5 Reasons Why I Don't Want A Mustang GT Over my V6 #blogpost
You all probably think I’m crazy, but this is the truth. After owning my 2016 v6 Mustang for a year, my amateur view of the car world shifted. I used to think that only certain cars can be considered “enthusiasts cars”. I based all my proof on brochure statistics, but you should never pass judgment on a car based on numbers alone.
The S550 v6 has grown on me, and every time I take it out for a drive, my want for a GT fades out. So, here are my reasons for not wanting a Mustang GT.
1: Balance
The mustang has always been the best bang for your buck horsepower car around. This all comes at a cost. While the GT now has an independent rear suspension, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a boxer in a hurdling race. Sure the boxer hits hard and is considerably agile, but the actual track and field athletes are far better suited for the race.
The v6 on the other hand is lighter and more nimble. Rather than buying a whipple and hitting the drag strip, this car is better suited for track days and auto cross. Still, the v6 still has plenty of power stock for some trouble…
2: Useable Power
This is a fairly common term in the car world. It can almost sound like an excuse for slow cars, but I genuinely feel it in my car. I can push the car harder, and actually use all of the power in a regular drive (And yes, I can still do smokey burnouts).
The car still has its limits. I’ve accidentally broken traction multiple times (the most unexpected in 2nd gear at 40 mph…), and the car can still feel like a handful on the tighter twisty roads I usually drive on.
The v6 can be thrashed more with little consequence. A GT on the other hand isn’t as friendly in this regard…
3: It's Not Unique
In the U.S, modified mustang GT’s are very common. Even on the internet there are thousands of guys who think they’re clever for making a “5.0” or “coyote” pun as a user name. It’s popular for a reason, but a bagged GT with a muffler delete isn’t special.
Alternatively, how many clean modified v6 Mustangs have you seen at a car meet or heard of? It’s an unusual project that goes against the mustang norm. That raises curiosity. What’s this guy got up his sleve?
In the end, I have a lot more respect for a boosted v6 mustang than a GT with its mufflers chopped off (even if it sounds godly).
4: Pushing Power (Useable Power cont.)
Plenty amateur car guys think power is everything, saying “500 hp Is nothing bro!” (I thought that for a long time, so don’t get offended). Then there are experienced car guys who actually enjoy high powered cars. When you start dumping money into a GT to make it fast, you limit how much you can use your car. There’s no way that you can fully enjoy a supercharged 700 whp mustang while using all of its horsepower (and not shredding its tires) on the street.
The v6 has just as many modifications available, yet allows for gains that stay in the “sweet spot” of power. The craziest power v6 I’ve found has ~1000 horsepower (from 1320), and more relatable builds push up to 500 whp. For a RWD daily driven car that’s plenty.
5: The Shelby GT350
If I bought a v8 mustang, it would probably be the GT350. It fits what I value in cars. It has great balance, a unique motor, and actually turns! It’s base price is ~50 grand, or just 5 grand more than a premium GT.
If you think the price difference makes this point invalid, consider this. The extra money you pay for the GT350 includes “upgrades” that you would apply to a vanilla GT to make it barely keep up. Additionally, you get an amazing new motor built for the car’s intended application. There’s also part of a “Shelby tax”, but that’s insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
In the end, opinions on the mustang lineup depend on what consumers look for. Are you a former Mazda speed 3 owner who loves turbo fours? Have an eco boost. Do you want N/A power with a great chassis? Get a v6. Do you drag race? Here’s a v8!
Plenty of people have driven v6 mustangs and called them trash, and it just didn’t fit what they wanted from a mustang. This is a concept that not many people wrap their heads around. If you think a car is bad (if you’ve actually DRIVEN it), you’re just not the target consumer.
In the end, I love my v6, and look forward to many more years with it.
Thanks for reading!
Comments
I also prefer the V6 in this generation. The 5th generation tho, V8.
Definitely. The last gen platform is perfect for a v8.
In the UK we don’t get the V6. We only get the EcoBoost and the GT. I think most buyers go for the GT for the full American (V8) experience.
Coming from a former S197 5.0 and an S550 5.0 owner, if you’re looking from something with more usable power and handles better, I’d look at a 370z over a V6 Mustang. The V6 mustang is great, don’t get me wrong, but there’s some serious corner-cutting in the designs that make it into a car you wouldn’t want to beat on every day. Things like the driveshafts in the S197 V6’s that would fail above 120mph almost on cue, the sloppy stock suspension and tires (unless you get the performance pack), etc. However, if you go look at a 370z, you’ll find that even the base model is setup to be used as a real performance car. Just my two cents, I’m not downing the V6 Mustang, I think they’re great bang-for-buck, but there’s better options
#4 kind of completely invalidates #2, if you consider 500 useable HP then the 435HP in the GT is perfectly useable.
Starting with the 2011 refresh Mustangs handle just fine, they are brutal and ferocious sure but that’s part of the appeal. I was actually let down by the feel of the s550, it drives like a BMW, I much prefer the “I’m going to kill you S197” that I drive.
As far as track work and such I’m with ModernChaos here, 370z is a better choice, the S550 chassis is quite heavy even in the V6 guise and is just not as sporty as a Z (or a BMW 2 series).
As far as the GT350 goes, that Voodoo motor is cool and all but they are not particularly fun to live with day to day due to all the NVH and the motor itself is a little flat in the sense that you expect that the more you rev it the more you get but it’s not really the case here, it just kind of stays there… It’s hard to describe but it’s basically like there isn’t much difference between getting to 3k and 8k there, I mean the power obviously flows just fine but the feel and the noise are basically the same.
Really if you want a fun track Mustang the best choice is the BOSS 302, it has a special engine, it’s not common, it’s set up to run around tracks from factory. I’m very much looking forward to the S550 version of it.
Did you miss what I mentioned for it? I’m referring to modified numbers if you chose to put money into the motor. You have more leeway with the v6 versus a GT that goes past the Useable zone. Either way, the v6 will be better than the GT at 500 hp because of the balance. Your other point with enjoying a lack of accuracy in handling is my point on consumer preference, so there’s nothing wrong there. Preference again ties into why someone wouldn’t get a Nissan over a mustang.
Great post while I still love the V8 sound, it does make me consider another v6..
I personally prefer a V6 sound to a V8, and I don’t see any problems with the idea of a V6 in a Mustang. Besides, I’ve heard that Ford isn’t making any more V6 Mustangs, so in the future a V6 one will be considered even more special.
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Rather have the 2.3 ecoboost
not in stock form though!
The V6 feels and sounds better stock. Then the ecoboost has more potential…
These sound like excuses for having a slow car…
So my point on the GT350 and having a track oriented car is? That doesn’t make sense.
Shoot, as long as it is a mustang, you are part of the faithful. I have wondered when these new six cylinders would hit auto cross. I auto cross an 06 supercharged gt, and she is a beast. Wonderful and all I ever wanted, but not the most nimble thing out there. I drive an 03 six cylinder in the winter. It really has enough power for what I want it for. All mustangs are good in my opinion.