UK Test Drives From Next Week

[jord79]

I had a test drive this morning in an auto GT convertible. Its odd doing everything backwards, having ordered the car back in May before ever seeing one, let alone driving one, but I now know I have done the right thing. All Ford need to do now is actually make the thing. The car I drove was black, black wheels, and ceramic leather. Looks great, and the weather was on my side so the roof was down part of the drive. The car sounds wonderful with no roof to muffle it. I wish I could have tried a manual as thats what I have ordered, but I am sure that will just be even better. I am so envious of those of you who have already got yours!

I think I drove this one yesterday, was it at Benfield Leeds?

Things that struck me were that it seemed very solid, especially for a big convertible with very little 'scuttle shake' (Only really noticed any movement a couple of times on speed bumps). Very good ride quality on all but the most patched up of roads where it was vibrations from changes in surface that came through, everything else well damped. Exceptionally easy to drive on all roads and not frightening at all - I was expecting to have to be very sensitive with my right foot. Brakes also not as grabby as I expected, but maybe this is a feature of the auto 'box. When driving 'normally' power delivery and control didn't feel much different to my Saab 93 turbo, biggest difference was that AMAZING engine sound and exhaust note! Good driving position, good visibility, great cockpit design (as we all know). When you do decide to give it some it changes from a sedate and comfortable cruiser into wild beast. I couldn't test this too much on a demo though, that'll take some getting used to! The test drive was never gonna put me off, I ordered with confidence last April, it was just a chance for me to get a taste of what's coming!

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[Artill]

I think I drove this one yesterday, was it at Benfield Leeds?

Things that struck me were that it seemed very solid, especially for a big convertible with very little 'scuttle shake' (Only really noticed any movement a couple of times on speed bumps). Very good ride quality on all but the most patched up of roads where it was vibrations from changes in surface that came through, everything else well damped. Exceptionally easy to drive on all roads and not frightening at all - I was expecting to have to be very sensitive with my right foot. Brakes also not as grabby as I expected, but maybe this is a feature of the auto 'box. When driving 'normally' power delivery and control didn't feel much different to my Saab 93 turbo, biggest difference was that AMAZING engine sound and exhaust note! Good driving position, good visibility, great cockpit design (as we all know). When you do decide to give it some it changes from a sedate and comfortable cruiser into wild beast. I couldn't test this too much on a demo though, that'll take some getting used to! The test drive was never gonna put me off, I ordered with confidence last April, it was just a chance for me to get a taste of what's coming!

Yes, Benfield Leeds. I agree with everything you say about the car. I was very encouraged by how well it coped with Leeds awful roads.

They tell me mine is going to be built this month, but then they said that last month too!

 

[Manders Mustang]

Yes, Benfield Leeds. I agree with everything you say about the car. I was very encouraged by how well it coped with Leeds awful roads.

They tell me mine is going to be built this month, but then they said that last month too!

Take the sceptical approach. I was told 'built before the end of 2015' and then followed with 'Build date 11th nov' and nothing since... (Karen has said early 2016)

 

[Artill]

Take the sceptical approach. I was told 'built before the end of 2015' and then followed with 'Build date 11th nov' and nothing since... (Karen has said early 2016)

yes. In fairness, when i ordered in May i was told June 2016. Later Karen said it would be built in January, so probably arrive in April. Then in October i was told they would build it in November. They didnt. Now its this month.

But if it arrives in early spring i will be very happy. There wont be many good days for driving a RWD V8 soft top between now and then

 

[Timewarp]

Yes, Benfield Leeds. I agree with everything you say about the car. I was very encouraged by how well it coped with Leeds awful roads.

They tell me mine is going to be built this month, but then they said that last month too!

I was waiting for a callback regarding a test drive from Benfield Leeds. They never got in touch. I've arranged one with TrustFord in Barnsley instead now.

 

[jord79]

I was waiting for a callback regarding a test drive from Benfield Leeds. They never got in touch. I've arranged one with TrustFord in Barnsley instead now.

Benfields Mustang specialist went on leave for two weeks the same day the demo arrived, so there wouldn't have been anyone there to handle your enquiry properly. On the whole I've been impressed with the service there, especial when compared to what some people on here have experienced!

 

[Timewarp]

Just test driven the GT (at last). Very impressive car, loved it.

Now I need to test drive the EB for comparison purposes to make sure I make the right decision.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Just test driven the GT (at last). Very impressive car, loved it.

