Engine Debate

[K-Roll302]

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.

I really can't say for sure. I've only had time around the '15 GT and Ecoboost. I heard both, and goodness is the GT lovely sounding, even stock, it's very satisfying and cool! V8s always sound aggressive and loud and have a presence about them. A friend of mine also has an '87 GT which sounds insane as well, but it doesn't have much of it's interior left which, may attribute to the loudness.

But I've spent my entire life around 6 cylinders of all kinds, and never tire of them; they always sound right to me no matter what. They both sound good to begin with, but If I were to compare the two(it's difficult), the GT wins hands down, stock for stock; but with a muffler delete or axleback, the V6 would probably win it for me, because the GT would most likely be to loud and brash of a sound with anything aftermarket from what I've heard online.

Sponsored

 

[Tony Alonso]

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

Actually the EB is rated 5hp lower (315hp for the 4.6L V8 in that GT model), but it's definitely close enough!

 

[Renaultfool]

I bought my TY 2015 Mustang, V6, Manual, 3:55 Limited Slip, as a daily driver. I put 160,000 miles on my V6 2008 Manual Mustang, so I use my car. I don't think that the V8 or EB either would do for my purpose as well as the V6. I haven't seen a turbo last that long without expensive repairs, and the V8 is just overkill as a daily driver.
The V8 would be very nice to drive once in a while, but not everyday in traffic and such. Got to love the V8 sound, but not practical for a DD.
I bought mine to drive, not sit in my garage up on blocks part of the year. I don't really understand those that buy one and after five years only have 25,000 miles on it. To each his own, but these are really nice driving cars so you should enjoy them every day.
I do appreciate you all storing them for me though so I can get a nice low mileage used one when I wear this one out!
Money was not a consideration in my case. I am an executive and could have bought any one I wanted. And I did!
You will enjoy your V6, like I enjoy mine every day!!!!

 

[K-Roll302]

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.

That's another thing that bothers me, whether or not the GT would be too much power for me, or much more than I need, if I could ever have one.

I've only handled three performance-oriented cars:

My dad's '74 911 has 150hp stock, but weighs 2700lbs. It's a relatively light car with a peppy high-revving motor, I LOVE high revving motors and that's something that's very important to me. It'll go when you want it to.

My '84 944 has 150hp stock and weighs 2800lbs. This is my first front-engine and RWD car and I love how it drives. Again, high revs and keeping it alive is what I prefer.

My daily driver is a Focus ST with 252hp and it's the most powerful car I've ever driven. I've pushed it many times and haven't lost control and play it very safe and defensive on the roads; only pushing when necessary or when I want to have some fun on empty roads. I can handle torque steer very well, but I don't like how the fun is in the lower rpms and just dips out and leaves past 4000 revs.

That being said, I think a V6 with 300hp would be plenty, and then maybe I could build it up to somewhere between 300-400hp? Work my way up power levels instead of jumping to a 400+hp beast?

Then again, there are kids my age that already have 400+hp cars as their first cars, I guess everyone's starts differently.

 

[K-Roll302]

I bought my TY 2015 Mustang, V6, Manual, 3:55 Limited Slip, as a daily driver. I put 160,000 miles on my V6 2008 Manual Mustang, so I use my car. I don't think that the V8 or EB either would do for my purpose as well as the V6. I haven't seen a turbo last that long without expensive repairs, and the V8 is just overkill as a daily driver.
The V8 would be very nice to drive once in a while, but not everyday in traffic and such. Got to love the V8 sound, but not practical for a DD.
I bought mine to drive, not sit in my garage up on blocks part of the year. I don't really understand those that buy one and after five years only have 25,000 miles on it. To each his own, but these are really nice driving cars so you should enjoy them every day.
I do appreciate you all storing them for me though so I can get a nice low mileage used one when I wear this one out!
Money was not a consideration in my case. I am an executive and could have bought any one I wanted. And I did!
You will enjoy your V6, like I enjoy mine every day!!!!

A V6 owner, perfect!! Perhaps you can help me!

Please tell me, how is it? Is it a high-revving car, does it like the higher rpms? How are the 3.55 gears? I haven't a clue how the gearing options work(3.31 vs 3.55 ect)? Is the clutch too light, does it feel? Also, someone told me that the new cars were very prone to understeer, can you confirm?

I haven't got one yet, but I'd love to have one by next year. And once I have one, I'd love to be able to mod it some to get a little more juice out of it.

 

[ponyup]

I bought the Ecoboost. Here's why. Like many of you I bought the car without ever driving yet...ordered 7/11. I was deadset on the 5.0. I do a lot of driving to a mountain cabin and I did this in a lower aspirated version of the Mustang 3.7 liter in a Mazda 6 built at the Flatrock plant. My Mazda killed it. I was able to outrun all kinds of cars. I learned every corner and which ones that said 30 I could take at over 50. I developed a problem with the throttle body on my 269 hp V-6. The dealer walked me over to a brand new 180 hp 4 pot. Needing something to drive I took it up the hill and was stunned how much better I was able to sling it into the corners with the lighter motor. It was a hoot. While I know that the Mazdas is front wheel drive, the the weight over the from tires was so apparent. I do a lot of this kind of driving and the torque and power band of the Ecoboost and the increased handling is brilliant. Thank goodness Ford gave us options..I have a fully loaded Ecoboost Premium PP plus without Nav, 50TH Anniversary, adaptive cruise control. I chose Magnetic with dark saddle interior and this car is a premier canyon racer. I was totally buying the 5.0..make your choice wisely.....

