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Looking at a new GT

2015Etrac

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As someone who came from a manual GT and traded for an auto, get some good seat time in both to make sure you love the transmission.
Yeah I really like the auto in these cars, the rev matching is nice, the selectable drive modes makes a huge difference, and the paddle shifters are fun.
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airfuel

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Hi guys,

Timely thread as I am new here and currently looking at factory ordering a GT soon.

Looking at a black GT premium with manual.

All my reading is pointing to 3.55 gears as the sweet spot for my driving in New England.

No performance pack as I have no plans on tracking the car and the rough roads will give a better ride.

Premium for some luxury as I am 55 years old.

Foundry wheel option for a bit of "old school" look"

As for the manual tranny, I just "want one for fun" !
If any problems arise, there are fixes for shifting problems or just put a tremec tranny in if really needed.

I have been looking at many mustang forums and this one seems like the best for good info.

John.
 

15GTBEN

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If manual is a must, PP is the way to go unless youre planning on expensively modding IMO.
 
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Lexman

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If manual is a must, PP is the way to go unless youre planning on expensively modding IMO.


I think PP is a good deal but I have seen reviews where the 3:73 was a bit much. Also, it might sound silly but don't care for the wheels at all. I want wheels I can tolerate until I find something else.

AT might be a different experience in the GT. I don't know if it was the 3.15, the AT, hot weather, or tune. It would just be bipolar at times. Sometimes quick revving and fast, other times it lugs and just wants to rush into 6th. Couldn't really get a feel for the performance. Don't get me wrong it's fast and fun, just didn't always respond consistently if that makes sense.

Again that's why my thought is towards manual, GT, and looking at gear ratio.
 
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Labradog

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AT might be a different experience in the GT. I don't know if it was the 3.15, the AT, or tune, hot weather, or tune. It would just be bipolar at times. Sometimes quick revving and fast, other times it lugs and just wants to rush into 6th. Couldn't really get a feel for the performance. Don't get me wrong it's fast and fun, just didn't always respond constantly if that makes sense.

.
I get that sometimes and every time I see a GT 350 video I miss driving a manual, but make sure you like driving the MT-82 if you haven't done it before.
 

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808muscle

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Premium vs Base was tough choice to me too until I realized how much more came with the Premium. For me my 06gt was a base model and I wanted my next car to have some of that cool stuff like my color etc.. I do like the switches, and rear difusior with the Premium too. I bought a 16 Premium GT Auto and am stoked.
 

MyFirst5.0

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if you could swing it PP and premium. i do not like the way the base factory radio looks
 
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Lexman

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I get that sometimes and every time I see a GT 350 video I miss driving a manual, but make sure you like driving the MT-82 if you haven't done it before.
Interesting, is the MT not good or is it matter of preference as how it feels?
 

mustang1

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Interesting, is the MT not good or is it matter of preference as how it feels?
The MT is fun but you can run into problems. It's not designed to be shifted fast. And some people want to shift fast. And if the clutch fails, Ford may not fix it under warranty.

GT PP is cool, just for the center gauges and the Brembo's. But it comes with summer tires on 19" wheels. That tire size is nearly twice as much as those for the 18x8 wheels, so if you want to change those to A/S or winters, keep that in mind.
 

mustang1

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if you could swing it PP and premium. i do not like the way the base factory radio looks
I suspect Ford did that on purpose to help up-sell the Premium. Backup camera isn't that easy to see on the base factory radio.
 

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raceguy13

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I ordered my car as a base pp car, the only thing I really wish I had was the bigger radio screen from the premium. I daily my car and find the 373s perfect. It all comes down to what you really like. I had zero fun driving the auto, and the 331 gears never felt like the car had enough bottom end power.
 

15GTBEN

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I think PP is a good deal but I have seen reviews where the 3:73 was a bit much. Also, it might sound silly but don't care for the wheels at all. I want wheels I can tolerate until I find something else.

