5 Reasons Why I Don't Want A Mustang GT Over my V6 #blogpost

30 Dec 2016

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.

#realcar

Thanks for reading!

Comments

Very good post with very good points. However, V8 is life haha.

If anyone ever says they hate how a v8 sounds, they need professional help…

A rental car is the fastest car IN THE WORLD.

Last time I checked, a premium GT with fastback package was US$ 38k and the GT350 started at $55k or something… If the difference was just 5k, then why not buying the GT350?

That’s why I have this symbol “~” in front of the 50k figure. Then I think the 45 grand applies to the California special (retail price in my area).

What about the ecoboost I-4’s?

I mention consumer preference in my last few paragraphs. It’s not a bad car, but personally I see one as a downgrade from my v6 in reliability and sound. Both the engines have different character, and in a mustang I prefer the v6.

I could never get myself a Mustang with anything but a V8. If I wanted a balanced V6, I’d get a Nissan Z, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, or a Lexus IS350.

For me, the Nissan Z didn’t fit because it lacks cargo space. While I enjoy the styling, I don’t love it. I’m not a big fan of Hyundai, but I’d get the turbo four cylinder genesis. The Lexus doesn’t seem as sporty compared to the others, so I’d pass on that.

Me too, but mustangs are dirty cheap in America. A 350Z or Genesis is almost the double of the price. I never drove a V6 Mustang, but it’s a nice sporty vehichle for dirty cheap.

If you want balance, better fuel economy get the EcoBoos variant.

Also Talking about balance and cargo space you would be better off with a Focus RS.

Good points, I however would take the V8, simply because I think that’s the only engine that should be in a muscle-car (pony car). I know that this is a completely unreasonable argument, but who cares. I can however still see the appeal of a mustang v6, and I am sad it won’t exist for much longer for people like you. And it’s really strange too, since the new F150 and Ford GT use a V6 engine.

You can still get a V8 in the normal F-150, but you can’t in the Raptor. I really wish they would have gone for a V8 for that truck, but we can always get what we want.

i know you said “should” but remember the original mustangs came with a straight 6. something that ford australia kept alive and we now have the ‘barra’ a twin cam I6 turbocharged god which has taken the lime light away from LS and JZ motor swaps. they are being put into everything. if ford kept the I6 turbo from australia i think the opinion of a 6cyl mustang would completely change around the world. some of these motors are cracking 1000hp unopened. sure reliability is not up there with that power on an unopened motor but there is so much potential, and we run them in a run of the mill family sedans

I love v6 mustangs

If you think about it, you get a V6 GT car with 300 hp and RWD, makes sense from that standpoint. Could use a good supercharger kit, aftermarket wheels and LSD though ;)

To me though, a Mustang will always be V8 powered. I love the Coyote V8 (and the modular 4.6 V8). The way it revs with its DOHC arrangement is unique since the torque stays pretty close to the horsepower as the revs rise and the whole demeanor of the Mustang screams V8. So yeah V8 FTW

It would be interesting to try a v8 out… If I did get a Mustang GT it would have to be the 5.0. The 4.6 just isn’t a great platform anymore.

But similarly to the differential, I think a more aggressive gearing ratio could be interesting for the v6. The stock gears are 3.55, and ford performance sells higher ratios.

As someone who owns a 96 3.8l, my biggest gripe is the lack if an LSD. For about $450 you can upgrade (out of my budget), or put an 8.8 rear end off a GT on it which i may do in the future after a few other things.

lol i have a V6 Camaro 2015 and i do share some views here BUT i have had the car 1 year now and i want more power the 350 horse that mines got (yes mine has more power then you and stock) is not enough anymore. plus i do want the sound of the v8 and i want a car that dousing deprecate so fast. plus my car is 3700 pounds. need more go!

The Camaro weighs 3700 lbs? Dang. My mustang weighs 3460.

No 2015 Camero has 323hp and has slower 0-60

You are opening up to the Ecoboost discussion. Its faster, has more usable torque and is more fuel economic.

That’s my point at the end on consumer preference. Some people don’t want or can’t afford a v8, but don’t want a four cylinder mustang. This is also my point at the beginning for how the numbers in a brochure don’t tell the full story for a car.

I don’t have much confidence in the longevity of turbocharged engines. Close tolerances are close tolerances. Miss an oil change, it’s an expensive, ticking time bomb.