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First impressions driving a new 5.0

C

caspian65

Member
A friend overseas ordered a new 5.0 coupe here. He had a few custom things done before I took delivery like changing out the front fascia and grille. He also had the bottom textured areas painted to match the body color.

I've driven it about 40 miles so far and have to say that the ride of the car seems to feel bumpy/erratic. I know the GT suspension would be designed to be stiff, but the car just doesn't seem solid in the suspension. My 8 year old M5 feels much more stable and planted. This particular car is an automatic. Not sure why he ordered it that way, but I think Ford ought to go ahead and stop making it an option. Driving the car around town, it feels like it's laboring in overdrive. You have to plant your foot down hard to get the car to react. Once it gets going, the power is very nice.

Thought I would attempt to bed the brakes in a little while driving. Tried to give it a firm gradual push on the pedal, but it seemed like whenever I tried, it would just lock up the wheels. Thought that was kind of strange.

There are other little things that are kind of annoying on the interior, like the cheapo vinyl material used on the brake handle boot. I have observed visibility out of the rear window to be slightly distorted. They ought to get rid of the rear seat headrests. Another thing I noticed right off was that my elbow, when sitting in a normal position on the console while driving, slips into the push-down opener for the rear console compartment. Lack of effort to integrate the door panels into the dash area has a cheap appearance. Buttons on the upper console are cluttered and confusing. Info/reset buttons for the dash display are over on the left of the steering column. Thought that was strange.

Not trying to trash the car, but just some observations. Overall, I think the newer design is much better than the last, the engine is very impressive, I bet a stick would be much more fun to drive. Maybe some aftermarket mods, possibly a different set of tires/wheels would improve the ride.

Should be sending it overseas in a couple weeks. Snapped a few pics:
http://www.early-mustang.com/charles/2011_GT/
 
I like the paint fix. Not fond of the color, but it is a nice one. I like the front facia.

I will have to rent one this summer one time when I come home to see the difference in this year vs the 2007 and 2009 we rented. I can also compare it to the new Camaro I rented last april for my daughter's wedding.

I am not sure I am fond of the new changes to the interior.

Thanks for the honest review of the new GT.

Mel
 
We've kicked around the idea of replacing the wife's DD with a new Mustang.

I'd probably go with the V6 though...decent power and decent gas mileage and right now she has a long commute. Always keeping our ear to the ground for something closer but who knows when (or if) something closer will come open.

Her car has 70k on it and recently had a rash of things go wrong that would have been pretty expensive if it weren't for the warranty. But when they're paid for and running well at the moment it's amazing how pretty a car can suddenly look, LOL!

We'll probably get rid of her car sometime in the next year or two but for now we're in wait and see mode. Saving up cash and getting all the miles we can out of this one. I paid cash for all the cars we have now and I don't intend to ever have a car note again.
 
"caspian65" said:
Driving the car around town, it feels like it's laboring in overdrive. You have to plant your foot down hard to get the car to react. Once it gets going, the power is very nice.
Click to expand...

They dumb down the reaction and shifting from the factory so that any driver from 15-90 can drive the car and not get themselves in too much trouble. I'd bet a tune would do wonders for adjusting shift points and throttle response. I'm looking for used Diablo Sport for the wife's '09 V6 as the throttle response is horrible.

I was hoping the interior quality had improved since the '09 model but it sounds like the cheap plastic has carried on. Hers has leather interior but the cover over the console is rubber? Why couldn't they just cover it with the same leather the seats have? or the perforated leather on the door panels? Same goes for the door arm rests, hard plastic, no cover material or give for your elbow.
Jon
 
Good to hear from you Charles! The interior of those cars is definitely on the cheap side, but then again its always been that way. The mustang really is a cheaper sports car, and things like the rubber ebrake boot is where they cut corners to keep cost down. Those cars definitely need a chip/tune, and slap some decent rims and pads on it and you should have a fun car. The suspension is a bit on the stiff side with the GT. I've never found it jarring, but definitely very firm.
 
A friend has a 2010 5.0 that he brings to the track. He upgraded the brakes, wheels and suspension. Can't remember if he chipped it yet, but with a stick...that thing really hauls the mail!
 
To be fair, you can't compare a Mustang with a BMW, especially with ride quality. BMW prides itself on having cars that handle amazing while retaining good ride quality. The M series have always been shining examples of this. The interiors are also much more refined. The cost for all of this is a hefty price tag.
 