Now I need to test drive the EB for comparison purposes to make sure I make the right decision.

No EBs are available to test drive, I think every car that every ford dealership have for 'Test Drives' are 5L gts? (someone correct me if i'm wrong!)

 

[mustangguy64]

No EBs are available to test drive, I think every car that every ford dealership have for 'Test Drives' are 5L gts? (someone correct me if i'm wrong!)

I think the original plan was dealers would have a showroom car then a GT and EB for test drives. My dealer has told me they are getting an EB in January.

 

[Timewarp]

Having now driven the GT, I definitely want one. Not just the Mustang, but the V8. Doh, I knew that would happen!

 

[Craig]

So, just got the mail from the dealership to say they've got their Demo cars as promised, when am I coming down to try them on for size? - but it's December and my wife has beaten them to my diary at the weekends - so test drive will have to wait until the 29th.

Yay! 29th finally arrived - test drive day

In case he's reading, "thanks to James @ TrustFord Epsom, it was great". A few observations while it's fresh in my mind (in no particular order). Testing in a GT (custom pack) in Race Red, the Epsom area probably wasn't the best place on earth - no fast roads to speak of, lot's of narrow streets and a fair amount of traffic, even up on Epsom Downs - but it's a very english type of driving, so probably worth talking about anyway.

Overall, I really liked it - it's fun. If I were still a young'un I'd probably be looking at other options (an RS? the upcoming honda S2000 reboot?) - but in my mid-40's, it seems almost ideal (as long as it makes the downhill gradient onto the driveway).

Ride Quality
Ford have done a great job here - it's a lot less harsh than my BMW 3 series with it's nasty run-flats. Still feels composed though, and takes speed bumps at speed in the same way as the wife's CX5 (in spite of being a bit lower than the . I was very impressed - a bit like my mate's Jag.
I was driving a V6 Cheverolet around Mountain View last month, which was very "american" - floaty, disconnected, like the last 20 years of car chasis development never happened. The Mustang is much more european, with very much a "GT" feel to it (in the industry wide sense) - I still think it'd require a suspension upgrade for track use though.

Size
It looked huge when I sat in the LHD showroom car that toured back in the summer - actually driving it on the road though, it was fine. No bigger than a 3 series. I drove up in the wife's CX5 thinking I'd need to be used to "big" ready for driving it, but no - it's really a kitten.

Parking
Not the nightmare you'd think - the backup camera is nice, and the car had the factory option parking sensors on so you get the little overlay of the distance on the screen, plus the directional beeps. I think just using the wing mirrors and beeps is enough - reversing into a tight spot in the dealer car park afterwards was certainly easy.
I don't trust those projected direction overlays in the backup camera though - they're likely calibration sensitive, and being mounted on the boot lid the camera might shift? (I used to work at the place that designs those systems for JLR/BMW/VAG, and camera calibration was an eternal nightmare - recalibrating if the camera get's knocked is a pain).

Interior
Everyone knows this now - it's lovely. Jag or Audi does it a lot better - but you pay for the privilege. BMW does it better if you option it up - a base BMW interior (like the one in my daily driver) isn't anywhere near as nice. The stock seat's are very comfy. The only place I think Ford let themselves down is the plastics around the window switches on the doors - I can see why some people are hydro-dipping that part.

Engine
This is where I was really surprised. The V8 is very mellow. Astonishingly so. It's easy (really, really easy) to drive around town. It's super smooth. It's civilised. It's not snarling and growling and shouting "LOOK, LISTEN". You need to put your foot down quite a long way for the mild V8 burble to "grunt up" and sound like american muscle. It does, and it certainly shifts when you do. It doesn't catch you out though - a mk3 MR2 will catch you out much sooner. The Lamborghini I took round Dunsfold scared the willies out of me - the GT didn't.

Although I didn't drive the Ecoboost, I did get to back-to-back the engine note with the GT. From inside, it still sounds grunty (that'll be the sound processor) - it's a bit ragged from the outside until it's warmed up though (maybe 5 minutes?). If I'd not just driven the GT, I suspect I'd be thinking "that sounds great" - having just driven the GT I thought "that sounds like an RS".

Gearchange
Manual box is a gem. Really, very nice - more MX5 slick than Griffith500-style tractor gearbox. It could have done without the lift gate for reverse - but that's down to personal preference I guess. I liked it. The handbrake on the other side isn't that big a deal.

Steering
Didn't feel too heavy around town. Heavy enough to feel where it was going - that's about right. I'm old though, and I used to like my sports cars un-assisted.

