Rickycardo
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2013
- Threads
- 53
- Messages
- 1,872
- Reaction score
- 615
- Location
- Bolingbrook, Illinois
- Vehicle(s)
- 2015 GT auto
- Thread starter
- #1
I got my test drive today. I was hoping to drive a GT+PP but that was gone when I got there. Apparently it was a customer order and not a stock order. So I drove a magnetic GT + 50th AP manual.
My first impression behind the wheel was roomy! I have a 2013 Taurus and it seems claustrophobic compared to the Mustang. I'm 6'3" 240 and felt very comfortable. I had lots of legroom and the wheel telescoped out to a very good position. One of my issues with my 2011 Mustang was that I could never get into a good position. If I moved the seat to where my legs were good then I was driving stiff-armed, always reaching for the wheel. Even my Taurus is similar yet not as bad. In this however I was really able to sit comfortably and be in a position to have good wheel control and reach the shifter and all the controls well.
Driving the manual took some getting used to. I had the hiccups a lot in the beginning. It seems like the clutch engages almost all the way at the top. The car only had 29 miles on it so maybe after awhile it will smooth out. I've driven lots of manuals but this one seems so touchy. I did like the acceleration and the torque. Driving in traffic was effortless, torque was there in every gear. The shifter felt clunky though. I was expecting butter smooth shifts but they felt more mechanical than natural. When shifting up into 5th the shifter felt spring-loaded and wanted to return. 5-6 shift required a sideways effort to keep the shifter from going into 4th instead of 6th. Again, I had a 10 minute test drive, I'm sure practice will bring smoothness. I liked it enough to want it over the automatic. At least right now.
I had a chance to rotate through some of the driving modes. I can definitely feel the difference in input and feedback between comfort and sport. For the driving mode I left it in Sport+. The throttle response was quick and RPMs seems instant. This car came with the 3.31 rear gear.
I thought the exhaust was louder than my 11 convertible. It had that unmistakable muscle car sound at all RPM levels. I think many people how drive this car will love the rumble.
I loved the interior. Aside from the roominess it was "premium feeling". I guess that means refined but I didn't want to use that word. I could sit lower and felt like I had good visibility. I had great headroom and could reach everything well. The nose does seem long, it doesn't fall away like the Taurus. One odd note, I can see the hood vent from my position when driving. Not a bad thing, I always assumed it was further down the curve of the hood. The toggles had a strange twist. I never realized that you flip the toggle switches UP to change the mode. I did not like the side mirrors with the little spots. My 11 had them and I didn't like them then. I am hoping the BLISS will not have the spot mirrors. My Taurus has BLISS and I hope the 2015 will have full mirrors and not the little spot. That just makes the mirror too small IMO. The premium seats had lots of bolstering and were very comfortable. The seatbacks were manual, not electric. This was equipped with a 400A package but I don't think the memory seats come with power adjustable seatbacks.
I only played with the climate controls a little but found the temp adjustment solid. You rotate the control wheel up or down to set the temp. They are like the toggles, not like a wheel. The buttons are close together but not so much it is hard to locate one. The ones in my Taurus are widely spaced on it's pasture-like dash.
I liked the dash layout. I thought I would be disappointed not having the dual gauges from the PP but I wasn't. The look is clean and contemporary while still being true to the original. I loved the axle-spun dash of the 50th AP.
I thought the brakes were incredibly touchy. I can't imagine what the 6-piston Brembo brakes are like. Again, not bad, a very good thing in fact.
Overall I am in love with the car. This one didn't have everything I want or I may have bought it. I will be ordering a GT soon. I am curious to drive the automatic before I order though. The dealer said they didn't have any autos on order. He will let me know Monday when they'll get one in for me to drive. It'll have to really amaze me to choose it over a stick.
