Has anyone driven both a non-PP and a PP GT?

[nate]

Hey all,

I'm a potential first-time Mustang owner (first time sportscar owner actually). I tried to love the Ecoboost but foolishly drove a GT PP and now I'm hooked on dat V8. The GT PP I drove was pretty harsh in the parking lot but it was smooth on the road. However, the road noise seemed worse than the EB non-PP.

I don't plan on taking my GT to the track more than once or twice tops, but I don't want a joke of a car handling-wise either. What are common complaints pertaining to the non-PP GT? Does it roll more than, say, a Subaru Impreza? Is it still enjoyable to take down a twisty road, or are you spending the whole time trying to keep a lid on the rear wheelspin and/or roll? Is the non-PP more comfortable on long trips or repetitive commutes? Is anyone aware of a direct comparison between the two that spans more than half a sentence?

Sorry if these are dumb questions - I really don't want to pony up for the PP, but I plan on keeping this car a long time and there just aren't a lot of opinions on the non-PP GT floating around. Thanks!

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[STAMPEDE]

I've driven both back to back and the PP rides quite a bit firmer than a non PP even on 20's. The PP brakes are awesome yet the GT's are still quite good. You can still go for an upgraded 3:55 axle ratio if you go non PP. If you either don't like the black PP wheels or you want 20's skip the PP; you'll also have the option for the very nice 19" prem painted non PP rims, which IMO look better the the black PP's.

Hope this helps.

 

[nate]

I've driven both back to back and the PP rides quite a bit firmer than a non PP even on 20's. The PP brakes are awesome yet the GT's are still quite good. You can still go for an upgraded 3:55 axle ratio if you go non PP. If you either don't like the black PP wheels or you want 20's skip the PP; you'll also have the option for the very nice 19" prem painted non PP rims, which IMO look better the the black PP's.

Hope this helps.

Helps a lot, thanks! Really I'm just looking for confirmation I won't regret shying away from the PP.

My understanding of brakes is just about any brake system can lock the wheels/activate the ABS at least a few times in hard stops, before any fade starts to occur. Beyond that it just comes down to feel. I found the stockers on my 1997 Rover 800 still brought me to a halt satisfactorily when firmly pressed, even if it felt like hiking in rainboots.

The PP GT I tested had the shortest-ratio axle. The 6spd had wonderfully wide cogs, however, so it worked at 70mph. I think ~400ft-lbs is going to be grabby and aggressive no matter which option I choose, so for fuel economy and ease of shifting I'm opting for the taller ratio.

 

[TiE2000]

I opted out of the PP. I drove both. I also live in Houston, and as you know the traffic out here is insane. The taller gears in the non-PP is better for all the stop and go. and fuel economy will be a bit better.

I had a choice to get a base GT with PP & Recaros, or a GT premium non-PP. the creature comforts, in the premium would make my daily commute that much better (cooled seats FTW!). So for me the day to day living in the car, won out over the "bragging" rights for features I would only use maybe twice every year.

Keep an eye out at your local dealers for non PP GT's on the lot and try to take one for a drive. Only you can really make decision on what you truly want.

BTW Katy Ford has like 10 GT's on their lot now. I have not been there in a few weeks as I already placed my order, but i'm sure they will have a non PP GT for ya.

 

[Tony Alonso]

I don't plan on taking my GT to the track more than once or twice tops, but I don't want a joke of a car handling-wise either. What are common complaints pertaining to the non-PP GT? Does it roll more than, say, a Subaru Impreza? Is it still enjoyable to take down a twisty road, or are you spending the whole time trying to keep a lid on the rear wheelspin and/or roll? Is the non-PP more comfortable on long trips or repetitive commutes? Is anyone aware of a direct comparison between the two that spans more than half a sentence?

I have ridden in a GT PP, and I specifically ordered a non-PP GT, as this car is a daily driver. My ride was brief, but there were several differences I felt. There was a "firmer" feel when going over sharp bumps in the PP (well within my tolerance limits) and the tires seemed to grip stronger when accelerating from the middle of a turn vs my car (I've spun them a bit before the traction control kicked in on Normal mode).

I've had 3 weeks to evaluate my 2015 GT as compared to my non-Track Pack 2010 GT that I had for almost 5 years (no suspension modifications made at all). I have absolutely enjoyed the performance feel of the non-PP set-up immensely. For a street car that I daily drive, I like the level of damping. I appreciate how it moves over bumpy surfaces in curves, and how it feel when going over sharp bumps. The steering on this car is part of what instills confidence. The changes made to the front suspension over the last generation make it feel more connected to the steering wheel.