 

[marks]

Yes, I was a bit surprised with the engine, quite mellow - didn't really feel like a 4 second to 60 car. Would prefer a bit more urgency. But I understand that it makes a difference if you change the setting to Sport +, rather than the normal/comfort mode? Not sure if anyone can confirm as wasn't able to do this during the test drive?

 

[MrWolf]

Yay! 29th finally arrived - test drive day

In case he's reading, "thanks to James @ TrustFord Epsom, it was great". A few observations while it's fresh in my mind (in no particular order). Testing in a GT (custom pack) in Race Red, the Epsom area probably wasn't the best place on earth - no fast roads to speak of, lot's of narrow streets and a fair amount of traffic, even up on Epsom Downs - but it's a very english type of driving, so probably worth talking about anyway.

Overall, I really liked it - it's fun. If I were still a young'un I'd probably be looking at other options (an RS? the upcoming honda S2000 reboot?) - but in my mid-40's, it seems almost ideal (as long as it makes the downhill gradient onto the driveway).

Ride Quality
Ford have done a great job here - it's a lot less harsh than my BMW 3 series with it's nasty run-flats. Still feels composed though, and takes speed bumps at speed in the same way as the wife's CX5 (in spite of being a bit lower than the . I was very impressed - a bit like my mate's Jag.
I was driving a V6 Cheverolet around Mountain View last month, which was very "american" - floaty, disconnected, like the last 20 years of car chasis development never happened. The Mustang is much more european, with very much a "GT" feel to it (in the industry wide sense) - I still think it'd require a suspension upgrade for track use though.

Size
It looked huge when I sat in the LHD showroom car that toured back in the summer - actually driving it on the road though, it was fine. No bigger than a 3 series. I drove up in the wife's CX5 thinking I'd need to be used to "big" ready for driving it, but no - it's really a kitten.

Parking
Not the nightmare you'd think - the backup camera is nice, and the car had the factory option parking sensors on so you get the little overlay of the distance on the screen, plus the directional beeps. I think just using the wing mirrors and beeps is enough - reversing into a tight spot in the dealer car park afterwards was certainly easy.
I don't trust those projected direction overlays in the backup camera though - they're likely calibration sensitive, and being mounted on the boot lid the camera might shift? (I used to work at the place that designs those systems for JLR/BMW/VAG, and camera calibration was an eternal nightmare - recalibrating if the camera get's knocked is a pain).

Interior
Everyone knows this now - it's lovely. Jag or Audi does it a lot better - but you pay for the privilege. BMW does it better if you option it up - a base BMW interior (like the one in my daily driver) isn't anywhere near as nice. The stock seat's are very comfy. The only place I think Ford let themselves down is the plastics around the window switches on the doors - I can see why some people are hydro-dipping that part.

Engine
This is where I was really surprised. The V8 is very mellow. Astonishingly so. It's easy (really, really easy) to drive around town. It's super smooth. It's civilised. It's not snarling and growling and shouting "LOOK, LISTEN". You need to put your foot down quite a long way for the mild V8 burble to "grunt up" and sound like american muscle. It does, and it certainly shifts when you do. It doesn't catch you out though - a mk3 MR2 will catch you out much sooner. The Lamborghini I took round Dunsfold scared the willies out of me - the GT didn't.

Although I didn't drive the Ecoboost, I did get to back-to-back the engine note with the GT. From inside, it still sounds grunty (that'll be the sound processor) - it's a bit ragged from the outside until it's warmed up though (maybe 5 minutes?). If I'd not just driven the GT, I suspect I'd be thinking "that sounds great" - having just driven the GT I thought "that sounds like an RS".

Gearchange
Manual box is a gem. Really, very nice - more MX5 slick than Griffith500-style tractor gearbox. It could have done without the lift gate for reverse - but that's down to personal preference I guess. I liked it. The handbrake on the other side isn't that big a deal.

Steering
Didn't feel too heavy around town. Heavy enough to feel where it was going - that's about right. I'm old though, and I used to like my sports cars un-assisted.

Nice write up.

Reading these makes waiting for my GT unbearable

 

[McXtravert]

thanks for writing this.

I've got my test drive confirmed for the 31st - excited

 

[Jimboy2]

At least you got a decent run on your test drive.

Mine was pretty crap. Quick drive round the block and one motorway junction. Put a deposit down still so salesman must have thought he did enough haha.

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