I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said before. For me this was the turning point. I want this car but in the back of my mind I worried about not being comfortable, not having enough performance without the PP and not liking the 50th AP. All of those worries are blown out of the water. I will be ordering one very soon. I like this car so much that I'm passing on the convertible and going with the fastback. As a diehard ragtop lover that's saying a lot.
My first impression behind the wheel was roomy! I have a 2013 Taurus and it seems claustrophobic compared to the Mustang. I'm 6'3" 240 and felt very comfortable. I had lots of legroom and the wheel telescoped out to a very good position. One of my issues with my 2011 Mustang was that I could never get into a good position. If I moved the seat to where my legs were good then I was driving stiff-armed, always reaching for the wheel. Even my Taurus is similar yet not as bad. In this however I was really able to sit comfortably and be in a position to have good wheel control and reach the shifter and all the controls well.
Driving the manual took some getting used to. I had the hiccups a lot in the beginning. It seems like the clutch engages almost all the way at the top. The car only had 29 miles on it so maybe after awhile it will smooth out. I've driven lots of manuals but this one seems so touchy. I did like the acceleration and the torque. Driving in traffic was effortless, torque was there in every gear. The shifter felt clunky though. I was expecting butter smooth shifts but they felt more mechanical than natural. When shifting up into 5th the shifter felt spring-loaded and wanted to return. 5-6 shift required a sideways effort to keep the shifter from going into 4th instead of 6th. Again, I had a 10 minute test drive, I'm sure practice will bring smoothness. I liked it enough to want it over the automatic. At least right now.
I had a chance to rotate through some of the driving modes. I can definitely feel the difference in input and feedback between comfort and sport. For the driving mode I left it in Sport+. The throttle response was quick and RPMs seems instant. This car came with the 3.31 rear gear.
I thought the exhaust was louder than my 11 convertible. It had that unmistakable muscle car sound at all RPM levels. I think many people how drive this car will love the rumble.
I loved the interior. Aside from the roominess it was "premium feeling". I guess that means refined but I didn't want to use that word. I could sit lower and felt like I had good visibility. I had great headroom and could reach everything well. The nose does seem long, it doesn't fall away like the Taurus. One odd note, I can see the hood vent from my position when driving. Not a bad thing, I always assumed it was further down the curve of the hood. The toggles had a strange twist. I never realized that you flip the toggle switches UP to change the mode. I did not like the side mirrors with the little spots. My 11 had them and I didn't like them then. I am hoping the BLISS will not have the spot mirrors. My Taurus has BLISS and I hope the 2015 will have full mirrors and not the little spot. That just makes the mirror too small IMO. The premium seats had lots of bolstering and were very comfortable. The seatbacks were manual, not electric. This was equipped with a 400A package but I don't think the memory seats come with power adjustable seatbacks.
I only played with the climate controls a little but found the temp adjustment solid. You rotate the control wheel up or down to set the temp. They are like the toggles, not like a wheel. The buttons are close together but not so much it is hard to locate one. The ones in my Taurus are widely spaced on it's pasture-like dash.
I liked the dash layout. I thought I would be disappointed not having the dual gauges from the PP but I wasn't. The look is clean and contemporary while still being true to the original. I loved the axle-spun dash of the 50th AP.
I thought the brakes were incredibly touchy. I can't imagine what the 6-piston Brembo brakes are like. Again, not bad, a very good thing in fact.
Overall I am in love with the car. This one didn't have everything I want or I may have bought it. I will be ordering a GT soon. I am curious to drive the automatic before I order though. The dealer said they didn't have any autos on order. He will let me know Monday when they'll get one in for me to drive. It'll have to really amaze me to choose it over a stick.
I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said before. For me this was the turning point. I want this car but in the back of my mind I worried about not being comfortable, not having enough performance without the PP and not liking the 50th AP. All of those worries are blown out of the water. I will be ordering one very soon. I like this car so much that I'm passing on the convertible and going with the fastback. As a diehard ragtop lover that's saying a lot.
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