AT might be a different experience in the GT. I don't know if it was the 3.15, the AT, hot weather, or tune. It would just be bipolar at times. Sometimes quick revving and fast, other times it lugs and just wants to rush into 6th. Couldn't really get a feel for the performance. Don't get me wrong it's fast and fun, just didn't always respond consistently if that makes sense.

Again that's why my thought is towards manual, GT, and looking at gear ratio.
Probably 3.15's. My auto with 3.55's feels a lot quicker than any of the stock manual gt's I've owned or driven, around town and wot. The auto left in (D)drive with a light throttle up shifts quickly into the higher gears making it feel less lively.
If you're more into straight line performance and endure daily traffic, you should definitely give the auto more consideration.
If I had to get a manual it would be the GT pp or an entirely different car like the camaro ss.
Make sure you research the mt82 a good bit before pulling the trigger.

I ordered my car as a base pp car, the only thing I really wish I had was the bigger radio screen from the premium. I daily my car and find the 373s perfect. It all comes down to what you really like. I had zero fun driving the auto, and the 331 gears never felt like the car had enough bottom end power.
What is fun is subjective. I've owned gt's with both transmissions and find shifting the auto with paddle shifters a lot more fun than rowing the mt82.
 
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Lexman

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The MT is fun but you can run into problems. It's not designed to be shifted fast. And some people want to shift fast. And if the clutch fails, Ford may not fix it under warranty.

GT PP is cool, just for the center gauges and the Brembo's. But it comes with summer tires on 19" wheels. That tire size is nearly twice as much as those for the 18x8 wheels, so if you want to change those to A/S or winters, keep that in mind.
Yeah I do like the center gauges, but I'm sure like you stated with the wheels, the Brembos add a bit of cost when it comes time to replace.

I ordered my car as a base pp car, the only thing I really wish I had was the bigger radio screen from the premium. I daily my car and find the 373s perfect. It all comes down to what you really like. I had zero fun driving the auto, and the 331 gears never felt like the car had enough bottom end power.
From the outside not having driven one, the PP GT sounds like stupid fun. Just not sure how much chance i have with traction in rain let alone snow with them.

How's the ride with the PP, is it harsh?
 

Rock&Roll

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I have 3.31 6speed Manual Premium with NAV and Shaker sound.

My car is a daily driver. I bought a set of wheels and Blizzak tires for winter. Also installed Steeda Jacking Rails to make that swap easy if it snows. Last year it didn't snow in my area wich is rare.

Test drive a 3.31 and see if it's for you. Like you, I will never go to the track with my car. I will probably never mod my car because I feel it's fast enough and I don't see the point of dumping any money into it. I modded the hell out of a Harley one time and regretted spending all that money. With a wife and kids you only get so much money and I'm thrilled to have what I already have. I also like the idea of having a plain Jane mustang in black that don't draw any attention in a parking lot as my daily driver.

3.31 shifts nice and I feel is perfect. I usually ride the car in 5th gear doing 55 and throw it in 6 on a Highway drive. I never drove the 3.55 but I did drive the PP 3.73. Wasn't for me. I hate black rims and the tires on the PP are summer tires. They don't do well in lower temps and only last about 10k - 15k miles from what I've read here . Not my idea of a daily driver tire if I'm not swapping to snow tires if it don't snow. The other stuff on the PP would have been cool but I feel the stock GT Brakes are pretty good and it rides nice the way it is. The 3.73 gearing seemed like a lot of shifting to me YMMV. Nobody had a 3.55 in there lot so I didn't try one. Would have like to but honestly, I think the 3.31 is fine and this car has plenty of pull the way it is.

Stock vs Premium. I really like the Premium stuff but I figured I couldn't afford the extra $4k so I was looking all over for a base model for a week and then my wife said that I deserve it and just do it. I'm glad she did it because I love that big Sync 3 screen, Leather etc. etc. I have no regrets. Also feel great about the extra money for the NAV and Shaker Sound. I'm glad I got all those options and have no regrets on buying this car. MRSP was $40 and I got it for $36. Some people got a better deal and others got a worse deal. I'm good with what I paid for her and it's a done deal. Love this car. So much fun to drive


Hope that helps with your decision ?
 
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