jamo]

That's pretty depressing. "Lacking." 300 horses, lacking. I don't think it's going to get THAT much better with 6 less horsepower in 2015.

 

[Highwayman]

Test drive em at the dealer. A question best answered by her. This issue has been just about been beat to death here the past few weeks.

 

[Bay1Stang]

That's pretty depressing. "Lacking." 300 horses, lacking. I don't think it's going to get THAT much better with 6 less horsepower in 2015.

Actually it's much better. Everyone who's driven both has commented on how much better the car pulls down low. Check out these dyno charts -

2011-2014

2015

Consider the V6 as well, OP. Stock cars the EB and V6 feel similar. The GT if you drive it will probably make you forget about the others, tho.

 

[Stonehauler]

That's pretty depressing. "Lacking." 300 horses, lacking. I don't think it's going to get THAT much better with 6 less horsepower in 2015.

It might be the gearing or throttle response more than engine power when I used the word lacking. My DD is a 400 hp/450 tq TT sedan with an 8 speed transmission. My previous car was a 4.3 litre N.A. V8 with 300 hp/325 tq, but had an extremely responsive transmission that was eager to downshift (my - limited - experience is this is not the case with the 2014 6 speed auto, even in sport shift mode)

In our current cars, you lightly touch the throttle (or brake) and you are heading down the road (or stopping) quickly. It also has less travel than the Mustang does, so pressing down an extra 1/2 inch is very different between the two. It might just be that I am not used to the how the Mustang drives and was not giving it enough gas or needed to use manual shifting to get it to the right gears to put the engine into the right area of the power curve. Most times I was loping along at 1200-1800 rpm.

Will we test drive the new GT? Sure, it's on the short list. That said, a quick test drive is not the same as the experience of driving a car for 100-200 miles or owning the car, and insights would be welcome.

 

[BmacIL]

Another hugely important variable is that the 2014 V6 you drove almost certainly had a 2.73 axle ratio. The 2015 comes with a 3.15 as standard and 3.55 is optional. That makes a huge difference in how it drives. That in addition to the intake changes for 2015 that produce more low-end torque make it a fun package. I was also underwhelmed when I drove a 2012 V6 with the 2.73 ratio.

The EB has a bit more torque down low but runs out of steam on top. Both are great fun, it just depends on what your preference is.

 

[Stonehauler]

Thanks Bay1Stang. By looking at those curves, I think my problem was that I was just not in the powerband/not giving it enough throttle.

 

[BmacIL]

Plus the axle ratio ^^^

 

[Stonehauler]

Sorry BmacMI. I was typing the response before I saw your post. I am sure the axle ratio has an impact as well (keeping the RPMs down quite a bit into the weak part of the power band from what it looks like.)

 

[CoyoteS550]

Like BmacMI said, the axle ratio is the biggest reason why the car may have felt sluggish.

I almost feel like comparing the 2014 to the 2015 is like comparing apples to oranges. The V6 may share the same engine but everything else is new or re-worked. The 2015 will feel like a totally different car because of the suspension alone.

I'd recommend checking out the Eco Boost if you can afford the small bump in price. The turbo gives you more torque and a tune can REALLY wake that engine up.

 

[SVTFreak]

Absolutely no comparison at all. Go drive a 15 EB or GT and you'll throw rocks at the 14. Like driving a yugo and wanting to compare it to a BMW.

 

[Stonehauler]

Thanks all. I appreciate the feedback. I drove it up to fetch my car and once I got it into the proper RPM range, the engine came to life. I don't like having to rev engines high (over 4500 RPM) just to stay in the power band, but I admit that's a personal choice. My wife and I will be looking at the 15/16 when we move ahead with our next car purchase based on the feedback we got today (and from others posts here)

 

[Merle]

Hey all,

Last night I missed my connection, so I decided to rent a car and drive back to my house. I was lucky (?) enough to get a 2014 V6 Mustang, but being honest, I was kind of underwhelmed at how it drove. I was hoping that some of you would be able to share your opinions on how the 2013/14 V6 Mustangs compare to the 2015 EB or GT.

First off, I do understand it's a rental (base) model. Most of the driving I did was highway, some new, some older.

Right away I noticed was that even on familiar roads, I was constantly having to remind myself to speed up so that I was driving at the speed limit. That is very different from my DD or my wife's car as I constantly have to let off the gas to keep at the limit in both of those.

The suspension was ok. If anything it was softer than I expected. I know that run flats and bigger wheels have a huge impact on suspension and the rental had much wider sidewalls than my current non truck vehicles. Still, it seemed like it should feel a little bit more....stable. This was true on the freshly paved long straights as well as on old pavement and in corners. I guess the word I would use is...tame....instead of a horse, it's like one of those riding ponies you would put your 5 year old on. While I wasn't expecting a race horse, I guess I was left wanting something...more....wild, solid, or maybe dynamic.

The engine was....lacking. I never felt it had 300 horses, but maybe I needed to put my foot into it more. Maybe I am just more used to a different/more sensitive throttle response. However, it is worlds ahead of the Camry I rented a few months ago.

I never got into real corners/cornering, as there really are not too many corners out where I live except at stop lights/signs.

Anyway, I am going to drive it once more this afternoon up to the rental place, but since my wife and I are considering a 2015/16 Mustang for her next car (and she likes performance even more than I do), I was wondering if the new generation (or even just moving up to the GT) will be her cup of tea.

Thanks in advance all!

My 2013 and NOW my 2014 V6 Auto with 2.73 rear will JERK you back when
floored from any MPH above 10 and pull like the dickens past 80 to 90.
That 2014 V6 Rental you rented MUST HAVE HAD WATER IN THE TANK OR
SOMEONE STOLE THE 3.7 AND PUT IN A 4.0! (Remember the HERTZ DEAL)?

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