Not comparing the ride to my M5. My wife's '02 Explorer feels more planted and stable than the Mustang. Maybe it's the extra weight of both cars, but I don't think there is a huge weight difference between the M5 and the '11 5.0. It's almost like it feels as if the tires are over-inflated. Maybe a set of lowering springs and lower profile tires might help give it a better feel. Maybe the engine bay strut brace doesn't let the car flex a little?

This car was around $35k, which I suppose is on the low end of real performance cars, but that's no chump change either.
 
I have to say I'm not sure where you are coming from with your impression of the new mustang. I came very close to picking one up just a couple weeks ago and can tell you I couldn't disagree more with your assessment of the ride feel. I thought the ride both normal and "aggressive" was on par with my modified 2002 Roush. I never felt the car was not in complete control on the pavement. I've also read reviews where a stock 2011 5.0 was just a tenth of a second off the pace of an M5 on a road course. In fairness, the car I drove had the Brembo package which does have stickier tires, I am told.

I have not driven an automatic but I cannot think of a reason the ride would be different as compared to a manual. Acceleration may be another story. Obviously, you need to turn the traction/stability control off to really enjoy the car.

Now as for the interior...I agree. One big reason I didn't buy the car was that it was a basic interior that did little for me. I will say the seating is excellent in terms of support. I too am not a big fan of some of the materials. I also had issue with the shifter/console arrangement. Something very weird feeling to me with having my arm resting on the console when shifting.
 
My GT/CS seems very planted......and it is stock.

The interior quality is not much different than the '00 and '07 GT Verts that I have owned. Some say it is the lower end of the sports car spectrum.

Automatics must "learn" the drivers desires for shift points and such. If one drives it aggressive, it will shift a bit different than grandmas way of driving. It does take a few miles to make a difference. This also happens when the battery is disconnected. I have also read that the 6 speed auto does shift a lot in town. Love the manual.....

I have noticed a bit of distortion at the very top of the rear window. Seems to not bother while driving.

With the ABS, I bedded in the brakes just fine. In fact, I have done some serious stopping and never "locked" the brakes.

Center console door is not a problem for me with the seat all the way back but it is a poor idea. It can be locked so it does not come open but that is not handy for use either.

The ride is not that of a luxury car. I like the stiffer, firmer ride. Seems to read the road good.

Controls/buttons seem fine after learning their uses. Hard to just get in a car that one is unfamiliar with and expect things to look familiar.

I would say to have the car looked at if the brakes did lock that easy. Also, check the tire pressure as it may be to high.
 
"Horseplay" said:
I have to say I'm not sure where you are coming from with your impression of the new mustang. I came very close to picking one up just a couple weeks ago and can tell you I couldn't disagree more with your assessment of the ride feel. I thought the ride both normal and "aggressive" was on par with my modified 2002 Roush. I never felt the car was not in complete control on the pavement. I've also read reviews where a stock 2011 5.0 was just a tenth of a second off the pace of an M5 on a road course. In fairness, the car I drove had the Brembo package which does have stickier tires, I am told.
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It's a Mustang forum and I'm giving my opinion of driving a new one. What's so hard to understand about that?

The track test they did with the boss was against an M3, not an M5.

It's just my opinion of driving the car and I have driven quite a bit of different ones. I don't remember my '00 GT feeling the same either.
 
"caspian65" said:
It's a Mustang forum and I'm giving my opinion of driving a new one. What's so hard to understand about that?

The track test they did with the boss was against an M3, not an M5.

It's just my opinion of driving the car and I have driven quite a bit of different ones. I don't remember my '00 GT feeling the same either.
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I didn't mean anything by my comment other than my impression was very much different than yours and I found it odd that the two were so far apart. Your critique was the first "negative" I had read of the new mustang performance.

You're right, the comparison car was an M3. Didn't mean to type a 5. I was referring to the test of the standard GT vs the M3, not the Boss. I went back and found the article (Motor Trend Oct. 2010) to verify my memory. The mustang was "stock" but that included the Brembo pkg and a 373 gear (the exact set-up my test car had). The best lap times of the two cars were a tenth of a second apart. That certainly speaks to the car's ability but, in fairness, maybe not how it "feels" to a driver. Then again, maybe the different wheel/tire set-up on the Brembo cars makes a real difference in the driver feel and not just performance.

