Engine Debate

[Khyber]

the reason I don't want an ecoboost(which i wouldn't mind it truthfully but it's the sound that turns me off

[ame]

the reason for a GT

[ame]

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[K-Roll302]

You seemed genuine to me K. I used to have the exact same perception of V6 Mustangs when I was in high school (late 90s). My best friend's dad had a Fox body 5.0, and we all worshipped it. He would pack us in the back and do donuts in the parking lot at night. Another friend's mom had a V6 convertible, the next generation, and we made fun of it all the time. But we were stupid high school kids. Anyone who does the same thing in their adulthood is still, in truth, a stupid high school kid (or high school dropout).

Although I have to admit, whenever I see a Mustang drive by and I notice that it's not a GT, I am kind of let down. It's just a learned reaction from how I grew up. I'm not even likely to get the GT myself (though I might), but it just has that special something. That's how Ford can charge a $7000 premium for it even more than on its performance merits IMO. In 99% of driving it probably feels exactly the same as the EcoBoost. Doesn't sound the same though.

A car like the Mustang is not about practicality at heart, it's about the image, the noise, the badass factor. That's what makes the V8 so desirable, not because it's 'better' in the rational sense of the word. It just has more of what makes the Mustang special. If people didn't feel somewhat more badass driving the V8 than they would otherwise, it wouldn't be special, so to some extent the "V8 or nothing" crowd is just an inevitability. Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire said in his track review of the EcoBoost that it was a great car, but if what you really want is a 4-cylinder turbo, you'd be better off with a GTI, WRX, or 228i. Practically speaking, that is true. But we aren't buying the Mustang because we are practical, we're buying it because it's badass. And the EcoBoost and V6 Mustangs are always going to be more badass than those other cars, so just remember that whichever one you choose. ;)

Believe it or not, that's the same perception I too, grew up with, and I'm much younger than you I assume.

In high school, when I finally began to realize how much I loved cars as more than just a car, and was also relatively uninformed about them, it was generally banged into my head that the anything American sports/muscle/pony car that didn't have a big V8 was wrong and stupid, and that V8s are always the way to go.

When began looking for a new car to replace my Astra, I had considered a 2014 Mustang V6 manual; I didn't know how to drive stick but I was determined to do it. But the stigma and stereotype of V6s once again came out and since I couldn't afford a V8, I left the V6 behind in favor of a Focus ST.

Then I went to Mustang Memories and saw V8s(majority), V6s(minority), and everything else, and I felt left out as the only ST there and knew I made a mistake, and it was then and with all of the S550 hype that I knew I had the wrong car. I didn't want something practical, I wanted something that would make me smile for every single mile, and the Mustang was the car that would do it; and this thread helped me realize that I shouldn't by a car to please anyone other than myself, and that a V6 would be perfect for me.

Hopefully I can test drive them someday, and then I'll have an even clearer picture of what I can do, and I'll be driving something badass.

 

[OppoLock]

Excuse me, but I did not start this to stir things up at all. I'm new to Mustangs as a whole, and I'm genuinely curious about all of this and wanted to hear everyone's opinions and get a different perspective of the whole subject; it did lose the objective portion of the debate though.

I have no reasons to take time out of my day to troll anyone nor any intentions at all. And if it appeared as though my intentions were to stir things up, I do apologize. Sometimes what I want and mean to say doesn't translate to the internet properly. :(

No need to apologize bud, that's an issue that comes with writing instead of verbalizing. I have a hard time gauging tone in some instances, and I just picked up some kind of implication with your original post. It gave me the feeling that the GT crowd was lumped into a "majority" that come up with an immature stance on the subject. Barring some select goons here, I don't see a whole lot of EB/V6 bashing. Maybe there's a vocal minority, but I don't see it that often. I don't know... maybe it's because I never hear these kinds of things brought up by the people I talk to, and if I see it online, the opinion isn't too popular anymore.

