The Tommeter:76/100
Lbs. per/hp & Torque per/hp - 12.29/13.39
Combined avg: 12.84
SoI got an email today letting me know that the first 2011 Mustang arrived at the local Ford Dealer. I've been anticipating this for a while so I was hoping I didn't over hype it. Good news is I didn't! It's a really neat car. The one I tested was a V6 premium with Pony pkg., comfort pkg., 6 speed automatic and saddle leather seats (medium brown). It's a bit different than the model I'm interested in which is the base coupe with 3:31 rear axle, 6 speed auto. and the cloth sport seats.
Initial impressions
Open the door and your engulfed in pony nostalgia. The interior oozes that American muscle feeling with its nicely contoured tuck and roll leather interior and black carpet, large T-handle shifter atop a high beltline center console. The exterior styling is very different from the other cars tested but it's also a really awesome modern interpretation of the retro '60s look. There isn't a bad angle to view the Mustang from.....it looks great all the time. Give Ford credit for massaging even more style out of their retro '67 fastback look over the last five years! The newly restyled front end and headlight grille treatment is really cool. The rear end is equally impressive with it's standard dual exhaust, nice two tone valence, and those unmistakeable sequential 3 bulb tail lights with the large centered Mustang badge.
Interior impressions:
Slide into the nicely contoured and supportive drivers seat and you feel ready to take on the road. This is a drivers car pure and simple. The retro gauges are cool with the white face treatment and are not obstructed by the steering wheel. Though they're not as easily legible as the other cars tested. There is also a decent trip computer with MPG and fuel economy data within the guages. The retro pony steering wheel and dashboard has a stylish and attractive look with a low if not about avg. sized glovebox. Though the Mustang lacks the manu-matic control of it's smooth shifting 6 speed transmission you can manually select 1-2-3-4-and-D which depending on speed could be 5th or 6th. This nearly makes up for the lack of manumatic as it does in the Accord coupe too.
Stereo controls are decent with the small multi button layout similar to Accord coupe but laid out on more of a grid design. HVAC is fairly intuitive and dials for fan speed and air temp control are located at the bottom of the center stack. Unfortunately this means the large shifter when in park obstructs the adjustment of these two knobs but thats a minor thing since most of the time these are adjusted while in "D". The wheel has tilt adjust only, but it's located far enough from the dash to be about the right position for most drivers. There is a nice dead pedal area and the pedals are placed and spaced well. One impression of note...the cockpit does seem more confining than Accord or Altima but by the numbers they are similar. Center cconsole features the t-handle shifter, a covered storage bin, and two good sized cup holders with a flip open coverand arm rest.
The driving position offers a nice view out the front windshield. You do have quite a long hood out there but that brings back memories of how cars used to be. The view out the rear window is good but the quarter windows are very small (this is part of the styling) which does result in fairly large blind corners. Luckily the outside mirrors have good size and coverage whichs helps this. Door panels feature nifty chrome trim rings around the large door speakers and unfortunately useless door pockets. They're shallow and too far back along the seat edge to be easily accessible with the door shut (these might be worse than Genesis even). I think besides a mini umbrella most will be challenged to find any objects that fit in them. Note to Ford: Smaller door speakers would have made more room for decent sized door pockets...just sayin'.
That said Mustang has practicallity hidden inside too. A decent amount of center console storage with dual cupholders and nice map lights. The rear seats are fairly comfortable too and meet the adult head room criteria (fitting my 5' 9" frame without head intrusion). One could ride back there for some time without want to get out and the rear seats include built in outboard armrests (no rear cupholders though like Accord and Altima). Mustang also has the convenience of the 50/50 split folding option. You do have the added step of folding the head rests down but it's fairly easily done. The pass through is nice and wide, larger even than that of the Altima (surprising!).
Unlike the other cars the rear seat leg room is a bit tighter but still comfortable on the knees. One nice feature is on the front seat dump latches when bringing the seat fore/aft the recline position can be set by the rear seat occupant to maximize their comfort level without asking for adjustments from the driver/passenger. Good thinking Ford! The ingress/egress through the door to the rear seat is a bit tighter than the other cars though and the seat tracks can intrude a bit on your feet until you get them positioned. If the tracks were shorter or sunk into the floor it might be better. The door panels on the new Mustang don't disapoint with large specially contoured pull handles and decorative insert fabric which matches the seat material...
Driving Impressions:
Turn the key and the healthy 3.7L V6 rumbles to life (no really it has a RUMBLE to it!) with a distinctive dual exhaust note. This car doesn't mess around.
The engine vibration in the car is nicely dampered though and you can even slightly hear the cool exhaust note as you tool around town. The steering (while electric powered) feels appropriately weighted and turn in is decent. It's not terribly communicative or numb, just sort of in the middle. Not having driven a Mustang before I would describe the ride quality as smooth with a firm if edgy quality. I can't comment too much on the handling because the day of my evaluation the roads were still wet from the rain so fun in the twisties will have to wait until the second drive.
Eventually you turn right onto the highway and an open strech of road eggs you on. I quickly gave this pony about 70% throttle and the engine responds with a hearty kick down and a sense of impending explosive power builds quickly. The front end rises up and you are firmly pressed into your seat as you rocket up to 60-70-80 MPH in mere seconds! No longer is the V6 Mustang a Tempo in Mustang duds, this car is the real deal. The potent engine though when reigned in under gradual acceleration feels effortless to move the car. Running at 55 MPH in sixth gear the engine speed practically idles along at a shockingly low 1,200 RPM. The Mustang's transmission is smooth and responsive and kicks down very well with a more than ample rush of power for passing and on ramp merging. Goosing this car is way fun, and it takes quite a while for the smirk to fade. At highway speed the car is decently quiet and composed.
It's ride quality is firm enough to be communicative yet not such that you feel every little thing you roll over. Brakes are good and firm with four wheel discs at all corners. I wasn't able to conduct any high speed stops but you can tell this car has lots of grip. Rowhling road U-curve anyone? The suspension lets you know your limits, but it's not the "handler" that the Golf TDI or the Genesis Coupe is, though it would pound both those cars on the straightaways at the track.
In the end the 2011 Mustang V6 is probably a huge improvement over the 2010 model. So I'm reccomending you go get yours when you can, the scores reflect it won't dissapoint.
The Tommeter:
Comfort - 7
Design Interior - 7
Design Exterior - 8
Powertrain - 10
Handling - 8
Fuel economy - 7
Electronics/convenience - 6
Engine note - 9
Fit & function - 7
Must have factor - 7
Want full specs? Go here: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2011/ford/mustang/101265874/specs.html
Want more photos? Go here:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2011/ford/mustang/101265874/researchlanding.html
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