A couple of days ago, I got the chance to drive a few versions of the new 2015 Mustang.
Invited by Ford.
This was a really fun day.
First, I have to say the new Mustang looks really nice in person. Very muscular, sporty, yet more refined than before.
(I still think there would be nothing wrong with it being a hatchback, but that's just me...)
And it is still pretty big.
The weirdest looking thing, to me, are these small vents on the hood of the V8 versions.
Not sure if they are really functional, since previous models never had that.
It actually looks a bit weird from the driver's point of view.
Inside, things are quite nice. And more refined than before. Sure, it is still a bit shiny for my taste.
But at the same time, nicely retro.
The shifter is much smaller, and less "cartoony" looking than before.
Trims and plastics are great.
A very nice soft plastic/stiches finish is part of the premium interior option.
The manual shifter is actually a bit small. If almost feels weird at first. (And actually hard to really show how small it is/feels on a picture) Note the "non premium" console.
The base model does have cheaper/harder plastics. And a cheesy carbon fiber looking finish on the dash, instead of metal.
The "premium" option is a must. Really.
As for the drive.
The 1st car I drove was a V8 automatic. Which is quite fantastic.
The main difference with the previous model, is of course, the well advertised all new suspension.
The car now behave more like a modern model.
But also, gone is the "retro charm" of that old fashion live axle.
Everything feels really solid. The ride is firm yet very comfortable.
I also tried the 6 speed manual. Which was very refined and easy to shift.
But the Automatic now has a "manual" option, which actually helps. Since in normal mode, it is still reluctant to downshift.
Things changed when I drove the new 2.3 Liter Ecoboost.
That car was equipped with a sport package.
The harder suspension is really way too hard for every day driving. It's just too much.
I would make sure to skip it at all cost, unless you plan to take the car on a track. A lot.
The tires were also way noisier on the freeway.
Not the best combo for everyday driving.
Also, that model did not have the Premium interior option. Which actually makes a big difference.
Without it, there is a lot more black plastic switches on the console. The material on the doors is now hard instead of soft. Gone is the stitching on the dash, etc...
The new 2.3 Liter Ecoboost is great. With plenty of power, a silent idle and making refined sounds all the time.
But in the end, it isn't that special. It makes the Mustang sound and feel more like any other coupe on the market.
Basically, the V8 is what makes this car special.
The new 2015 Mustang is a great improvement on the previous model. Which was already really nice. (in V8 form)
Basically, this is a really nice car. And the Ecoboost is much more refined than the "almost fleet only" tractor like V6.
But still, no matter what, that V8 feels and sounds fantastic...