If anyone's bashing another car owner's preferences or purchasing decisions, then they're just a shitty person to begin with.

 

[70monte]

I'm in the camp that says, who cares what others think about what you drive, buy what you like and can afford.

For me personally, the GT was the only one I wanted. Part of my enjoyment of a performance vehicle is the V8 sound and I have never heard a V6 or any other engine sound like a V8 with a performance exhaust. All of my V8 vehicles to include my two trucks have aftermarket exhaust systems on them to enhance their sound. That is how important sound is to me. I would take my fiancee's 2007 GT with 300 hp and the Ford Racing exhaust over a newer V6 or ecoboost no matter how much better the newer cars may be. That is just me.

Other people have other aspects of a vehicle that are important to them and that is why Auto manufacturer's offer different choices.

If I couldn't have afforded a GT, I would not have bought one of the other engine options because I know I would not be happy with it and regret buying it.

To the OP, only you know what aspects of this car are important to you. Do you have to have the V8 power and sound? Do you care more about what the car looks like and the gas mileage? Do you have to have all of the bells and whistles or can you live with the base car? I say get what makes you happy.

Wayne

 

[cush]

I swear, I wrestle this in my mind every single day I've wanted a Mustang, and who better to ask than a Mustang community, and hopefully without any hate or judgement. I would like to initiate a debate/conversation with the following question:

Is there an superiority/inferiority complex amongst Mustang owners?

Now that the Mustang has three engines now(but maybe not for long) it seems that the choice of Pony is even harder than before; maybe just for me and some others, as I've noticed that it seems that the majority believes that it NEEDS a V8 and nothing else.

Now the most experience I've got with Mustangs, is my time at Mustang Memories this year, a ride in a '11 GT, and a '15 preproduction GT.

Most of the time, I hear the following responses:
1. V8 or nothing
2. If you're not buying a V8, you're buying the wrong car
3. V6s are for girls/secretaries/females/rental fleets/daddy's girl, and they aren't manly or for men.
4. Anything less than a V8 makes you less of a man, more feminine ect.
5. V6 is not a muscle car, but then I have to ask, isn't the Mustang not a muscle car? Isn't it just a pony car?

I guess having the top-of-the-line motor means:
1. Prestige
2. Bigger is better
3. Superiority
4. Heritage(to some extent)
5. Other things I'm not aware about

Why? What's the big deal with this? Why does it happen? Is a V6 not good enough? Does it make it inferior? Personally, I like 6 cylinder cars, 911s, BMWs, I've been around those cars my entire life. I love the way they sound, and sound is a very important characteristic of how I enjoy my driving. As such, I wouldn't mind a V6, in fact I'd love to have one, but then I'd have to worry about other car people and even Mustang owners that'd say you bought the wrong car. Is it just stereotypes or is it something more? Maybe just preference? But even so, why the negative stigmas?

If newer V6s are making more power and maybe more torque than V8s from the last decade or so stock for stock, are the V8s still superior?

Hypothetically, if and when the 3.7L finally goes away, if the Mustang were just left to the EB and GT, the EB would be the base Mustang, would it then be the "rental/female/secretary car"?

Now, with the EB, I bet it's a great motor and I hope it does well, even if it's taking the Mustang into a future I simply cannot embrace; that and having been through three 4-cylinder cars(I'm on my second and third right now), I'd want something different.

Does having anything less than a V8 make a Mustang, not a Mustang? Does any of this make sense? I hope I have not offended anyone by this, I'm simply curious.

So if the V8 makes you more manly, do the women that own one grow a pair?

 

[OppoLock]

I'm in the camp that says, who cares what others think about what you drive, buy what you like and can afford.

For me personally, the GT was the only one I wanted. Part of my enjoyment of a performance vehicle is the V8 sound and I have never heard a V6 or any other engine sound like a V8 with a performance exhaust. All of my V8 vehicles to include my two trucks have aftermarket exhaust systems on them to enhance their sound. That is how important sound is to me. I would take my fiancee's 2007 GT with 300 hp and the Ford Racing exhaust over a newer V6 or ecoboost no matter how much better the newer cars may be. That is just me.