Some people in the media have characterized the new car as "floaty". In a high performance driving situation, the extra "give" obviously is less desirable. In a street driving scenario, what I feel is a moment of rebound that then settles. I believe this is what those reviews are highlighting. When I compare the non-PP tuning to that of the PP, it felt like the rebound moment was a bit shorter - it settled a bit quicker. For me, however, the priority was a more ride comfort and less tire maintenance since the PP has summer tires. My experience with the all-season tires is that they have good wear longevity and maintain their usability in all the driving conditions I normally encounter. I didn't want to purchase a set of wheels and winter tires, especially since where I live we typically don't get horrible winters.

I think Ford did a wonderful job of providing an affordable upgrade that is a step-up from the base suspension. However, I in no way find the base suspension undesirable. In terms of traction, the traction control/stability control systems really help in giving a performance driving feel. If you like autocross or track work, then obviously there are changes available to tune more aggressively than even the PP.

I plan on making no changes to my car's suspension because I am very satisfied how it performs on the street in normal and "spirited" driving.

 

[nate]

I tried a GT PP and non-PP back to back, and I gotta say I preferred the PP. The car felt more "into the road", if that makes any sense, and more "put together" over sharp bumps - still plenty quiet and comfortable. Sure it was a little harsher over sharp bumps (the dealerships had plenty of speed bumps) but I'm 22 and I don't think I could live with myself knowing I got the not-as-good-cornering version.

I ordered it today. Premium, black, manual, PP, adaptive cruise and blind spot monitoring.

 

[Tony Alonso]

I tried a GT PP and non-PP back to back, and I gotta say I preferred the PP. The car felt more "into the road", if that makes any sense, and more "put together" over sharp bumps - still plenty quiet and comfortable. Sure it was a little harsher over sharp bumps (the dealerships had plenty of speed bumps) but I'm 22 and I don't think I could live with myself knowing I got the not-as-good-cornering version.

I ordered it today. Premium, black, manual, PP, adaptive cruise and blind spot monitoring.

Ah, youth Congratulations. It's a lot of goodies for a modest price.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Not an option for me. The vast majority of my driving is done on roads that look like this:

... and so getting the Performance Pack would just be guaranteeiing that suspension bits would break sooner.

 

[G-train]

I bought PP GT while I was overseas but when I returned and test drove both I would have been happy with the regular GT as well. The PP is pretty firm but for a daily driver you will not hate the regular GT

 

[Spartan]

Some people in the media have characterized the new car as "floaty". In a high performance driving situation, the extra "give" obviously is less desirable. In a street driving scenario, what I feel is a moment of rebound that then settles. I believe this is what those reviews are highlighting. When I compare the non-PP tuning to that of the PP, it felt like the rebound moment was a bit shorter - it settled a bit quicker. For me, however, the priority was a more ride comfort and less tire maintenance since the PP has summer tires. My experience with the all-season tires is that they have good wear longevity and maintain their usability in all the driving conditions I normally encounter. I didn't want to purchase a set of wheels and winter tires, especially since where I live we typically don't get horrible winters.

Agreed.

I think there needs to be two types of review.

Daily Driver review and a performance track review.

The majority are not going to do the latter and never get that floaty feel because they won't be taking the car into that type of situation ever.

 

[dwaleke]

The GT PP is a bit floaty driving on the road. Sway bars should help. Lower stiffer springs will also help.

I see a lot of people post about the track and they've never driven competitively on one.

A lot of what you "feel" on the race track can be felt just driving the car on the road.

What you might not be able to feel on the road are mods to the car that will marginally improve lap times on a track.

In my opinion the Performance Package is far from a Track Package. The brakes are the only exception. They are great for both the street and the track (obviously you need to run much more aggressive brake compound on the track if racing competitively).

 

[Malikona]

Not an option for me. The vast majority of my driving is done on roads that look like this:

... and so getting the Performance Pack would just be guaranteeiing that suspension bits would break sooner.

Holy **** dude is that Brooklyn or Bagdhad?

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Holy **** dude is that Brooklyn or Bagdhad?

That's what happens every winter from freezing ice and snowplows, and after they start to patch it in the spring, they just about get around to finishing when the next winter starts.

You run through shocks faster than tires here, but neither last 25,000 miles.

 

[Spartan]

That's what happens every winter from freezing ice and snowplows, and after they start to patch it in the spring, they just about get around to finishing when the next winter starts.

You run through shocks faster than tires here, but neither last 25,000 miles.

Same in the DC area..roads suck around here...

 

[Stangnut]

The only 2015 I've driven was a non-PP GT and the suspension felt "bouncy" to me if that description makes sense. I haven't driven a PP car, but after reading these reviews, I'm more comfortable with my non-PP order. Thanks!

Either way, anything's better than my '06 Jeep Wrangler.

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