It would be interesting to see what you thought of one with the Brembo package in comparison. Never a bad day for a dealer visit and test drive!
 
I almost feel like you just told me I have the smelly kid in class. ;)

I've had mine for 8 months now, and 5000 miles. I agree the E-brake handle trim is cheap, and the center console easily opens with your elbow. Otherwise, I feel the interior is very nice, especially the one piece dash trim. My interior is also very quiet and squeak free. This was a priority for Ford, which previous models lacked.

Your car has the base wheels/tires, so maybe that is what is causing your ride complaints. I cannot comment on that set-up, as mine has the Brembo pkg.

IMO Ford should have given the auto paddle shifters, or at least a better gate. Fortunately the auto is just as fast as the manual, thanks to insane gear ratios. I think we'll see paddles for the 50th anniversary.

The Motor Trend test was a GT Brembo car vs M3, not a Boss.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1010_2011_2011_ford_mustang_gt_vs_2011_bmw_m3_comparison/index.html
 
No intention to trash the car, just some casual observations. I thought the sidewall on the tires was a little tall, but wouldn't think that would effect the ride much. The tires are Pirelli P-Zero's. I'd be interested in driving one with the Brembo brakes, I'm sure that makes a big difference.

I think the track comparison with the M3 is good press for Ford. If they want to play at that level, they've got a fine line to walk and keep the car affordable though. If not, it just turns into another $50-75k boy toy. Of course, there is no comparison to be made with the current M5 as I'm sure Ford never even considered targeting that level of car. With GM's CTS-V, I wonder why Ford doesn't get into the game. There's surely a market.

I probably have to put 100 or so more miles on the '11... the gas tank has to be nearly empty before it gets shipped overseas. Will play around with it a little more. The automatic seems to take away some of the fun in driving though, which might have tainted my respect for the car from the get-go. I agree that paddle shifters would have added a new dimension to the car.
 
Rode (not drove) with a guy here at work in his recently recieved Boss. IMO, very nice car for the 40k - I thought the passenger ride quality was good, and it hauls a$$ with the manual. Although, I agree Ford put themselves in tough territory comparing to the M3 on the track since people will compare them in other ways now - and the M3 is a 55k car. Tough to match the 55k quality and still keep the price point Ford is hitting. The Boss is a damn fine car for 41k.

Does the auto have a manual shift option (sometimes called bump shift)? That IMO, would make a difference - the wife's X5 has it, and I like it, especially for the ease of use around town, but still able to select & hold a gear. Still, not comparison to my (20 yr old this month) M5, but nice. Although, paddle shifters would be even better.
 
I see no ill will Charles, you are just throwing your review out there. If the rumors about the new Shelby are true, they may have a better comparison to the M5's performance. The stang will have a stronger motor than the M5 (620hp vs 550hp), but the handling/suspension of the M5 will still be superior. The shelby has a supercharged 5.8L compared to a twin turbo 4.4L in the M5.
 
"apollard" said:
Does the auto have a manual shift option (sometimes called bump shift)? That IMO, would make a difference - the wife's X5 has it, and I like it, especially for the ease of use around town, but still able to select & hold a gear. Still, not comparison to my (20 yr old this month) M5, but nice. Although, paddle shifters would be even better.
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There is what I guess to be an O/D on/off button on the shifter, but the light that comes up on the dash shows a pic of a car on an incline? Thought that was a little strange. From what I understand, the auto trans is a 7 speed.
 
Too bad. Manual shift options on autos are nice. The wife's X also has a 'sport' mode. When in that, you can be flogging it, let off to make a turn, and it will hold the current gear for the turn rather than upsifting when you lift the throttle.
 
"buening" said:
I see no ill will Charles, you are just throwing your review out there. If the rumors about the new Shelby are true, they may have a better comparison to the M5's performance. The stang will have a stronger motor than the M5 (620hp vs 550hp), but the handling/suspension of the M5 will still be superior. The shelby has a supercharged 5.8L compared to a twin turbo 4.4L in the M5.
Click to expand...

The engine specs for the new F10 M5 are still unknown at this point as the car is not in production yet. Most seriously doubt that it would have less than 555hp, which is what the X5-M has. Plus, the CTS-V is around 600hp, so it's thought that BMW will have to get the numbers close or more to that to regain the fastest production sedan title.

The Shelby and M5 should not be compared as they are not in the same category of cars and not intended to compete with one another.
 
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