Other people have other aspects of a vehicle that are important to them and that is why Auto manufacturer's offer different choices.

If I couldn't have afforded a GT, I would not have bought one of the other engine options because I know I would not be happy with it and regret buying it.

To the OP, only you know what aspects of this car are important to you. Do you have to have the V8 power and sound? Do you care more about what the car looks like and the gas mileage? Do you have to have all of the bells and whistles or can you live with the base car? I say get what makes you happy.

Wayne

Yeah... I'll be honest, if the GT's V8 wasn't on offer, I'd be looking at an M235i instead. Or maybe a BRZ. Or this new ND Miata.

 

[Charles147]

So if the V8 makes you more manly, do the women that own one grow a pair?

LOL. Is that a mustache? :lol:

 

[Axe]

Just ignore the "Its gotta be a v8" crowd and get whatever you want. Its not 1967 anymore. Personally I think unless youre driving a v10 Viper youre a poser. See how that works?

 

[Wblv17]

i never used the phrase 'its "Just" a 6', since my V6 was the car i wanted, not the car i settled for.

yeah really it's a monster V6, 0 - 90 its very quick

 

[HalfMoon]

Just ignore the "Its gotta be a v8" crowd and get whatever you want. Its not 1967 anymore. Personally I think unless youre driving a v10 Viper youre a poser. See how that works?

Then there's not too many non-posers out there in your book, considering they were stretching to sell 40 Vipers a month before they slashed $15k off the price.

I almost bought a New GTS earlier this year but then started reading about the real world performance the buyers were seeing and stuck to my plan with the C7.

 

[OH5GT 2 S550]

Also with the weight of these cars I personally don't feel as though an I4 or V6 can handle the strain.

A 4 cyc Accord and a 6 cyc Challenger come to mind. Also Some cars need at least a V6. I get why companies use 4 cyc but if I am gonna buy a car like an Acura or Infiniti it at least needs a V6.

The weight of these cars is not an issue with either of these engines. What do you base that opinion off of?

 

[JonnyMustang]

The weight of these cars is not an issue with either of these engines. What do you base that opinion off of?

Right? The EB has more power than the 2010 GT...don't think the weight is that much different between the two models.

 

[OH5GT 2 S550]

LOL. Is that a mustache? :lol:

No, but I thought I saw an Adams Apple...:thumbdown:

 

[wjones14]

The V6 Mustang outsells the V8 every year by about a 2:1 margin. I'm not sure what will happen this year with the 4-cylinder EB thrown in the mix, but my guess it will be about the same where the V8 only makes up about 1/3 of the total sales.

The reasons? Less expensive to buy, operate, and insure for starters. When the V6 was upgraded in 2011, many reviews said the V6 was the better balanced car. And for many, the V8 is just overkill.

One thing I didn't get, however, was in your original post where you said you like the sound of the V6. Do you mean in comparison to the V8, or just on its own? Because to me, there is no comparison. Nothing sounds like a V8.

 

[Potrillo]

My last Mustang was a V6, but at the time ragtop > V8. This time, the lines of the fastback are just too damn right to get a convertible. But, if I were, I probably would have gotten an EcoBoost.

I loved my V6 Mustang and I love this V8 powered beast too. I bought this one knowing it will be a long time before I buy another one and I didn't want to settle. I have a 1999 that I drove for over 12 years. I can't say I ever felt it lacked power and it made a full 100HP less than the EcoBoost does today.

I chose the 5.0 because, 5.0. I love the sound and the way motor spins so quickly. I have also learned that 435HP is much more than I need in day to day driving. Would I look down on someone with a V6 or EcoBoost, nope, those cars will no doubt make their drivers happy.

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