Opinions on S197.2 from former owners

[JoeSpeed]

Because where else could I ask this?

Love my Bronco, but the end of the day, shes an offroader and not a speed demon. So thinking towards the end of the year, Ill get myself a toy, and it comes down to 11-14 to 15-17 Coyote

What did you like and didnt like about your S197.2’s, miss it even with how the current gens are in comparison and for just a toy, does it even matter?

Thanks in Advance

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[Earlsays]

I had a 2013 V6 with an MT82 and absolutely zero options. I added factory leather....that car sucked - 2.73 gears make that 300 horsepower feel like about 150.

I also had a 2014 GT - it was an automatic, premium car. 3.15 gears made it sluggish and boring.

Interior is terrible on both for various reasons.

Traded my 2014 for a 2015 premium GT with an MT82 - much, much better in every way....get a 2015

 

[JoeSpeed]

I had a 2013 V6 with an MT82 and absolutely zero options. I added factory leather....that car sucked - 2.73 gears make that 300 horsepower feel like about 150.

I also had a 2014 GT - it was an automatic, premium car. 3.15 gears made it sluggish and boring.

Interior is terrible on both for various reasons.

Traded my 2014 for a 2015 premium GT with an MT82 - much, much better in every way....get a 2015

Oh shit, who’d expect such low gearing? Why is the question

Glad its an improvement btw

 

[Earlsays]

Oh shit, who’d expect such low gearing? Why is the question

Glad its an improvement btw

Come again?

2.73 gears weren't fun, but that car got 30+ MPG easy....I always wondered what it would have been like with 3.55-3.73 - probably pretty fun.

 

[JoeSpeed]

Come again?

2.73 gears weren't fun, but that car got 30+ MPG easy....I always wondered what it would have been like with 3.55-3.73 - probably pretty fun.

That explains way too much

Id definitely swap those gears in your place, I gotta lead foot

 

[Earlsays]

That explains way too much

Id definitely swap those gears in your place, I gotta lead foot

Well, I traded that car in after 7 months for a 5.0 / 3.55 F150

 

[17Magnetic5.0]

Personally I would go 16-17. S197 the interior was just too plastic and cheap feeling. 2015 had the older sync system and was the first year so I wouldn’t go for that. Although if you are going automatic then I would spend the extra cash for an 18+ the difference in acceleration is pretty big.

 

[TrueBlue22]

I've owned an S197 5.0L GT Premium convertible since September 2010. I absolutely love it! Being a convertible though, I've always considered it more a grand tourer than an outright sport car. It's an automatic with 3.15 rear gears. Will my 2022 2.3L HPP smoke it? Yes - but they are very different vehicles, and the S197 can still snap your neck. My S197 has proven to be incredibly durable and reliable; parts remain easy to find and relatively cheap. I've upgraded a few items over the years as wear-and-tear have dictated, such as swapping rear lower control arms for the GT500 parts (VASTLY improved rear axle control). I would counter arguments that the S197 interior was "cheap and plastic." My '22 S500 interior really doesn't feel like a step up from the S197, but admittedly my S197 is a Premium with the color-match interior and aluminum trim, and the result is pretty dramatic. The interior has aged well and proven to be resistant to years of use. And Sync 1 somehow continues to work - newer iPhones actually have a back-door way to use the "Hey Siri" function without the presence of Car Play. Again, mine has the rare Technology Package including a touchscreen, which does help keep the interior feeling more "modern."

I mean.... look at it! It's a spectacular ride! 12 years old, 105,000 miles, lovingly maintained outside, inside, and underneath.

 

[Earlsays]

I've owned an S197 5.0L GT Premium convertible since September 2010. I absolutely love it! Being a convertible though, I've always considered it more a grand tourer than an outright sport car. It's an automatic with 3.15 rear gears. Will my 2022 2.3L HPP smoke it? Yes - but they are very different vehicles, and the S197 can still snap your neck. My S197 has proven to be incredibly durable and reliable; parts remain easy to find and relatively cheap. I've upgraded a few items over the years as wear-and-tear have dictated, such as swapping rear lower control arms for the GT500 parts (VASTLY improved rear axle control). I would counter arguments that the S197 interior was "cheap and plastic." My '22 S500 interior really doesn't feel like a step up from the S197, but admittedly my S197 is a Premium with the color-match interior and aluminum trim, and the result is pretty dramatic. The interior has aged well and proven to be resistant to years of use. And Sync 1 somehow continues to work - newer iPhones actually have a back-door way to use the "Hey Siri" function without the presence of Car Play. Again, mine has the rare Technology Package including a touchscreen, which does help keep the interior feeling more "modern."

I mean.... look at it! It's a spectacular ride! 12 years old, 105,000 miles, lovingly maintained outside, inside, and underneath.

My 2015 Premium GT was a giant interior improvement - my 2021 base GT - that interior sucks, I have been slowly replacing all the base trim with nicer factory stuff....pretty amazingly huge difference little things like door panels and upholstery will make overall.

 

[Strokerswild]

Zero complaints about my '15 GT Premium with the Performance Pack....

 

[Deleted member 13861]

Traded my 2012 GT 500 for a 2019 GT 350. The S197 cars are not bad but the ride , interior and of course the handling is not as good.

 

[Zathras]

I had a 2011 GT, automatic with 3.15 gears, for 7 years.

Liked:
Felt lighter and more tossable (than my '18 GT, which has more of a planted but pushy feeling)
I liked the retro styling
Stereo was better than my '18 GT

Dislikes:
Automatic/3.15 combo made it kind of a dog off the line. (Ford Perf. tune helped some)

 

[JoeSpeed]

Going manual, would probably do gearing anyway and since I want mycolor, would get a premium

So auto is the weaklink apparently

 

[noac]

12/13 Boss and call it a day. You will not loose on the car.

 

[TrueBlue22]

My 2015 Premium GT was a giant interior improvement - my 2021 base GT - that interior sucks, I have been slowly replacing all the base trim with nicer factory stuff....pretty amazingly huge difference little things like door panels and upholstery will make overall.

Exactly!! The base S197 interior was absolutely dreadful. The Premium (especially with color) was outstanding.

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