Reaction After Test Driving an EcoBoost PP

[Mustang Convert]

I've been waiting on my M/T EcoBoost Premium order for a few months now and didn't want to test drive another S550 until mine arrived, but after my EDD came and went yesterday I decided to cave and drive an A/T EcoBoost Premium with the Performance Pack.

I was surprised that the dealer offered to have me test drive a Mustang with summer tires in 35 degree weather and slightly wet conditions, but my salesman was excited to finally get me behind the wheel of one. Having never driven RWD before, I left traction control on but put the car into sport mode. As soon as I turned out of the dealer lot and gave it some gas, the rear end kicked out and luckily I corrected it and kept it in line. It hardly took any gas to get the rear end out. After about 10 minutes of driving in a straight line we got to an on-ramp, and same thing, the rear end kicked out without me even getting on the gas too much.

I was impressed with the throttle response and acceleration, even though I wasn't pushing it too hard given the tires and wet conditions. However, I was really surprised that a relatively heavy car with an I4 could be that scary and feel like it was trying to kill me.

I'm hoping this is just a function of summer tires in cold wet conditions?

Mine is going to be my DD in the snow belt (I'm getting all seasons put on my 20" wheels) but I'm getting a little concerned about keeping it under control in wet conditions...

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[cosmo]

Keep the summer tires for the summer, and get another set of rims for the winter with actual winter tires. I've been driving mustangs in Michigan winters for 8 years, get the extra set of actual winter tires. It will make driving much safer, even if you get a set of all seasons and drive safe, the winter tires will still be better. I use Bridgestone blizzaks.

 

[Mustang Convert]

Keep the summer tires for the summer, and get another set of rims for the winter with actual winter tires. I've been driving mustangs in Michigan winters for 8 years, get the extra set of actual winter tires. It will make driving much safer, even if you get a set of all seasons and drive safe, the winter tires will still be better. I use Bridgestone blizzaks.

It's something I'll have to consider...I've always used all season tires on FWD cars with no issues, as long as I take it easy in the snow. If I put enough weight in the trunk, I assume it should be manageable with good all seasons?

 

[dcrypter]

Unless you got some sort of factory freak there are no auto transmissions with the performance pack on any trim level besides the LE's.

 

[Mustang Convert]

Unless you got some sort of factory freak there are no auto transmissions with the performance pack on any trim level besides the LE's.

I think that's just the case for the GT PP. This was clearly a PP (vac and boost gauges, black PP wheels, machine turned aluminum dash).

You can definitely build one on the Ford website with auto and PP (and not LE).

 

[OppoLock]

Unless you got some sort of factory freak there are no auto transmissions with the performance pack on any trim level besides the LE's.

Not true for the EBs.

OP, the issue is likely to do with you driving on summers in cold temperature. I had a hard time getting any kind of tail out action on my test drive in an EB even doing a first gear U-turn with the traction aids off.

 

[humster21]

Unless you got some sort of factory freak there are no auto transmissions with the performance pack on any trim level besides the LE's.

The EB's do offer Auto w/PP. Mine is on its way.

 

[dcrypter]

My bad, I stand corrected.

Seems odd they let you get the pp on EB autos but not GT autos...

 

[Wildcat]

Ah, snow belt Mustang ownership. Reminds me of the good old days of doing donuts in the gym parking lot in the Chicago burbs with a couple inches of snow on the ground.

 

[S550guy]

My bad, I stand corrected.

Seems odd they let you get the pp on EB autos but not GT autos...

Not really.

GT PP gets a different differential. EB PP doesn't get a unique differential.

 

[Old 5 Oh]

Unless you got some sort of factory freak there are no auto transmissions with the performance pack on any trim level besides the LE's.

Auto is just fine on the EB PP, which is what he drove.

 

[stangs-R-me]

Since this is your first RWD car you plan on driving in the winter get yourself a 2nd set of wheels with a good set of 4 SNOW/ICE tires.

All Seasons can be OK ... if you've driven RWD all your life. I did so up until 1998 when I bought my 1st set of snows (Blizzak WS-50's), and I'll never drive RWD again in winter without them.

If your not getting the PP, get yourself a set of 17" wheels and 215/65-17 Snow tires. This was the std. size on 2011-14 V6 A/T cars and is nice & skinny and slightly taller (giving you a little more ground clearance) than the rest of the std. Mustang tire sizes.

I've been running Michelin X-Ice Xi2 tires in this size on my 2011 since the winter of 2010/11 and they are great plus they still have about 1/2 the tread left after almost 43,000 miles. Not quite as good a WS series Blizzaks in Ice/Snow, but better on dry pavement (almost as good as A/S) as they are "H" speed rated.

Doug

 

[BmacIL]

It's something I'll have to consider...I've always used all season tires on FWD cars with no issues, as long as I take it easy in the snow. If I put enough weight in the trunk, I assume it should be manageable with good all seasons?

Get winters. It's well worth the "hassle" of changing them (so much better than a/s in all cold and snow /ice conditions) and you'll extend the life of your summer tires.

 

[doulos4jc]

Not really.

GT PP gets a different differential. EB PP doesn't get a unique differential.

EB 3.31 rear... EB w/ PP 3.55 rear

 

[Dabias]

Hello All,

I'm new to the forum and I am glad that the winter vs summer vs All Season tires topic has started. I am in Germany and I'm waiting for my Mustang to get here. It Should be here by Mid-January. Anyway, IIve been trying to decide which winters tires to buy. I've researched tires and a few keep coming up as good tires in various reviews:

Michelin Pilot PA4
Michelin X-Ice
Blizzak

stangs-R-me already chimed in on this but what about the rest of u guys?
Any information would be appreciated.

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