 

[Teezlr]

Because MURICA!

 

[Teezlr]

That's another thing that bothers me, whether or not the GT would be too much power for me, or much more than I need, if I could ever have one.

I've only handled three performance-oriented cars:

My dad's '74 911 has 150hp stock, but weighs 2700lbs. It's a relatively light car with a peppy high-revving motor, I LOVE high revving motors and that's something that's very important to me. It'll go when you want it to.

My '84 944 has 150hp stock and weighs 2800lbs. This is my first front-engine and RWD car and I love how it drives. Again, high revs and keeping it alive is what I prefer.

My daily driver is a Focus ST with 252hp and it's the most powerful car I've ever driven. I've pushed it many times and haven't lost control and play it very safe and defensive on the roads; only pushing when necessary or when I want to have some fun on empty roads. I can handle torque steer very well, but I don't like how the fun is in the lower rpms and just dips out and leaves past 4000 revs.

That being said, I think a V6 with 300hp would be plenty, and then maybe I could build it up to somewhere between 300-400hp? Work my way up power levels instead of jumping to a 400+hp beast?

Then again, there are kids my age that already have 400+hp cars as their first cars, I guess everyone's starts differently.

Coming from a ST car you need to drive the mustang, much larger/heavier etc. totally different driving experience

 

[Spartan]

I bought my TY 2015 Mustang, V6, Manual, 3:55 Limited Slip, as a daily driver. I put 160,000 miles on my V6 2008 Manual Mustang, so I use my car. I don't think that the V8 or EB either would do for my purpose as well as the V6. I haven't seen a turbo last that long without expensive repairs, and the V8 is just overkill as a daily driver.
The V8 would be very nice to drive once in a while, but not everyday in traffic and such. Got to love the V8 sound, but not practical for a DD.
I bought mine to drive, not sit in my garage up on blocks part of the year. I don't really understand those that buy one and after five years only have 25,000 miles on it. To each his own, but these are really nice driving cars so you should enjoy them every day.
I do appreciate you all storing them for me though so I can get a nice low mileage used one when I wear this one out!
Money was not a consideration in my case. I am an executive and could have bought any one I wanted. And I did!
You will enjoy your V6, like I enjoy mine every day!!!!

I'd love a premium 2015 V6 Mustang but alas, they didn't give us that option, so I'm going V8.

 

[Sixer]

subscribing

 

[04SloSnake]

***Disclaimer*** I have not read all 6 pages. After reading the first page hearing about the 5.0/GT being God and everything else is being a "wannabe", what do you GT owners say when a car with a snake on the side pulls up? Legitimate question.

 

[wilkinda65]

***Disclaimer*** I have not read all 6 pages. After reading the first page hearing about the 5.0/GT being God and everything else is being a "wannabe", what do you GT owners say when a car with a snake on the side pulls up? Legitimate question.

I have owned (2) cars with the Snake on the side. I have never once looked down my nose at another Mustang because I felt I was "better" than they were. I was glad they were in a Mustang and not a Camaro.

I did however pull up next to a car with a Snake on the side in my 2014 Mustang GT. He rev'd it up, I rev'd it up. Light turned green and I left him. I know what you're thinking..."yeah right" you say. Did I mention it was a V6 Mustang with Snake emblems on the side in GHIG?:lol:

 

[anotherneon]

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.

Is this a debate or is this you asking if you should go with a v6 or v8 mustang? To me it sounds like you want to be pushed one way or the other, and if thats the case then it sounds like you have already made up your mind. If you like V6 cars and have been around them all your life then get what YOU want. Dont buy something because its the "norm" or what the guy down the street likes. If it were me I would be looking at the EB or the GT. With the EB making more power and better MPG its a no brainer. My opinion, I think a turbo 4 sounds better than a v6. Everyone likes the sound of a turbo, its unique, especially if you have less restriction so you can hear the turbo.....and an external WGA with a dump:eyebulge:

I have had four turbo 4cyl cars in my life time and loved everyone of them. The '15 GT is my first V8 car and I love it. Yeah the MPG isnt as nice as the turbo 4 but I think driveability is far better and the performance is different. If I were to do it again I would put some serious thought into the EB. If you want to mod the car I think the aftermarket world would be bigger on the EB than the GT. Turbo cars respond better to mods as well.

 

[P51Guy]

The reason I purchased a 45 caliber was because they did not make a 46. The damn car only goes as fast as you make it go and it's always good to have that little (or a lot) extra. What ever floats your boat, fills your needs and makes you happy. They are all beautiful Mustangs.

 

[MagneticA]

When I was young I was turned off by the muscle car crowd and therefore the cars themselves. Why? True or not, the perception I got was of a pissing contest, my c*ck is bigger, my farts are louder obnoxiousness. Same perception with the crowd that wore designer jeans. But that was MY perception from being on the outskirts of those crowds.

Today, older and wiser, I realize that life is what I make of it. It isn't others' perceptions that define my happiness, it's my own.

Sponsored